Weekender warriors are back in force

135

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  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited August 2016 #62

    We tend to go away for 10 to 20 days at a time and tend to book 2 or 3 sites for each trip. These will always include some weekend days on club or CL sites. We tend to book up to six months ahead so that we can be sure of these 2 or 3 sites per trip being reserved in advance.  We welcome that we are able to do that, to us it is sensible forward planning and avoids last minute disapointments. We never go away just for a weekend as you don't have to when retired, but like most retired folk, can still remember the world of work, and in due course most others  will also get their turn at the retirement game.. Winking

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,657 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #63

    A number of commercial sites will not permit just a Friday/Saturday night booking in peak times I read. Not sure how true how widespread that is generally but I have read such when I have looked at one or another site's web page. I am glad that the CC does
    not have that restriction.

    I am unsure what booking restriction C&CC have on some sites.

    The C&CC do have mimimum booking periods. See link - http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/minimumbookingperiods/

    Wonder if a moderator could make this a live link please.

    Thanks Mod, whichever one it was.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #64

    Thanks for that

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2016 #65
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #66

    I presumed that it was an attempt to maximise income in the same way as other commercial sites sometimes do so that they have more room in their booking tables to try and ensure that pitches are not full at weekend but the same pitches remain empty at week
    days.

    Personally I don't see it as friendly. Just business. Maybe the CC will follow suit - I personally hope not.

     

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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    edited August 2016 #67

    I tried to book a single night stay at Milestone AS on the August bank holiday but was told that for bank holidays they have a minimum 2 night booking rule which they've just brought in this year.

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited August 2016 #68

    I suppose it is all a question of degree. A business model that has to turn away 7 night stayers in favour of 2 night w/e users can only survive for so long. Any missing or lost revenue will end up with  increasing fees for everyone anyway.
    Sad

  • IamtheGaitor
    IamtheGaitor Forum Participant Posts: 529
    edited August 2016 #69

    The C&CC do have mimimum booking periods. See link - http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/minimumbookingperiods/

     Most of them are only 2 nights though so weekenders can still weekend.  Even the ones that are 3 the logical thing for a long weekend is to book Friday-Saturday- Sunday nights  then leave on Sunday evening rather than having to leave at lunch time. 

    Interesting to see serviced pitches have different minimums - maybe this is what the CC will do, make one type of pitch have restrictions and normal pitches stay the same so there should be opportunities for everyone to book what they need?

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #70

    I suppose it is all a question of degree. A business model that has to turn away 7 night stayers in favour of 2 night w/e users can only survive for so long. Any missing or lost revenue will end up with  increasing fees for everyone anyway.
    Sad

    I agree but I already pay more to cover that loss ...... all site usrs do

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
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    edited August 2016 #71

    I suppose it is all a question of degree. A business model that has to turn away 7 night stayers in favour of 2 night w/e users can only survive for so long. Any missing or lost revenue will end up with  increasing fees for everyone anyway.
    Sad

    Write your comments here...

    An interesting opinion on CC's business management strategy - but they were founded in 1907 and they are still the biggest in the UK. When do you expect your prophesy to come true? 

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited August 2016 #72

    I suppose it is all a question of degree. A business model that has to turn away 7 night stayers in favour of 2 night w/e users can only survive for so long. Any missing or lost revenue will end up with  increasing fees for everyone anyway.
    Sad

    Write your comments here...

    An interesting opinion on CC's business management strategy - but they were founded in 1907 and they are still the biggest in the UK. When do you expect your prophesy to come true? 

    My prophesy ? A bit grand Jenny Winking   But then there are those who say they can't get on ( some ) sites for a week due to weekends
    being full.. There are some sites ( not CC ) that require minimum 3 night stays in peak periods.. If these things are indeed happening, then its really just another situation where there are too many users for too few places in peak times.. It just seems a
    shame income wise if any site is losing a 7 night booking because weekends on that site are full.. Those who want to stay longer really do need to book earlier, but such is life.
    Innocent

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #73

    20 years ago I had my last holiday with my late wife. We were away just over 7 weeks in main school holiday time moving every 2,3 or 4 days as we wished. Even then there must have been occasional 'full at weekend' concerns as I booked each saturday of the
    trip in advance. 

    One of the factors effecting CC site costs is doubtless the fact that often sites are full over weekend and less so in the week, Site usage is however still high from what I observe. If I were running a site in a popular area I might well make the decision
    during school holidays to have a minimum booking period

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #74

    I suppose it is all a question of degree. A business model that has to turn away 7 night stayers in favour of 2 night w/e users can only survive for so long. Any missing or lost revenue will end up with  increasing fees for everyone anyway. Sad

    Apart from a few of the honey pot sites, where is the evidence this is happening. A simple check of availability shows it is very  easy to book a full week at a site for all but a week including the comming weekend. For instance, Cirencester any week rest of August and September. Malvern, any weekend rest of August and September.

