Great show, as usual. I’m currently working at a caravan park while we wait for our new van to be built. It has been a real eye opener into what can only be described as the disgusting behaviour of people and their sense of entitlement. I wouldn’t own a caravan park for all the tea in China. Regards the parent tax if I owned a park I would charge $150 per child. The damage these darlings do is beyond belief, all the while the parents are watching and doing nothing about. Pool pumps destroyed, tennis nets destroyed, ping pong tables destroyed… total carnage and all abided by their parents. I don’t think for a moment all kids or parents are like this but the ones that are cause untold grief and cost.
@Truck_Van_and_Tinny interesting and insightful comment, very much appreciated. So it's a case of the minority ruining it for the majority, just like in everything else. I had never thought of this, very eye opening.
Stayed at Rawnsley Park Station a couple of weeks ago. They had a concrete pad to rinse the dust off your car. A $5 donation in a tin for Royal Flying Doctor Service. Payed happily
Yeah this is brilliant, we have seen some with a place to wash the car, wish they would all put that in as standard. Thanks for watching and commenting.
oh dear! my car is err " dusty", really? donation yes by all means, but hello you are out in the back blocks save that *&^%$ till you get home, impress the neighbours
Pity the people with all the negative comments on here can’t just lighten up and stop taking life to seriously. Life is way too short. Love your videos, learnt heaps and I hope you enjoy your time in my backyard. Merry Xmas guys 🎉
@paulcarlson368 thanks so much Paul much appreciated. Most people have been able to see the light-hearted nature that this video was intended to be. You just can't please everyone.
I've never been to a caravan park but you make it sound very exciting. Thanks for the details - was very entertaining. You also have great chemistry. ❤
I guess this is why Showground camping is becoming so popular where you can. I get the separation of check in and checkout times but waiting until 2pm is a pain however it was explained to me that this is the time needed to clean and tidy up before new arrivals and the office isn’t staffed.
I do find that affordable camping locations are significantly busier than over priced CP's. I expect that if the C.P knocked $20 off their overnight rate they would likely triple their customers and I expect it would make them more profitable. There is a C.P in Katherine that specifically does not have a "parent tax". We stayed there in our time in Katherine, the place was at capacity every night. Down the road was another C.P that we were driving past to get to ours and it looked so lonely in there with only a couple vans in, I'd say it was at maybe 15% capacity. So I have seen first hand that the price of stay has a massive impact on the number of customers. Another thing I notice is C.Ps often only have 3 star ratings or worse on Wikki even though they are very nice parks, my theory on this is that people are not happy with the nightly rates and that reflects on the ratings. The one in Katherine that we stayed at without the Parent Tax was 4.5 stars. Food for thought for C.Ps.
Hey Brett & Mel, you discussed some interesting topics, and the toilet skit at the beginning was funny 🤣 Thanks for taking the time to put this video together. The spot you’re staying for 6 weeks looked good. Glad you’re liking the new job Mel. Take care, and see you soon, Lyn ❤️
Thanks Lyn! It's been a good spot, so far. The weather has been pretty miserable for most of the time here which is a bit depressing, but as far as CP's go its a pretty good one in a lovely little town. Thanks for watching.
Another bug bear is when you pull up to your site and the water and drain is on the opposite side of the van as well as the other end of the van. So out comes the extension hoses which sometimes has to run across your caravan door or where you park the car.
We would add to your list being next to smokers. We are on a caravan park in Perth for a couple of weeks. For the first three days we couldn't sit under our awning or even have the van door open for some air, because the couple behind us were chain smokers. He would have a ciggie and go inside, then she would come out and do the same, then a few minutes after she went back in, they'd both come out for a smoke, and on and on. Thankfully, they left on the fourth day we were here.
@OurOutbackJourney yeah, smokers... there are signs up at the C.P we are at saying no smoking in toilets. But every other day it stinks of cigarettes, and I seen the culprit smoking in the shower. I diddnt know it was a thing but apparently he likes a ciggy in his shower.
This episode was really entertaining and fun. Haven't hit the road full time yet, just done holiday style camping trips and the times that I've have stayed in caravan parks were the worst. Felt like I was back in suburbia.
Yeah, the space and being on top of people are definitely one of the worst aspects of caravan parks. Thanks for watching. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Mel and Brett, a great video as usual. Me and my plus one have been on the road for several months of the year each year. We like you have seen great parks and some not so great parks. I find the 3 star parks are more family orientated with no restrictions (and no keys) , provided with fire drums and in some cases an amount of firewood. It`s great to arrive, see others around a fire pit with drinks, you set up and go over with your beach chair and beer and say hello. Keep safe
That sounds like a great way to spend an evening. Thanks for sharing! Certainly some parks do a much better job than others. Keep enjoying your travels, and thanks for watching.
Some good points. What I have found as I get older is that there has been s shift of the old school of a "park" for caravans. In that at the end of a day of travelling you could pull up to a caravan park book a site there and then and stay. Now you have to book weeks in advance for some run-down site!
Hi mate. What your describing is the case across the board. N.P's, hip camps they are all being booked up well in advance, and free camps are busy. The housing crisis and lack of accommodation is also impacting this lifestyle as well.
We view the CP layout before booking, then ring & ask for specific sites. You can often choose to be away from kids facilities (as we want to avoid kid noise). Midweek, we often don't book & sometimes walk through the park beforehand to select the sites we want, then ask at the checkin if we can get that site... if they say no, then we move on.
Good tip! It's great to have a plan when going to a park, especially during busier times. Perhaps something we will start doing going forward. Thanks for watching and commenting.
We always use WikiCamps for the feedback from other travellers plus if you can find the park map , we make bookings over the phone and see where they are going to put us . There have been times when we’ve rocked up to allocated site and not liked it and got back to reception and asked if we can move . As others have said , once you are on site , it’s so much easier to see what you’re getting . Re the laundry , the most common system we’ve seen is you leave your basket on top of machine and if it’s finished people just take yours out and put it in your basket . Best use of this limited use scenario . Have to agree re the watching while you park / set up . I’ve had situations where people can move their cars to make it easier for you to get in , but instead setup the camp chairs and beers and watch you bust your arse . 🤷♂️ The best amenities are the one with individual self contained cubicles I.e Shower , toilet , sink et all in the one room . Luxury . The all in one parks are very old school and a lot of the time run by councils that don’t seem keen on upgrading facilities . What I’m trying to say is caravan parks are an absolute melting pot of humanity . 😊
Hi guys, great insights into the world of caravan parks! You provided a well-balanced understanding of the pros and cons of staying in them. We’ve stayed in a few ourselves and can relate to much of what you discussed. It’s also great to hear that Mel is enjoying the new job! 😃 P.S. Loved the skit at the start of the vlog- so true! 🤣😆😂 Looking forward to the next vlog. Take care and stay safe. Kind regards, Corrie
Interesting insight into caravan parks. We hired a van early this year and I completely understand when you say everyone watches you when you’re parking and setting up it’s like entertainment for everyone who’s already there. We are in the finally stages of getting our car next week and just bought our van and will be doing small trips in 2025 to get ourselves all ready to give it everything in 2026. Hope to see you both in our travels. If you end up in VIC give us a holler keep up the great content 👌
Great vid...loved it! Related to almost all points raised, having had 4 kids and have paid all those unavoidable premiums for so many years. The kids have all grown up and moved on to their own lives now, so CP's rarely get any money at all from us these days - they are a last resort stopover only. We shop around and plan our travel avoiding CP's wherever possible, and all the hassles you mention.... mostly because of the high cost of CP's and all of the hassles you mention! It's interesting that some towns value travellers and the money they inject into their town. Other towns seem to dislike travellers and tax them heavily at the CP. Now that we have a few $ to spare, we are more inclined to stay at locations that value travellers and have nice as well as affordable campgrounds.....and we do tend to spend more and stay longer in those towns.
