Why does it have to be so difficult to book.....
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It's a lot easier to do when you have a M/H as opposed to a caravan, and are intending to be away for anything up to 10 weeks at a time.
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May I suggest if you email a CL you also add your phone number.
I received an email last night regarding a 5 night booking for July and I duly replied only to have the email bounce back as undeliverable. There is now no way for me to contact this person and I will probably be labelled as having not bothered to reply sadly. If there was a phone number too I could call that as an alternative.
This is not the first time I've had my reply emails bounce back and it's very frustrating as I'm losing out on the booking, the member is not getting the dates they wanted where they wanted and is perhaps telling other people I don't reply to emails.
Please don't assume it's always the error of the CL owner
Nicola
www.skybarnfarm.co.uk
Telephone: 01522 681218
Email: enquiries@skybarnfarm.co.uk
Site 965, page 402 of the 2017/2018 Sites Directory
Read our many wonderful reviews!5 -
That's why I prefer to use club sites, Kj. This site at £14.50 per night is not much more in cost than most CLs.
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Think it’s about 1% of our total bookings that have been a slight irritation. I always put my telephone number and email address on my booking mail. As NicolaW says it’s helpful to the CL owner.
The more I can do electronically the better, even paying by BACs💷
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Unfortunately Malcolm there are few sites in the CAMC that are below £15 throughout the year. For those of us who like to tour and find quiet sites without a view of lots of white boxes, CLs/CSs are widely available.
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A very good point about including a telephone number in an email.
Out of interest did you reply to your bounce back email via the reply button or start a new email? If you didn't use the reply button maybe it would work?
I have no technical knowledge. 😉
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I always include both my mobile number and my CC membership number whenever I contact a CL enquiring about a booking by e-mail.
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I always put mobile number and cc membership number on my email when replying to confirm a CL booking. I hadn't thought about including phone number on initial email, but will try and remember for future emails.
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Sometimes we have had messages left on our answerphone that are so muffled or such bad reception it is impossible to understand the name let alone the number. I just have to cross my fingers and hope the caller rings back later.
As Nicola says, it's not always the CL owners fault.
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"Looking at most CL and CS listings they seem to want prior booking, deposits sometimes wanting cheques, and frankly making it difficult to be spontaneous."
Given the small return most CLs and CSs make, I don't find it surprising that they prefer bookings in advance and a deposit, though a fairly modest one in most cases. The things is that, as more and more folk are starting to realise what good value these sites are, the more popular they get so, yes, it may be harder to just turn up on spec.
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There are more and more members using CLs nowadays, probably because of cost of Club Sites in comparison. Problem is, some "new to CL" members are expecting booking and using a CL to be fairly similar to Club Sites, and it isn't. Some CLs are so popular they are booked up at certain times a good year in advance, and if you want to visit certain CLs you have to be prepared to book, pay a deposit and be totally committed in terms of honouring that booking! Hence why a few of these gorgeous little holiday sites require prior bookings and sometimes up to full payment in advance.
Having said that, we have had no problems doing tours around different parts of the country, at busy times, mainly booking a few days, or on day of travel. A lot depends on what your "must have" list consists of, as this can sometimes restrict choice. A lot in the NE, Northumberland, Durham, Hadrian's Wall area are farms, but if you want some CLs and small private sites DD, we know area quite well, so might be able to make some suggestions. Happy to help if we can.
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How large is your MH DD? And could you manage on firm grass I'd weather was fine? Or with waffles under drive wheels?
Might be an idea to get Nellie on the case as well, he knows of lots of excellent CLs up there, in fact I think his last trip he did a good bit of NE.
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Ok DD, I will be in contact later. Not sure if you use Caravanchat? That has a great PM facility, cost nothing to sign up. It might be useful, as there are lots of great reviews for all sorts of sites on there, and usually with photos, so excellent browsing.
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Often use uk campsites tool. Here are Northumberland CL/CS:
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/results.asp?county=Northumberland&clubs=on
If you change the county in the list on the left you'll find more. Choosing Motorhome may give further info.
Doesn't give choice of hardstanding, but you could trawl through the area you like.
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Here's something to look at in the meantime, Nellie found this, sounds very nice. His review is on CChat
http://www.greensfieldmoorfarm.co.uk/
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And you can add to that Paxton House near Berwick, another ex-CL that's gone Commercial. All H/S pitches but you do have to drive over a short section of grass to get to most of them.
Close by there's also Foulden Hagg, which is a CL but also has a small commercial site too.
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What's the name of the honey farm near the Chain bridge Nellie, that looks very nice as well? We haven't stayed, but glanced in as we passed.
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Would you believe it's Chain Bridge Caravan Site!!
Not that cheap though, £20 pn low & £25 pn high but lots of Facilities.0 -
Bit too pricey for us!
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and us too!!
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For those looking to book a CL online - or at least check availability - of around 30 CL's across the country try this map. See other post on CT for background and caveats.
Link
https://drive.google.com/open?id=12Ti2l6hE4wsX22H3EMGBtY4XXnWxBos2&usp=sharing
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I don’t chase people so if they fail to get back to me I shrug it off and book something else. Next time, I won’t even bother trying them.
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