点评:After scouting around for a while on where to book our next camping trip, and asking via social media camping pages Pillaton was recommend by numerous previous visitors as a place to go. We wanted somewhere local rather than having to travel for hours in the heat with children. This seemed very ideal only 25 minutes away.
We had someone helping us with the camping equipment as with 4 kids, one car wasn't going to be enough. So we called up beforehand and they said it was fine as long as they were in a gone within 30 minutes, we mentioned it again at reception and again they were completely fine with it and explained the same again.
I just want to touch on some main factors which others have done in reviews are which I consider when staying somewhere. Firstly one I've read alot about...
STAFF - I have read alot about staff being, rude, regimental or aggressive...to me this could be no further from the truth. We came across many staff members carrying out all sorts of duties, litter picking, patrols, cleaning the toilet block, kids bounce pads, at the water inflatables, and the ones on reception. You name it, not once were any of them aggressive if not quite the opposite. I believe this place has some of the best staff I've come across on a campsite.
Not long after we'd pitched up, we noticed a spiked peg protruding from the ground. We tried for some time to get it out, but as we only had a peg remover on the end of our mallet. It wouldn't budge.
With it being dangerous we called reception and explained, they sent a warden down straight away, he removed it and even borrowed us his hammer for a while to get the tent pegs in as the ground was so dry it was difficult with our rubber mallet.
He even gave us some additional pegs to use as we didn't have strong enough ones. He then communicated with reception on our behalf a few times to save us calling to do it, and took our last rubbish bag and box on the buggy for us when we were leaving. He's a credit to the site, all though didn't want to give his name (which is fair enough)... I'll refer to him as the hammer man.
Now, I'll move on to a few I've read stating "they shouted at my kids"... again, I witnessed them speaking to children there was no shouting involved. And I am putting this down to people simply not parenting their children, it seems to be well we are away I'll let the kids do what they want mentality. After the campers left next to us, we were left with abit of space.
A fellow camper(s) decided to instruct their kids to come and have a water fight next to us, because they seemingly didn't want them having it there. This is where you'd think commonsense may prevail, who gives their kids water balloons to completely litter the field? And all down by the toilet block. Not only that, they were allowing their children to use the drinking water tap as a man made splash pad, wasting completely good water.
The warden came over and turned the tap off and politely asked the kids to tidy up the water balloon mess, not once was she shouting or aggressive. Parents really need to parent their kids honestly. My kids were number pulled up about issues, because they are taught to respect the establishment which they are at and people around them.
So yeah, I do believe it's the entitlement of camping parents unfortunately, who believe their kids do not wrong and should be able to do as they please.
PRICE - So, I do agree with some reviews when it comes down to price point. I must admit, I was dubious about paying so much for 4 nights, especially to find out electricity was not included. Which for us was a first, all though I do believe it's becoming more and more. But what I will say about the price now I've been is, you can understand why you do pay.
The cost of running the site must be very high, especially as they have the most staff I've ever seen for a campsite. And, I was speaking about this when there I don't imagine those Biffa bins are cheap to have empty when needed. And then, I'll touch in the electric well, have you seen some of the set ups people bring! It's no wonder, but us being basic we only ran a coolbox, charged some devices and cooked. We probably would have only used £5. However, what I will say, is it was warm even on the nights when we stayed, but we accidentally left the small heater on and fell asleep it used a out £5-6 in 6 hours so if it's a cold night, it will cost. But to me, the pricing is now understandable, along with why the electricity isn't included.
THE SITE - It is immaculate, you have to think the size of it, with that many people on at peak season, it's not an easy job at all keeping the place the way it is. From the grounds, to the toilets and shower blocks, reception and bin stores. Well done it's great.
The things to do for kids, are great as well. What I would say however, we are very adventurous campers and like walks and finding "nooks and crannies" if you want to call them that! And there isn't much of that here. So my kids did get bored and over hot at times with what was available, especially with the bounce pad(s) being so hot on the feet in this weather.
They've got a nice dog run/walk, which is great to see. The only thing I would say, it's great we had that patch of grass to kick the ball round on, but with us being on pitch 196, there is barbed wire fence diving Palliton and the adjoining farmers field.
This seemed quite dangerous to me, and on one occasion someone tent bags went flying across the pitches (by the wind, not literally flying) in the to field as there isn't a protective mesh across it. And I ended up popping out ball on it, now I think I was crying more than the kids when that happened, but I got a right ear bending from them for it. And we didn't have a ball for the rest of the visit aha.
Plenty water supply taps which is great to see. Great washing facilities with a TV in there to keep you entertained abit. Radio on in the toilets, who doesn't want to listen to abit of Bon Jovi while you are showing aye?
Overall great site.
