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Choosing the right resort
You wanted to go camping again with your tent or caravan, and could not decide where to go to. As on numerous occasions in the past, you have scanned through a magazine, flipped through some brochures or surfed the web for a resort. After reading all about the fantastic offers and services on various parks and resorts, and having poured over the details telling you all about the “spotless ablutions, large level-grassed and shaded sites, sparkling swimming pool” and so on, you then decided to book a site at a new resort. When you arrive at this ‘fantastic’ resort, what do you find?
1. The site has holes and ditches on it that makes Kimberley’s Mine look like a scaled down version!
2. The electrical power boxes – an open maze of exposed wiring.
3. The shower or bath cubicle appears to have been cleaned in the previous millennium.
4. The pool is the nicest shade of green you have ever seen.
5. And when you decide to go elsewhere and demand your money back – guess what!
Shower Floor
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Interior of Bath
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Excuse for a braai |
Excuse for water supply |
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Imagine plugging in here |
Exterior of building |
Like many other caravanners and campers, you are now totally fed-up with all this misleading advertising and published balderdash! Where to now? How do we decide on a resort in future?
Sanity at last! The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa recently announced that they had set up a working committee, which determined the criteria for National Star Grading of Caravan and Camping sites. A panel comprising resort owners, caravan clubs, motor home representatives, caravan manufacturers, offered their expertise. Having done public research on caravanners and campers requirements, numerous workshops were held to achieve a set of grading criteria. Minimum requirements for Star Grading have been drawn up, along with a comprehensive list of Grading Criteria for Caravan and Camping Resorts.
In this column we want to share the Minimum Requirements and the Assessment Criteria for Caravanning and Camping with you. We want to paint an overall picture of the requirements and criteria used by the assessors, so that you - the caravanner and camper - can understand how a Star Rating for a particular resort was established.
The very first aspect that we wish to point out is: – a resort with One or Two Stars is a worthwhile resort to camp in. This resort has met the minimum requirements, has been visited by a reputable and experienced assessor who examined the resort, possibly stayed a night or two in the resort, and determined that, albeit the resort does not fit the sphere of a Five Star Resort, that this resort’s facilities are clean, reasonably well maintained, and that the caravanning or camping public can at least expect level sites, clean ablutions with hot water, clean swimming pool and so on. The assessor has recommended that this resort richly deserves a One or Two Star Rating. A Four or Five Star Resort has very much the same facilities, but of a better quality. The Four or Five Star Resort, has spent more money on the quality of furnishings and fittings in contrast to the One or Two Star Resort, and will charge accommodation rates accordingly. The Three Star Resort fits neatly somewhere in the middle and would probably cater for the widest variety of tastes and needs in terms of value for money for the level of quality offered.
Quality plug box
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Clean Bath |
Good Bathrooms
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It simply goes to say that when selecting your preferred destination, a resort that displays its Star or Stars is possibly a safer bet to choose, than a resort that has not been assessed. We are not saying that un-graded resorts are not worthwhile resorts, but simply that given an unknown entity, we can safely state that a resort that has been assessed, will give you peace of mind. Star Graded Resorts are quality assured resorts, and not simply a result of a popularity poll. Regard a Star Rating as a symbol of quality and as a promise by the resort that it will adhere to specific standards.
Please also remember that the Star Grading System does not measure the advantages offered by a sought after location such as next to a game park or “right on the beach”. Neither does the system reward a resort for being liked or for creating an emotional experience. We cannot and will not even try to award marks for good birding experiences or for having wonderful views etc. The main aim is to establish a system where resorts will be judged on the quality level of the facilities and management efficiency.
How do we determine the level of a Star Grading for a Resort?
1. The security aspect is scrutinised. Does the resort have controlled access? Are there patrolling guards? Naturally the location and proximity of the resort also determines as to whether security is a prime facet or not. The assessor talks to campers in the resort, or from his stay in the resort, can then ascertain the level of security offered.
2. The camping sites are looked at. Are they level, well drained and can one perform all normal camping activities on the sites? The electrical power boxes are examined, are there water points on the site or are they reasonably close by. The quantity and quality of the refuse bins and the regular disposal of refuse are noted.
3. The ablution facilities: Are there sufficient toilets, washbasins, baths or showers to satisfy the demand when the resort is full to its capacity? The quality of the fittings, paintwork, tiling and flooring are examined. Is the floor slippery when wet? Are the shower, bath and toilet cubicles large enough? Is the shower curtain, if fitted, clean? Is the grouting around the baths and washbasins clean or stained? The quality of the lighting both during the day and at night is of paramount importance. The shower floors - are they clean and of a non-slip finish? Are there sufficient clothes hooks in the ablution facilities? The level of housekeeping and cleanliness is scrutinised. Are there cobwebs evident or discarded soap wrappers behind the doors? Are the ablution facilities clean and kept clean?
