All booked up near us !

roytonrebel
roytonrebel Forum Participant Posts: 41
edited March 2021 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Just tried to book a weekend for April   but everywhere full had a look for May   also full    June   full  . .  Looks like i will have to start block booking weekends as soon as they are available   dont want to  but whats good for the goose is good for the gander.  I can always cancel before the cut off point when i cant go ..    

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Comments

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #3

    You are a bit late royton, it’s the early camper that gets the pitch😁 We booked four Club Sites before Xmas.

    But I will let you know when we cancel the last two......😂

    It is Planet Earth you are returning to, isn’t it?🤣

  • roytonrebel
    roytonrebel Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited March 2021 #4

     Aye just landed  and found out that things have changed  since  i left .  Like you say takethedog  its an early worm  .    

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2021 #5
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  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,682 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #6

    Spoke to our friend who runs High Breame CL at Flamborough, about a month ago, with a view to booking a week there. We usually stay with them at least once during the year.

    The earliest date he could offer us was in October!!

  • Dawn F
    Dawn F Forum Participant Posts: 167
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    edited March 2021 #7

    Looking at availability for the rest of the year and it looks pretty full, maybe a reflection of the club offering free night vouchers to new members.  So us that have paid over £50 for 4 months in the last 12 now can't find any pitches but the new members get potentially a years membership for £20.00!

    With so many new members but no extra pitches things can only get worse

    We have several sites booked but are waiting for confirmation on facilities, hoping we don't have to cancel but will if toilets are not open

    Will be disappointing as the government seem to be encouraging people to go to pubs, zoos & theme parks which surely will need to have toilets available

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited March 2021 #8

    Not sure I understand your logic or is it sour grapes as you cannot book what you want?  I am sure you were a new member once and maybe got an incentive (maybe not) but to think that new members have suddenly booked all available pitches is stupid or they got their membership for only £20 a year.   We in the past have had a free nigh voucher randomly sent so you could say we only paid £20 those years but we paid the full amount like the new members do.

    There has been a pandemic, we are not allowed to travel and may not be allowed this year so everyone (even die hard over there enthusiasts) are booking UK sites.

    You do not have to cancel if the toilets are not open you can use your vehicles facilities like many of us do even when the sites are open, that of course is a personal choice but if you do cancel please let everyone on here know as I am sure someone would like to take your booking.

    As for pubs, theme parks etc. these too are only open outside and I suspect the toilets will be open but you do not linger in say a pub toilet or take a shower in a hot steamy atmosphere.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2021 #9

    What sites have you booked ? as you Will be cancelling going before 17th?May , we are looking for some pitches any where before facilities are open in May as per HMGs route out of lockdowncool

    With the R rate starting to climb again ,and as advised by a school teacher this morning  ,a local girls school is now showing positive tests when they were negative last week frown

    Do not expect another U turnsurprised

  • AnnB
    AnnB Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited March 2021 #10

    It’s hardly surprising that pitches have been snapped up after being closed for months. Lots of people are keen to get away. We booked sites in March before Christmas (a wee bit optimistic) and had to cancel them and rebooked around New Year for  3 weekends in April as we are limited to length of stay because of caring responsibilities.

    However, there are pitches available in May. I just checked Burrs Country Park site and there’s plenty of available pitches in May, weekends as well as weekdays.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #11

    I agree that there are plenty of week days available in May and even Sunday’s. However, all the Saturday’s are booked, so a weekend stay would not be possible.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2021 #12

    Not when i looked at May  at weekendsundecided

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #13

    Have a look at sites which require deposits or payment in advance - you may find more vacancies and fewer cancellations there.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #14

    Very true, I have had no trouble booking the C&CC site at Sandringham and I have noticed vacancies on the Camping in the Forest in the New Forest.

    peedee

  • labradors r the best
    labradors r the best Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited March 2021 #15

    Its time the club brought in a none refundable deposit as this would stop members block booking and on many occasions cancelling within the 72hr window.

