As caravan parks wind down for the off-peak season, many members of the community will already be planning their next big adventure. Now is the perfect time to consider what makes a good neighbour when looking ahead to the warmer weather and busy sites.
We’re sure that most, if not all, of our CaravanTimes readers would make ideal campsite guests. However, one Welsh park owner was recently left aggrieved by some of his tenants, likening them to the Addams family and reminding them that his site is neither ‘Towyn nor Benidorm’.
Being a good neighbour is crucial to ensuring a smooth, enjoyable holiday. This means being respectful to others, adhering to campsite rules and, most importantly, not being a nuisance! Courtesy of Sell The Caravan, let’s take a look at some of the best tips to make friends, not enemies.
Noise
If we had a pound for every time someone has been too loud in a caravan park, we’d be SpaceshipTimes by now, discussing the top ten rocket parks on Mars. Noise is, by far, the most common complaint among residents. Usually, this involves children or pets, but also late-night socialising and the occasional argument.
The best way to avoid making too much noise is simply to familiarise yourself with the rules of the campsite and keep them in mind throughout your stay. To make it simpler, we often think ‘would I be happy if my neighbour was this loud?’ and if there’s any doubt, the answer is a resounding no.
Respect boundaries
Literally. Caravan parks are usually bustling with guests, especially in the summer months. Consequently, it can be very easy to spread out your belongings and get in the way of your neighbours. Keep an eye on how expansive your pitch becomes and make sure you aren’t spilling over into other areas.
Additionally, if you’re entering or leaving your pitch, don’t walk straight through a neighbour’s set-up to get there. You shouldn’t be in anyone’s personal space unless you’ve been invited.
Switch off lights
If you’re touring now, you’ll have some lights on from roughly four o’clock onwards. However, that’s not always the case. If you’re planning to get together with friends and family into the night, there’s no need to light your pitch up like Wembley Stadium. Make sure no lights are glaring towards other leisure vehicles and disturbing your neighbours.
Introduce yourself
Get chatting with your neighbours! It will build rapport and result in a much more enjoyable stay. You never know, plenty of people have met at campsites and you could make new friends – you already share one hobby in common. This will also help if you run out of something important as you might be able to borrow essentials from your neighbours.
Keep shared facilities clean
Something we’ve seen quite a few times, but prefer not to – please don’t wash your clothes in the bathroom. Instead, make use of the laundry services provided. Moreover, keep an eye on the machines so you don’t accidentally leave clothes sitting in them for a long time, preventing other guests from accessing the facilities. After using any of the shared toilets and showers, try to keep them as clean for other users as you’d like them to be for yourself.
Photo credit: Annie Spratt / Unsplash
