New Site Booking System
Comments
-
I think block booking is a valid term I'm not so sure it's much different from speculative booking when booked up to 12 months in advance, I book 2 to 3 two week holidays well in advance with the full intention of taking them and consider that a block booking, my point was that this discussion is about coming changes to the booking system and there are more reasons for lack of pitch availability than speculative bookings such as weekends being fully booked preventing full week bookings, I am not anti working people booking weekends but can see no reason for not recognising it as a pitch availability also.
0 -
JK
If you want opinions on things, Social Media is certainly the place to look
I would just question how many of those on Motorhome Fun baying for deposits to be taken by the Club actually use Club sites at all? I have seen it on other forums as well, people who have no interest in the Club but happy to offer an opinion! On the other hand we don't know how many of the older demographic are not involved in Social Media and are perhaps more in JVB's camp of using lots of sites, and as such providing the Club with a lot of income, who could find the new T&C's quite difficult to deal with. No doubt some may even find it quite stressful. I don't know whether the Club will monitor this but if they get a greater number of long established members giving up membership, and probably the hobby, would that be considered a success for the new system, I suspect not? David
6 -
Whilst I have some sympathy for the CAMH Club with respect to the number of cancellations, one of the key selling points that encouraged me to sign up was the flexibility on holiday planning. This now seems to be being eroded. I'll be very keen to learn of the detailed T&C around cancellation through a change of site (rather than a total cancellation). I'd like to see the deposit credit applied to a site-change within the 3 weeks - as in my view the CAMH have not 'lost' any money by me moving from one site to another for the same nights. I also think (but have no basis for this assumption) that a significant proportion of the 25% cancellation rate is due to people changing sites rather than no-shows.
They say "it’s not just a small minority of ‘block bookers’ who are cancelling, almost half of all members who make a booking each year make at least one amendment or cancellation too" as if it is a bad thing. I don't believe it is & the 'flexibility of the offer' is a key part of selecting this organisation to provide a camping pitch for my caravan. After all they charge a £56 annual fee for something. My year is planned out now but if the cancellation charges are too steep in 2022 then I'll have to review my 2023 renewal.
6 -
I can’t see the issue of weekend pitch availability is ever going to be resolved, unless you don’t allow 2 day weekend bookings and force folk to have set arrival days for longer stays, as some commercials do at peak times. Not something any of us would wish for I presume. When we were working our holidays started and finished on weekends, plus we booked a few separate weekends throughout the year. It is therefore hardly surprising they are the first to glow orange, particularly the Saturdays.
2 -
I agree and in the past it hasn't been a huge issue for me as I would book the available week days then book the weekends as they became available which they invariably did, but with the new system the pitch type has been put into the melting pot making it very difficult.
2 -
HW, your-‘I’ll have to review my 2023 renewal’, that will go a small way to alleviate the booking problems from the rest of us. Thank you that is very altruistic of you. We just need a few thousand more with that noble attitude👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
2 -
Well that is your opinion. I'm lucky enough to be able to plan my year ahead with some certainty and I make few changes over that period anyway .. so I'm anticipating little impact on me. Or would you prefer a system that only opens up all pitches 3 weeks ahead and go back to the free for all that we had a few years ago which clogged up the CAMH booking system? For me, be it 36, 24,12, 6 or 3 weeks ahead I can (largely) cope with that but it won't solve the problem of those who missed out on booking a pitch because they weren't organised enough to log-on in time....
0 -
I just don't understand this changing sites business. Why do members do it? It is not something I recall ever doing or had reason to do. Once I have made my mind up to book a site, that is it and I stick to it. Surely if you cannot be certain which site you want or even dates to go away, you are specualting in booking a site which you ultimately change?
peedee
0 -
KJ, our bank account gives worldwide insurance cover. It also includes breakdown cover plus other bits and pieces so is quite competitive if one takes a few holidays per year. Unfortunately they do have an age limit, which thankfully I have not yet reached.
I have just spent the best part £400 on deposits for cottage holidays this year so it will cover that, but I wouldn't be bothered with it for CAMC deposits but it might come in handy if you pay upfront and are in danger of forfeiting a larger amount.
Anyway for CAMC bookings the problem for me is moot as I tend to use CLs for most of my UK trips with the occasional CAMC site and Independent one thrown in. I have found a lot more CL owners now asking for deposits, again due to no shows, and I have a lot of sympathy with their problem. Last year nearly 50% of CL trips had a deposit paid and a couple of stays had to be paid a few days in advance of arrival.
As Brue said upthread we have been fortunate having no deposits for a while but if the CAMC are losing a lot of income through not letting pitches then something has to be done. A few people will throw a tantrum and leave but the vast majority will continue IMO.
0 -
Well, one reason. I’ve just changed one for later in the year to one close to our original choice, but where I could guarantee a HS pitch, given that earlier bookers are going to be second class citizens when it comes to getting such a pitch during this first year of pitch type booking.
1 -
I recall a time we went to the Norfolk broads site booked for 2 weeks the weather was awful gale force winds on the coast miserably wet and misty after 3 days we decided to move sites to Battle in East Sussex the site manager's at both sites couldn't have been more helpful in arranging it, the sun came out at the Dartford bridge we had a fabulous 2 weeks in Battle extending our stay, nobody lost out and a perfect example of a caring flexible club and how loyalty is earned, ahh the good old days.
