Would It Work ? – Open for sensible debate.
Comments
-
I've done exactly the same on the day - the day our leafspring broke as we set off from the driveway at home. Hardly something which was our fault, but as we wanted to go to the site, I decided to just amend it to a weekend a month later. No problem, and I then rang the site concerned to inform them we wouldn't be arriving that day and that I'd changed the booking myself online.
Unlike NA I didn't subsequently cancel that amended booking and we managed to get to the site without a problem that time
0 -
in theory, they could all cancel 72hrs before and there would be no income at all.
most holiday companies require a deposit on booking (in line with their T/Cs) and the balance a bit nearer the departure date.
folk taking these holiday packages/cruises understand that this is a fairly normal model in this business area.
i have no problem with paying a deposit to C&CC, commercial sites, other leisure companies or even CC should this ever be required.
i never book 'van breaks' unless im totally certain Im going, and, apart from our New Year break, rarely book more than a week in advance....I like be confident about the weather
(in fact, we will be going away sometime next week but i will only confirm based on next week weather)
of course, i could book months in advance and then cancel if the weather was poor, but, despite some seeing this as a 'perk' of the club, i still feel this is somehow 'wrong' (tying up pitches until the last minute) so i wont do it
...im sure this means im missing out on being able to book some sites at some times but, hey, that's life
the CC system is an anomaly (in the modern leisure world) and provides members with a real flexibility advantage on the one hand, but a real issue for those who cant either commit at frenzy day (working families whose employers holiday rotas haven't been agreed) nor can pick up the cancellations (again because the required time off work requires more than the clubs 72hrs to arrange with their employer).
for the likes of me, retired no real diary ties, its great...but then Im part of the core Club demographic, aren't I?
2 -
If the Club required a booking deposit and balance payment JUST for the honeypot sites at peak times, it wouldn't be the end of the world would it? All other sites and non peak times of year, the current system applies.
0 -
But you have to ask if there is a problem that needs fixing at these honeypot sites? it could be that the no shows or late cancellations are these sites maybe significantly lower than other sites precisely because they are so popular? Then of course it is back to the 'well I've paid my deposit so won't bother to cancel'
Also how many are honeypot? York, Baltic Wharf?
0 -
Don't see what the problem is. Plenty of pitches available now in the holiday season. There are 122 at Malvern and believe it or not Late availability shows 35 at Chatsworth next Sunday. Never think of looking for a site until a few days before we decide to go and never have a problem. This mad rush in December is like Lemmings. Could it be the club has now priced itself out at peak times? Just back from Ilam Park Still £16 per night all in Sunday-Friday throughout the summer.
0 -
The 'paid deposit so not bothering to cancel' wouldn't be a problem if the balance payment were required in advance (as suggested in my post)
It has already been noted that there are vacant pitches seen on sites that were showing as full right up to the last minute, whether members cancel due to pending weather forecasts etc or other reasons. During peak times that are so important for people with families who don't have the flexibility of retirees, to ask members to commit financially for a select few sites at key times of the year, wouldn't be too much to ask.
Only a suggestion mind, I'm not that bothered personally as I tend to visit adult only sites during school holidays. I'm merely speaking up for other demographics ;-)
0 -
Yes agree, but has anyone seen these empty pitches are those honeypot sites?
Demographics - CT word of the week
1 -
there are some private schools you could go to that stay open during the holidays
0 -
It happens all the time, I know the wardens have a couple of spare backups at various sites, but I've seen on numerous occasions, 5 or 6 vacant pitches on sites that are showing as full online, right up to the night before.
These vacant pitches could well have been booked for just a weekend, which doesn't help families that would have liked to have booked a whole week, Saturday to Saturday
0 -
0
-
whilst the 'honeypots' may always be (virtually) full, it may well be that the original bookings were made on Frenzy day by those able to be at a PC on a midweek morning (not those who work 'normal hours'), and any cancellations are also taken up those able to pack up and go at short notice (generally not those who 'work normal hours').
so, we have full Honeypots, the club is happy (bums on seats) yet we probably have a scenario where some find it 'easy to book' and have 'been going for years' and others who have tried repeatedly but, once 'commitments/work/holidays' are finalised, find the sites full, and cant take advantage of cancellations at short notice.
yes, everyone has an equal chance at these sites, provided you have access to the booking system when dates are released, not always as easy for some as for others.
0 -
Ive seen this happen numerous times at Chatsworth, especially if it the weather is not to favorable on a Friday or Saturday. Broadway, again happens regularly if the pending forecast for an upcoming weekend is not looking great.
Castleton, a difficult site to get in to for a weekend, many of which are booked way in advance but over Easter, May BH's and Summer BH, impossible to prebook if you haven't been sharp on frenzy day. A bit of wind and rain on the cards for any one of these key weekends and all this changes, empty pitches all over the place.
The weather plays a big factor, speculative bookings get cancelled last minute if there's a chance that some wet will fall from the sky. Some pitches may get filled last minute by those who don't mind getting a little bit wet but if this is only for the Friday and Saturday night, it has still excluded those that would have liked to have booked a whole week. Your average parent won't book Sunday to Thursday at a site in the vane hope the adjoining weekends will become free last minute, they'll book elsewhere that gives the means to secure their holiday.
For this reason, I'm convinced it is why the C&CC attract more families to their sites as opposed to the CMC, something the CMC want to address but with the current booking system the CMC have, it won't happen. If the CMC were to take prepayment JUST for the school holiday periods, this would balance out.
1 -
Still not convinced with your "observations"as we have been members for a few years and have yet to see the "problems" with empty pitches that you seem to have encountered, we have seen "empty" mostly grass pitches on some sites if weather has been "poor" and the site staff "risk" releasing extra to give more choice for arriving outfits
0 -
Maybe something then that the club can confirm, I see one thing, you see another. We could go on like this for pages and pages. Do you have a family or are you a 'caravanning couple'? It would be good to get the views of someone who does have a young family who contributes to CT? (This may be hoping for too much)
0 -
There are many people (including me) who want their holiday bookings finalised at least (say) 2 or 3 months before departure. This being the case anybody who wants a specific popular site for particular dates during key periods such as Easter, but feels unable to book more than a month ahead, may have problems ...... no matter what the system. I doubt that deposits, for example, would make any difference.
1 -
Been there done that .......more years than I care to remember when we were both working , OH retired several years ago & I retired last June .
Did we have any problems with booking our holiday time with the CC /CMC ......no not really it was a matter of having more than one set choice of sites or dates , any that were full we booked we went somewhere else or used another provider .
My heart bleeds for everyone who thinks the CLUB should be run in their interest & they despair that they can't get what they want when they want.......that's life I'm afraid .
Take it or leave it ....or wait till retirement , then you'll have more options.............👍
1 -
Don't let your heart bleed on my account, I have my own way of dealing with the CMC booking system and it shows, 2 nights booked this year out of over 60 nights away in our caravan. I'm trying to have an open mind and look at how the booking system affects everybody from all walks of life. You on the other hand, are being very narrow minded.
Some might see you are your 'typical' CMC member, not good for the future of this club
0 -
Strangely enough I regard myself as a normal member of the CMC like thousands of other that just get on & use the booking system we currently have .
There are a number of people who actually believe the system should be run in their best interest.......... ie special members & not for rest of us mere mortals😘....oh & by the way I do pre book my holidays & ive cancelled /changed some within the prescribed 72 hours......that's the rule😇
2