  • redtrace68
    redtrace68 Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited August 2016 #75

    it's the saturday night bookers that get my goat, loads of sites available for Friday and Sunday of the upcoming BH weekend, just Saturday is full nearly everywhere, therefore staying somewhere for a weekend is nigh impossible, whereas mr "when I've decided
    what the weather is like" who booked only saturday can decide to amend his booking and add the extra nights ...

    Maybe next year I need to join this selfish group and book all the Saturdays and then just cancel or amend closer to the booking time, just to make sure I can have a weekend away ;)

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #76

    it's the saturday night bookers that get my goat, loads of sites available for Friday and Sunday of the upcoming BH weekend, just Saturday is full nearly everywhere, therefore
    staying somewhere for a weekend is nigh impossible, whereas mr "when I've decided what the weather is like" who booked only saturday can decide to amend his booking and add the extra nights ...

    Maybe next year I need to join this selfish group and book all the Saturdays and then just cancel or amend closer to the booking time, just to make sure I can have a weekend away ;)

    or perhaps you are being selfish already by stopping someone who wants to book a full week including a weekend.

     

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited August 2016 #77

    I very much doubt that someone will book just the Saturday night unless it's for a stopover. 

    As has been said more times than I can remember Saturdays will be fully booked because of overlapping bookings 

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #78

    it's the saturday night bookers that get my goat, loads of sites available for Friday and Sunday of the upcoming BH weekend, just Saturday is full nearly everywhere, therefore staying somewhere for a weekend is nigh impossible, whereas mr "when I've decided
    what the weather is like" who booked only saturday can decide to amend his booking and add the extra nights ...

    Maybe next year I need to join this selfish group and book all the Saturdays and then just cancel or amend closer to the booking time, just to make sure I can have a weekend away ;)

    If you'd read some of the explanations on this thread about the myth that Saturdays are booked up by "selfish members" then you would understand that is not the case.  There are various permutations of holiday periods, Saturday to Saturday, Friday to following
    week Sunday, long weekends.  Saying that Saturdays are booked by selfish people is one huge assumption, for which you have no evidence.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
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    edited August 2016 #79

    it's the saturday night bookers that get my goat, loads of sites available for Friday and Sunday of the upcoming BH weekend, just Saturday is full nearly everywhere, therefore staying somewhere for a weekend is nigh impossible, whereas mr "when I've decided
    what the weather is like" who booked only saturday can decide to amend his booking and add the extra nights ...

    Maybe next year I need to join this selfish group and book all the Saturdays and then just cancel or amend closer to the booking time, just to make sure I can have a weekend away ;)

    Write your comments here...

    Maybe you should consider the possibility that many people stay until Sunday, returning to work on Monday, while others start as early as possible before a week away. The Saturday night overlap being a consequence.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #80

    it's the saturday night bookers that get my goat, loads of sites available for Friday and Sunday of the upcoming BH weekend, just Saturday is full nearly everywhere, therefore staying somewhere for a weekend is nigh impossible, whereas mr "when I've decided
    what the weather is like" who booked only saturday can decide to amend his booking and add the extra nights ...

    Maybe next year I need to join this selfish group and book all the Saturdays and then just cancel or amend closer to the booking time, just to make sure I can have a weekend away ;)

    Are you seriously saying that you think the "Saturday problem" is down to folk just booking that one night - on a Bank Holiday weekend? I think that's a little far fetched, don't you, on reflection. Much more likely to be due to overlapping stays as has
    already been suggested.

    I'm still a little puzzled though why folk who have left it until now to book are surprised that weekends in July/August should be busy! Undecided

  • redtrace68
    redtrace68 Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited August 2016 #81

    it's the saturday night bookers that get my goat, loads of sites available for Friday and Sunday of the upcoming BH weekend, just Saturday is full nearly everywhere, therefore staying somewhere for a weekend is nigh impossible, whereas
    mr "when I've decided what the weather is like" who booked only saturday can decide to amend his booking and add the extra nights ...

    Maybe next year I need to join this selfish group and book all the Saturdays and then just cancel or amend closer to the booking time, just to make sure I can have a weekend away ;)

    Are you seriously saying that you think the "Saturday problem" is down to folk just booking that one night - on a Bank Holiday weekend? I think that's a little far fetched, don't you, on reflection. Much more likely to be due to overlapping stays as has
    already been suggested.