Thanks for watching and commenting. You are absolutely correct about some towns working to improve travellers' experience by providing low-cost accommodation, parks, water fills, and dump points. The travellers inturn spend money in town and help support the community. I know that we do when we have been able to save on accommodation. It's a shame that other towns choose to close down free and low cost camps, the result is less life blood flowing into the town as travellers avoid the area. As mentioned by other commenter, it's likely the C.Ps are lobbying to have the free and low cost options removed (note. This is only speculation).
Thanx for your enlightened video on caravan parks. We are currently booked into several parks along the Murray River this coming holiday season, so it will be interesting to see if we meet up with the issues you discussed. We have observed some of them on earlier travels. I hope all goes well.
So true, we had tried c/ps ,pain in the ass. Now have a van with loo, shower and washing thingy. No need for van parks as we also have our solar and gas set up . 17.5 ft van love it. Love ya work..😎
When we stay in caravan parks we plug into power we use every electric appliances we have no gas use the aircon the lot. And use the showers and toilets and what else we can use. I think it all comes back to GREED and shame on them
Thanks for your perspective I certainly think some C.Ps are charging way more than they should be. The C.Ps in SA for example are less than half that of other states. One of the reasons we like SA so much.
We have many of the same grievances and also avoid caravan parks just because we love a bit more space. However, guys, if you ever get a chance to work in a CP, you'll see a whole other side of Caravan Parks you never want to see. I would never own one. Peoples entitled behaviour is beyond awful at times and they would never treat their own homes the way they do in a CP. But I do agree that music should be compulsory in the loos! 😅
It sounds like working in a caravan park is a whole other kettle of fish, I guess it's a case of the minority ruining it for the majority. Music in the loo is definitely a must. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Totally agree, especially re the parents' tax. we are also travelling around (currently bush camping north of Alice),trying to give van parks a miss,but sometimes unavoidable , but as you commented, some are better than others,enjoying your content cheers
I agree with a lot of your points in regard to caravan parks, although we do not have the “parent tax” as we have grown up children. We really don’t understand the dynamic pricing, what a rip off. I was just watching another Utube couple, they were going to be charged $158.11 for basically a bush camp, no power or water but toilet and showers, just crazy.
Yeah, that's a bit of a shock, even for a basic campsite, those prices are crazy! It's really changing for the worse. We have certainly been seeing it happen in our time on the road, it's very depressing.
It would not be a Svedos Trippin video without the tradition of Brett making a coffee at the start of the video 🙂 Most Caravan Parks are overpriced and under provide for caravanners.......I blame it on the shift by most of them to focus on permanent accommodation units at the expense of van sites.....basically they are becoming the poor travellers' motel while at the same time demanding prices in line with the motels.
One caravan park I stayed at a few months back had rules in micro font of several pages. I would have needed both reading glasses and a magnifying glass to read it. I did not bother as I was moving on the next day. Not a bad park but rules in micro font is not effective communication. Other issues briefly. Light in amenities that go out after a short time. Hot showers that start cold and stay cold. Caravan parks that are packed but poorly maintained. Closing amenities for cleaning in the half hour before departure time. The “algorithm” regarding pricing. Spikes to rip your tyres apart if you mistakenly try and go in the exit and maybe even if you are using the exit correctly.
Yeah, that's some pretty bad park management! I've experienced some of those things, for sure. My take on lights on a timer is they are trying to save money on electricity, does a light really use that much power? And so you have to be in the dark in an unfamiliar bathroom... And yeah, I have seen these spikes on entry / exit points also. And the whole sheet of rules as you said, it's just so unwelcoming, isn't it. Some parks do a much better job than others that's for sure.
There is a saying when staying in CPs ..... "Arrive early and watch the entertainment, or arrive late and be the entertainment" 🤣🤣🤣 We travelled around Australia for 18 months and mainly stayed in CPs and one which was mainly in Tasmania was we paid for site but then had to pay $2 for a timed 2 or 3 minute shower, that was the only time i thought i was being thaken the piss of
@NotYourAveargeAlien yes, I think your absolutely correct on this. Many many low cost and free camps are disappearing. We are back in the Eyre Peninsula and so many of the places we camped at last time around now have camping signs up. It's very sad to see.
Fair enough, too. If caravan parks need Shire approvals, pay fees, licenses, and rates, it’s understandable they’d raise concerns if free alternatives are offered to their target market.
Question guys, the missus and I are going to be hitting the road, outback Qld to start with, to see how farmers and families in the outback are struggling, and hopefully offer some sort of assistance- outreach style work like my team do on tge streets in Wide Bay, and we have just bought a 25ft double slide out van as we thought it best option for what we need but the question i have is: in your experienced opinion will we come up with much hassle trying to find parks and free camps to accomodate the large van? Like you guys we prefer free camping but havent visited many free camps in smaller towns so your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys, regardless the negative nellies in the comments you info is invaluable and helpful. One thing i have found on the road though even at 51, there are some real fuddy duddy grey nomads out there who seem to think they have the first and final say on everything. In saying that, there are some really great GN out there as well. At tge moment my team goes to rest stops and cooks meals for people living in their cars and tents but we also welcome travellers for a free feed and socialising and some have been so helpful and generous, others not so lol. So in all guys, keep doing what you are doing on the track and on youtube, you are appreciated. God bless and safe travels. Bryan- Man of Faith Ministry 🇦🇺
You guys sound like you're doing amazing work, in times like these i think its wonderful what your doing, the cost of living is hurti g everyone. With your bigger setup you will definitely have to do a bit of forward planning, make sure you explain your size if your doing C.Ps and go through the reviews and images on free camps to see if you will fit. You'll find some great places to camp in the outback, and will likely have an easier time than if you stayed coastal. Tha ks so much for the kind comment and good luck with your adventures and out reach work. We will be in QLD soon enough so if it aligns reach out we would love to come and lend a hand.
@@SvedosTrippinthanks so much for the reply and info guys, much appreciated. I look forward to your vids each week. Blessings and safe travels. Bryan 🙏🏼❤️🔥
Yeah, it's a bit of a shame hearing people think we are being ungrateful for making this video. It was made as a bit of fun and we were hoping to give people a laugh. Anyway, you can't please everyone in life, appreciate you watching and commenting.
Oh boy. If this was light hearted I’d hate to see a rant. I just hope no one expects freebies from your business. I’m not sure who you think should pay for your kids. They do add costs and often it can be more than for adults.
