New booking system from April 2018
The March magazine arrived today, and the "Welcome from the Editor" states that as from April this year you'll be able to book ahead for April 2019, rolling forward monthly. This will mean no frenzy booking day in December, but also no booking for a whole season at a time. Is this a good idea, or a bad one?
Comments
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I can see the advantage of getting rid of the main booking day as that will take a lot of demands off the Club's systems and personnel which in the longer term could save money. As we tend to book fairly near to when we actually go away I am not sure it will be to any particular advantage to us. It will be an advantage to those that know from one year to the next when their holidays are. Providing it does not lead to even more sites being fully booked a year ahead I can't see an objection and feel it's worth a try.
I must admit that when the rumours started to circulate that there were to be changes to the booking system I had hoped they were going to be more wide ranging. For example being able to book a hardstanding pitch, or a grass one if that is what you would prefer. If the change in when you can book is the extent of the changes I will admit to being somewhat disappointed.
David
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Providing it does not lead to even more sites being fully booked a year ahead I can't see an objection and feel it's worth a try.
That is what I suspect might well happen. If I was working and had school aged children I would probably be booking well ahead for school hols but particularly any statutory holiday weekends.
I must admit that when the rumours started to circulate that there were to be changes to the booking system I had hoped they were going to be more wide ranging. For example being able to book a hardstanding pitch, or a grass one if that is what you would prefer.
That would have come a a surprise to me as the reasons given for not doing so after the previous trials did not ring true at all to me. To put it more bluntly I believe that we were lied to.
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I would agree with DK's comments re the demands on club systems and personnel, however I remain to be convinced there will be any other advantages to anyone for the high demand dates and sites.
The club say the following year month will be released towards beginning of the month. Is it going to be a set time or day? If a weekday it will not solve the issue of the workers. Also if not a fixed time it will aid those with more time on there hands, like me, who can keep checking. I am also unsure how it will solve the problem of serial weekend booking, if it even exists. Under the old system it would have been almost impossible to book more than a few weekends at the honeypots before they were sold out, as the pressure on the system made it very difficult to get on. So now with 10 or 12 mini frenzy days the task should be much easier, particularly for those with a fast internet connection. Add to the above the fact that many will have no idea if they can get time off work a year in advance leading to more speculative booking, particularly for the school holiday periods.
For myself it will make no difference. I just don't see how it is meant to make the situation fairer, if that is the intention.
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Under the old system it would have been almost impossible to book more than a few weekends at the honeypots before they were sold out, as the pressure on the system made it very difficult to get on.
I think that the new season should make it far easier for anyone wanting regular weekends at York or Chatsworth etc. I don't but many do.
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The Club does not want to offer the facility to book a H/S on sites where there is a choice because who would possibly pre book a grass pitch in advance...? Unless you have a crystal ball, it might be raining on the day you arrive so no one will pre book one...
So the Club will be left with unsold grass pitches. At the moment it works on mixed pitch type sites because you book, then hope to get a H/S when you arrive, especially if the weather is poor.
The Club now seems to be installing more H/S across the network, playing catch up with customer preference/demand.....
Sadly it is behind the curve for me....we have already booked more sites with C & CC and "commercials" where we can prebook H/S (and even a specific pitch...
) this year than ever before....I used to think the Club was the leading provider of campsites, and whilst they are still the overall best IMO, they have fallen so far behind in customer choice that they are losing revenue now, well mine anyway......
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With regards to David's second paragraph: In view of the 'result of the trial to book hardstandings or grass pitches', I am not too surprised that this was not included in the 'changes'. However, the fact that the Club seem to recognise the increase in the number of motorhomes in recent years, and the perception that these units are more suited to hardstandings, I don't think the idea is dead yet! I think there would be an outcry if motorhomers would be allow to book HS but not caravanners.
I think one way which the Club could possibly go is to have individual sites with 100% grass or 100% HS. There is certainly evidence that the Club are increasing the number of HS pitches. As I sit here at Poolsbrook CAMC site, there are workmen about converting 4/5 pitches from grass to HS. I just wonder if might happen in the long term - although much depends on local planning permission.
David
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It needs to be remembered that the Club doesn't own some sites outright. They may be MUC, such as Racecourse sites, or on long term lease, and this will affect what the Club can or cannot do, or is willing to do in terms of funding changes, particularly to buildings or landscaping.
