Easter booking madness

richharry193
richharry193 Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited October 2021 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We’ve been in the club for about 12 years and we’ve gone on tonight with our autistic son who gets obsessed about where we go on holiday to try anext book for Easter thinking we were booking early to find that loads of the sites are already booked up!! 7 months in advance and lots of the main sites we can’t book for Easter weekend. This is madness! 

my question is simply how many of these will be double booked as people can’t make their minds up, book multiple sites and then will then cancel leaving people who just want to book one holiday at a time out of luck.

we’ve had this a few times with last minute cancellations and sudden availability when we couldn’t book before.

it would be interesting if the club made a one site only booking rule what the scene would look like then - it can surely easily be done

i know this post may drive the madness further but I’ve never known it like this before!!

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Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2021 #2

    You can only make one booking for any dates the system will not allow any more than one

    Since the Staycation. holidays have taken off  and  the very large increase in LV ownership as well ,, is it seems with the shortfall in pitches at peak times , people are making sure they have got pitches booked early 

    If  more  people who normally go abroad decide to then not stay in this country then some more pitches may becone available

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #3

    Because the the Club have a rolling booking system, allowing booking up to a year in advance they tend to book and the current system allows cancellation without risk. I think we are awaiting so changes to the booking system that might help?

    David

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,140 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #4

    Easter is a very popular time and I suspect there will still be people choosing a staycation rather than going overseas next Spring which will add to the rush for pitches. There are thousands more Cvans and MHs in use now than in pre-covid days as well and people are taking advantage of the ability to book 12 months ahead.

    None of that helps you now but you can rest assured that, as JV described, double booking is not possible. 

    I hope you find something to suit.

     

  • MalcMc
    MalcMc Forum Participant Posts: 71
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    edited October 2021 #5

    Booking in advance is the only way to get into Black Knowle, being smug here, yes I am there for Easter, we live fairly local to the New Forest and visit regularly, but this will be only our second time at B/K, I find the system fair, as stated you cannot double book dates, planning ahead can be a pain, as soon as my new work diary comes I plan my next year, works for us so no complaints. 

  • kalamitty55
    kalamitty55 Forum Participant Posts: 82
    edited October 2021 #6

    i never bother going at bank holidays too many people out that dont normally go.  understand your problem though maybe try a private site in the area you want,  and use club sites for when you can get on.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2021 #7

    We are going.to Black Knowl in May and we have three bookings to get a weeksurprised

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,601 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #8

    Richharry

    There are more and more C.L.s dotted around the country that actually provide the same type of site experience as staying on a club site. If you are after one with Hardstandings, Serviced pitch (or not), with a shower and toilet then let the members on here know which area you are looking for and maybe we can recommend something that will be a decent alternative.

    You should end up with more space as well.

    Obviously you might not want the C.L.s with Grass or without showers etc. so let us know what your requirements are and see if the forum can find you an answer.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2021 #9

    Easter at Black Knowle! You won't need a pitch. By the time you get through the snarl up at Lyndhurst, it'll be time to go home again.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2021 #10

    Not if you come in from the earlier junction of the Motorwaycool

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2021 #11

    Can you expand on that one, I'm heading there later this year and would be interested in your route...

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2021 #12

    It takes  a bit longer? we follow  the HGV route off at Junc 2 M27 Via Totton and A35 brings you in to Lyndhurst at the bottom of High Street turn left on the one way system and away we go ,misses the queue when coming off at Junc 1 

    Going the other way if you use the Rninefield ornimental drive it brings you out on the A35 turn right and it tends to miss the queue into Lyndhurst

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #13

    Perhaps he means coming into Lyndhurst via the M271 and Totton and Ashurst? The problem with the direct M27 route into Lyndhurst is the double dog leg in the town. Coming the other way all you have to do is to turn right onto the Brockenhurst road. Not sure it helps going the other way?

    David

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2021 #14

    We could come A303, A36 to Totton then Ashhurst and into Lyndhurst that way..

    we've cycled the ornamental drive to Brockenhurst from Fordingbridge and, especially with the 6' 6" width signs, doesn't seem a good route?

  • MalcMc
    MalcMc Forum Participant Posts: 71
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    edited October 2021 #15

    I think what JVB means is come off the M27 @ J2, follow the signs to Dibden/ Hythe / Fawley, its a dual carriage way, then turn off onto A35 Lyndhurst, you come in on the back route which then takes you back onto the A337 to Brockenhurst.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2021 #16

    Got it....which is where I would arrive from the A36.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #17

    With a motorhome, coming from the SW, we would miss Lyndhurst altogether and come down via Burley from the A31.smile

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2021 #18

    As it happens, for this visit we will be coming from the north...Oxford A34 so will come in 'round the back' as suggested...

    I'll try the Burley route on the way home.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #19

    BB

    What day are you travelling? If its not at the weekend or later on a Friday you may find junction 2 off the M27 direct to Lyndhurst perfectly OK.

    David

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2021 #20

    David, unfortunately it's a Saturday....hence my fun and game trying to get that 'missing day'...which we do now. Thanks.

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #21

    I very much doubt it will help as it has been already pointed out there are lots of LVs out there and if able we shall still be booking 12 months in advance and paying out our deposit and perhaps if it works like the CCC if you cancel and book another pitch you keep your deposit

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited October 2021 #22

    You haven't mentioned where you want to go. Region/County or some clue even.

    There are plenty of club sites with free pitches for Easter (Easter Sunday 17th April weekend may be a bit busier but a week around that is not too difficult). There are many more commercial sites too, not to mention CL's.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2021 #23

    it would be interesting if the club made a one site only booking rule what the scene would look like then - it can surely easily be done

    The scene would have plenty of vacancies as many members who tour rather than sit on one site would bot use CMC

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #24

    OP is talking about being able to book more than one Club site for the same dates I think. Why this myth persists I do not know🤷‍♀️ All you have to do is try to do it.........impossible. But no, some seem to think it is.

    You might be able to book a Club Site and an AS Site, but that’s different.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,601 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #25

    We're not going to know where he wants to go unless he can be bothered to reply, which at the moment doesn't seem likely.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2021 #26

    Anybody with an iota of common sense should realise the impossibility with a single membership

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2021 #27
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #28

    And yet the myth of multiple bookings for the same date gets peddled time and time again on here! frown

    To the OP - as others have said,  give us a clue as to what area (s) you might be interested in and you're likely to get any number of suggestions,  club, CL or others.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,140 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #29

    M, looking at a few of the responses on here, I'm not surprised the OP hasn't returned🙁. 

    As for the myth about double booking, I can understand newbies not knowing the truth and decent people wouldn't even think of trying it to check.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2021 #30

    The Op has according to his /her Op.  been a member for 12yrs?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,140 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2021 #31

    I stand corrected but anyone who doesn't use the forum, or who hasn't come across a difficulty with booking before, probably would not be aware.