I mean, the equivalent in my buisness would be me charging an extra $15 for each child in the car. We have discussed this with alot of people including people that have worked at C.Ps and the consensus is there is no way children are consuming $15 to $20 each in resources a night. A C.P provides a slab to park on, some power and water. You can argue there might be more power and water consumption, but $15 to $20 more per child, we just don't see it.
We usually walk into the park first, check out the allocated site, and then decide what is the best way in… saves us some embarrassment when we’re trying to park 😂 …visitors fee… I think this is incase they use the facilities while visiting, like the pool or bbq, again just a money grab.
Hi guys. Just wondering what the cup holder you talked about was. We tried looking in kmart but couldn't find anything like it. Thought maybe you had the name of it so we could ask for it when in store next time
you mentioned keys we were packing up when my phone rang it was the office the manager said that we had driven off without returning the keys and asked us to turn around and bring them back my response was we haven't left yet on my way to the office now all he said was ok there was no sorry for the mistake or anything else i just walked into the office threw the keys on the counter and walked out without a word never been back there
Yeah, I do think some parks assign a numbered key to the toilets and use that as a way to track if you have left by 10 am. Bloke from your experience sounds rather rude. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Wearing thongs in a caravan park shower is very common and expected.......but why doesn't the same apply to motels that tend to have much the same number of people passing through??? Reason why people stay at caravan parks = Trav = do my washing...CP = no focus on fixing or maintaining washing machines...and dryers that take $20 worth of coin just to get slightly dry (no heat just tumble) Trav = decent water pressure and roomy shower....CP = make the shower recess smaller and put a time limit on shower times, do not provide hanging space for towels or clothes Trav = indulge and relax .....CP = let's make up a lot of very restrictive rules Trav = top up the batteries due to bad weather.....CP......lets charge $20 additional for a powered site Do you get the impression that Caravan Parks just don't want your business? ... because they seem to do everything they can to make you NOT Welcome. PS - but I rarely use Caravan parks as my truck/trailer setup is 19m long....trying to get into a CP is not available to me 99% of the time.
such a shame guys, weve had catastrophic breakdowns, and every time we had forward bookings (coz coming home to Vic at christmas requires planning from WA back) we have had zero issues refunding or rebooking... ive only lost 1 booking in the blue mountains in 3 yrs of travel... all the others had held credit or refunded... including Broome, and many other places in WA, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD
Coming from a couple that complained about having to pay a donation last week. To having a go at caravan parks this week. It made me take off the subscribe button . Caravan are not cheap to run . Wages are high rates are high water bill are out off this world and POWER bills. Maybe talk to the owners of the caravan parks and find out the hidden cost of running a park .
@darylephillips6778 To clarify. The other week we did not complain about paying a donation, we commented that the sign said "donation, or fk off". This was quite confronting on arrival and my kids can both read and asked what it meant. I made distinction between a donation and a fee in the video. i did not complain about paying a fair fee. In this video, we never discussed the rate caravan parks charge (though many commenters have), we did comment that they seem to profit more from parents, which seems unfair. The video was light-hearted, caravan parks are what they are and we shared some of the experiences we have had with them. The vast majority of our audience enjoyed the video and the discussion. I'm sorry you found it the video so offensive, but to be honest if you can't see the light hearted nature of the video and get a laugh out of some of the quirks of caravan parks that we discussed, then I am glad you have found the unsubscribe button.
So caravanning, vanlife, camping, 4wding... is suffering from all the same things as housing market.. too many people coming into Australia car wash area is a great idea (surprised they are not already on to it as yes they can grab more cash)
The toilet dramatisation is on point however said perpetrator usually scarpers prior to flushing... Cant understand why people think its incumbent on others to clean up after them.
Haha so funny, I wanted to put in the skit looking at the toilet and seeing poop smeared over the bowl but I thought it might be a bit much, but the idea was there for sure. It's so gross that people wont clean up after themselves. I would hate to be a vleaner at a C.P the state that I have seen the toilets left in is despicable. Glad you enjoyed the vid and thanks for watching and commenting.
I have a washing machine in my motorhome...rarely use it as its not practical due to the amount of water usage. Much easier to use laundromats on the way through a town. So, you may want to do more research before you get a washing machine that will be great for 2-3 months, and then never used.
@kadachiman7234 hmmm, I still think I would like one. We have the ability to move 200l of water with the car so I think we would be able to use the machine even when off grid.
I think you guys are spot on. Personally not a fan of caravan parks. The Mrs and I are 50 no kids so they put us with all the old people. I literally feel like I'm in a retirement village.. And there all in bed by 8.30 ..
I can’t sympathise at all. A caravan park is often on prime land that would be worth squillions if developed. Then where would we stay? You need to think about their costs for staff and insurance, making revenue during high seasons when demand is high and so on. Not sure why you think businesses should subsidize your chosen lifestyle. So entitled it is unbelievable. Perhaps your own farm would suit you? Maybe you could open it up for campers who don’t like rules, want to wash their cars, book a site and don’t turn up or pay, shout all night, everyone gets an acre, free range kids can go nuts, all for $10 a night.
@seandolkens4021 you're entitled to your opinion, but holy moly, this one's spicy. First off, I will point out as half of your comment relates to cost. We never discussed the price of caravan parks, or made comments as to the rates they charge, they are entitled to charge what the market will pay and what they need to charge to stay profitable. Our only comment in regards to van park fees is the amount extra they charge for children. It would cost a van park next to nothing more to have a child sleep in a family van on one site, in comparison to a couple in a van on one site. A family does not take up additional camp site and therefore does not restrict the income they can make from each site, and yet it will cost us $40 a night more than the van next to us for that 1 site. Now, van parks will charge a single person on a site the same amount as a couple on a site, but then a family on a site pay $15 to $20 extra per child. To us, we see flawed logic there, and it seems that parks simply profit more from families. $15 to $20 per child seems steep, but we are not arguing that it should be $0 either but surely it could be a bit more in line with the costs to host an extra child. Thanks for sharing your opinion. Clearly, this topic is a heated one, with some agreeing and others disagreeing. It's sure been interesting to hear everyone's opinions 🙂.
As with many rules in life, it's to cater for the lowest common denominator. Not everyone is considerate and common sense isn't so common. Some people go way to far and take the piss!
Dynamic pricing in any accommodation (or transport) style has been around since Jesus and the Inn. Its simple supply and demand. Hotels, Flights, and no different to tight arse Tuesday's for movies, pizzas etc. I agree with the "parent tax" though. Kids take up bugger all resource and its an absolute rip off.
I had one caravan park charge me dynamic pricing when I extended and the amount ended in 8c. I made a point of trying to pay the amount in cash including the 8c. Was a good park but I hate it when they talk the “algorithm”.
Can’t say I have issues with many of the points you raised….. although some caravan parks … like ones in Broome… they just pack you in… very difficult to get a van into some of these But I do agree about the code / gate pass…. Some parks that are close to a city area.. yes, but really what they going to stop…Sweet FA…but others that are in a quite place / town… why would a park want the expense of maintaining them !
Many great, flexible caravan parks, but too many others are rorting (especially with small children) - miss the good old days before Covid blew “everything” up.
