Pitch Allocations
The diversity in size and nature of units on sites has grown dramatically in recent years. Some motor homes are 4m high by 3m wide and some twin axle caravans are significantly larger nowadays. The size of pitches varies on every site but there doesn’t seem to be any positive management in some cases.
Is it time to manage pitch choice?
Comments
-
I’ve yet to see a MH of that size, tbh. In fact I think the width you quote for MHs isn’t legal on UK roads and caravans are certainly not larger than those dimensions.
Yes, pitch sizes do vary and that’s the reason each site's web page states the longest length that can be accommodated. Anyone with a large unit should always ring the warden in advance and he/she can then allocate a large pitch if it’s deemed necessary.
On the whole, I don’t think we need any more club or warden input towards allocation than that.
0 -
In my experience, after asking your preferences, the warden escorts you to an area and points out a pitch or two that might suit but you’re at liberty to choose another of the type booked. I’ve been a member of C&CC for nearly 50 years😱
3 -
Having a pitch allocated with no choice or input in the decision is not very satisfactory. This happened to us last December at Bladon Chains. I was most unhappy with the allocated pitch and fortunately I was able to change to pitch more to my liking after complaining about the size and slope on the allocated pitch. I do appreciate that sometimes site staff have to manage pitches particularly if they have larger units arriving.
David
0 -
and for myself too and we did ask for another, it was the unwillingness of the site manager to do this that was unpleasant. It was like he was doing us a favour. Perhaps a difficult day?
0 -
We've only been allocated a pitch with camc once, that was a Friday at Ayr Craigie gardens. As it happens it was ok but if not I would have asked to move, the allocation was only because they get a lot of arrivals on a Friday.
With C&CC we have been shown to pitches but again if not to our liking we have been told we can move.
0 -
This is a bit radical but it is how many now operate.
How about having a booking system that allows you to choose the pitch with the aid of a map of the pitch type with the associated facilities on each site page.
Crazy and ambitious I know, this sort of witchcraft is dangerous and could lead to chaos and turmoil.
Or the club could adopt one of the many commercially available booking systems that does everything automatically and uses clever algorithms to maximise availability and occupancy levels in real time with contactless payment.
This far more effective than some warden with a pad and pencil, it stops the rush for the flag drop, maximises revenue, allows real time booking without human intervention.
This is how the real world works.
2 -
Present system suits us just fine. I like to see the pitches in person. Pitch choice may be weather dependant and, if on a rare occasion a block or two is required to level up I want that to be on the offside of the caravan so as not to effect the step height. In hot weather I prefer that when we return to the caravan at late afternoon after a day out that we have a shady spot. I generally prefer a North facing pitch but, in hot weather might well choose a south facing one and go in nose first if trees provide shade when we return to site.
I come across no sites in UK that let you choose a specific pitch and as I have few sites that I have revisited twice in 15 years I would usually have no idea what a particular pitch was like.
0 -
Being allocated a pitch saves all that indecision. Removes the stress of arrival.
0 -
"Present system suits us just fine"
No it doesnt, this board is perpetually full of people complaining about pitch allocation, arrivals times, waiting to be walked to the pitches, early arrivals, grumpy wardens, etc,etc..
You like to see the pitches in person. Well you can if the club was to put a virtual walk through of the site showing each pitch based on an embedded stream from google maps. This is already offered by many types of business.
For bearing of the pitch just refer to the map of the site pitches and make your choice, alternatively the virtual walk through could have an embedded compass, or just look on maps.
Many sites have pitch allocation, and if not then they display a site map and allow you to book based on that. Admittedly this not the norm in the UK as we are slow to catch on, but it is common in France and Holland.
Should the club not be leading this technology not limping long in the past.
0 -
"Present system suits us just fine"
No it doesnt,
YES it does. By us us I mean OH and I. Yes it does suit us fine.
You like to see the pitches in person. Well you can if the club was to put a virtual walk through of the site showing each pitch based on an embedded stream from google maps. This is already offered by many types of business.
Mark one eyeball suits me fine. Why faff
1 -
Never had a problem with so-called C&CC 'allocated' pitches - always been taken to an area and given a selection of pitches to choose from.
The best experience I think we've had was at Carnon Downs, near Truro, last year. Booked it months in advance and had never been before so was a bit apprehensive about having to select a specific pitch. However, with an excellent on-line site plan, loads of photographs and a lengthy conversation with a very helpful owner, we selected a pitch - which in reality turned out to be exactly what we were looking for and what we envisaged.
