17th January 2012 HORRENDOUS experience staying here. The people running this place have no interest in happy customers or running an honest business. We stayed two nights, and decided to stay another, so we paid the evening before. After torrential rains and dangerous winds, which would continue the next night, we packed up first thing in the morning and went to check out in the office and get our money back we gave them the previous night because it was not safe to stay in our tent. Long story short, they refused and said they dont give refunds, and have sign that says you can only have some of your money back if you cancel 7 days in advance... even though we paid less than a day before. Had this been for a cabin or other indoor accommodations, where they may have made the money and turned away another potential customer because we had booked it, id understand. But it was a tent site, and their business was unimpacted. The man spoke rudely and highly aggressively towards me and my partner. He said its not robbery because there is a sign, but he is wrong. It is not honest and it is robbery to keep money you were given for something you are not providing. Aside from the unethical aspect of this 'business', the manner in which management spoke to me was the first time I had ever heard someone of that age speak to someone not on a talk show. Find other accommodations, its a mistake to give these people your money.
Please briefly explain why this content is inappropriate...
Reporting inappropriate
If you'd like us to take another look at this review, provide a brief reason why this review should be reconsidered.
If you'd like to respond to this review, please use the "respond" link, as this will publish your response directly under the review for all to read.
AE2011
2nd April 2011 Harcourts Holiday Park
45 Akatarawa Road | Upper Hutt, Wellington 6007, New Zealand
We are a middle aged couple that live in Wellington and like to escape on the weekends to enjoy nature and the outdoors. We found the Harcourts Holiday Park website:
http://www.harcourtholidaypark.co.nz
We drove up to spend the day at the park next door and planned on spending a few nights in the Harcourts Holiday Park. We went to the Harcourts Holiday Park to check in first. Some of the reviews we read about the park were below average so we drove through the park to scope it out. As we were driving to the office to book a room the Harcourts Holiday Park manager motioned for us to stop.
I stopped and rolled down the window and the manager was very aggressive and was extremely upset that we had driven past the units before going into the office to check in. My wife and I were both stunned by his behaviour and choose to drive away and not get into a confrontation. The manager cursed us as we drove off. I have never been greeted like this in any camp ground or Holiday Park.
The area is nice but the Harcourts Holiday Park obviously has management problems and the pictures on the website do not reflect the state of hygiene or the small size of the units.
Basically, the park can accommodate camper vans and tents and they have some tiny apartment units. The units are small with frills and with the photos on the site being from a bygone era.
Needless to say we could not recommend Harcourts Holiday Park. I travel extensively and this is the first time I have ever felt the need to write a negative review of a New Zealand hotel, motel or holiday park. Harcourts Holiday Park have a 4 star Qualmark rating. I have stayed in many places with four star Qualmark ratings and this one is I would say a two star at best. This is a real disappointment as Qualmark ratings have served me well in the past.
You have been warned
HORRENDOUS experience staying here. The people running this place have no interest in happy customers or running an honest business. We stayed two nights, and decided to stay another, so we paid the evening before. After torrential rains and dangerous winds, which would continue the next night, we packed up first thing in the morning and went to check out in the office and get our money back we gave them the previous night because it was not safe to stay in our tent. Long story short, they refused and said they dont give refunds, and have sign that says you can only have some of your money back if you cancel 7 days in advance... even though we paid less than a day before. Had this been for a cabin or other indoor accommodations, where they may have made the money and turned away another potential customer because we had booked it, id understand. But it was a tent site, and their business was unimpacted. The man spoke rudely and highly aggressively towards me and my partner. He said its not robbery because there is a sign, but he is wrong. It is not honest and it is robbery to keep money you were given for something you are not providing. Aside from the unethical aspect of this 'business', the manner in which management spoke to me was the first time I had ever heard someone of that age speak to someone not on a talk show. Find other accommodations, its a mistake to give these people your money.