Booking Fairness... Time for a Rethink??
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Funny how I managed to get sites and CLs booked when I was working. It was harder to do so then as the internet was in its early stages so I had to ring the sites concerned to see if they had vacancies, yet I realised that to get my wanted time I had to be organised. Can't remember ever being as upset as some folks are these days.
If people spent less time on social media and more on organising their own life then you might get something done. I'm fed up with these people who want change because they can't get what they want.
When I decided on this trip I wasn't able to book my preferred dates on a club site but booked some consecutive days. I kept checking and a week later the other 2 days became free. So I booked it.
This year is an exceptional one. Less sites open, more members staying in the UK, more pressure on pitches. Nothing should be taken from this year as being standard or a template for change.
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Fully agree WN. We started touring in our mid 20’s, both working long hours, all sorts of other commitments, but we never failed to organise the holiday we wanted. Still the same now, despite the huge rise in numbers now touring. Folks who think it’s someone else’s fault they cannot get what they want need to step back and have a good long hard look at how motivated and organised they are personally. It’s like most things in life, determination, motivation and organisation will get you a lot further than prevarication and waiting for someone else to plonk success in your lap. Harsh maybe, but true.😕
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If people spent less time on social media and more on organising their own life then you might get something done.
That’s quite a bold statement. I’m not sure how many of the folks on here spend lots of time on social media - your typical CMC member isn’t what might be termed a ‘millennial’!
It’s all going south at the moment, this year is exceptional, but next year might be even more so? Those halcyon days of the early internet have probably gone forever and what worked for you yesterday might not do so tomorrow. As Bob said “times they are a changin”.
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So get organized and book early. Simples
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Maybe you have not read the guidelines and rules etc ,but posting such a remark breaks the rules and guidelines
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If not being able to book a pitch at caravan club sites, is not the primary reason for join, what do you believe is the primary reason for joining the club?
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I think I explained that in my reply, it allows one access to the excellent sites on network and to book at member prices if one wishes. Many others join to use Cls or avail themselves of the other products on offer like insurance and ferries.
That's all I ever expected, if sites are full, and really they have been for many years, then that's it.
But really what you or I think is of little relevance, it is what the club states and nowhere does it say you will be able to book a pitch just because you have joined.
Expecting to be able to get your preferred dates and sites just because you are a member is just not realistic, especially at short notice. I've had no problems booking sites this morning for next year.
But again if club sites are full then there are plenty other places to use.
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Having the option to book as many times at you like, because you no longer worker, compared to those that do work, have a family etc and cannot book when ever they like
How is that not an advantage ,equal and fairThe most likely reason that is causing this issue to be raised, is that membership has expanded without a corresponding increase in sites, and pitch. As such limiting booking to some figure would the best overall solution, as many booking are simply speculative, as i have learnt from experience
Do no bother booking weekend, just wait till a few days before. Not had a problem as yet getting on to popular sits which the system showed full, months ahead
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Two’s....if you wanted a pitch at York Rowntree Park for a particular week, how far in advance would you plan to book it? Bear in mind, this is a City Centre Site, possibly the most popular on the Club network, and it’s not that big, limited number of pitches.
I ask to get some idea of how someone else would plan their visit. I know what I would do, but not how others operate......
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I can only repeat that we are all treated equally.
In particular, I draw your attention to the final paragraph of my previous post.
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Sorry I used to work but I had no problems in booking a site, I knew when my holidays were and booked early, which as people keep saying is the key.
No section of the membership should have an advantage and the best way to achieve that is to have first come first served. What you are suggesting is giving an advantage to those who work?
I'm not sure how having a set number will affect speculative bookings, (how do you know many are speculative?) why does having three (?) bookings for next year affect how speculative they are?
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When i joined, and for quite a few years after, booking a site was no problem ,but times have changed
You say no section should have an advantage, being in a position to book as many bookings as you want , when you like is an advantageYou post,I'm not sure how having a set number will affect speculative bookings
That is simple math. if the max you can book is say 3 ,then that is the max you can speculative book .
As it is now, and if your in the can book when ever you want position you can book as many times as you want ,as long as you do not overlap your bookings0 -
In respect of your question
(how do you know many are speculative?)
I do no know how many, What i do know is that sites that are booked up months ahead, spaces become available a few days before ,on sites that where full months ahead1 -
So your encouraging speculative bookings as a means to get around the issue
Personally i can only see what you advocating,as making things worse0 -
I cannot think of another holiday booking agency that is as fair as CAMC to all sections of society to be honest. Anyone can book something, any time, any site, up to a year in advance, without any form of penalty, even cancelling within 72 hours of arrival if plans have to change, for whatever reason.
Edit. We don’t book any Club Site speculatively, never have for the last 30+ years. We think, we plan, we book. In those thirty plus years, I can only recall three changes of plans. Once when my Dad died, this year when Tour of Britain was cancelled and the third time the Club cancelled due to flood prevention work at York.
You haven’t responded to my question yet Two’s, that’s if you want to respond of course😉
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No it is not an advantage as all have that advantage. So it can't be can it?
So your system isn't really reducing an speculative bookings which is what you were trying to achieve?
Last paragraph, yes and it works.
PS I don't do math, math is a RC church service
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TMTO, let's not dig up this old chestnut again, eh? You've read before as often as I have of the many reasons for vacancies occurring. It's speculation to say they are as a result of speculative booking.
I consider every booking by every person to be speculative (I'm starting to hate that word) because, although we book with good intention, none of us can guarantee that on the day we will be fit and well and free of mechanical breakdown to make it to the site. We speculate that we will but cannot guarantee it. Neither deposits, limited bookings nor early or late booking will change that. It's life🤷♂️
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It’s possible that the difference isn’t one of fairness, but rather of understanding fully the popularity of certain sites, what local events might attract pitch bookings, and some of this only comes with experience of being a Member over the years and with a lot of use of the booking system. A lot of the misconceptions around pitch and Site bookings possibly are from newer Members, less familiar with booking on a regular basis, and who expect it to be easy every time. The Club and it’s Sites are popular, and it can be that the organised get the best choice.
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Forward Bookings, not total for year
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That is the problem. Book up as much as you want, then cancel 72 hours before, no penalty.
Maybe should be changed to , cancel same number of times as it is now ,same penalties apply .0 -
For new members, or members that have not involved them selves before on this issue , it is a new chestnut
For people who are in work, and especially with families, the bookings will not be speculative
Having to cancel due to Illness. mechanical break down, or other extraneous factors ,does not make the booking speculative0 -
Normally we book two summer trips. to a total of around 85 nights. About 55 to 60% will likely be CMC. After the first we are normally not home for more than 3 weeks. Do not want the faff of trying to plan and book a tour route whilst already touring nor to get the locations that we want 3 weeks before the off on second tour.
We will though make some September bookings and a 15 night stay over Christmas when we do not tour.
One tour will involve 50 or more nights on 10 sights and one about 50 nights on 10 sites and are often booked in February.
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The difference is you pay an annul membership, fee with booking agents etc, you do not
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I can recognise a”wriggler” Two’s. Clutching at straws is my speculative thought.....😂
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I have only made one booking that was purely speculative. That was for 5 nights in late August into September at Braitwaite Fold the last year that the CMC ran the site. It was made in the February. We had not decided on a September tour but would do in June and it was a popular site. In June it would have been chosen as a part of a September tour or released. We did use it however as a start of a tour.
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