It took all the stress out of having to plan our arrival time and then drive round and round the site looking for the best spot in the hope that there was something we liked.
0 -
Now we have a MH and only stop for 2 / 4 days we are not that bothered. Preferred is one that does not need ramps but we never spend much time on selection and couldn't be bothered with a virtual tour, the current system is fine and works well, although it does take a few quite a while to settle. Noticed one rig the other day orbit 3 times.😂 It would be nice to be able to specify HS though. Don't mind grass in this current dry weather but prefer to keep off it generally.
0 -
We much prefer the current "choose your own pitch on arrival" of CAMC but fully understand the need for wardens to allocate pitches for larger outfits if the site can accomodate them.
1 -
this board is perpetually full of people complaining about pitch allocation, arrivals times, waiting to be walked to the pitches, early arrivals, grumpy wardens, etc,etc..
Not sure what you mean by this board but pitch allocations does not happen (the vast majority of the time) occur on CAMC sites, neither does waiting to be walked, and while there have been posts about grumpy wardens (not very often) and early arrivals (but not for a while) I'm not sure that can be classed that as perpetual?
You often describe and promote the new ways of booking in using technology or systems but maybe all members want is what is on offer? As if that is the most important things for people on sites. I don't think it is, just very good sites and ease of booking like now.
But the proof of the pudding or pitching, is in the eating, or pitching. And one 'complaint' that has been aired many times in the last few weeks sometimes weekly, is that it is very difficult to get a pitch at the moment while other providers are stated as having plenty of space. How do you explain that?
0 -
There are always going to be people complaining about SOMETHING whether pitches are allocated or not. Just because something is NOT knew, does not mean that it is not a good way to do things and personally, I would much rather find my own pitch when I arrive on site.
1 -
It always amazes me when I hear critism of the way the CCC allocate pitches.
I just say something like a "quiet pitch,don't need to be near toilet block,kids play area ect"
Never been disappointed with their choice.I was allocated a pitch though at Braithwaite Fold,the site manager walked all the way to the nearest pitch to the reception area,as only two pitches available,then what do people suggest they do?
Take that at a recent stay at the New Forest Centenary site In August in school holidays ,hot weather,site full,and one driver with van must of driven around where we had pitched at least 4 times.I still have no idea what he was actually looking for.
I was "requested"at Cherry Hinton to pitch in a certain area as arriving on a Friday and only staying 2 nights. Didn't bother me with that request either.
0 -
When you arrive at a site, especially if it is a large site and/or quite full, instead of driving around a number of times looking for a suitable pitch, you can ask at reception which pitches are free, and/or ask which pitches are nearer to an area where you may prefer to be, and the warden will mark them on a map for you.
1 -
yes and even if you know your preferred pitch number ask for that there and then. Usually works best when it's quiet
Of course if you get to your pitch and find an outfit has just landed on it then fair enough, but usually the wardens will know how busy the site is in terms of people looking for a pitch.
0 -
I much prefer to see my pitch in real time not virtual time.
I also look for the dogs, children and what appears to be groups.
On most sites I ask where the open pitches are, where we can get sun all day or in the late afternoon. A quiet area not to near the block but not to far away. The site staff usually can point you in the right direction but once there it still may not get the thumbs up, depending who the neighbour's are
0 -
At the last site I went to the lady in charge asked if I would like a sunny pitch or a shady one, I said sunny - even though it was very hot. She said Morning sun or Evening sun? I said evening. Come on, she said, let's have a look. We strolled off, chatted, and looked together.
Now would you like a hand unhitching and pushing back into place? My smile said yes. So she waved in a task force of neighbours and the job was done. All I had to do was hand around the beers to the team .
But perhaps the rest of you are talking about Club sites. Another world I'm afraid.
0 -
The gist of the OP is about managing pitch allocation by size of unit. In other words, the warden, or whoever, telling folk what pitch they can have appropriate to the size of unit. I think that is something which is unnecessary in the vast majority of cases and would probably cause much grief, bad feeling and argument.
We seem to have wandered way off that aspect into the realms of us choosing and booking our own pitches. That's something I’ve experienced in this country and it seemed to work. It’s the same old story of first come, first served but in this situation it happens at the point of booking rather than on arrival.
0