4. The grounds and gardens are examined. Is the park clean and the grass and gardens well tended? Is there evidence of litter noticeable?
5. The lighting in and around the resort is looked at. The resort does not have to be lit up like Disneyland at night, but as long as sufficient lighting is offered to suite the environment as well as been adequate outside the public areas and ablutions, it will be acceptable. If the resort is in a nature and conservation area, and you require a torch to go to the loo at night, so be it! But if the resort is a family orientated resort, then the lighting must be satisfactory at night.
6. The quality of the roads and access to the sites are examined. Again, if the resort is in a bush camp, we cannot expect to have tarred roads. As long as the roads are not full of potholes, they can be of any surface to be acceptable.
7. The sculleries, communal kitchens, laundries and public areas such as games rooms, bomas, communal braai areas, children’s play areas and so on is thoroughly examined.
8. If a resort does not offer a facility, they are not penalised. In other words, if the park does not have a swimming pool, games room, swings, boma or the like, the resort cannot loose ‘Brownie Points’. Likewise, if a resort has Saunas, Spa Baths or an exquisite fountain or water feature, it will not score extra ‘Brownie Points’. The assessor will naturally assess these items if present and offered, and if they not up to standard, the resort will be penalised. The Grading Council cannot dictate to a resort or park owner as to what recreational facilities the resort must offer. But, if the facility is offered, it will be assessed. If not offered, not assessed! Simple!
9. Naturally, management efficiency, booking procedures, the house rules issued on arrival and tourist information displayed for guests is looked at.
10. The resort will not be assessed on its location, surrounding areas, or nearby facilities and attractions. We simply assess the resort on its offered facilities within the resort. A mountain resort with stunning views will not receive more or less points in relation to a beach resort or river or dam resort. Environment does not play a role at all. This is guest preference, and cannot be set as criteria.
The entire Assessment and Grading procedure is set out in a Grading Criteria document, with a total of twenty-nine categories that can be assessed. Each category is scored on a scale of ten. With ten being excellent quality (five star), nine as very good quality (four or five star), and eight representing good quality (three or four star) and so on down the scale to one as being unacceptable. (One star scores a minimum of four or five out of ten, with ablution facilities having to score six or more out of ten). The assessor examines each category, determines the point value as per the documented criteria and records the score on an assessment form. Once the whole resort has been examined, the scores are totalled, and by means of a simple mathematical calculation, a percentage is obtained.
The percentages that determine the resorts ultimate Star Grading is as follows: (Put the one – five Stars Here)
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95 – 100% will mean a Five Star Rating. This is an Exceptional Resort. |
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85 – 94% will mean a Four Star Rating. This is an Excellent Resort. |
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71 – 84% will mean a Three Star Rating. This is a Very Good Resort. |
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61 – 70% will mean a Two Star Rating. This is a Good Resort. |
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51 – 60% will mean a One Star Rating. This is an Acceptable Resort. |
Anything under 50% is unacceptable, and does not qualify the resort for a Star Grading. This goes to show, that a resort that is awarded a One Star is an Acceptable Resort, and is probably a better bet than a resort without any Star Rating. This One Star Resort has met the criteria set out by the Tourism Grading Council, and is at least half as good as a Five Star Resort! There’s food for thought!
Well Signposted
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Quality Bathroom
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Quality Scullery
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Once the assessor has done the assessment, this assessment is forwarded to the Tourism Grading Council for evaluation along with photos taken at the time of the assessment of the inside and outside of the facilities. Once the Grading Council has appraised the assessment submitted, one of two things happen. The assessment is accepted and the resort notified of the grading, or, at random, a resort will be subject to an audit by another assessor. In other words, another assessor will be instructed to re-assess the randomly selected resort. The original assessor may not confer with the assessor appointed to do the audit! Once the assessor appointed to do the audit has submitted his assessment, and if there is no significant difference in the percentage score, then the resort will be advised on the outcome, and awarded his Stars. If there is a significant difference, a Master Assessor appointed by the Tourism Grading Council will investigate and probably do an audit himself, and his word will be final!
Appreciate that Star Grading is voluntary, and a resort is not compelled to be assessed for Grading. But, a Star Graded Resort is a proud resort and a proud resort is not only a well-run resort, but also a resort worth visiting!
There you have it!
Quality Bathroom
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Quality Bathroom |
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Quality Bathroom |
Quality Facilities |
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Quality Facilities |
Quality Facilities |
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Added entertainment for kids |
Attractive bathrooms |
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Neat pathway in park |
Power box with light above |
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Quality power box |
Quality water tap |
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Quality site |
Unique entertainment for everyone |
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Well Kept Gardens |
Article: - Compiled by Willie Bromehead. CaravanParks.com and assessor TGCSA
Edited by Prof. Neels van Heerden assessor TGCSA
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