DOTTIES - I did want to touch on this, I didn't realise they'd have something on, on a Saturday night so we missed that in all fairness as we arrived on the Saturday, but we did walk past and it seemed like a vibe.
Now I know I'm going to seem like a moaning myrtle here but the prices are INSANE. Like, just to put it in to context here, if all 6 of us wanted a pizza at £14.95 each that's £89.70 if we all then wanted a drink let's just use the slush at £3.95 each (which is one of the cheaper drinks) that's another £23.70. I mean at that point an ice cream would be looking very unlikely. Along with £5.70 a pint wowzers! I did spend some money in there, but would have certainly spent more if the value was there. It would be good as campers to be provided more incentives to spend in there. Maybe some discounts? Or cheaper prices for campers.
I will also mention this isn't the staff' fault, it's again parents unfortunately. So I'd pay for the kids slushes, while filling them up a kid runs in with his empty cup and just fills it to the top again with free slush. Me in just disbelief was like what the hell, the kid just turns smerks and runs off. Then when outside, he was laughing and just showing and telling his parents what he'd done with them just smiling a out it. Then it gets worse, he encourages his sister to go in and get one, and then the younger brother. Then he goes in and gets a 3rd! So that's 4 large slush unpaid for while the parents might as well be standing their applauding them. They were day trippers may I add. Just unbelievable the lack of parenting I've seen on the trip.
Anyway, congratulations if you've made it this far, I could have just said "great, will return"....but what fun would that be.
Until next time....over and out.
翻译:在四处打听下次露营的地点,并通过社交媒体上的露营相关页面咨询后,许多曾去过那里的游客都推荐我们来皮拉顿。我们希望能找一个离家近的地方,而不必在酷热天气下带着孩子开车数小时。这里距离我们仅25分钟车程,看起来再理想不过了。
由于我们有4个孩子,一辆车根本装不下所有露营用品,因此还请了专人来帮忙搬运。我们事先打电话询问过,对方说只要能在30分钟内离开就没问题。我们在前台又提了一次,他们也完全没意见,还重复了相同的说明。
我想谈谈其他人在评论中提到的一些关键因素,也是我选择住宿时会考虑的要点。首先就是我经常看到的这一点……
员工——我读过很多关于员工粗鲁、刻板或具有攻击性的评价……但对我来说,事实远非如此。我们看到了许多工作人员在履行各种职责:捡拾垃圾、巡逻、清洁厕所区、照看儿童游乐区的水上充气玩具,还有在接待处工作的人员。可以说,他们样样都做。他们从未表现出任何不耐烦或凶狠的态度,恰恰相反,都非常友善。我觉得这家露营地拥有我见过的最优秀的工作人员。
我们在搭好帐篷后不久,就发现地上有个带尖刺的木桩露在外面。我们费了好大劲试图把它拔出来。不过由于我们手中的木槌末端只装了一个拔钉器,根本无法把木钉拔出来。
