Leaving club
Comments
-
I certainly don't book a year in advance and haven't found it particularly problematic in booking. I thing it was around February when I booked the June/ July/ August slots. I also make it more difficult for myself by only booking serviced pitches these days, to avoid taking my aquaroll and wastemaster.
David
0 -
There are certainly some sites well booked up, but we didn’t have any problem putting together a tour in September a couple of days ago, when we decided against holding out for France. We are using some of the other clubs sites, but that’s more about location than the fact we couldn’t find enough CAMC ones. Some are even on service pitches. I suppose one advantage we now have with a MH, is we generally only spend 2 / 4 days at a location, rather than a week.
0 -
I can understand members’ frustrations at not being able to book their choice of sites, when they want. We are in very strange times and being confined to our own shores currently is adding further pressure on the Clubs availability. There are however, other options as well as the C&CC. At under 15pence per day, membership is hardly poor value, especially when you consider all the benefits.
Maybe a phone call to your choice of site may bear fruit?
0 -
I can understand your frustrations. This website is lumpy and open to being abused, so its no surprise that members take advantage of it. In fact, you sometimes have to play the system in order to get the site you want
We were booking some last minute pitches last night, and it was obvious that people were booking pitches, and then cancelling them when they found something they prefered. The site we wanted was available for 7 nights, then it wasn't, then it was for 4 nights, then 6 etc etc. So frustrating, and you end up doing exactly the same, and to cover ourselves we also booked a pitch elsewhere, and then cancelled it.
My advice is to hang in there. cancellations are taking place right up to the last minute
We got there in the end, but this needs sorting and investment is required. It seems there is plenty of money available when a name change is required......
On the plus side, I still think that this club is better than the alternative C and CC, and fringe benefits such as discounts for members do mount up
0 -
The site we wanted was available for 7 nights, then it wasn't, then it was for 4 nights, then 6 etc etc. So frustrating, and you end up doing exactly the same, and to cover ourselves we also booked a pitch elsewhere, and then cancelled it.
Far better to book it for what you can get, say the four nights you mention, then look to extend it. If you book something else that has to be cancelled before you can book the same dates elsewhere and by the time you’ve done that those dates might have gone, with no guarantee of getting those you cancelled back. I’ve one at the moment I have booked for two nights and I am checking periodically trying to extend it to three.
0 -
It doesnt always work like that. We are booked at one site until the 12th July, but wanted to move on. The earliest I could get at our preferred site was the 14th, and I don't fancy 2 nights in a lay by. It was either go home, or book elsewhere
The system is flawed
0 -
Timboc, not wishing to be rude but, be perfectly honest, I think attempting to book on 28 June for 12 July is expecting an awful lot in this year of all years. I’m sorry you didn't get what you wanted and I hope you sort something but, please, don’t blame the booking system for not having what you wanted at a very late stage.
3 -
With the situation as it with covid +staycations sites with a lot of organisations since late last year in many areas have been filling up,we booked our tour in January which starts Tomorrow and getting back about the middle of September, and we are staying at 11 sites in all,
0 -
We always use a mixture of Club and non-club sites, so always manage to get somewhere. Out of the main season, I usually stick to Club sites, but for the main holidays I vary it a little and often look at sites on the UKCampsite website. At the moment we are at Durham Grange CAMC site, but are moving up to South Meadows (private site) near Bamborough. On the way back we're booked in at Knaresborough CAMC...
When we go South, later on, I've booked Plough Lane, Chippenham (Private), Exbridge Lakeside(CAMC), Globe Vale, Redruth (Private), Putts Corner (CAMC) and Devizes (C&CC).
Haven't booked any further on, but others will be CAMC sites in the autumn/winter. I'm sure we'll get on somewhere...
David
1 -
Ditto, there’s seldom a time when something that at least ‘will do’ can’t be found. There’s some great commercial sites out there, but there’s also some that make you appreciate the CMC offer, especially in the silly season. This year is undoubtedly exceptional and challenging.
0 -
Peedee
I take it you will get all your deposit back if having to cancell?
Where as when on a long tour as we are ,and others it seems are trying to do when it is now to late as sites are booked up, making it ni on imposible?
The very big advantage over most other organisations ,is no deposits and alterations were in the past quite easy via the website or a phone call to the sites concerned that has been more diifcult with the big rise in membership and Staycations
Hence the very limited availability on some caravan club sites,compared to ,it seems, much more availability with other oganisations
And to get at this late stage a tour put together having to rely on late pitch availability ,which can happen for a miriad of reasons not what some seem to think
0 -
Not wishing to get deeply into the thorny issue of deposits, but although generally not refundable I’ve had several occasions where the commercial campsite has been more than willing to change the booking dates, even on the basis of a holding date for periods well in advance. It’s not a refund but it’s better than nothing. Latest example South Lytchett Manor near Poole - excellent site.