    I'm still a little puzzled though why folk who have left it until now to book are surprised that weekends in July/August should be busy! Undecided

    Hmmm, I guess it must just be me then, but going through over 20 CC sites for the BH weekend and ALL showed the same availability pattern of just Saturday being unavailable ... if it was for overlapping bookings I would be mightily surprised that it was
    so coincidental over such a number and variety of sites ...

     

    I'm guessing that really to get the most out of the club I should give up working and use mid week options I suppose.  One of the big things promoted on the club's own homepage is the late availability for August ... but from the replies on this thread it
    would seem that isn't to enjoy a complete weekend on one site ... so I guess I'll not bother contributing to this thread as it already seems like folk don't like to accept there may be any other explanation other than "overlapping bookings" or "stopovers"
    in the middle of a Bank Holiday weekend ... Ho Hum Undecided

  • IamtheGaitor
    IamtheGaitor Forum Participant Posts: 529
    edited August 2016 #82

    I'm guessing that really to get the most out of the club I should give up working and use mid week options I suppose.  One of the big things promoted on the club's own homepage is the late availability for August ... but from the replies on this
    thread it would seem that isn't to enjoy a complete weekend on one site ... so I guess I'll not bother contributing to this thread as it already seems like folk don't like to accept there may be any other explanation other than "overlapping bookings" or "stopovers"
    in the middle of a Bank Holiday weekend ... Ho Hum Undecided

    I presume the best 'evidence' that they are people booking just to 'hold' the site in case they want it would be to see how many pitches on that key Saturday night become free a few days before if its forecast to be bad weather.   

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited August 2016 #83

    it's the saturday night bookers that get my goat, loads of sites available for Friday and Sunday of the upcoming BH weekend, just Saturday is full nearly everywhere, therefore staying somewhere for a weekend is nigh impossible, whereas mr "when I've decided what the weather is like" who booked only saturday can decide to amend his booking and add the extra nights ...

    Maybe next year I need to join this selfish group and book all the Saturdays and then just cancel or amend closer to the booking time, just to make sure I can have a weekend away ;)

    Are you seriously saying that you think the "Saturday problem" is down to folk just booking that one night - on a Bank Holiday weekend? I think that's a little far fetched, don't you, on reflection. Much more likely to be due to overlapping stays as has already been suggested.

    I'm still a little puzzled though why folk who have left it until now to book are surprised that weekends in July/August should be busy! Undecided

    Hmmm, I guess it must just be me then, but going through over 20 CC sites for the BH weekend and ALL showed the same availability pattern of just Saturday being unavailable ... if it was for overlapping bookings I would be mightily surprised that it was so coincidental over such a number and variety of sites ...

     

    I'm guessing that really to get the most out of the club I should give up working and use mid week options I suppose.  One of the big things promoted on the club's own homepage is the late availability for August ... but from the replies on this thread it would seem that isn't to enjoy a complete weekend on one site ... so I guess I'll not bother contributing to this thread as it already seems like folk don't like to accept there may be any other explanation other than "overlapping bookings" or "stopovers" in the middle of a Bank Holiday weekend ... Ho Hum Undecided

    Write your comments here...Sorrry for the long list but I extracted the site availablility from the CC website and filtered where Saturday <>0 and looks like around 90+ sites have pitches.  I personally booked the Saturday night only at Black Horse Farm earlier this week as part of a tour of Kent over teh BH weekend as being in a MH we dont want to stay in one site for 3 days but want to tour around!!

    Selfish mmmmmm

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #84

    Two facts, having checked late availability for the Bank Holiday weekend -

    1) Virtually all the sites full on Saturday have very few spaces on the Friday/Sunday - this suggests surely very few "one nighters"?

    2) Every region, except I believe East Midlands has at least one, and in some cases more, site with ample availability for that weekend. So unless you are determined on a particular site ( in which case surely it would have been sensible to book early) there
    is plenty of opportunity to book a site.

    Having said that, I wouldn't go near any "main" site at August Bank Holiday! Happy