Completely agree, there are absolutely some good one out there (and I might add they always tend to have more patronage). But there's some pretty terrible ones too.
I think if you tell us you have been travelling Australia for 3.5 years maybe telling us how toughlife’s is a bit rich (good luck to you)also I am sure some of these caravan parks have costs…and their priority is not how cheap they can be for you
Mate, I'm not sure how a light-hearted chat about caravan parks and their quirks translates to us saying that life's tough. We hardly talked about the costs of caravan parks at all, with only 1 topic being the "parent tax" touching on costs. It's not luck that we live the life we live, we made sacrifices, we've taken risks and we are not ungrateful for our life. The video was supposed to be a bit of fun. I'm sorry you failed to see that.
I understand where you are coming from with your grievances BUT CP have these rules because they have to deal with some people who are not polite, sensible, considerate and they don’t think of people around them. Not everybody are as nice and considerate as you guys 😳. You should talk to some park owners and you will then understand why they have these rules and costs Examples : 1. Car washing - some people will do stupid stuff like degrease there engines 2. Check out times- they do have to turn around sites and change beds clean up etc 3. There are people who do awful stuff in parks , sometimes to children - hence the locking of the toilets I think if you had more understanding of caravan park management and what they face you might change your opinion Enjoy your time on EP I’m also interested in what park you are staying in Safe travels
You, as many others, have high lighted, C.Ps have to put up with some crap. And as with so many things these days, it's a minority that is ruining it for the majority. Re. The rules, I'm certain that the minority will pay very little head to the written rules. Considering what I have heard in the comments, I think I will avoid taking a job at a C.P if I can, doesnt sound like it would be very pleasant. But I do appreciate your insight.
@ from personal experience CP is not where you want to work or invest in As always. Hopefully the knobheads stay away from free camping Love your channel
Is this a funny video? Not sure but I like your positive attitude and carisma. The CP business has changed, with new rules and the rising cost of living. But you know what they say-adapt or get left behind. And with so many fabulous CPs out there, from 1-star to 5, it's worth the effort. I've done my fair share of camping, from free camps to CPs, and I've even got my own black list. But that's a story for another day.
Sounds like a scam and a money grab . paying to stay in a shanty town full of rules isn't our idea of a good time . Sometimes some people have no choice i guess when road tripping
Hotels, Airlines etc have had Dynamic pricing for years - caravan parks have just joined them. As for the child tax - do Hotels and Airlines let your children stay or fly for free?? So some of the bigger parks have huge playgrounds or waterparks……and your kids should get to use these for nothing? C’mon guys you need to get a bit realistic!!
@mickyarred279 Hotels are providing an extra bed that requires laundering. Airlines are providing an extra seat which, if used by a child for free, would take away from revinue. At a Caravan Park, a family van takes up one site the same as everyone else. We did say in the video that a park with pools and playgrounds should cost more. We didn't suggest that kids should be free but at $15 to $20 more per child per night, it feels like we are charged more than what they consume.
Oh, we are very great full for the lives we live. This was supposed to be light hearted and fun. Sorry it missed the mark with you. Thanks for the feedback.
We can't argue with that. Note that we didn't complain that caravan parks are expensive, we noted that they it seems to us that they make more money of parents.
We enjoy your videos but..........Charging for kids at parks is un--Australian, you are having a laugh. Kids consume more that just an adult, plus they generally damage more than an adult etc. etc. Caravan parks are a business not a charity for free loaders. Un-Australian.... that's so so funny its ridiculous, in fact its so much an entitled behavioural set. Free camp and kids are free.
Hi Graham. Thanks for your thought's and we appreciate that you are regularly watching. But respectfully, I disagree. My kids are respectful and supervised, they have never damaged property in a C.P. as for resources consumed, there is no way they consume more than $5 of water and power. To us, it feels like a C.P simply profits more from parents. Its likely that we are paying a tax for the behaviour of a minority which in our opinion is unfair. Is it fair that we pay an additional $30 to $40 a night because some parents allow children to damage property at caravan parks?
@@SvedosTrippin no worries. It’s a shame you have to encounter pond scum like this when you’re putting effort into creating something like your channel. Thank you for your efforts, cheers.
We usually walk into the park first, check out the allocated site, and then decide what is the best way in… saves us some embarrassment when we’re trying to park 😂 …visitors fee… I think this is incase they use the facilities while visiting, like the pool or bbq, again just a money grab.
Great show, as usual. I’m currently working at a caravan park while we wait for our new van to be built. It has been a real eye opener into what can only be described as the disgusting behaviour of people and their sense of entitlement. I wouldn’t own a caravan park for all the tea in China. Regards the parent tax if I owned a park I would charge $150 per child. The damage these darlings do is beyond belief, all the while the parents are watching and doing nothing about. Pool pumps destroyed, tennis nets destroyed, ping pong tables destroyed… total carnage and all abided by their parents. I don’t think for a moment all kids or parents are like this but the ones that are cause untold grief and cost.
@Truck_Van_and_Tinny interesting and insightful comment, very much appreciated. So it's a case of the minority ruining it for the majority, just like in everything else. I had never thought of this, very eye opening.
Stayed at Rawnsley Park Station a couple of weeks ago. They had a concrete pad to rinse the dust off your car. A $5 donation in a tin for Royal Flying Doctor Service. Payed happily
Yeah this is brilliant, we have seen some with a place to wash the car, wish they would all put that in as standard.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
oh dear! my car is err " dusty", really? donation yes by all means, but hello you are out in the back blocks save that *&^%$ till you get home, impress the neighbours
Pity the people with all the negative comments on here can’t just lighten up and stop taking life to seriously. Life is way too short. Love your videos, learnt heaps and I hope you enjoy your time in my backyard. Merry Xmas guys 🎉
@paulcarlson368 thanks so much Paul much appreciated. Most people have been able to see the light-hearted nature that this video was intended to be.
You just can't please everyone.
I've never been to a caravan park but you make it sound very exciting.
Thanks for the details - was very entertaining.
You also have great chemistry. ❤
I guess this is why Showground camping is becoming so popular where you can.
I get the separation of check in and checkout times but waiting until 2pm is a pain however it was explained to me that this is the time needed to clean and tidy up before new arrivals and the office isn’t staffed.
I do find that affordable camping locations are significantly busier than over priced CP's.
I expect that if the C.P knocked $20 off their overnight rate they would likely triple their customers and I expect it would make them more profitable. There is a C.P in Katherine that specifically does not have a "parent tax". We stayed there in our time in Katherine, the place was at capacity every night. Down the road was another C.P that we were driving past to get to ours and it looked so lonely in there with only a couple vans in, I'd say it was at maybe 15% capacity. So I have seen first hand that the price of stay has a massive impact on the number of customers.
Another thing I notice is C.Ps often only have 3 star ratings or worse on Wikki even though they are very nice parks, my theory on this is that people are not happy with the nightly rates and that reflects on the ratings. The one in Katherine that we stayed at without the Parent Tax was 4.5 stars.
Food for thought for C.Ps.
Love the opening scene, so much effort and thought put into a bit of comedy
Hey Brett & Mel, you discussed some interesting topics, and the toilet skit at the beginning was funny 🤣
Thanks for taking the time to put this video together.
