Booking system help and advice
Hello all
We are in the process of opening our new caravan park. From people experience what is the best/easiest/most efficient booking system that sites use?
All advise and help on this topic will be greatly appreciated.
Thank guys.
Sam
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/north-yorkshire/york/Old-Pasture-Park/
Moderator Comment - Sam as this refers to a CL I will move this to the CL section and close the one you started in the Story Section
Comments
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Hi
I like to be able to check on-line availability on a calendar but also to be able to book specific pitch
Take a look at Eye Kettleby Lakes brilliant site, great web site with site plan you can select your pitch then choose the date
Looking at your details your site looks lovely, not sure the minimum 3 nights booking is ideal for a site with no toilet or shower facilities. Why do you charge extra for large motorhomes, and what do you class as a large motorhome?
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But which pitch would I choose from your website photo? It looks as though it's a hire a go cart track.
Landscape it, plant flowering shrubs and roses, make it pretty. Be flexible, dump your three day minimum rule, welcome tents as well as caravans, open yourself to families, offer take away meals, deliver breakfasts, sell ice creams and drinks. You are now in the tourist hospitality business.
Good wishes for your business.
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Looks nice, but will be better for larger vans and MHs when you have the hardstandings.
Being able to check availability on line would be good, but I would not bother with specific pitch booking, in a busy period that could cut down on income as people may not be able to book as many nights on a pitch as they may need so may look elsewhere.
Caravanners do not want to have to move pitch part way through a stay.
However, if you are installing fewer than 5 hardstandings, I personally would want to be able to book a hardstanding rather than taking the chance of ending up on grass in wet weather.
I am also wondering why a minimum 3 night stay.
Good that there is water on each pitch, would have been even better for caravanners with a drain for each pitch too,
£18 is at the very top end of what we would usually pay for a CL.
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Nice to see availability, but not bothered about selecting a specific pitch. However at £18 pn I wouldn't entertain visiting your site at present... way above my £15 pn limit.
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As I posted earlier in the Story section, I think it’s imperative that you respond promptly to phone messages and emails. Leaving people not knowing if they can get a pitch will send them elsewhere.
However, with a 3 night minimum stay, I will not be using your site. That is a huge no-no and not in the spirit of touring to my mind.
Good luck anyway.
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Personally, as long as I can get a prompt reply to emails about availability I'm not too concerned with selecting a specific pitch and would be quite happy with grass or HS.
But I have to say I think the 3 day minimum will lose you a lot of possible visitors and for £18 a night we've stayed on many established CLs with shower & toilet facilities and even wifi.
So, regretfully, not for us at the moment, but I do wish you luck with your new venture.
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Hi old pasture park
I been using freetobook online booking system. Have been delighted with it is actually free! If you want to take card payments is a addon. https://en.freetobook.com
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Like a lot of others giving information we are extensive users of CLs, and not far away from you in terms of somewhere to stay. I won’t comment on your website set up choices, as this seldom influences our choice of somewhere to stay.
For a new CL, I think you might just be best testing the water in terms of how many nights stay you decide to limit, as a lot of folks like to tour and may only want one or two nights in the area, others may prefer longer of course, but you are losing the short stayers straight away. If you find you are a busy CL, then consider minimum night stays at weekends, or during busy periods such as school holidays, or when events are on in the area. This is what a lot of established CLs do quite successfully.
I think if you are going to charge extra for larger vans and MHs, then specify what are your criteria, eg twin axles, or MHs over 7metres for example, otherwise you are leaving potential visitors guessing. Be prepared to give the reasons why as well, because someone will undoubtably ask!
Like others, we would find £18 per night too expensive for what you are offering, and in your area. Other than orientation of a van or MH to catch the sun at selected times of the day, with your pitch layout, pitch selection is perhaps not required. I am sure your pitching area will look less stark once you get established, and can think more about general attractiveness. A few daffodil bulbs in Spring, and some planters in Summer can make somewhere a bit more special.
Please don’t get disheartened by some of the suggestions, these are folks that use CLs on a regular basis, and I am sure that everyone will wish you all the best. Good communications with your potential visitors is key, whichever way you choose to do it.
Wishing you all the best, and hope your new venture is a success😁
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Hello Old Pasture Park
Join the CL owners group and you will find a wealth of information from experienced owners of many years and new CL owners who have opened their sites in the last year or so.
Click the link and it will give you all the information you need
https://sites.google.com/view/cl-owners-group/how-to-join?authuser=0Nicola
www.skybarnfarm.co.uk
Telephone: 01522 681218
Email: enquiries@skybarnfarm.co.uk
Site 920, page 392 of the 2019/2020 Sites Directory
Read our many wonderful reviews!0 -
I too was wondering why there would be an extra charge for larger MHs, and if you mean to extend that to larger caravans, or charge extra for a twin axle, we would rule you out immediately.
While it is nice to see availability immediately, all we ask is that site owners reply promptly to e mail or phone enquiries.
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I wish you well with your new site. Others seem to suggest availability is visible somewhere - but I couldnt see that on the CL entry, and your web listed is listed as not available yet.