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited August 2016 #85
    Site Fri 26 Sat 27 Sun 28
    Cheltenham Racecourse  36 27 31
    Cheltenham Racecourse  12 12 12
    Henley Four Oaks  1 1 2
    Malvern Hills  51 34 44
    Moorhampton  21 20 22
    Dockray Meadow  2 1 1
    Dockray Meadow  19 19 21
    Englethwaite Hall  9 8 15
    Camelford  28 31 36
    Exeter Racecourse  38 31 41
    Exeter Racecourse  8 8 8
    Hillhead  1 1 1
    Ilfracombe  54 56 56
    Looe  23 39 60
    Marazion  24 23 25
    Merrose Farm  80 83 97
    Merrose Farm  4 4 4
    Modbury  43 45 50
    Plymouth Sound  30 27 34
    Putts Corner  15 15 38
    Ramslade  6 4 12
    Ramslade  3 4 5
    Ramslade  8 9 12
    St Agnes Beacon  4 5 5
    St Agnes Beacon  44 45 53
    Steamer Quay  1 1 1
    Steamer Quay  6 2 5
    Stover  2 2 3
    Stover  34 31 34
    Trewethett Farm  2 8 19
    Trewethett Farm  4 5 6
    Willingcott  36 30 40
    Incleboro Fields  1 1 14
    Mildenhall  3 1 2
    Thetford Forest  35 32 31
    Nunnykirk  21 14 17
    High Onn  15 17 17
    High Onn  14 12 13
    Uttoxeter Racecourse  22 19 22
    Altnaharra  10 8 7
    Altnaharra  8 8 8
    Ayr Craigie Gardens  49 50 52
    Balbirnie Park  6 7 9
    Balbirnie Park  31 32 34
    Brora  31 35 36
    Brora  1 1 1
    Bunree  3 1 3
    Bunree  37 39 36
    Clachan  10 10 9
    Clachan  17 18 18
    Culloden Moor  45 41 46
    Dunnet Bay  37 37 42
    Forfar Lochside  6 5 7
    Forfar Lochside  23 21 32
    Forfar Lochside  2 1 4
    Garlieston  3 4 6
    Garlieston  6 4 5
    Kinlochewe  37 37 37
    Maragowan  39 41 53
    Morvich  2 1 1
    Morvich  53 55 49
    New England Bay  72 68 76
    Silverbank  35 37 41
    Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park  20 22 35
    Strathclyde Country Park  44 35 58
    Alderstead Heath  83 85 94
    Alderstead Heath  4 4 4
    Alderstead Heath  2 2 2
    Alderstead Heath  6 5 5
    Black Horse Farm  40 11 28
    Broomfield Farm  4 4 4
    Daleacres  1 1 2
    Fairlight Wood  1 1 1
    Gatwick  1 1 1
    Northbrook Farm  12 8 7
    Northbrook Farm  4 4 5
    Slinfold  3 2 2
    Exebridge Lakeside  36 34 40
    Hurn Lane  32 9 29
    Ilminster  7 7 6
    Ilminster  34 35 34
    Southland  7 7 6
    Southland  83 82 87
    Wincanton Racecourse  16 14 14
    Wincanton Racecourse  21 22 22
    Freshwater East  1 3 1
    Gwern-Y-Bwlch  18 16 17
    Shawsmead  1 3 5
    Chapel Lane  5 3 7
    Chapel Lane  35 30 38
    Chapel Lane  9 7 9
    Much Wenlock  3 3 4
    Much Wenlock  15 15 15
    Much Wenlock  2 2 2
    North Yorkshire Moors  3 3 9
  • redtrace68
    redtrace68 Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited August 2016 #86

    I'll not quote the whole post from MichaelT, but Much Wenlock had nothing last night just to pick an easily remembered one!

    So folk are obviously cancelling bookings ...

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited August 2016 #87

    I'll not quote the whole post from MichaelT, but Much Wenlock had nothing last night just to pick an easily remembered one!

    So folk are obviously cancelling bookings ...

    Write your comments here...so 15 people have cancelled mmmmmmm  are you sure you chose the BH wekend and not this weekend but even then there are available pithces.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #88

    I suppose it is all a question of degree. A business model that has to turn away 7 night stayers in favour of 2 night w/e users can only survive for so long. Any missing or lost revenue will end up with  increasing fees for everyone anyway. Sad

    Apart from a few of the honey pot sites, where is the evidence this is happening. A simple check of availability shows it is very  easy to book a full week at a site for all but a week including the comming weekend. For instance, Cirencester any week rest of August and September. Malvern, any weekend rest of August and September.

    Actually if I were weekending many sites are booked up for the coming Saturday within a reasonable striking distance

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #89

    I very much doubt that someone will book just the Saturday night unless it's for a stopover. 

    As has been said more times than I can remember Saturdays will be fully booked because of overlapping bookings 

    I used to book just Saturday nights to tour through School Summer Hols

  • redtrace68
    redtrace68 Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited August 2016 #90

    I'll not quote the whole post from MichaelT, but Much Wenlock had nothing last night just to pick an easily remembered one!

    So folk are obviously cancelling bookings ...

    Write your comments here...so 15 people have cancelled mmmmmmm  are you sure you chose the BH wekend and not this weekend but even then there are available pithces.

    I am indeed sure I checked the right weekend, is easier to do on the Sites App than the main website as it is actually clever enough to remember the dates selected! :)

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #91

    Saturdays have those staying on from previous week, Those for the next week and weekenders!!