New Site Booking System
Comments
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I would not be surprised if The Caravan Club started offering such a product
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According to posts from some on here and others who it directly affects the demographics of this club seems mostly retired. who have been loyal for many years, and as others have posted also can come with health issues, that can and do require very short notice cancellation and amendments to bookings
It needs some form of recognition to those facts when making major changes to to how ,the sites networks booking system is implemented
As for the suggestion of cancellation insurances they are it seems very much age related with the cost ,
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All of us will have to adapt JVB, many have to adapt already due to personal limitations and have done so for years. We're all faced with a new deposit system whatever our circumstances. It sounds as though you are upset about changes to your personal life and obviously this is understood by those of us who read your posts and commiserate with you.
I have had to cancel a booking this year, I could do it easily, it was well in advance and I presume if all works well with the new system this will work out too. If I have to do it at the last minute I'm not expecting any favours even if it's a no fault cancellation. There will be some out there who will no doubt do their utmost to recoup the deposits. There are many permutations!
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It would after all, be rather churlish to relinquish something that is free eh jv?
JK
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I am not posting because of our own problems ,although it has brought to the fore ,just what many have to think about ,when trying to to lead as normal life as they can,
As stated by posts and noted on the many sites we have used ,the USP of this club ,has made it by far, the most important thing ,many others in our situation and far worse in some cases ,have appreciated when trying to have a break away from their daily situations
Without which they would not be able to,
It is hoped that this being a members club? some recognition of the many members in such situations will be recognised by those who are implementing the alternative booking system
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JV, you and I are in the same boat as it also very much directly affects me but I still say it is my responsibility and I don't expect anyone else, or any organisation, to give me some form of special treatment. It is for me and me alone to decide whether to accept or reject what is on offer and I stand or fall by my decisions.
I didn't mention insurance🤔
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We have a multi trip one with the post office just to cover our holiday cottages but will cover the club as well now.
Just click on the UK only when completing. Quite cheap really.
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+1
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Other posters have mentioned insurance, just replied as a general post,
we have noticed just how many people when on sites ,do tend to ask when they see a mobility scooter and we are sitting out, (OH tends to find it easier to sit on hers),if we use our caravan often, ,when we have explained that we tour a lot. ,but not sure about the future ,with the possible deposits system ,they nearly always say they would not be able to get away, because they may need to adjust or cancel at short notice, unless deposits are refundable,
It very much needs clarification for that very reason ,
Not because of ours and it seems many others situation,,
I
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I have had a look at that. £100 excess means most booking would not be covered unless cancellation was between the credit card being debited the day before and the non-arrival. Seventeen day trip limit can be extended for more premium on top of the £270.
Think I'll just stick with throwing away the deposit if anything goes wrong!
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Hey do as you wish, I'm not on commission from the post office nor suggesting anyone should get it, I was simply answering K's query.
As I said we have it in place for the holiday cottages that we're using a lot now and where the costs are far higher. Although I remember paying quite a high three figure sum for 17 days at the Cromer site in 2019.
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Morning
I understand your and "it seems many others" perceived situation. I also understand your long term membership status. But, we are now entering a new era of the Caravan and Motorhome Club which includes a new system to book pitches (still in April by the way). If you have to cancel within the time period (not amend) the deposit will be forfeit. There will be however a dedicated channel to discuss personal circumstance if you feel you'd like that deposit back. I don't know details but I'm just letting you know.
Just for the record I look on other media including the busiest from Motorhome Fun and in my opinion the overall majority of people are all for the new deposit system not the "vocal minority" you mention.
JK
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Indeed. Especially if they modelled any offering along the lines of their overseas insurance. When we cancelled an over there booking with red pennant the excesses totalled £110. Add on the expense of the insurance and your deposit loss would have to be very large indeed to make it worthwhile.
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My point on the PO insurance is that while it is representative of UK travel insurance, it really is not tailored to the protection of deposits on caravan site bookings (especially when the full amount has not yet been paid). The best organisation to offer cover would be The Caravan Club themselves since they already have some considerable experience in insurance products, plus they have the customers' attention at point of booking.
All it would require is an option button to select "deposit protection" and the addition of the appropriate fee. We could well discuss what others on here think would a suitable fee per booking. Or could the Club simply incorporate deposit protection in all bookings?
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I don't think insurance is a practical solution as there are so many situations that come along in life not just personal but family issues that can cause a holiday to be cancelled, for the cost of a camping holiday the insurance cost would outweigh the loss.
I suspect a lot of forward booking by long stay members is to ensure a full 2-3 week stay before the weekends are blocked,I believe the weekend block bookings will continue and pitch availability still be a problem.
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I agree.....insurance,unless possibly offered by the club, does not seem the way to go here.
The premiums on the Post Office one would probably be more than the deposits lost, and the length of trip covered is insufficient for us.
Not really suitable for touring holidays.
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Block booking is such an emotive term. Surely if 50 or so folk book the weekend at a particular site, they are just bookings. Even though the weekend may show as unavailable for anyone wanting a longer stay. They are probably working in the week and fancy a weekend break.
We book 6 / 7 weekends in a row at different sites during our tours. Perhaps we are guilty of block booking.🤔0 -
Agree Steve. We stopped booking crossings where we could not afford to lose the fare, or were not able to cancel for a small fee, something like £20, and as we did not book sites, we just waited till we were sure we would be travelling to buy the RP insurance.
Have prices on RP not gone silly now for the over 70s? Not been abroad since 2017.
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JK posted..."If you have to cancel within the time period (not amend) the deposit will be forfeit."
perhaps you've answered my earlier question?...changing to a different site and/or a later date seems to me like you would use the same 'rolled on' deposit?
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Fair enough Nav. And yes on some holiday cottages booking sites you can 'pay by the day', as it were, for insurance.
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again I wasn't selling it or promoting it. I just answered your question
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We also at times book a weekend first as part of a tour, ,as they are the most difficult to get a pitch, then fill in the Sunday or Mondays to Fridays as we put ,the tour together, so we could also be "block booking?"as some seem to think is a problem for those who do not "book early enough"
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Motorhome fun is in the In infancy of LV ownership and from when I have had a look ,seems to be monopolised by a lot of new motorcaravan owners ,who have it seems no real concept of what the club have thrown away in respect of the present booking system
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