As a motorhomer now, we like a hard standing next to grass - especially in areas that get quite a lot of rain.
Prompt response to email - really important.
Many CLs we have recently visited are draining grey water into hedges, edge of filed etc - which we like. Do like the idea of a tap on each pitch.
£18 seems quite steep - been paying an average of £15 this year.
3 night booking would be a real downer. Probably stop us visiting, as we would be visiting as part of a tour - not just a one off stop. You will also discourage weekenders who work.
Recycling - excellent - but given the variety of schemes around the country, details about what can be recycled is really important. e.g. yoghurt pots, margarine containers. Also unless you are completely mixed recycling are tetrapacks paper & card or something else. Single use carrier bags also - we cant recycle, 20 miles down the road, they can. Sorry to go into detail - but I just think recycling is so important. Are you doing compost as well?
Good luck
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I think simplicity is the key. Why a minimum booking period,especially one that makes if difficult for people to stay for a weekend? Why charge extra for certain vehicles. If there are problem just specify up to a certain length. I don't need any fancy booking systems but what I do want is a quick and efficient email system where emails are answered within 24 hours or less. I don't think you have toilet/showers so price is a bit on the high side.
David
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Good Luck!
I have recently opened Cherry Cottage CL in Dorset and I am considering which on line booking system is going to work the best for my CL. I suggest you arrange for demos from the various providers.
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/dorset/sherborne/Cherry-Cottage-CL
I too would recommend you join the CL owners group, (the link has already been provided) there are lots of friendly helpful owners who will give you honest advice.
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We regularly use Cls and location comes first in my book which places you in a good position being so near to York and the peace and quiet you offer is a definite plus to CL users.
I love an online booking system where I can check availability without having to wait for someone to get back to me especially when I am planning a tour but I cannot see the need for pitch specific. Having to pay more if I had a large outfit would put me off. Why? A large outfit still only takes one pitch.
Three nights minimum is going to lose you a lot of potential customers and so is the price. Both of those I would have thought would be better brought in when you find that you are full every night.
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We are predominately CL users not too far away from York. However we also still work full time so unlikely to use you due to the restrictive 3 night booking policy - as others have said this will deter lots of visitors, unless you are only trying to attract the retired!
I would also agree with others that £18 is more than we would pay especially without any facilities, having says that we aren’t lovers of facilities or hard standing, preferring grass pitches with a max of £15 per night.
The site is obviously lacking vegetation due to the newness, however this will soon be rectified with some good planting.
For booking, it’s nice to see availability and if I can book online - I will, however I do like a speedy response to emails No need to book specific pitches - it is only a CL not a commercial site (yet). For us no need for hard standing, but a mixture is fine to suit all visitors.
I wish you well for your venture
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Sam, I suggest you join the CL Owners Group. We now have over 500 members and are growing day by day.
More info here: https://sites.google.com/view/cl-owners-group/home
The group has a lot of experience of on-line booking systems. Over 30 CLs have now implemented them.
Free-to-book is popular, but so are systems from 'Anytime Booking' and 'InnStyle', to name just 3. A new one has also just been launched.
Many members welcome the opportunity to see availability and book online. The Club are talking about integrating CLs into a future online booking system, but I think it is 2 or 3 years away from reality.
Meantime, I suggest you have a chat within our group where your questions on booking systems, pricing, marketing, etc. etc can be answered. Join here.
We're a friendly, free and professional group, some with many years experience and always happy to share hints and tips on making a CL both profitable for you and a good experience for your customers.
ABOUT US
The CL Owners Group is run by volunteers, we are all CL Owners ourselves. It's free to join and there is no subscription.
The intention of the group is to offer advice and support to fellow CL Owners across the UK and thereby help to enhance the CL Network for the benefit of CAMC Members.
The Owners Group liaises with the Club on a regular basis, but is entirely independent. It receives no financial support or direction from the Club.
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Sam -first of all good luck in your new venture. It's people like you that are giving us a thriving CL network. Thank you.
Three night stays would unfortunately be no good to us as we're still working, so Friday / Saturday stops for a weekend are most of our nights away.
Please see the link below of a local CL website. You can book and pay online and each day of the calendar tells you how many pitches are available. A great way of knowing that your booking will be secure as soon as you want to book.
good luck
/https://furzefarmestate.co.uk/accommodation/five-caravan-pitches/
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Please see the link below of a local CL website. You can book and pay online and each day of the calendar tells you how many pitches are available. A great way of knowing that your booking will be secure as soon as you want to book.
good luck
/https://furzefarmestate.co.uk/accommodation/five-caravan-pitches/
With prices like that it's no wonder they can afford such an elaborate web site!!
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https://furzefarmestate.co.uk/accommodation/five-caravan-pitches/
Looks good with hard standing & private bathroom per pitch. No problem at weekends where the price increases.
Have to say I would be tempted to use it
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Way above what I'd pay on a CL, and even extra if one has a dog!! I won't pay for that on principle, or the quoted price on a CC site either. Plenty of other choise to suit us and our pocket.
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