鉴于情况有些危险,我们打电话给接待处说明情况,他们立刻派了一名管理人员过来。他成功拔出了木钉,由于地面太过干燥,用我们的橡胶槌很难将新木钉打入,于是他还把自己的锤子借给我们用了一会儿。
由于我们带的木钉不够结实,他还额外给了我们一些木钉以备使用。之后,他几次替我们与接待处沟通,省得我们亲自打电话。我们离开时,他还帮我们用推车把最后一只垃圾袋和纸箱运走。他真是这个场所的模范员工,不过他不愿透露自己的名字(这也情有可原)……我就称他为“锤子男”吧。
接下来,我想谈谈一些我读到的评价,里面说“他们对我的孩子大喊大叫”……其实我亲眼看到他们在和孩子们交谈,根本没有大喊大叫的情况。我认为这一现象是因为家长们根本没有好好管教孩子,似乎抱着“我们不在家,就随孩子们去吧”这样的心态。在我们旁边的露营者离开后,我们那儿留出了一点空地。
另一位露营者却指挥自己的孩子到我们旁边来打水仗,显然他不想让孩子们在自己家附近玩。按理说,这种情况下常识应该能起作用才对啊。是谁给自己的孩子水气球,让他们把整个场地搞得一片狼藉?那些水气球全都在厕所附近。不仅如此,他们还任由孩子们把饮用水龙头当作人造戏水区来使用,白白浪费了宝贵的水资源。
管理员走过来关掉水龙头,并礼貌地要求孩子们把水气球的残骸清理干净。她既没有大喊大叫,也没有态度恶劣。家长真的需要好好管教自己的孩子。我的孩子也因为类似问题被叫去谈话了。因为他们被教导要尊重自己所在的场所以及周围的人。
所以,没错,我确实认为这就是那些“露营家长”的特权心态在作祟——他们觉得自己的孩子不会犯错,理应为所欲为。
价格方面——关于价格这一点,我确实认同部分评价。必须承认,为4个晚上的住宿支付如此高昂的费用让我心存疑虑,尤其是后来发现电费还另算。这对我们来说还是头一遭遇到这种情况。虽然我确实认为这种情况正变得越来越普遍。但关于价格,我想说的是:你就能明白为什么要付那么贵的费用了。
运营这个营地所需的成本肯定非常高,尤其是他们雇佣的员工数量是我见过的露营地中最多的。我当时就在那儿提到过,那些Biffa垃圾桶在需要清空时,费用想必也不便宜吧。还有电力方面——你见过人们带的那些用电设备吗!这也难怪了。不过我们比较简单,只用它来给保温箱供电、给一些设备充电以及做饭。我们大概只花了5英镑左右。不过我要说的是,即便在我们入住的那些夜晚,天气也挺暖和的;但我们不小心让小暖气一直开着,然后就睡着了。那个暖气在6个小时里大概耗电5到6英镑,所以如果夜里很冷的话,费用就会升高。但对我来说,现在的定价是可以理解的,也能明白为什么电费不包含在费用里了。
营地环境——简直完美至极,想想看它有多大的面积吧。在旺季时,这里有那么多游客,要把整个营地维持得井然有序绝非易事。从场地、卫生间和淋浴间,到接待处和垃圾存放处,都打理得很好。干得好,实在棒极了。
为孩子们准备的活动也相当不错。不过我得说,我们是非常喜欢冒险的露营者,喜欢徒步探险,喜欢探寻那些“隐蔽的小角落”——如果可以这么称呼的话!而这里这类地方并不多。因此,对于现有的活动项目,我的孩子们有时会觉得无聊,天气热的时候更是如此。尤其是在这种天气下,那些弹跳垫踩上去实在很烫脚。
这里有个不错的狗狗跑步/散步区,这点很不错。我唯一要说的就是:虽然有那片草地可以踢球固然很好,但由于我们位于196号球场,那里有带刺铁丝网将Palliton与旁边的农田隔开。
在我看来这相当危险;有一次,强风甚至把某人的帐篷给吹得在整个球场上乱飞。因为球场上没有防护网,球真的会飞出去(虽然不是真的飞到空中啦)。结果我把球踢到了球场外,现在想想,当时我哭得比孩子们还厉害呢,不过他们也因此狠狠地数落了我一顿。在那之后的整个参观过程中,我们就没球可玩了,哈哈。
这里有很多供水龙头,这点真不错。洗手设施也很棒,里面还配有电视,能让人稍微解闷。厕所里还放着收音机。谁不想在你们带人参观的时候听听Bon Jovi的歌呢?
总的来说,这是个很不错的场所。
关于DOTTIES——我本想提一下的,我之前并不知道他们周六晚上会有活动,所以说实话,因为我们是周六才到的,就错过了。不过我们确实路过那里,感觉氛围挺不错的。
我知道这么说我可能会显得像个爱抱怨的人,但那里的价格真是离谱。打个比方吧,如果我们6个人每人点一个14.95英镑的披萨,那总共就要花89英镑了。如果我们这时都想喝点东西,那就选择售价3.95英镑的冰沙吧(这算是比较便宜的饮品之一),这样又需要花费23.70英镑。这么说吧,到了那个地步,想再买个冰淇淋几乎是不可能的了。再加上每品脱5.70英镑的酒水价格,天哪!虽然我确实在那里花了一些钱,但如果性价比更高的话,我肯定还会花得更多。对于露营者来说,如果能有更多促使他们消费的激励措施就好了。比如提供一些折扣?或者为露营者设定更优惠的价格。我还要说明一点:这不是工作人员的错,很不幸,问题出在家长身上。当时我正在付钱买孩子们的冰沙,这时一个小孩拿着空杯子跑过来,又用免费的冰沙把杯子倒得满满的。我震惊得说不出话,心想这到底是怎么回事。那小孩则坏笑一声就跑走了。后来到了外面,他笑个不停,还向父母炫耀自己做了什么,而父母也只是微笑着看着。情况还更糟糕呢。他鼓励妹妹进去买一个,接着又鼓励弟弟也去买一个。最后他自己也进去买了第三个!这样算下来,他们一共买了四个大杯冰沙,却一分钱都没付,而他们的父母就站在一旁鼓掌欢呼呢。顺便说一下,他们只是来一日游的游客而已。在这次旅行中,我真是见识到了极度的育儿失职现象,简直难以置信。
不管怎样,能读到这里的朋友真了不起。其实我本可以只说“很好,还会再来”……但那样就没什么乐趣可言了。
下次再见啦……就此别过。