The spot you’re staying for 6 weeks looked good.
Glad you’re liking the new job Mel.
Take care, and see you soon, Lyn ❤️
Thanks Lyn! It's been a good spot, so far. The weather has been pretty miserable for most of the time here which is a bit depressing, but as far as CP's go its a pretty good one in a lovely little town. Thanks for watching.
Another bug bear is when you pull up to your site and the water and drain is on the opposite side of the van as well as the other end of the van. So out comes the extension hoses which sometimes has to run across your caravan door or where you park the car.
Oh yes! We hate that too!
Yeah this is annoying and far to common isn't it. Back to my complaint about design.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
We would add to your list being next to smokers. We are on a caravan park in Perth for a couple of weeks. For the first three days we couldn't sit under our awning or even have the van door open for some air, because the couple behind us were chain smokers. He would have a ciggie and go inside, then she would come out and do the same, then a few minutes after she went back in, they'd both come out for a smoke, and on and on. Thankfully, they left on the fourth day we were here.
@OurOutbackJourney yeah, smokers... there are signs up at the C.P we are at saying no smoking in toilets. But every other day it stinks of cigarettes, and I seen the culprit smoking in the shower. I diddnt know it was a thing but apparently he likes a ciggy in his shower.
This episode was really entertaining and fun.
Haven't hit the road full time yet, just done holiday style camping trips and the times that I've have stayed in caravan parks were the worst. Felt like I was back in suburbia.
Yeah, the space and being on top of people are definitely one of the worst aspects of caravan parks. Thanks for watching. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Mel and Brett, a great video as usual. Me and my plus one have been on the road for several months of the year each year. We like you have seen great parks and some not so great parks. I find the 3 star parks are more family orientated with no restrictions (and no keys) , provided with fire drums and in some cases an amount of firewood. It`s great to arrive, see others around a fire pit with drinks, you set up and go over with your beach chair and beer and say hello. Keep safe
That sounds like a great way to spend an evening. Thanks for sharing! Certainly some parks do a much better job than others.
Keep enjoying your travels, and thanks for watching.
Some good points. What I have found as I get older is that there has been s shift of the old school of a "park" for caravans. In that at the end of a day of travelling you could pull up to a caravan park book a site there and then and stay. Now you have to book weeks in advance for some run-down site!
Hi mate.
What your describing is the case across the board. N.P's, hip camps they are all being booked up well in advance, and free camps are busy.
The housing crisis and lack of accommodation is also impacting this lifestyle as well.
Hey man...just randomly found you guy. Pretty cool channel. Just subscribed ;). Looking forward to the next one. 😊
Thanks heaps, we appreciate that, glad to have you on board!
We view the CP layout before booking, then ring & ask for specific sites. You can often choose to be away from kids facilities (as we want to avoid kid noise). Midweek, we often don't book & sometimes walk through the park beforehand to select the sites we want, then ask at the checkin if we can get that site... if they say no, then we move on.
Good tip! It's great to have a plan when going to a park, especially during busier times.
Perhaps something we will start doing going forward.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
We always use WikiCamps for the feedback from other travellers plus if you can find the park map , we make bookings over the phone and see where they are going to put us . There have been times when we’ve rocked up to allocated site and not liked it and got back to reception and asked if we can move . As others have said , once you are on site , it’s so much easier to see what you’re getting . Re the laundry , the most common system we’ve seen is you leave your basket on top of machine and if it’s finished people just take yours out and put it in your basket . Best use of this limited use scenario . Have to agree re the watching while you park / set up . I’ve had situations where people can move their cars to make it easier for you to get in , but instead setup the camp chairs and beers and watch you bust your arse . 🤷♂️ The best amenities are the one with individual self contained cubicles I.e Shower , toilet , sink et all in the one room . Luxury . The all in one parks are very old school and a lot of the time run by councils that don’t seem keen on upgrading facilities . What I’m trying to say is caravan parks are an absolute melting pot of humanity . 😊
Hi guys, great insights into the world of caravan parks! You provided a well-balanced understanding of the pros and cons of staying in them. We’ve stayed in a few ourselves and can relate to much of what you discussed. It’s also great to hear that Mel is enjoying the new job! 😃 P.S. Loved the skit at the start of the vlog- so true! 🤣😆😂 Looking forward to the next vlog. Take care and stay safe. Kind regards, Corrie
Cheers Corrie, glad you enjoyed the video and the skit - the toilet drama is real. 😄
Interesting insight into caravan parks. We hired a van early this year and I completely understand when you say everyone watches you when you’re parking and setting up it’s like entertainment for everyone who’s already there. We are in the finally stages of getting our car next week and just bought our van and will be doing small trips in 2025 to get ourselves all ready to give it everything in 2026. Hope to see you both in our travels. If you end up in VIC give us a holler keep up the great content 👌
Cheers guys, good luck with all your preparations.
Great honest video guys, thanks. I especially resonate with the morning turd scene
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the morning turd scene, 😂
Great vid...loved it! Related to almost all points raised, having had 4 kids and have paid all those unavoidable premiums for so many years. The kids have all grown up and moved on to their own lives now, so CP's rarely get any money at all from us these days - they are a last resort stopover only. We shop around and plan our travel avoiding CP's wherever possible, and all the hassles you mention.... mostly because of the high cost of CP's and all of the hassles you mention! It's interesting that some towns value travellers and the money they inject into their town. Other towns seem to dislike travellers and tax them heavily at the CP. Now that we have a few $ to spare, we are more inclined to stay at locations that value travellers and have nice as well as affordable campgrounds.....and we do tend to spend more and stay longer in those towns.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
You are absolutely correct about some towns working to improve travellers' experience by providing low-cost accommodation, parks, water fills, and dump points. The travellers inturn spend money in town and help support the community. I know that we do when we have been able to save on accommodation.
It's a shame that other towns choose to close down free and low cost camps, the result is less life blood flowing into the town as travellers avoid the area. As mentioned by other commenter, it's likely the C.Ps are lobbying to have the free and low cost options removed (note. This is only speculation).
Thanx for your enlightened video on caravan parks. We are currently booked into several parks along the Murray River this coming holiday season, so it will be interesting to see if we meet up with the issues you discussed. We have observed some of them on earlier travels. I hope all goes well.
@peterrv956 some parks are certainly better than others. Hope you enjoy your travels, we loved Echuca, it's such a cool little town.
So true, we had tried c/ps ,pain in the ass. Now have a van with loo, shower and washing thingy. No need for van parks as we also have our solar and gas set up . 17.5 ft van love it. Love ya work..😎
@@peterdart6691 cheers guys, good on you for getting out there.
You forgot those who wash their dog blankets in the machine before you so your washing ends up covered in hair or dirty.
@glmaguire not too mention smelly, yeah I do one day in the not so distant future, and I hope to not have to visit the old washing machine rooms.
@ good luck with your new machine
The Big 4 in Lighting Ridge has a vehicle cleaning point with no charge to wash your car. What a surprise in such a dry place.
@papa7745 yeah, we've seen a few vehicle cleaning bays at C.Ps in our travels, it's a brilliant idea wish they would all have them.
