Easter booking

bigkev2000
bigkev2000 Forum Participant Posts: 29
edited February 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

i tried to book a club site for Easter to no avail,they all showed that they are full,so checked the camping caravan site I could book any site why? is it where I got to pay a deposit. I know it's been discussed before why don't the caravan club charge a deposit it will stop all the block booking,you can't tell me that all them bookings will be fulfilled 

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  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited February 2017 #2

    Very true.

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited February 2017 #3

    I would have thought with over 300,000 + members the most  popular sites at times like Easter & Whit & other bank holiday weekends fill up really quickly.

    I doubt it's got very little to do with the CC not taking deposits , I'm sure there's always going to be others that put the usual spin out & the speculation , when they can't get what they want . I'm sure this old chestnut will continue to run& run every year.

    The current booking system is open & fair to every member.......There should be no excuses  on anyone's part  🙈🙉🙊

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #4

    Big Kev, I suggest you read the current club magazine Page 62 for your answer. In case you haven't got a copy you will see that indeed this block booking is a myth and that the vast majority of those bookings will be fulfilled. 

     

  • bigkev2000
    bigkev2000 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited February 2017 #5

    So why doesn't it happen at the camping caravan club

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #6

    The difference between the booking patterns on the CC and C&CC also has something to do with clientele.  I think tenters/trailer tenters are more likely to book later than caravanners as there take up of pitches is more likely to depend upon the weather.  The C&CC are going to have a good proportionof tenters as members.  I'm not going to get sidelined into a discussion about deposits yet again as the arguments for and against have been stated many times before and are well recorded.

    David

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited February 2017 #7

    I just read that response from the CC and found it a little confusing.

    They appear to be saying that about 500 people book 'many dates' on the first booking day and then later cancel them. Not sure what 'many' means.

    Apparantly these people then go on to make even more bookings.

    Let's just assume that 'many bookings' means 25 bookings. That means that 12,500 bookings are made on the first booking day, only to be later cancelled. Apparantly 60,000 bookings are made on 'frenzy day'......so about 21% of those bookings are what could be described as 'block bookings' made for later cancellation.
    I'd say that is a problem.

    Also, If they can quote these figures, I just wonder why they have consistently refused for several years now, to release the number of bookings that are cancelled just outside the 72 hour cut-off period?

  • bigkev2000
    bigkev2000 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited February 2017 #8

    If that's the case I shouldn't be able to book these sites 2 days before Easter 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #9

    maybe because not as many people want to go there? Sites are not as good?

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited February 2017 #10

    Rather a bold generalisation, if I may say so Corners, old chap.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #11

    Could be something to do with the rolling booking system the C&CC have .

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #12

    I was merely asking two questions thrown out for discussion, (hence the question marks at the end of each sentence) and not making any generalisations at all my dear Ian, I was merely offering two other possible reasons for the apparent popularity of clubs sites against CCC sites.   

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
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    edited February 2017 #13

    I agree with DSB especially where families are concerned - quote  “ I think tenters/trailer tenters are more likely to book later than caravanners as there take up of pitches is more likely to depend upon the weather.”

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,403 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #14

    I'm not sure I understand the reference to them "all" being full, kev. How many sites did you try? I just searched for availability over the Easter weekend and loads of sites appear to have space. 

    It's not a major surprise though, is it, that some sites may be booked for Easter a couple of months in advance? Which area are you looking for? I'm sure there are many folk on here who might be able to suggest alternatives for you.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,155 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #15

    My thoughts as well, Corners, old chap. cool

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited February 2017 #16

    I'd love to go to Chatsworth this weekend or perhaps next weekend , but guess what it's all booked up .......How strange it's one of the most popular sites on the network & I can't get on  , that's terrible all these people who probably won't turn up . 😇

    I should have booked early , shouldn't I ....... thats how it is , it's no one fault but your own , stop blaming the system & except the fact that some people pre plan their holidays , it's not rocket science..........👍

    Well maybe not for some members........🙊🙉🙈

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2017 #17

    I had a quick look and those that I checked had pitches available.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #18

    As stated by others it is no real surprise that Easter is a popular time. However, many of medium popularity sites could have been booked for Easter, several days after booking day. So I am afraid that would have been the time to book, not now. As to the honey pots they would have been booked within an hour. I am not sure there are very many folk going to the trouble of sitting constantly clicking the button to later cancel the booking, without a very good reason.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited February 2017 #19

    "so checked the camping caravan site I could book any site"

    So 3 options

    1. Go to a C&CC site.
    2. Go to a commercial site or CL
    3. Book a CC site that has availability.

    Simples, stop moaning if you expect to get whatever site you want at peak times such as Easter, you had the same opportunity as the rest of us to book your holidays at CC sites.

  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
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    edited February 2017 #20

    So where would you like to go?  I have just checked a few regions for the Easter period and there are sites available.  If you want a particular site for a busy bank holiday period you have to book early.  It's no surprise that most sites are fully booked two months prior to Easter.  There are of course lots of very nice CL's to choose from that may well still have availability.  Hope you can find somewhere.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited February 2017 #21

    I just did a search using the dates of Good Friday thru to the day after Easter Monday and 111 sites came up with availability so plenty to choose from, maybe not in the area you want but there is availability...

  • bigkev2000
    bigkev2000 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited February 2017 #22

    I've tried rowan park, daleacres, cherryhinton,ferry meadows,seacroft, they all within 150miles from me 

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #23

    There must  be more sites than that within that radius.

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2017 #24
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,073 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #25

    Easter has always been known as the first getaway period for most folks who don't go away in the colder months, it's also the first long weekend break since Christmas, so it's no surprise that lots of holiday accommodation of various sorts is booked up. Couple that with the OP living in the most densely populated region of the UK, many like him, thinking about going away, and it's not rocket science to realise that to get exactly what you want, when you want it, requires a bit of pre planning! A bit more sadly than you have given it this time around. Nothing to do with deposits, all to do with being organised and pro active, or being willing to compromise on where to stay. There are hundreds of sites within 150 miles of Essex, give UKcampsites a try.

    Hope you get something sorted!smile

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #26

    BigKev, Break free from Club sites.

    If you want Cambridge try Highfield Farm Touring Park instead of Cherry Hinton. And it's altogether more pleasant. . 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #27

    Great Yarmouth shows as available.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,073 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #28

    I have just found three Club Sites all with space at the Easter period, Suffolk and Norfolk area. If I was marking homework, comment would be "must try harder". Sites and space are out there, just need to look, Club or otherwise.

  • bigkev2000
    bigkev2000 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited February 2017 #29

    That's what I'm saying I can't get many cc sites but I can ccc I've booked into there site in Cambridge 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,073 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #30

    Good news, it is supposed to be a nicer site anyway than Cherry Hinton! Glad you got sorted.

  • TomSue
    TomSue Forum Participant Posts: 76
    edited February 2017 #31

    You mentioned Seacroft. Why not try Incleboro Fields, it's only about 5 miles away. We use that at least once a year - it's our favourite site.