New member and site booking
As a recent member am disappointed with limited or no weekend vacancies in many club sites. Was wandering what the general take up is when bookings are so far in advance and can be cancelled last minute at no cost.
Comments
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Some popular sites do get booked up at weekends as a result of many working people, schools etc getting Saturdays and Sundays off. It’s always been so.
The answer is to book earlier or choose a less popular site.
Bookings can be cancelled 72 hours or more in advance of take up, not at the last minute. Breaching that rule can lead to sanctions being imposed.
When are you looking to be away as I would expect the summer season to be fairly well booked by now and certain sites are always booked well ahead. If you tell us where and when, we may be able to suggest alternatives.
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It's unfortunate that you've been disappointed at finding it difficult to book weekends at popular sites.
The club's policy is that we are all free to book in advance and no deposit is required and it would appear that the majority of members are happy with this policy.
Unfortunately, this topic crops up on a regular basis and usually because, like you, somebody has not been able to book what they wanted. It always leads to the same comments and/or arguments.
Perhaps you could consider a less popular site or, like many, be prepared to book earlier.
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Hello Bazzer, welcome. There are a few ever popular Club sites which book up far ahead, but lots of others with with vacancies for next weekend showing today on the late availability list. Where are you and where do you want to go?
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Bazzer
In the same position at the moment. We have booked a tour from mid June, a CL, two Club sites and a commercial site but the last Club site we can only get Wednesday and Thursday which I have booked. I will keep an eye on the site as often nearer the time there are late cancellations and hope to pick up the two extra days I need nearer the time, if not I will either stop elsewhere for a couple of days or go home two days early! The late cancellations can work in your favour if you are prepared to risk it.
Perhaps should add that the Club have something in the pipeline with regards the booking system and as yet we don't know quite what form that will take as the Club have been a bit coy about spelling the details out!
David
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Bazzer you could try telephoning a site you are thinking of and enquiring if there is a waitlist or known cancellations.
Baltic Wharf is apparently impossible to get into unless you book on frenzy day each month a year in advance. However we have got a pitch at weekends more times by ringing up and enquiring than booking ahead. The first time was an eye opener, called on a Thursday for a weekend slot 3 weeks hence, was 13 on the waitlist. On the Sunday morning 3 days later we had a pitch booked.
As others say, the late availability function is another option:
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/uk-search-and-book/late-availability/?weekend=1
Although it doesn't appear to be working currently, might be weekdays only!!!
You could try the CL network too, some excellent 5 unit sites around the country. Some CL owners add to the late availability thread in the CL section.
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Bazzer - club sites are, understandably, very popular and some get booked up very quickly a long time in advance. Weekends can be a particular problem because of the combination of folk just staying at the weekend and others, like us, who almost invariably these days stay mid week to mid week.
As a new member you probably won't have been as aware of the booking system as us older lags!
But, don't despair, because, wherever in the country you want to go there are alternatives and I'd particularly recommend the CL network, many of which have facilities every bit as good as club sites but on an altogether less industrial scale - just 5 units allowed, perfect for a peaceful getaway or longer stay. (Of course, the very best of these do also get booked up well in advance!)
So, for the moment anyway, you could let us know exactly what part of the country you're looking to stay in and I bet there would be no shortage of suggestions for you to think about.
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more often than not there seems to be a cancellation and we manage to get our booking.
That is because more and more are learning that the only way to get a pitch where you really want to be is to use the system. After all it costs nothing to cancel. Book well in advance Bazzer and cancel if you change you mind.
peedee
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I suspect some kind of deterrent will be what comes out of booking rethink. Could be deposit, or having to book at least two/three nights minimum at certain sites for certain months. Having said that, if you are organised and good at planning, and you know the dates you need, it’s not that hard. I can only think of perhaps 3/4 sites that are super busy.
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Book a break every month 12 months in advance, no cost, cancel anytime before the 72 hrs deadline or you get the naughty boy letter, I cannot think of any other commercial concern allowing this, but untill the chopper falls fill yer boots
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"That is because more and more are learning that the only way to get a pitch where you really want to be is to use the system."
Well, of course, if you want to be at a particular site at a particular time, obviously use the system. Which is completely different to the suggestion to abuse the system!
