Empty sites
Comments
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"Club sites (both clubs) always require payment in advance (even in the middle of winter when half empty) and this has always been an annoyance which restricts easy variance of a schedule."
Well, two points about that, BB. Don't all main sites in the UK require payment in advance even in winter? And, secondly, the club make it relatively easy to vary your schedule - if you're fed up on one, having paid for x nights you can move to another with no financial penalty. (Many commercial sites explicitly state no refund for early departure).
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The evidence that this is the case ET and BB is already there in the Club's site at Cromer, "Seacroft" Take a look at the occupancy for August, must be the fullest site on the network. Hillhead doesn't seem to do as well but that could be down to location. (not close to the beach)
If the Club wants to be more attractive to families they probably need to have at least 4 sites with more attractions than just a playground.
peedee
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Spot on...and young families will be prepared to pay £40+ for facilities such as pool, restaurant, etc, 2 sites close to me, Fresh Water Beach and Highlands End both have lots of facilities for families and i bet right now you would be hard pushed to find an empty pitch, and at Highlands end you have to pay extra to use the pool, not sure at FB, but both have reasonable bars/resturants, great outdoor spaces and close to beach. Would not be on either in July/August but families with children love them.
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It will be interesting to see what the development plans are for Cayton and Bingham. It will be a good pointer as to which way the Club is thinking. Cayton would appear an ideal site to add the kind of facilities most families with children look for. I have not been there but I assume at the moment it has very little in the way of these facilities e.g. indoor play area etc.
peedee
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salted caramel?
i actually like vanilla, too......in an ice cream
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you've mentioned this before..moving to another club site.....but this means being tied into the club network which may not be what everyone wants...certainly not what I want.
yes, a club site here or there, interspersed with a CL or two, a commercial, a stay on a THS perhaps and then a CCC site or CS?
my uk touring certainly wouldn't be exclusively on cc sites and a 'credit note' isnt a lot of use on the next commercial.
perhaps the sort of impromptu touring that WTG and myself are talking about isn't understood by those who've never experienced it...
we arrive when we arrive and we leave when we feel like it.....half a day, one day, a month...roll on September
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We experienced impromptu touring in the UK for many years. Booking was unheard of. Then it seemed the world and his wife bought caravans and MHs and the rest is history.
The problem is that there are too many of us and not enough pitches, or enough space to create more sites/pitches.
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The two sites round Cromer are full. Seacroft (probably one of the most expensive) had the site full sign up all week. Sandringham a week ago was full too.
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...but wouldn't one expect the star sites to be full last week in July....?
if not, something's amiss...
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yes, the fast rising population has a lot to answer for...
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"perhaps the sort of impromptu touring that WTG and myself are talking about isn't understood by those who've never experienced it..."
Understand & have experienced it as I’m sure have others
It’s common sense to me to adapt one’s way of touring to the country one is in when using an LV. Like many others we use a variety of pitch providers. There is lots of choice out there - something to suit everyone. I personally don’t expect any pitch provider to change their way of operating to suit me. I adapt if I feel it is value for money & in the right place at the time I want to be there, paying deposits etc when necessary. (UK or elsewhere). Having said that I prefer CAMC sites. The 1 thing that the club gives me that I hope they never change is always being able to book an overnight stay (vacancies permitting) Not always available with other pitch providers.
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I don't think you answered either of the two points I made, BB. You said
"Club sites (both clubs) always require payment in advance (even in the middle of winter when half empty) and this has always been an annoyance which restricts easy variance of a schedule."
My points were that (a) advance payment is not exclusively a club requirement in the UK and (b) it was easier to vary your schedule if using club site than commercials. It's your choice not to take advantage of that. I've no problem with that, but it's still a fact that you can up sticks and move to a different club site with no financial penalty if you've run out of things to do.
As for penultimate sentence it seems we're heading back to the "we're so much cleverer /braver/more experienced" etc. Just accept that "impromptu touring" is your choice and that of others and that's absolutely your choice. Others choose to tour differently,
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As an aside, I notice the C&CC has very little availability across its network. Less than a dozen sites are shown as having anything available at weekends. Given they are not big on swimming pools either it must be the "tent factor" and the discounts offered?
peedee
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I morn the day the club bought Bingham as i am sure they will turn what is a great site in a great location into a sterile site getting rid of all those quirky features the majority of club members hate. So much to do in that area, lovely Bridport, West Bay, Charmouth the list goes on. As for Cayton Bay I can remember when there was a small campsite at North Bay, no caravans just small chalets, you stayed as half board, sadly now it is a housing estate. I think if the club want to compete in the holiday market within Scarbourgh they will have to be much more adventurous.
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correct, but there are many more sites in the immediate area, mainly non club sites, that are more suitable for families to mention a couple Fresh Water Beach, Highlands End. I dont see anything wrong in having adult only sites, and I dont think even when it looses this status it would be suitable for what most families want as it is a drive away from any beaches, a fair walk into Bridport or the nearest pub, but they did have a restaurant on site that also did take-aways, not sure if this is still functioning
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I don’t see anything wrong in having adult only sites either, Rufs, but not on club sites which are all inclusive to the whole of the membership. The same principle applies to dog free sites, naturist sites, religious sect sites and so on.
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which inforeses what site staff say that 7 and 14 day stays are what families want are not bookable