0 -
I take it you will get all your deposit back if having to cancell?
Not sure because I haven't taken a great deal of notice of the terms because it would have to be a really bad disaster for me to cancel in which case the loss of the deposit would be acceptable. I do know that I can move the dates if there is a need and that was good enough for me.
peedee
1 -
There is also a disadvantage of no deposits, it can induce cancelled bookings and skew availability. We use a mixture of sites, both clubs, CLs, rallies and others which are none club, I would feel very limited sticking to club sites.
This year I booked well ahead for some sites but have not had problems finding somewhere to go.
3 -
I agree it may at times may affect pitch availability? but with so many other reasons for pitches becoming available ,it would also be the same on ony organisations sites ,it seems it is more noticable with the more popular organisations with high occupancy levels on sites
0 -
Popular sites, belonging to any organisation are limited by their popularity, whether you've paid a membership fee or not. Membership isn't the key to getting a pitch but gives you reduced price access to a fairly standardised network in the case of CAMC. Plus other benefits that some find useful.
If your sole purpose is to book a pitch on a certain site on a certain date club membership might not fulfil your needs.
1 -
I’m not an advocate for deposits, but there is no doubt the current system does skew the bookings, particularly at weekends. Personally I would prefer to live with it and continue with the ease of booking / amending. As to occupancy, of the 3 C&CC sites we have stayed at 2 were just about full, the other about three quarters. The use of deposits might mean they are later filling up, but fill up they do. At least in these unusual times.
2 -
I'm not blaming the system for not having what I wanted, and I am fully aware of the difficulties booking 'this years of all years'
I was using the Late Availability tab which, by default, is for those of wanting to book sites late!
If you ever use this you will see a spreadsheet of availability of sites either nationally, or in your preferred area, and this is where the problem shows itself.
If you visit this area, then pitches hop between being available and not being available, so clearly members are booking and then cancelling.
I don't think your reply was rude, just patronising.
1 -
Really ,i have yet even this year found any problems with getting a pitch when needed on cc sites this year ,the problems this year have been increased when late bookers seem to expect a pitch without thinking it seems.that others may have got there first,and a lot of negative reviews and comments seem to be "screen name new members?"
0 -
Perhaps the new members, who have just picked up their van get suckered in by the hype. Then once they have parted with the membership fee, find the reality of booking in a staycation year to be different to what they expected.
0 -
I thought your words "The system is flawed" was a strong indicator that you were blaming the system, Timboc.
I consider my earlier response to be absolutely factual. I’m sorry if you found that patronising.
2 -
I don't understand the point you are making. "Late Bookers" will no doubt include many new members who have much less chance of finding availability when pitches are booked far in advance by old hands like yourself (as you have said) with a system that allows them to do this.
0 -
Anyone who begins a sentence 'not wishing to be rude' has one intention, and thats to be rude.
Had you bothered to read my intial post, you would have realised the context of my words 'the sysem is flawed' which I stand by.
The only point of having a Late Availability tab, is for members wanting to book at a late stage, and its clear that many members are using it.
Its flawed, because one is able to continually book, cancel and re book until you get something near to your preferred option, and its obvious when you use it that this is what is happening.
I'm not sure if its your intention to be argumentatative, but thats how you come across
3 -
Timboc, being rude was not my intention at all. In fact, I strived to remain polite. You have applied your own assumption and interpretation to my words.
I dispute your definition of 'flawed'. The ability to book and cancel is a USP of the club. I think you have missed the point there.
I am not being argumentative. We are merely debating from different standpoints and my view differs from yours. It doesn’t make either of us right or wrong. Therefore, I suggest we leave it be and accept that each of us is entitled to our opinion.
2 -
Its flawed, because one is able to continually book, cancel and re book until you get something near to your preferred option, and its obvious when you use it that this is what is happening.
At the risk of being argumentative 😉 I think it is very far from obvious. The only thing it shows is that folk who have booked have cancelled for some reason. Or pitches have become available for some other reason. Not that the same people have been continually booking and cancelling.
3 -
Apparently is from your perspective I would say
Well it would appear that anyone who disagrees with you or posts something you do not like is either rude, patronising, or argumentative. As such I'll leave it there.
2
