Booking ahead is unfair at some sites
Hi everyone,
Not sure if it’s just me but since starting caravan life I have found one site which is busy most of the time and this site is chatsworth park. What is frustrating is you can book space here well in advance but noticed that people release their booked space indicating that they only booked in case they want to go. Maybe a small deposit would stop the crazy booking system.
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I'm guessing from your screen name that you are new to the forum. I've not been on here very long and I've seen this situation covered several times.
I'm one of many who totally agree that deposits are the way forward. The current system is abused by a bunch who book on spec, just in case.
There is another post running at present that would suggest changes are ahead.
Colin
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But please don't assume people book just in case. Cancellations can be for all sorts of reasons. The thread linked to by PD covers it all - and more.
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The club has stated that this (what the OP talks about) doesn't happen as often, or as much as people complain about. It's more than a CT 'myth' than reality. Everyone 'knows' someone who does this but who this someone is is never made clear?
Also with any booking far in advance as one year all booking are 'speculative'. Even a few months really, no one knows what's going to happen so far in advance and most bookings are made in good faith that they'll be taken up.
But deposits are coming but will it deter this alleged speculative booking? One books a weekend for a £25 deposit (one night?) is that enough? There has been talk of having a 31 day cancelation period, six weeks? I can't see the club having non refundable deposits but if that is the case won't affect me.
All will be releveled soon(ish) but still likely to be a year at least before they are introduced. But for sites like Chatsworth I personally don't think it will make much difference.
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This year we have, unusually for us, cancelled around 25 booked nights, with both clubs for the months of September, October and November as we found ourselves unexpectedly and suddenly unable to go away in the van during this period. Not all cancellations are at a whim, some, perhaps many cancellations are of necessity, and some deposits in fact were also lost with our cancellations. The deposits lost didn't matter a jot in the scheme of things. Hopefully normal service will be resumed next year, and to that end we have already booked Chatsworth in November 2022. People cancel for many different reasons, and deposits may not actually be the cure that some hope for...
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There are a small number of Club Sites that are always very busy. They were before the pandemic created a huge surge in tourer ownership, it’s probably even worse now all and sundry wants to go camping.
Chatsworth is one such Club Site, as is York Rowntree Park, and Bristol Baltic Wharf. You have to get organised and well planned. These three serve huge populations located not far away, in the case of Chatsworth, that’s South Yorks, NE Derbyshire and just over the Pennines, area that covers the Manchester conurbations, all looking like you for some fresh air, in a nice place.
Personally, I doubt that having a deposit system will make Chatsworth or YRPark any easier to book, but maybe this time next year we will find out?
Meantime, I hope you get something at Chatsworth, but you are competing with thousands of other tourer owners who also want to go there, so book as early as you are able is my advice. There are some nice CLs around there as well, if you don’t mind a compromise.5 -
Btw, ScreenName13, I don't agree with the word 'unfair' in your thread title. Every one of us has the same chance to book so I don't see how it can he considered unfair.
Let's wait and see what the changes will be but I'm guessing a lot of folk will regret what they wished for.
Incidentally, if you visit My Profile, you'll be able to change your user name to one of your choice.
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Maybe a small deposit would stop the crazy booking system.
Given that a two day weekend break can cost up to £112.40 for a family of four (2 adults 2 children). I don’t think a small deposit is going to make much of a difference at sites like Chatsworth. Even if it is non returnable or transferable.
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Deposits were in the past no deterrent to some members not arriving at sites, that was back in the 1990s when members could book several sites for the same dates (that has thankfully been eliminated with the on line booking system) and deposits were £5 -£10 per site booking,
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I think the simple reality is that the Membership has exploded this year, lots more folks have bought outfits and are wanting to use them, and use them into the Winter months as well. Chatsworth has always had a good weekend following, the Estate and other areas around are very very busy at weekends year round. Castleton Club Site is another that is very popular, being a mere 30 minutes from centre of Sheffield. I noticed the private site between Hope and Castleton was very full last week, and that’s despite the weather. There’s lots to do close by, so locals are making the most of weekends and getting out there.
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Indeed the current club booking system does suit me very well indeed thank you 🤭, along with the many other thousands of satisfied club members.
It's a shame when other can't get what they want , when they would like, but pitch availability here in the UK is at a premium because of the massive amount of new people taking up touring either caravan or motorhome.
Pitches here aren't as plentiful as some members love to shout about & continually labour the virtues of touring over the channel in mainland Europe where pitch prices are said to be as cheap as chips😴.
Commom sense dictates a number of people will always be disappointed with their lot & life.
That's the way the cookie crumbles....nowadays unfortunately . 😁😘
Ps I'm a friendly kind of person..... some of the time.😋
And please don't confuse comments being unfriendly.... with actual facts.
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Not sure how long you have been a member but trying to get into sites like Chatsworth can be a bit of a lottery unless you are prepared to book a long time ahead. The situation has been further complicated by COVID which has meant many more staycations and new people taking up the hobby. I have noticed there are lots of sites which seem to be difficult to find space on this year. Strangely the later you are willing to leave it to book the more likely you are to find space. As has been mentioned elsewhere the Club is currently reviewing its booking systems and the betting is that deposits will be introduced. It remains to be seen if people are willing to pay deposits and how far in advance they are willing to do it. For sites like Chatsworth (and there are others) it may make no difference at all as they are so popular.
David
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The club has stated that this (what the OP talks about) doesn't happen as often, or as much as people complain about.
But they would say that, at least prior to the projected deposit imposition. Why then have they decided to revert to taking deposits?
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Gosh, 362, I didn't know there were 2 classes of Member - those who've been one since before the war, and those, like myself who've only been a member for 10 or so years. Oh, wait a minute, there's a 3rd class, those who've only recently joined.