When we stay in caravan parks we plug into power we use every electric appliances we have no gas use the aircon the lot. And use the showers and toilets and what else we can use. I think it all comes back to GREED and shame on them
Thanks for your perspective I certainly think some C.Ps are charging way more than they should be. The C.Ps in SA for example are less than half that of other states. One of the reasons we like SA so much.
We have many of the same grievances and also avoid caravan parks just because we love a bit more space. However, guys, if you ever get a chance to work in a CP, you'll see a whole other side of Caravan Parks you never want to see. I would never own one. Peoples entitled behaviour is beyond awful at times and they would never treat their own homes the way they do in a CP. But I do agree that music should be compulsory in the loos! 😅
It sounds like working in a caravan park is a whole other kettle of fish, I guess it's a case of the minority ruining it for the majority.
Music in the loo is definitely a must.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Totally agree, especially re the parents' tax. we are also travelling around (currently bush camping north of Alice),trying to give van parks a miss,but sometimes unavoidable , but as you commented, some are better than others,enjoying your content cheers
Thanks guys, your right, sometimes they are unavoidable but it sure helps the budget when you can dodge them 😉
I agree with a lot of your points in regard to caravan parks, although we do not have the “parent tax” as we have grown up children. We really don’t understand the dynamic pricing, what a rip off. I was just watching another Utube couple, they were going to be charged $158.11 for basically a bush camp, no power or water but toilet and showers, just crazy.
Yeah, that's a bit of a shock, even for a basic campsite, those prices are crazy! It's really changing for the worse. We have certainly been seeing it happen in our time on the road, it's very depressing.
It would not be a Svedos Trippin video without the tradition of Brett making a coffee at the start of the video 🙂
Most Caravan Parks are overpriced and under provide for caravanners.......I blame it on the shift by most of them to focus on permanent accommodation units at the expense of van sites.....basically they are becoming the poor travellers' motel while at the same time demanding prices in line with the motels.
Haha, you know it's a good day when you start with a good cuppa 😉, and you know what comes after a coffee am I right 🤣
@@SvedosTrippinonly too right 😊
@@SvedosTrippina trip to the toilet?😁
One caravan park I stayed at a few months back had rules in micro font of several pages. I would have needed both reading glasses and a magnifying glass to read it. I did not bother as I was moving on the next day. Not a bad park but rules in micro font is not effective communication. Other issues briefly. Light in amenities that go out after a short time. Hot showers that start cold and stay cold. Caravan parks that are packed but poorly maintained. Closing amenities for cleaning in the half hour before departure time. The “algorithm” regarding pricing. Spikes to rip your tyres apart if you mistakenly try and go in the exit and maybe even if you are using the exit correctly.
Yeah, that's some pretty bad park management! I've experienced some of those things, for sure. My take on lights on a timer is they are trying to save money on electricity, does a light really use that much power? And so you have to be in the dark in an unfamiliar bathroom... And yeah, I have seen these spikes on entry / exit points also. And the whole sheet of rules as you said, it's just so unwelcoming, isn't it.
Some parks do a much better job than others that's for sure.
There is a saying when staying in CPs .....
"Arrive early and watch the entertainment, or arrive late and be the entertainment" 🤣🤣🤣
We travelled around Australia for 18 months and mainly stayed in CPs and one which was mainly in Tasmania was we paid for site but then had to pay $2 for a timed 2 or 3 minute shower, that was the only time i thought i was being thaken the piss of
@grjh58 yeah, it's certainly only a few bad eggs, most places are nice out there.
Love the saying haha.
Thanks for watching.
And Caravan parks are often heavily involved with local councils/shires and they lobby against free camps and many have closed due to this!
@NotYourAveargeAlien yes, I think your absolutely correct on this.
Many many low cost and free camps are disappearing. We are back in the Eyre Peninsula and so many of the places we camped at last time around now have camping signs up. It's very sad to see.
Fair enough, too. If caravan parks need Shire approvals, pay fees, licenses, and rates, it’s understandable they’d raise concerns if free alternatives are offered to their target market.
Question guys, the missus and I are going to be hitting the road, outback Qld to start with, to see how farmers and families in the outback are struggling, and hopefully offer some sort of assistance- outreach style work like my team do on tge streets in Wide Bay, and we have just bought a 25ft double slide out van as we thought it best option for what we need but the question i have is: in your experienced opinion will we come up with much hassle trying to find parks and free camps to accomodate the large van? Like you guys we prefer free camping but havent visited many free camps in smaller towns so your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys, regardless the negative nellies in the comments you info is invaluable and helpful. One thing i have found on the road though even at 51, there are some real fuddy duddy grey nomads out there who seem to think they have the first and final say on everything. In saying that, there are some really great GN out there as well. At tge moment my team goes to rest stops and cooks meals for people living in their cars and tents but we also welcome travellers for a free feed and socialising and some have been so helpful and generous, others not so lol. So in all guys, keep doing what you are doing on the track and on youtube, you are appreciated. God bless and safe travels.
Bryan- Man of Faith Ministry 🇦🇺
You guys sound like you're doing amazing work, in times like these i think its wonderful what your doing, the cost of living is hurti g everyone.
With your bigger setup you will definitely have to do a bit of forward planning, make sure you explain your size if your doing C.Ps and go through the reviews and images on free camps to see if you will fit.
You'll find some great places to camp in the outback, and will likely have an easier time than if you stayed coastal.
Tha ks so much for the kind comment and good luck with your adventures and out reach work. We will be in QLD soon enough so if it aligns reach out we would love to come and lend a hand.
@@SvedosTrippinthanks so much for the reply and info guys, much appreciated. I look forward to your vids each week. Blessings and safe travels. Bryan 🙏🏼❤️🔥
Agree with so many of the comments. I guess some people didn’t take them in the spirit they were intended. Enjoy your travels. 😊❤️❤️
Yeah, it's a bit of a shame hearing people think we are being ungrateful for making this video. It was made as a bit of fun and we were hoping to give people a laugh.
Anyway, you can't please everyone in life, appreciate you watching and commenting.
Great video, always enjoy your content. Thank You 👍.
Cheers for watching!
Oh boy. If this was light hearted I’d hate to see a rant. I just hope no one expects freebies from your business. I’m not sure who you think should pay for your kids. They do add costs and often it can be more than for adults.
I mean, the equivalent in my buisness would be me charging an extra $15 for each child in the car.
We have discussed this with alot of people including people that have worked at C.Ps and the consensus is there is no way children are consuming $15 to $20 each in resources a night. A C.P provides a slab to park on, some power and water. You can argue there might be more power and water consumption, but $15 to $20 more per child, we just don't see it.
@ I think the equivalent would be you weighing the car and van and then someone expecting their boat to be weighed separately for free.
Forgot to mention, Other park visitors who walk through under your awning! (Personal Space)
Yeah, especially bad when your site is in front of the playground or toilet. Another reason for not liking having your space assigned.
I hate that bloody disrespectful because they too lazy to walk around 😒
Haha loved the intro! And also the hair cut Brett!
Cheers! And the hair yeah its been pretty bad lately, so I finally paid a barber to fix it up.