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I am serious, you should smell the coffee
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Thanks for your replies and advice.
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Have just had a couple of nights Sat & Sun. at Lady Margarets Park in Chirk, wanted to book Friday night as well, but the System said Fully Booked , so we had to stop elsewhere, for a night, not a huge problem but inconvenient.The Warden said that there had been several very late cancellations with the excuse given of 'Watching the Football on the telly' ?? Surely not a 'Valid reason' ? and yes, they hailed from Liverpool. Wish they had lost. Hate Football.
Just looked over some of the other responses in this thread....and realise why I dislike some of the people I meet on Club sites...selfish 'system players' roll on deposits.
.
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Further to my previous post about booking what is available and being patient in watching the pitch availability. Buxton was to be our last stop on the trip but I could only book the Wednesday and Thursday. I have been checking most days and yesterday the Friday and Saturday became available which I have now booked. Interestingly, even after I booked there was still availability for those two days. It seems that not everyone leaves it until the last minute to cancel which is good.
David
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mine, too Alan. (sorry Ray but I didn't come up with the system) last year I booked several sites/weeks and didn't take all of them....I booked them as they were poular sites at the time we thought we might go.
but, as we don't plan, this was the best way to get on those sites...some we took, some we didn't....no different to many mambers, I'm sure...
up till then, like Ray no doubt, I just waited till I knew we were free to go usually just a few days before departure, checked a site and then had to rethink as it was booked.....I got fed up with this and soon learned another way.
now, if there's the remotest chance we may be gping to (say) Baltic Wharf (very convenient to meet up with son and partner) I'll book well ahead for probably more than one period and dump the ones I don't use.
as TDA says, a deterrent may be what comes out of the rethink...until then......book early as everyone keeps telling us.....
costs nothing to change your mind.
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To the OP, yes it is a pain. We wanted to go to Bolton Abbey site in a couple of weekends, even two months ago not a chance. However the club doesnt have the monopoly on good sites so search on t’internet for a non club location. You might be pleasantly surprised.
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So, I'm asking on behalf of a 'friend', you understand...
My 'friend' has block booked 21 days at a site in the middle of the upcoming school summer holidays nearly a year ago in order to ensure they got a pitch on a honeypot site for the summer. They intended to reduce the 21 days down to 15 depending on if their leave would be approved in the new holiday year, which has only just been confirmed by their boss at work.
They have a further quandary in that they have won a 14 day holiday that they must take in the period of their block booking.
They are thinking of letting other 'friends' borrow their unit and membership card to get a well deserved holiday as the 'friends' haven't had a holiday for a few years and have had a few difficulties in their lives. They, the 'friends' of my 'friend', don't have credit cards, just cash.
Or should they just drive their friends to site, book in, pay and go off on their prize winning holidays?
Is this banter?
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Rejoined this club this year ,,and must admit the gloating that goes on about being first to book loads of sites ,that they have no intension of using , And like me most are retired , but its so selfish . And they say the young are selfcentered ,,Best advice pick where you want to go join ccc club as well ,look at cls get wife to phone direct wed or thursday always worked for us ,,all the best
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just been skimming at what I've missed while away doing my bit for education, but if some form of 'deterrent' is introduced (and IMHO it doesn't need to be) a) would any form of deterrent really work? and b) what about all the bookings for the year ahead that people have made?
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I was against deposits, thinking they were unnecessary, but after reading this thread I have changed my mind, Selfish block bookers who then cancel just outside the 72 hours, just because they can, are causing these problems that the OP has found. Unless it costs them money, they will continue. Unless of course REAL punitive action is taken against late cancellers who forget and do it inside 72 hours...
and I dont mean a 'you are a naughty boy' letter but a 6 month revoking of membership.
as I said 'Roll on Deposits'.
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The clued up member doesn’t rely solely upon the online booking system to get the dates required. Phoning the site direct even if the online system says full often works for us, as does doing what DK suggests, book the dates you want, any not available keep checking. The slightest hint of rain or wind puts many off, but others can and do benefit.
We booked YRP last Summer. I booked four nights originally. Once we got there, the weather was simply stunning, so we asked Wardens any chance of a couple more night. No problem, including a Friday. In early July.
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