How dare 3rd class members express an opinion!!
To paraphrase a well known maxim, sometimes it is better to be thought a miserable old git than to post a comment and remove all doubt.
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I, or the club, was talking about block booking and to answer your question - could well be, and I don't know. But state it they did during the Q&A session during the 2020 AGM.
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You are absolutely spot-on. Ignore the usual unfriendly replies from many on here. If you stick around you'll learn to get used to it!!
We are now as good as anyone at "gaming" this antiquitated system but unlike many others, at least we recognise that things need to change for the good of the club and all of the members.
You don't need to ask the club for stats. If you want to book a weekend away, wait until Tuesday morning when the forecast is rain and you'll find endless availability.
Hopefully the deposits will be meaningful. Including loss of full payment if cancelled in the final month. That's what holiday insurance is for.
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It remains to be seen if people are willing to pay deposits and how far in advance they are willing to do it. For sites like Chatsworth (and there are others) it may make no difference at all as they are so popular.
David"
Really???
They certainly aren't going to find the same system anywhere else so they'll pay a deposit or stay at home.
Surprised it's taken the club so long to wake up to this...
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Hopefully the deposits will be meaningful. Including loss of full payment if cancelled in the final month. That's what holiday insurance is for.
This statement often trotted out in these threads always amuses me. Try claiming for not wanting to go because a close relative is ill and requires support, plus any number of other good reasons that would be more trouble than it’s worth trying to get an insurance company to accept.
I am sure there will be folk who cancel or amend due to the weather. Towing a caravan in winds higher than you are comfortable with just isn’t sensible.
One thing I am certain of, is if the CAMC were daft enough to introduce loss of full payment in the final month, they would loose my considerable annual spend. There are plenty of providers who don’t have such draconian penalties.
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Buying a club membership should include the small print, "Don't expect to get a holiday during your first year of membership. Unless the forecast is wet and you can organise your work and family with 72 hours notice".
That's the reality.
We decided not to go to France last September / October and put together a tour in this country instead, using mainly CAMC sites. We did this in the last week of June and although the very popular sites were unavailable, there was still plenty to go at, even service pitches. Your above statement just isn’t true. It most certainly isn’t reality.
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I think it depends how specific one wants to be about site/date selection.
Like Steve, and many others no doubt, we were consigned to touring in the UK once the April lockdown was released but a mix of CL, THS, commercial and Club sites have seen us squeeze in 12 weeks so far with another three weeks upto New Year..
there were obviously some limitations but, again like Steve, we are retired and can move dates and places about a bit to make the tour 'fit'...this is this is the bit that is really difficult for working families and sometimes no amount of 'forward planning' can make it all come together.
While I understand the different range of commitments retired folk have (we have them, too....) we oldies certainly have an 'advantage' over folk with work and school prominent in their diaries...
a first year member is certainly going to find it 'tricky' playing catch up with those who've had a year to book...
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We live in exceptional times when many who would travel overseas are now doing staycations.
As can be seen with the very High numbers of new members with both major pitch providors
Also with the very High level also over the last couple of years of LV ownership ,it has been at times difficult to put together any tours or the usual two week holidays on many sites in this country, unless booking very early
With the now opening up of borders ,there is a possibility. there will be an easing of pressure on site availability in the UK ,next year ,
And it seems from conversations and articles in some media, there could also be very many used low mileage. LVs on dealers forecourts
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It made very little diference to non arrivals or short notice cancelations when this club had a deposit system, before the booking system was computerised for members to use
According to club information ,non arrival figures were less after this system was introduced
But this year it has gone up according to site staff and it seems to be new members with motor caravans and campers that are the most non arrivals
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For me, a user, the club is a most unusual place for the trust, dignity ease and civility it projects and allows. The introduction of deposits would remove what to me makes it very special. I'd be worried of a shift in values of distinctive club towards an anonymity of many commercial organisations.
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I don't really mind either way re deposits...if they come, they come...however, I do think the '72 hr' cancellation period is too short and this could easily be moved to a full week.
if deposits are supposed to sharpen the mind re 'commitment' then we can't still have folk being 'undecided' 3 days from arrival.
with pitches only being returned to 'stock' 72 hrs before being due to be used, it's more likely they will be snapped up by those who have the time to 'keep an eye on' the late availability...that won't be working mums and dads...
While a lengthier period would still favour those sitting at a PC but it might just give a sporting chance to others.
it depends how much 'commitment' the club is looking to get from bookers moving forward....I'd have thought 7 days prior is better than 3.
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I took David to mean any difference to the ease of booking, rather than wether folk would choose not to use CAMC sites. Personally I do not think it will make a significant difference at a site like Chatsworth, there are just so many wanting to go there. It might end up being a different set of folk who book well in advance but undoubtedly it will happen.
Yesterday I tried to book a C&CC site for October 22 during half term. The only pitch on offer was grass without EHU, everything else was booked up, despite a £25 deposit. I wouldn’t rate it anywhere near as go to as Chatsworth either.
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Personally, I think we are moving towards new times in terms of the “Club”. It’s appointed a new Director of Sites, Operations or whatever the title is, and it’s going to become more competitive in terms of what it offers, and how it’s marketed and sold. Underpinning this is a raft of marketing posts designed to keep an eye on trends, the competition, and making sure the Membership grows.
Any prospective new Member could be forgiven for thinking that payment of a fee will buy them a guaranteed pitch where they want, when they want, but the reality at the moment doesn’t meet that expectation, partly because the Club is struggling with staffing issues, partly because newer Members won’t be fully conversant with just how popular some Sites are, and possibly because there are just not enough Club pitches to meet the current unprecedented demand.Deposits are not going to be the nirvana some think they will be, at least not alone.
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