Booking ahead is unfair at some sites
Comments
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We don't understand the big driver for change. Maybe it's the growth of new members.
All those who paid their £54 and found they couldn't book a half decent trip for a full year. Can they cancel and get an automated refund?
The customer service lines may have been red hot with irate complainants seeking such a refund and escalating the issue to the exec team. They wouldn't sign up and complain on CT!
Bit like buying a Costco membership and then finding you can only head into store next year...
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Would folk joining these days really not have had a look at sites and noticed availability before signing up. At least we had an excuse, when we joined then found the Bank holidays unavailable, as online booking didn’t start until a year after we joined.
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Probably they wouldn't, Steve, because they've not got the benefit of our knowledge of the state of play and maybe don't realise how popular the hobby has become. Having said that, anyone with their eyes open should realise how many LVs are on the road and they've all got to pitch somewhere.
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If they as many have done or tried to do this year buy an LV, with dealers not having stocks of even used vehicles let alone new ones. ;,common sense ?,would have also , one would have thought ,looked at the pursuit they were looking at entering
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happy souls sat around a campfire having a sing song.
Not in The Caravan Club - campfires are banned and singing discouraged!
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Nothing said on here is going to influence the decision on deposits, it seems that decision has already been made. But what might be useful to the Club are the issues and problems that members might experience with the change and it is likely they take those concerns into account even if only to adjust the way they explain the changes and counter some of the concerns and possible negativity. I have never felt the CMC is a consultative or democratic organisation but I do believe they take account of feedback in planning how member services are operated. One theme that has been in existence for years is the problems people experience with booking certain sites and times, particularly weekends v longer stays. This has been a bigger issue recently as more people have taken holidays in the UK. Had the booking system been running perfectly well with little of no feedback from members highlighting difficulties would they be thinking about deposits and all the initial systems expense that entails?
David
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As a poster has mentioned earlier, New posters to CT have mentioned some of the perceived? problems with the booking system, but most it seems are from those who do not or cannot arrange their holidays
But then how many new members will be with the club now that it seems most of the overseas holiday destinations are open?
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That would be my worst case scenario😤.
It would fly in the face of purporting to be a touring club and is my biggest gripe with C&CC.
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Same here. We happily tour around hopping from place to place.
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Perhaps weekend bookings from May to September should be for a minimum of 3 nights Friday to Monday. To me a better option would be to restrict each member to a maximum number of nights booked on a rolling monthly basis.
For example, no more than (say) 25 nights booked at a time. As you use up those nights you can book more. Or no more than so many weekends booked. Or make stays of up to two or three nights payable in full at the time of booking without a refund if cancelled within 30 days.
Just some thoughts to throw out there.
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I have never felt the CMC is a consultative or democratic organisation but I do believe they take account of feedback in planning how member services are operated.
Certinly not democratic but there again do I really want it any other way. The current system while appearing to be democration actually does involve a selection process to the Council and Executive committee. Some may refer to this as too much of an the old boy network but it does insure a spread of expertise on the committee that otherwise you might not get! I personally was sad that the rules were not changed to allow representation of the CL owners. A bad mistake I feel.
There is certainly an organisation which allows feedback and questions with regional AGMs and members meetings but in my experience they are not very well attended by the membership at large. The inclusion of questions to the AGM and the opportunity to attend using technology is very welcomed and if members at large do not avail themselves of these facilities, it will always be the most vocal who will get a hearing and feedback..
peedee
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I can't see how a minimum number of two nights at weekends will solve the weekend bottleneck? Most people I think book two nights already?
The three night won't help either, if fact it might make things worse? People wanting a weekend might then book three nights and leave late on Sunday (in fact that's what we used to do to make the most of a weekend) so now Sunday evenings will be booked up too? I do notice a lot of retired folk arrive on Sunday afternoons when the younger/working folk leave.
Also it does penalize those who work Monday to Friday.
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I have no problem with that as a retired member there is plenty of opportunity to visit sites at other times of the year. If you really want to go to that site just extend your stay to what is accepted, it has to be to the benifit to the Club. Generally for short stays of 2 days or less, out of preference, I would not stay on a full facility Club site anyway. I think in the fullness of time there will be ample opportunity for short stays at motorhome stopover sites which are now beginning to appear..
peedee
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I've got quite used to the minimum 5 night booking at Derwentwater, it seems to work well and it's a pleasantly peaceful experience without too much disturbance each day. No long queues or lots of driving round the site etc. It gives people the opportunity to have stays over the weekend or mid-week and there's no mass exodus, the site is continually full. Spare days are taken up by people turning up on the off chance for an overnight stay etc.
I'm wondering just how much the CAMC intends to adapt the booking system to really improve things for all.
By the way I really appreciate one night stays for stop overs so at present I use both clubs to my own advantage.
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When I was working I would have used my 25 nights a year ahead all in one go, or from booking day as it was. We would book our Easter, half terms and summer holidays all in one go and have nothing left for weekends under your plan. Now we book in term time but still plan a year ahead.
I've just taken a few minutes to check fr my coming booking days for the year ahead and stopped counting when I reached 50. And I intend to take them all up before anyone asks, and I have only had to cancel twice in 22 years in the past btw.
Would, or does, any other leisure holiday organisation limit the amount of money/holidays you can spend with them?
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Or they could book 3 nights then arrive Friday and cancel the Sunday (within the rules now) and only have to pay for the 2 nights.
One of the non USP of the C&CC is the minimum nights that infuriate most members as you are unable to book for the odd night, they even advertise one site as an ideal stop over on your way North/South yet you cannot stop over as it is minimum of 2 nights
. As there are now more and more MH who like to tour the club would shoot themselves in the foot if they did this and also take into account many people are working so Friday and Saturday are the only times they can visit sites as they have to work or get kids to school on Monday and who want so pay £40-£50 for a night they wont use and leave late on Sunday?
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A worse "worst case scenario" for us members, but much liked by accountants, is to simply charge a whacking premium for Friday, Saturday, and perhaps Sunday nights. Works well for airline seats.
Now, if this happens we will know that "management" does read CT . . . !
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Yes a touring club. They provide touring sites for touring units and often use phrases such as "putting a tour together".
Probably you don't need to break your journey overnight, MB, but those of us who live at either end of the country, or those travelling to ferry ports, need overnight halts before reaching their destination. We do and also did exactly the same when we towed a caravan.
Restrictions that stop us booking a single night see us heading to an alternative provider. Many a time C&CC has lost our business due to their restrictive practices and CAMC would too if they introduced such draconian measures.
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👏👏👏
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I can't see any logic in stipulating a minimum stay of 2 nights over a weekend. People already complain they can't book a full week because weekends are booked. A minimum stay will surely not help that situation and may make it worse.
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It’s certainly as possible with a caravan. We did up to 7, when we’re were still working. Although when we didn’t have to rush so much once retired, it was generally a week, with the odd two day if moving a fair distance. However, you are correct, much easier with a MH and one of the reasons we changed.
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I fear some are destined to be disappointed again this year if they want either Chatsworth or YRP. Almost every single type of pitch (awning, non awning, serviced) is booked for Friday and Saturday between now and next November. Couple of Fridays left at Chatsworth, a single Friday/Saturday I think in September at Chatsworth, and the odd Friday at YRP. In fairness, after April, Chatsworth is well booked in the week as well. York with its City Centre location is popular and well booked all year round.
Looking on the bright side, York lovers can use Beechwood Grange, every single weekend is free there.
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