1 -
We occasionally have second thoughts, or realise we have not done sufficient research. This is a fairly recent problem, due to crowded sites, or not making the right decision in the first place.
Last year, in June/early July, we swapped from Fairlight Wood to Battle as we wanted to be sure of a hardstanding, same dates, and then decided not to go as far east as Lowestoft on our way north and changed to CCC Hertford.
We then realised that we would be arriving late on at CAMC Stamford on a Friday, the site was fully booked, and we would likely end up on grass, so we opted for a nearby CL with serviced HS pitches instead.
And finally we swapped Poolsbrook for a CCC site. All done within the rules. Actually the first year we have made any such changes.
0 -
Ok thanks K.
0 -
Yes, we used to have such a bank account, but I am now well beyond the age limit and have health problems.
We only take caravan holidays, or stay with family, so it has not really been a problem until now.
Happy to pay a deposit for a CL, but have avoided any sites that want to be paid in full something like 4 weeks ahead.
0 -
That is a circumstance which might be brought about by the new booking system. It is not really representative of the conditions prior to the recent announcements. I have bookings but I am not overly concerned that I might end up on a grass pitch!
Arch, I can well understand someone wanting to move on under such circumstances but I was refering to changes made prior to arrival on site. Even so, in the past I have stuck poor weather out under the delusion that it cannot be bad for all of the stay. I long ago learn't if weather is a concern, don't holiday in the UK.
peedee
0 -
I’d like it exactly as it is thanks. It’s been said before & I’m an advocate of it-‘don’t expect the World(C&MC World) to revolve around you it’s too big, it’s best to accept what is best for the majority’👍🏻
1 -
Only once but we moved sites after one night, it was Balbirnie Park and while it was the usual club site and nothing at all wrong with it we just didn't like the lack of light from the trees. It would have been fine for a short stay but we had booked for over a week. In those days there were no rules on leaving early and I wonder if the current rules will still be applied?
0 -
What happens if you book a grass pitch for the summer months and when you arrive the site has had heavy rain for 3 days and the pitches are out of action and the hardstanding pitches are all taken. What happens then. With the weather in this county you cannot guarantee dry spells.
As for this new system you should be able to book a specific pitch number this would stop the scramble for the better pitches.
0 -
Huw
I suppose the Club can only give the broad details of cancellations. We tend to book fairly late and often find that not all days are available so we book what is available and keep an eye on availability., over the coming days and weeks If I see the whole period I want is free I would cancel the odd days and then book the complete period I want. In the eyes of the Club I have made a cancellation, maybe more than one if I booked odd days at separate times. So am I part of the problem? The Club have gained more from my perseverance! I can't recall a time when I have booked a site just in case.
Perhaps the current system is just a victim of it's own success in that allowing members to book a year ahead it encourages optimism with people fully intending to honour bookings until something better comes up? Some on here have admitted that they book a couple of slots at the same campsite in the full knowledge that one booking will be cancelled. Despite all this discussion we will have to wait and see how it pans out as I don't image the Club is about to make major changes until they have more data on how the system is running.
David
0 -
You should be able to book a specific pitch number this would stop the scramble for the better pitches.
. . . and leave the lesser pitches unoccupied.
0 -
Huw, others are the complete opposite...even though I'm retired and use the van for about 30 weeks a year, there's no way that I'd be inking in all those at the beginning of a year...I can't think of anything worse...
we go when (and where) the sun shines, along with a booking somewhere for New Year...however, we do have 4 sites (not all Club) booked in a string in June to coincide with a concert but that is a rarity...other than our ferry in January.
we don't do extremely popular sites, nor at peak periods, usually deciding where the next excursion will be just a week or two before we go...so, this means pretty much all of our bookings will booked inside the new notice period..but this also means we will have committed to going (as much as is possible)...
0 -
David
With the scramble for pitches as we found last year ,and will I would think be the same until many members are willing to dip their toes overseas when we have learnt to live with covid
It is not a good avenue to take by cancelling and then trying to rebook as we found out last year, as others fingers are also hovering ,waiting for pitches to appear ,especially near or during peak periods
We have learnt to just book the day/days to fill in the days needed and let the site staff sort it when arriving on the first day
0 -
David, what happens if those missing days don't materialise? You've then got a part holiday for which you've now paid a deposit...
if you cancel, you lose it, if you go away you'll have gaps in the holiday or it will start or end on days you hadn't originally planned.
if this holiday is part of a (distant) tour then this exacerbates the issue...
between a rock and a hard place?
1 -
This one of my concerns about the new system as I have often had to do this, of course once you are within the 21 day period you will end up losing your deposit if you can't get all the days you want. Also if you manage to achieve a full week as I have often done will they refund the excess deposit!!
0 -
As Steve said, it’ll mean less to pay at the time so why worry?
Why not wait and read the details of the scheme when the T&Cs are released as I’m sure everyone's queries will then be resolved. To try to work out answers now is just speculating and we know where speculative activities end - in tears!🤪
0
