Booking a pitch
Comments
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I guess it's a matter of 'degree'. If you allow folk to book specific individual pitches there could be a situation where members might not be able to extend their stay without moving pitches. It is also possible that folk might have more difficulty in booking the same pitch for the duration of their proposed stay (ie without having to change pitches). I feel sure that to change pitches would effect a person's decision to book and could result in a fall in bookings.
If you allow folk to book a particular type of pitch (ie hardstanding or grass), rather than a specific pitch, this would also create a similar situation but the effect would be far far less great. Personally, I could accept this trade off as, although it means that a small number might not be able to book without changing pitches (and consequently might not book/ or book elsewhere), it would attract those members who otherwise would not have booked because they automatically refuse to book CAMC sites and go elsewhere to book specific pitch types. In my opinion this would increase the number of potential bookings which could very well mean that the occasional odd length slot could be filled.
At present the Club cannot accept booking pitch types so I would doubt very much if they would accept booking specific individual pitches.
Hope this makes sense.
David
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no particluar view either way, but it obviously serves a purpose in some places.....
we've been to many sites where pitch booking is perfectly possible, in fact 'the norm' on many of the overwintering sites, where folk book 'their' potch for the following winter, months in advance.
not sure what effect, if any, it had on the casual tourer like us....none that i could see.....
however, for the CC, not sure it would go down well.....lol.
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On arrival at a Brit run site in the Loire we were told that, despite a written confirmation, we could not have a riverside pitch as someone had decided to extend their stay.
When I asked for the return of my deposit I was told that one would be available in two days so decided to stay but, after we moved pitches, was told that it was booked for later that week so we would have to move early.
I politely told the owner that I would not be moving and queried why I was being treated differently than the people he wanted us to move for?
His answer was that they had stayed in that part for years and would be upset at not getting 'their' pitch so not only was extending of stays affecting us but also the booking of pitches.
The discussion actually got heated ,he refused to refund my payment but wanted us to move when it suited him,and became increasingly loud and whilst it was not a problem for me it ruined the stay for my wife.
We have also seen issues pitch booking in Cornwall and whilst it is perfectly understandable that given the opportunity to book for the following year people will do so-on Polmanter in St Ives it seemed to be a bit of a competition in claiming the longest continuous yearly booking of the same pitch-it does mean that new' people can struggle to get a place but as it suits the owners, they get their money, cant see it changing.
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Hi David, don't recall seeing him last October but with my eyesight and memory who knows?!
We had stayed at the site in 2011 while following the Tour De France and really liked it. Our stay was over Bastille Day and it was very enjoyable with a communal BBQ, live music, a Fort shaped cake and even a reading of a French proclamation in English, Dutch and French,hence the desire to go back.
Its on the Cher-the river not the singer-about half a mile from Chenconceaux.
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Thank goodness we don't get that sort of aggro on club sites.
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Know the one you mean, Moulin Fort. Have stayed there twice, but not booked either time (we never book anywhere apart from sometimes a site near the tunnel, to ensure a pitch on arrival in the evening).
Once quite a few years ago at the back end of the season, with lots of empty pitches. And again last year to meet up with friends; except we ended up being evacuated the day we arrived due to flooding. The owner was very helpful then with assisting people taking their awnings down etc. It did look a "clique-type" site though, with oodles of Brits and not normally what we go for but our friends were there for a fortnight (which in the event only turned out 6 days due to the flooding) and we had arranged to meet them for 3 or 4 days.
Can imagine someone throwing a strop if not able to get "their" pitch, a lot of Brit owned sites have their regulars who seem to have the same pitch year in and year out, but to me that's no excuse to treat someone who isn't a regular like you were treated.
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I don't see this discussion as an arguement at all. It's about us discussing different systems of booking pitches that providers adopt. Some ask if being able to book a pitch type or indeed a specific pitch would be a change for the better. The club and clearly a number of members seems to favour us choosing specific pitches on arrival on a first come basis, that seems very fair to me and sets the C&MC aside from the commercials.
As for grass or hardstanding I'm not sure if in the grand scheme of things if there really are that many grass pitches out there on the whole network but where they exist I reckon we should be able to choose our preferred surface, for what ever reason. A very few sites may have only grass so I guess they will be favoured by those amongst us who prefer that surface or those who have a greater desire to be in that location .
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Yes pippah45 a lively discussion with varied opinions. There will be people who want a pitch near the dog walk or near the play area or near the washroom so why not allow them to be prebooked especially like I said if it's for a long stay only? Surely it could be managed? And rather than dismiss it why don't some sites trial it?
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drm the problem allanandjean mention is a good reason why not although I think the owners totally wrong to change the rules. You couldn't hire a holiday villa or a hotel room and extend your stay if someone else had booked it? If that is the site I have seen paying eye watering prices might make a customer think they own it!
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Not a change that I would support nor many I suspect. We often plan to go away for 5 and more weeks. Usually have a few things to fit in whilst at home. However we often find that we have done what we need to do, nothing tying us and push off a few days early. I would not wish to find that meant having to stay 3 nights on a pitch and move. Although many do not wish for a particular pitch I am certain that in busy times and on popular sites with (say) 30% grass pitches the pitches would book up as people are wanting to avoid grass. I personally want to as free as possible with as much choice as possible in selecting a pitch on arrival.
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Whilst there may be a case for trialling the booking of a specific pitch, although I'm yet to be convinced, I am totally against the concept of certain members being allowed to do so just because they have used a site regularly. That was the basis of drm's OP and, in my opinion, it flies in the face of the club's stance on inclusivity and equality.
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Agreed, pitch type is good and it works for C&CC.
I can see nothing but problems though with booking specific pitches.
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Funny you should ask that question HD. Because when I asked something similar the answer seemed to be that if you didn't like the pitch you pre-booked when you got on site, you could simply change your mind and go for a "better" one (provided, of course, that hadn't been pre-booked by some other blighter!)
I'm with you, choose a pitch type, fair enough, but failing that stick to the current system which seems to work extraordinarily well for the vast majority of folk.
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It seems to me that pre-booking a specific pitch then changing your mind when you arrive on site is wanting to have your cake and eat it.
Most of us seem in favour of booking a pitch type and it's a pity the club abandoned the small trial. To say it confused members seems rather insulting to my mind. Are we denser than our C&CC peers?
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Will add my vote to being able to book a pitch type but not individual pitches.
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To answe two points -
If you don't think it's a good idea to book a specific pitch......then don't. All the sites I've been to that offer the chance of pitch booking do it as an option, for a small fee. If you don't think it's a good idea, then don't take the option. Freedom of choice.
What if you don't like your booked pitch? You simply move to another un-booked pitch. Freedom of choice.
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