Weekend bookings something has to be done

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  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited June 2018 #32

    Does anyone know of any CL, CS, commercial and other non CAMC sites which restrict the number of pitches available for weekend bookings to ensure there are pitches available on the off chance......?  

  • PhilHeller
    PhilHeller Forum Participant Posts: 267
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    edited June 2018 #33

    Flick through, hence my vague recollection of motorhomes getting the blame, rightfully 😂😂

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited June 2018 #34

    You would need to join a members club for thatwink

    Hope you are keeping well FC.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #35

    Not in this country but in others it is quite common for sites to have areas set aside for night halts or in fact not to allow any booking at all.

    peedee

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2018 #36

    That an "interesting" comment ? In conversations that I have had in the last couple of days ,with some retired wardens,they have no knowledge of the 25%of pitches "put aside" for those touring,it is no diferent than today except far more have taken to useing leisure vehicles in recent years, but the capacity of pitches across the UK has not ,because of numerous reasons put forward, not kept up

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited June 2018 #37

    Yes, we tried to book a site on the outskirts of Galway in Ireland last year....." we don't take any bookings, it's first come first served and when we are full that's it ".. and indeed that is exactly how it was. undecided

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited June 2018 #38

    That is how it should be. No advance booking simple.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2018 #39

    Imagine the tailback at Chatsworth at 1pm in that scenario.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2018 #40

    Or any sites in the UK that are a popular destination ,which with the growth of  LVs in the UK and staycation holidays +the increase in other countries LVs visiting the UK because of the, at the moment "good" currency exchange rates,more sites are getting very busy,especially at w/ends, and as for "no pitches" on a friday so far today there have been upwards of 20+departures from here today "Sat"

  • Extugger
    Extugger Forum Participant Posts: 1,293
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    edited June 2018 #41

    Reading the latest Club Council review it seems since the rebranding, new membership numbers are up by 52000, record occupancy levels, tent pitch sales up, half a million followers on social media etc etc - no wonder you can't book a pitch! (Or is this 'fake' news?)

    I have just released my booking for Southport August 16-20 if anyone wants it

  • Golfer
    Golfer Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited June 2018 #42

    There is a simple answer to those who book weekends in advance.Charge a none returnable booking fee which used to happen.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2018 #43

    And the reason why?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #44

    The club has commented on this in the past. When deposits stopped the incidence of cancellations / no shows did not increase. In fact a non returnable deposit is possibly going to make you less likely to tell anyone you are cancelling. Thus not releasing the pitch for someone else.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #45

    And since dropping which, as the club have repeatedly said, the late cancellation situation has consistently improved.

    I know that if I'd paid a non returnable deposit and there was the remotest chance of cancelling I'd leave it till the very last minute before deciding. What incentive would there be to decide earlier giving another member the chance to take up that pitch? frown

    Edit - beat me to the draw, Steve!

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #46

    +1 to Steve and M

    Anyway a 'weekend' non returnable deposit is easily overcome, book Thursday to Monday and then cancel?

  • rovinmad
    rovinmad Forum Participant Posts: 102
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    edited June 2018 #47

    I don't remember that ever being the case.  Are you thinking of the Camping Club?

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #48

    Where on earth is the evidence that 'weekenders' don't turn up when the weather doesn't suit them. I reckon it's a myth. We live in a 24/7 society these days so why would one group, whatever that may be, act any differently to another. I guess the myth will continue in the minds of the midweekers though whose behaviour it seems regarding weather and cancelling is so very different.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2018 #49

    I think that it is reasonable to assume that a weekender (especially with children) is more likely to cancel due to weather than somebody booking a longer time period. 

    If a weekender has booked Friday and Saturday night expecting to arrive on site on a wet Friday evening with rain forecast for most of Saturday he has to consider whether that will mean him paying £40 to £60 or more (depending how many are in the party) Plus a further £25 on fuel if they are likely to be confined to the caravan and whether that is worthwhile.

    However I doubt if a £25 deposit as with C&CC is likely to affect that decision. Does he loose £25 or maybe spend an additional £60 to sit in the caravan on a wet Saturday? 

     

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #50

    So we narrow that suspected group even further, to families. Now we are without children we book both weekends and weekdays to suit our diaries. The issue I think is more to do with 'minimum nights' which is often put forward as a solution to the aledged 'weekend booking blues'. Now we often spend one or two nights on a site during our trips but we also frequently spend four, five or more consecutive night on club sites, just not the same one. Let's not forget our club is a network of sites not just one site, that is a major plus for us and I suspect many more!

    The current system seems to work in my opinion, it's just that those much sought after sites have a finite number of pitches. York RP appears full all days of the week so why favour those weekdayers?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #51

    Good point, Micky. When touring, a minimum night booking restriction is a real pain. We do a series of one night stops travelling the length of the country and stays on C&CC sites are becoming rarer due to that restriction. So, no minimum stay restriction for me whether weekenders are perceived to cause a problem or not.

    Let's face it, even if people do book weekends and then cancel, it’s allowed within the rules.

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2018 #52

    So, no minimum stay restriction for me whether weekenders are perceived to cause a problem or not.

    Let's face it, even if people do book weekends and then cancel, it’s allowed within the rules.

    Very much my view as well TW. We are unlikely to cancel due to poor weather as we are usually away between 5 and 7 weeks and hopefully the rain will stop somewhere on our travels. laughing

     

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #53

    Us too EasyT, we just choose the length of stay on our trips to suit our diaries, the locations and often the nights available to us. It generally does work for us and as the saying goes, 'there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing'! We generally make the most of what is chucked at us! What's more, we have been known to change plans on our longer tours and chase the weather, we have amended bookings, which is also in the rules, but still maintained consecutive nights. This too is a bonus of joining a network of many sites as amending bookings is not the same as cancelling in my opinion as its in the rules and is acceptable.

  • PhilHeller
    PhilHeller Forum Participant Posts: 267
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    edited June 2018 #54

    We were recently booked onto Chester from the Saturday as the Friday was fully booked. Rang the site and they put us on stand-by for any cancellations. After a beautiful start to the week the weather turned much colder towards the weekend and the forecast was not great. We got the hoped for phone call offering us a pitch which we accepted. After tea we did the usual walk round the site (with dog on her extendable lead🤣) and counted 13 empty pitches. Can’t say for certain that the weather caused all the call-offs and/or no shows but very frustrating for all concerned.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2018 #55

    When your type of scenario crops up,a word with the site staff is "helpfull" as it may not have been all cancellations that can throw up "extra pitches " at the last minute

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #56

    Were those unavailable Friday nights already booked by those weekdayers by any chance?  It could 'work' both ways. I guess we can often see things from our own perspective first. I do guess though that weekdayers would be just as likely to cancel for exactly the same reasons too.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2018 #57

    However you look at it Micky I would sooner have CC system than C&CC and I am presently a member of both.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #58

    Absolutely, and those booking restrictions of many of the alternative providers.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #59

    It could be that the CCC system makes more money over all the network? with some/all those pitches being sold at full price rather than just keeping the deposit?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2018 #60

    ???

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #61

    what I mean, if a deposit system was introduced with the CC (sorry not CCC), say £5 per night, thats 10 for a weekend, then someone cancelling might not be bothered to let the club know 'I've paid so I'll lose it' which is what used to happen a lot according to the club with no shows.

    The current system may prompt the booking to be cancelled and the club knows, it shows up on late availability and the club makes the full amount.