Weekend bookings something has to be done

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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2018 #92

    Of all the site we have been on that to help fill less popular sites have seasonal pitches ,I have not noted any that i would consider on the  "best  pitches", 

    we have very rarely  not got a weekend at short notice except possibly the 6 or so honeypot sites ,but then we always been flexible with where to go at short notice

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited August 2018 #93

    What on earth is all the fuss about there's loads of availability this Bank holiday weekend & all through the year , if you're flexible with site locations .

    Now with the rolling booking system doing away with the myth & hype of Booking day when members complaints said other people are block booking & then canceling , its  utter tosh .

    People need to get a grip on  exactly what they do want & which system is working for all the membership  , we have cancelled 2 bookings this year due to my OH being in hospital for several weeks  , no big deal we just rebooked other sites accordingly when she came home & went somewhere else .

    And I've already rebooked the 2 sites for next year we didn't use  in June & July , with the old system we probably wouldn't have been able to do that .👍

     

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited August 2018 #94

    When I have checked (about 5 minutes ago) there 126 sites with vacancies this weekend, only 44 of those had Friday to Monday, but only 2 of those were sites that are near for me for a weekend. So hardly a great choice. Fortunately, I am retired therefore leave the weekend for those that work.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,064 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #95

    Even when I was at work, with the old Frenzy Day system we always got what we needed. It's called being organised, some are good at it, some are still in the learning stage. Flexibility is a key requirement as well!

    Sort of reminds me of when I used to do recruitment and selection interviews. If someone could demonstrate being organised and flexible, they got the job! Key life skillswink

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #96

    Well today we picked up our new caravan and drove to the nearest C&MC site to test it all out. No booking done in advance just turned up, payed and selected a pitch. What could be more easy wink site about 75% full.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #97

    Why try to disadvantage one group of folk to advantage another group.  First come first serve sorts me.  Never book more than a few days in advance, if my first option is full then just look elsewhere

  • Milothedog
    Milothedog Forum Participant Posts: 1,433
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    edited August 2018 #98

    I'm also retired but our trips nearly always include a weekend.

    Why, because we are careers for a 93 year old relative who lives with us and its easier to get help in looking after Her from family and friends over a weekend.  Things are not always what they appear to be without knowing more information.

    Existing system works fine for us and if we can't book what we want we either fit in with what is available or go elsewhere.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited August 2018 #99

    As I no longer use CMC "all singing all dancing" Campsites, I can be totally objective on this thread. 

     The way I see it is -- the CMC retail business has set up a booking system which they consider to be fair to all their customers. ---- So customers can either comply with and support the retailer,---- or if unhappy with the CMC over this matter, find an alternative retailer which better suits their requirements. 

    cool

     

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #100

    Or CL'swink

  • AnnB
    AnnB Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited August 2018 #101

    We are in the same position, providing care for my elderly mother in law who has, among a lot of other health issues, dementia.  She has been in hospital 3 times this year so we tend to look for sites within an hour’s travel and for 2/3 days at a time only, some of which are weekends.

    There can be a number of reasons why people chose to book short-term breaks so it isnt fair to make assumptions.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #102

    I agree entirely with Milo and Ann. A lot of assumptions are made by folk who, for whatever reason, are desperate to use CAMC sites but can't get exactly what they want. Toys come out of the pram and the "it's not fair" refrain is heard.

    The answer is simple - if you can't get what you want because others have booked it before you, don't sit around moaning and making assumptions. Do something about it and look to see what alternatives there are available. smile

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #103

    Yes +1

     

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited August 2018 #104

    We have only been caravanning for a short time and have learnt to be flexible, yes it is annoying when you cannot book for say 10 to 14 days, but it's not life changing, we have been lucky to find alternative sites which have worked out to be a better option. With now the option to book a year in advance the booking system is fair to everybody.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #105

    The answer is simple - if you can't get what you want because others have booked it before you, don't sit around moaning and making assumptions. Do something about it and look to see what alternatives there are available. smile

    Exactly what I do but as a rule it means the Club doesn't get my money and I suspect I am not the only one to do this.

    I also suspect the real problem lies with the cancellation policy. You can almost guarantee there will be some cancellation and this upsets those who wanted those pitches knowing that there is no penalty for those that have cancelled even at short notice.

    peedee

     

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited August 2018 #106

    We have booked this weekend at short notice, but used C&CC where late bookings are easier although it may be we got the last pitch. If you book late then you take what is left and if you want the most popular sites you have to accept booking early.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #107

    I also suspect the real problem lies with the cancellation policy. You can almost guarantee there will be some cancellation and this upsets those who wanted those pitches knowing that there is no penalty for those that have cancelled even at short notice.

    Although it probably pleases those who can't book until the last minute, as it means pitches become available, even at popular sites.

    It is difficult to please all of the people, all of the time.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #108

    Duplicate post Deleted User. Website running like a snail again.☹️

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #109

     Although it probably pleases those who can't book until the last minute, as it means pitches become available, even at popular sites.

    That is fine for the Club if the pitch/es is/are taken but it is not very good for member relations and the Club may well be losing money because they lost a two week booking in favour of a 2 day one.

    peedee

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2018 #110

    I cannot get too worked up about cancellations. Much/most of the days available to book 90%+ of sites will not be fully booked and members will not loose out by cancellations. One of the points that encourages booking of club sites in the first instance is the lack of deposit.

    As for taking deposits: the C&CC take a minimum deposit of £25. If I were going to use a site for a couple of days but decided that 2 days in a monsoon was not what I wanted which would I choose? To loose £25 and stay home or save the £25 and pay an additional £55 in fuel and site fees to sit in the caravan? 

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #111

    well only if they can't fill those days? which they will

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #112

    That's why there are empty pitches in tourist hot spots in peak season  on Club sites while other non Club sits  nearby are full is it CS?

    peedee

     

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #113

    Any actual evidence of that, PD? undecided

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #114

    Some of us get out more than others.

    peedee

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #115

    add a big +1 to that?

    Have you been to this many sites PD? And actually checked?

    My site for this weekend shows full, and less than five pitches all next week, and it is in a very popular hotspot

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #116

    and visit club sites and their neighbours over peak season? More than once ? In all hotspots?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2018 #117

    The "tourist" hotspots? you mean when the children are on holiday,as noted the west country is not a tourist hotspot on any type of site most of the year,have you tried to get on a site this weekend? most families are trying to get their children ready for school,and the late availability site only shows site that have any vacancy and most of those that have are at the end of the w/end when those who have been there longer are going home

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #118

    But can you actually give examples of club sites in tourist hot spots with multiple empty pitches (not just, say half a dozen) and a 100% full non club site in the same area? I mean, even just one actual example? undecided

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #119

    I could but I am not going to. You also only have to look at the late availability figures to form an opinion.

    peedee

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #120

    yes with respect PD but all that tells you is the LA at club sites, not at the neighbouring non sites sites that you claim are full. How do you know or claim they are full? 

    Also I have just looked at the LA and apart from Devon and Cornwall, most sites are in single figure availability, on Saturday the average is zero . Some sites of course are not even listed as they are completely full, so my opinion based on these facts is that the club is doing very well indeed in occupancy rates. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2018 #121

    But then those who "look" at late availability to form an "opinion"do not really tend to understand how it works wink