    At the moment with covid it is understandable that all holiday sites and locations in the UK are going to be busy but this block booking has always been a problem with people booking many stays but not going ahead with the booking for various reasons usually the weather, but society these days seems to be ME,ME, and no thought for anyone else.

    Some people only get certain times of the year they can holiday like families with children at school, a bit more consideration would be helpful. 

    No doubt there will be many members with steam coming out of their ears after reading my post.coolsmile

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2021 #16

    The subject of "block booking? has been mentioned on numerous occasions and both site staff i am in contact with and the club itself have said there is no evidence that "block booking" is prolific,or common by anybody

    But then as you have mentioned  you seem to have a "problem with booking " but on the other hand school holidays are known the year before and with this club site can be booked up to a year in advance ,

    Unless you are one of very few who do not know in advance when you can take a holiday?,even then  late availability give 3 weekends in advance of sites with pitches available which if pitches are available on those weekends it is most likely they will be available during the week ,

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #17

    No doubt there will be many members with steam coming out of their ears after reading my post.

    Not sure why you should assume that. You are entitled to your opinion. I don’t happen to agree with it, but that’s par for the course on a forum.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #18

    That's just your opinion, Labs. I suggest you check out the questions asked at the last AGM and note the club's replies. 

    Your post is full of assumptions, not least that some of us shouldn't book just in case someone else wants that slot. We are all equally able to book what is available and if a date isn't available, it means you were too slow off the mark.

    As for deposits, have you considered joining C&CC as it should meet your needs? 😀

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #19

    Yep, I noticed 😃

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2021 #20

    Your personal opinion of course.

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited March 2021 #21

    Perhaps the club should reserve a pitch on every clubsite for the very  special membership campers, that consistly miss the boat after it's sailed. 🤭😬🤔

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #22

    The Lifebelt approach?🤔 Nah, better to let them learn to swim like the rest of us do😂👍

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited March 2021 #23

    Those that constantly talk of missing out because some other member(s) dare book sites well within the club's generous remit of  future availability dates to every club site that are available to everyone of the membership masses ..... tend to sink without trace.

    We are in both clubs & equally use one or the other when our chosen area /site is fully  booked up when we want to go, hardly a life changing experience.... 🤔🤭in my opinion of course. 

  • MikeyA
    MikeyA Forum Participant Posts: 1,072
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    edited March 2021 #24

    I was looking at the NF CITF sites only recently and if memory serves me right all facilities are closed for the season. If that is still the same I'm not surprised that there are vacancies. We always stayed on Roundhill in the 1970s but it does seem very expensive at the moment with no facilities and no EHU.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #25

    I haven't paid too much attention as to whether facilities were open or not (we tend to use are own) but compare Holmsley with its neighbour The New Forest Centenary site. I assume neither will have facilities open until after 17th May.

    peedee

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #26

    Anyway, back to the OP, have you found anywhere for your April weekend yet, rr? 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2021 #27
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  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #28

    I wanted to go to the National Motorhome show at the East Of England show ground, Peterborough but being concerned about mixing with crowds, especially for presentations and the evenings indoor entertainment I would not get value for money if I did not attend these. In the end my thoughts turned to just attending as a day visitor which would meet my requirements. It is a feasible days drive but just as a further thought I looked at the possibility of booking Ferry Meadows for a long weekend. Surprise, surprise there is just about every weekend available in May and for the rest of the year!

    Is this unique or is it down to the size of the site?

    peedee

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2021 #29

    Just check The amount of pitches at FM it is a very big site,just hover over the dates wanted as it may well be only very  few pitches on some weekends ,  it is just over a mile from what remains of the East of England Showground ,and Speedway

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #30

    ,just hover over the dates wanted as it may well be only very few pitches on some weekends

    I think that only works if there are less than 5 available????? Most weekends seem to have much more available.

    peedee

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2021 #31

    You have checked then?undecided