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So will there be a mini frenzy day every bank holiday with people booking for the following year?
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Thanks everyone for your replies, so far. Looking forward to hearing from more people. I don't think it will affect us too much. Maybe it's handy being able to book much further ahead, as we can now, if you're limited by working. I'm retired, but my OH still works full time. We don't do weekends as would only have one night away, but usually go away at Easter weekend & end of May BH. Otherwise we avoid school holidays. This year we're doing a hotel break in the run up to Easter, so not taking the caravan out. Only booked the May BH a week ago, but going to a site with the "other club" as we can get a pitch without going too far afield.
As for the issue of hardstandings, being able to book a hardstanding, it would only be a benefit if there was plenty of availability on the network. We always have a hardstanding, if available when we arrive. I'd be pretty upset if motorhomers got priority over those of us with caravans that also prefer them.
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And book a Hardstanding....?
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I think this has been going on anyway under the radar,but no evedence only observation 😉
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Hi everyone,
Thank you for all your comments and feedback.
We have put together some FAQs regarding the new booking process which you can have a read through here: New booking process for 2018. Hopefully these will help to answer your questions. Thanks again for all your thoughts and feedback.
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"Having consulted with members it was felt that putting pitches on sale weekly and daily is too frequent and not easy for members to remember, whereas remembering monthly is easier."
Quite right, Rowena, we know how easily we members become confused as we did over the HS booking trial.
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Thanks for the link to the information, Rowena. The only problem I can foresee is in attempting to book a holiday that straddles two months. You could decide on a site, book part of your holiday, then find that you can't get the second part on the same type of pitch (if booking a serviced pitch), or at all if others get there first.
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It has indeed, I suggest you read Ro's link....
"There are, of course, bookings which fall across two months. In these cases, members can either wait for both months to become available before placing a booking, or can make an initial booking for the dates available in the first month and then amend the booking to encompass the second month, once those pitches have been put on sale.
The Club also intends to put some multiple months on sale together. For example July and August may be put on sale at the same time (the Club will determine the best approach for members as the year progresses)."
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So I see now, must go to specsavers!
Not much use to us as we try to avoid popular periods, but like to book our trips , which are often longer than 4 weeks, in one go as we always have a planned route.
So much for being a touring Club!
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I think this system will only work if the sites are released on the same day each month ie. 1st Saturday. To do it any other way will put people who don't use the internet at a significant disadvantage or even those who do not have access for other reasons.
If the release day is going to change each month then how will members be informed, will we all get a letter giving us the date each month?
Of course we have got to see what the fine details are before we can really tell what it will be like. Hopefully the new booking system will include the ability to book hard standings as well as being able to search for such things as serviced pitches.
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no no no... yes on some sites
said as in Vicar of Dibley
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Whilst I think these booking changes are a good idea, nothing is going to radically improve until / unless the present system of allowing an unlimited number of no-deposit bookings is eliminated.
The CMC is almost alone among holiday operators in operating an unlimited no-deposit booking system and - whilst I can see why many members like it - it's a significant hindrance to those like me who aren't prepared to make multiple speculative bookings knowing that I will cancel most of them later.
So, I was pleased to see that the FAQ just published rather sidesteps this issue - perhaps a sign of welcome changes to come :-)
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I make many bookings without intent to cancel as I suspect many members do. I book sites without hindrance. When I am prevented to book sites I will obviously book elsewhere.
Can you see why I would book the CC site rather than an adjacent C&CC site even with an age discount?
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I'm sure this having a deposit would change anything at all. Club sites are just too popular, it's as simple as that.
The club has done it's homework on this and they did track those who did book a number of weekends/bookings, or multiple booking as Brian1 calls them. They found that it is a myth and those the small number did a lot of bookings it found that very few were not taken up. Also when the club did have scarp deposits it found the number of no shows actually went down. And remember the 72 hour cancellation rule, even if deposits were taken cancel before then and get your money back, unless you are talking about non refundable deposits?
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To even out the demand on Sites with H/Standing and Grass pitches, The most straightforward method would be to reduce the pitch price of Grass pitches by £2.00 per night. A win - win situation all round. Booking would be so much more straightforward as it would give the customer choice.
K
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