Thanks for watching.
Life in Caravan Parks!! Lucky you only need to use them sometimes! You will be back on the road & out of the CP soon. Mum🥰
Haha, yeah, maybe a bit eye opening hey. I'm looking forward to getting back on the road!
We usually walk into the park first, check out the allocated site, and then decide what is the best way in… saves us some embarrassment when we’re trying to park 😂
…visitors fee… I think this is incase they use the facilities while visiting, like the pool or bbq, again just a money grab.
Hi guys. Just wondering what the cup holder you talked about was. We tried looking in kmart but couldn't find anything like it. Thought maybe you had the name of it so we could ask for it when in store next time
Yeah, we've just gone into K-mart to pick up a new one. It's called a "Stroller Cup & phone holder". We found it in the baby section.
you mentioned keys we were packing up when my phone rang it was the office the manager said that we had driven off without returning the keys and asked us to turn around and bring them back my response was we haven't left yet on my way to the office now all he said was ok there was no sorry for the mistake or anything else i just walked into the office threw the keys on the counter and walked out without a word never been back there
Yeah, I do think some parks assign a numbered key to the toilets and use that as a way to track if you have left by 10 am. Bloke from your experience sounds rather rude.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
2 minutes shower and you go there and a tap is leaking. you go to the front desk report it 4 days later still leaking
Haha yup, sounds about right.
Wearing thongs in a caravan park shower is very common and expected.......but why doesn't the same apply to motels that tend to have much the same number of people passing through???
Reason why people stay at caravan parks =
Trav = do my washing...CP = no focus on fixing or maintaining washing machines...and dryers that take $20 worth of coin just to get slightly dry (no heat just tumble)
Trav = decent water pressure and roomy shower....CP = make the shower recess smaller and put a time limit on shower times, do not provide hanging space for towels or clothes
Trav = indulge and relax .....CP = let's make up a lot of very restrictive rules
Trav = top up the batteries due to bad weather.....CP......lets charge $20 additional for a powered site
Do you get the impression that Caravan Parks just don't want your business? ... because they seem to do everything they can to make you NOT Welcome.
PS - but I rarely use Caravan parks as my truck/trailer setup is 19m long....trying to get into a CP is not available to me 99% of the time.
Very interesting shower thought 🤔
such a shame guys, weve had catastrophic breakdowns, and every time we had forward bookings (coz coming home to Vic at christmas requires planning from WA back) we have had zero issues refunding or rebooking... ive only lost 1 booking in the blue mountains in 3 yrs of travel... all the others had held credit or refunded... including Broome, and many other places in WA, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD
It's good to hear about some good experiences, hopefully more parks are as flexible as yours.
Coming from a couple that complained about having to pay a donation last week. To having a go at caravan parks this week. It made me take off the subscribe button . Caravan are not cheap to run . Wages are high rates are high water bill are out off this world and POWER bills. Maybe talk to the owners of the caravan parks and find out the hidden cost of running a park .
@darylephillips6778 To clarify.
The other week we did not complain about paying a donation, we commented that the sign said "donation, or fk off". This was quite confronting on arrival and my kids can both read and asked what it meant. I made distinction between a donation and a fee in the video. i did not complain about paying a fair fee.
In this video, we never discussed the rate caravan parks charge (though many commenters have), we did comment that they seem to profit more from parents, which seems unfair.
The video was light-hearted, caravan parks are what they are and we shared some of the experiences we have had with them. The vast majority of our audience enjoyed the video and the discussion.
I'm sorry you found it the video so offensive, but to be honest if you can't see the light hearted nature of the video and get a laugh out of some of the quirks of caravan parks that we discussed, then I am glad you have found the unsubscribe button.
So caravanning, vanlife, camping, 4wding... is suffering from all the same things as housing market.. too many people coming into Australia
car wash area is a great idea (surprised they are not already on to it as yes they can grab more cash)
@@southerngentleman5321 yup.
OMG the main reason i get stressed staying in a caravan park is the checkout time. Seriously setting alarms and rushing on moving day is not fun
@joannerudge720 yeah, for those that like to hurkle durkle, the check out time is a challenge.
The toilet dramatisation is on point however said perpetrator usually scarpers prior to flushing... Cant understand why people think its incumbent on others to clean up after them.
Haha so funny, I wanted to put in the skit looking at the toilet and seeing poop smeared over the bowl but I thought it might be a bit much, but the idea was there for sure. It's so gross that people wont clean up after themselves. I would hate to be a vleaner at a C.P the state that I have seen the toilets left in is despicable.
Glad you enjoyed the vid and thanks for watching and commenting.
I have a washing machine in my motorhome...rarely use it as its not practical due to the amount of water usage.
Much easier to use laundromats on the way through a town.
So, you may want to do more research before you get a washing machine that will be great for 2-3 months, and then never used.
@kadachiman7234 hmmm, I still think I would like one. We have the ability to move 200l of water with the car so I think we would be able to use the machine even when off grid.
I think you guys are spot on.
Personally not a fan of caravan parks.
The Mrs and I are 50 no kids so they put us with all the old people.
I literally feel like I'm in a retirement village..
And there all in bed by 8.30 ..
Haha, so it goes both ways.
Free camps certainly have a different vibe, people always tend to be much friendlier.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
We're the same age group and the number of times we have been put near the kids play area... 😬
I can’t sympathise at all.
A caravan park is often on prime land that would be worth squillions if developed. Then where would we stay?
You need to think about their costs for staff and insurance, making revenue during high seasons when demand is high and so on.
Not sure why you think businesses should subsidize your chosen lifestyle. So entitled it is unbelievable.
Perhaps your own farm would suit you? Maybe you could open it up for campers who don’t like rules, want to wash their cars, book a site and don’t turn up or pay, shout all night, everyone gets an acre, free range kids can go nuts, all for $10 a night.
@seandolkens4021 you're entitled to your opinion, but holy moly, this one's spicy.
First off, I will point out as half of your comment relates to cost. We never discussed the price of caravan parks, or made comments as to the rates they charge, they are entitled to charge what the market will pay and what they need to charge to stay profitable.
Our only comment in regards to van park fees is the amount extra they charge for children. It would cost a van park next to nothing more to have a child sleep in a family van on one site, in comparison to a couple in a van on one site. A family does not take up additional camp site and therefore does not restrict the income they can make from each site, and yet it will cost us $40 a night more than the van next to us for that 1 site. Now, van parks will charge a single person on a site the same amount as a couple on a site, but then a family on a site pay $15 to $20 extra per child. To us, we see flawed logic there, and it seems that parks simply profit more from families. $15 to $20 per child seems steep, but we are not arguing that it should be $0 either but surely it could be a bit more in line with the costs to host an extra child.
Thanks for sharing your opinion. Clearly, this topic is a heated one, with some agreeing and others disagreeing. It's sure been interesting to hear everyone's opinions 🙂.
As with many rules in life, it's to cater for the lowest common denominator. Not everyone is considerate and common sense isn't so common. Some people go way to far and take the piss!
Sad but true...
Dynamic pricing in any accommodation (or transport) style has been around since Jesus and the Inn. Its simple supply and demand. Hotels, Flights, and no different to tight arse Tuesday's for movies, pizzas etc. I agree with the "parent tax" though. Kids take up bugger all resource and its an absolute rip off.
You're right, it's not a new concept! It's just challenging and confusing to deal with. Good to hear you agree with the "parent tax".
I had one caravan park charge me dynamic pricing when I extended and the amount ended in 8c. I made a point of trying to pay the amount in cash including the 8c. Was a good park but I hate it when they talk the “algorithm”.
lol loved your frankness, we took it for what it is, your review. I will say don’t go to Lara wetlands, the rules start before you get the welcome 😅.
Ahhh, that's a shame. Coming from QLD, Lara wetlands has long been on my travel bucket list. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it and thanks for watching.
Guys I agree with all of what you said
@papa7745 thanks mate.
Can’t say I have issues with many of the points you raised….. although some caravan parks … like ones in Broome… they just pack you in… very difficult to get a van into some of these
But I do agree about the code / gate pass…. Some parks that are close to a city area.. yes, but really what they going to stop…Sweet FA…but others that are in a quite place / town… why would a park want the expense of maintaining them !
The old toilet lock and code is a funny one isn't it. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Many great, flexible caravan parks, but too many others are rorting (especially with small children) - miss the good old days before Covid blew “everything” up.
Completely agree, there are absolutely some good one out there (and I might add they always tend to have more patronage). But there's some pretty terrible ones too.
So so very true 👏
Cheers guys.
I think if you tell us you have been travelling Australia for 3.5 years maybe telling us how toughlife’s is a bit rich (good luck to you)also I am sure some of these caravan parks have costs…and their priority is not how cheap they can be for you
Mate, I'm not sure how a light-hearted chat about caravan parks and their quirks translates to us saying that life's tough.
We hardly talked about the costs of caravan parks at all, with only 1 topic being the "parent tax" touching on costs.
It's not luck that we live the life we live, we made sacrifices, we've taken risks and we are not ungrateful for our life. The video was supposed to be a bit of fun. I'm sorry you failed to see that.
Price is not cost. But it hurts.
It certainly does hurt!
I understand where you are coming from with your grievances BUT
CP have these rules because they have to deal with some people who are not polite, sensible, considerate and they don’t think of people around them. Not everybody are as nice and considerate as you guys 😳. You should talk to some park owners and you will then understand why they have these rules and costs
Examples :
1. Car washing - some people will do stupid stuff like degrease there engines
2. Check out times- they do have to turn around sites and change beds clean up etc
3. There are people who do awful stuff in parks , sometimes to children - hence the locking of the toilets
I think if you had more understanding of caravan park management and what they face you might change your
opinion
Enjoy your time on EP
I’m also interested in what park you are staying in
Safe travels
You, as many others, have high lighted, C.Ps have to put up with some crap. And as with so many things these days, it's a minority that is ruining it for the majority. Re. The rules, I'm certain that the minority will pay very little head to the written rules.
Considering what I have heard in the comments, I think I will avoid taking a job at a C.P if I can, doesnt sound like it would be very pleasant. But I do appreciate your insight.
@ from personal experience CP is not where you want to work or invest in
As always.
Hopefully the knobheads stay away from free camping
Love your channel
Agree with you about caravan parks. A total con
It can feel that way.
and dont forget the pet tax
ive been to a motel that charges $ 20 per night for a chihuahua
That's insane, and is a tax isn't it. What did you have a small dog with you cost them, absolutely nothing, they simply made an extra $20 off you.
Is this a funny video? Not sure but I like your positive attitude and carisma. The CP business has changed, with new rules and the rising cost of living. But you know what they say-adapt or get left behind. And with so many fabulous CPs out there, from 1-star to 5, it's worth the effort. I've done my fair share of camping, from free camps to CPs, and I've even got my own black list. But that's a story for another day.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm waiting for some new "adaptation" to come in like an awning fee or a camp kitchen usage fee 🤔
@@SvedosTrippin who knows
Another Great Vid... ya be on the Blacklist now :-)
@@Accolades70 Bahaha, I will laugh if we get turned away.
Some parks are now charging for dogs what extra resource does a dog use?
Yeah, it's getting out of control isn't it. I've just heard of an awning fee (charging $3 if you want to have your awning out).
Last time we got hit up for dog tax I asked the park staff if they are coming around onto pick up their crap…….
Sounds like a scam and a money grab . paying to stay in a shanty town full of rules isn't our idea of a good time . Sometimes some people have no choice i guess when road tripping
@@BushKayakersCampingAustralia absolutely the problem is that you sometimes have no choice. You must stay at the C.P or not visit the area.
Hotels, Airlines etc have had Dynamic pricing for years - caravan parks have just joined them. As for the child tax - do Hotels and Airlines let your children stay or fly for free?? So some of the bigger parks have huge playgrounds or waterparks……and your kids should get to use these for nothing?
C’mon guys you need to get a bit realistic!!
@mickyarred279 Hotels are providing an extra bed that requires laundering. Airlines are providing an extra seat which, if used by a child for free, would take away from revinue. At a Caravan Park, a family van takes up one site the same as everyone else.
We did say in the video that a park with pools and playgrounds should cost more.
We didn't suggest that kids should be free but at $15 to $20 more per child per night, it feels like we are charged more than what they consume.
And CPs requiring a payment for animals. - RUBBISH!
Yeah, it's pretty terrible, isn't it.
Sorru an bit of a miss episode.
Should be great full your able to live this lifestyle.
Oh, we are very great full for the lives we live. This was supposed to be light hearted and fun. Sorry it missed the mark with you.
Thanks for the feedback.
The cost of living has gone up for everyone including businesses like caravan parks.
We can't argue with that. Note that we didn't complain that caravan parks are expensive, we noted that they it seems to us that they make more money of parents.
Please please please go work in a park and everything will be answered for you.
Perhaps 1 day.
We enjoy your videos but..........Charging for kids at parks is un--Australian, you are having a laugh.
Kids consume more that just an adult, plus they generally damage more than an adult etc. etc. Caravan parks are a business not a charity for free loaders. Un-Australian.... that's so so funny its ridiculous, in fact its so much an entitled behavioural set. Free camp and kids are free.
Hi Graham. Thanks for your thought's and we appreciate that you are regularly watching. But respectfully, I disagree.
My kids are respectful and supervised, they have never damaged property in a C.P. as for resources consumed, there is no way they consume more than $5 of water and power.
To us, it feels like a C.P simply profits more from parents. Its likely that we are paying a tax for the behaviour of a minority which in our opinion is unfair. Is it fair that we pay an additional $30 to $40 a night because some parents allow children to damage property at caravan parks?
This episode was boring and very whiny
Can't please everyone, Thanks for the feedback.
You joined YT three days ago and this your only comment. Troll
@@SvedosTrippin no worries. It’s a shame you have to encounter pond scum like this when you’re putting effort into creating something like your channel. Thank you for your efforts, cheers.
We usually walk into the park first, check out the allocated site, and then decide what is the best way in… saves us some embarrassment when we’re trying to park 😂
…visitors fee… I think this is incase they use the facilities while visiting, like the pool or bbq, again just a money grab.