New Site Booking System
Comments
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DK wrote "I think it would be useful to be able to download the site/cl directory as a PDF file which would enable the printing of individual pages as an when needed."
It would also have the advantage of being able to be updated as new CL's, phone numbers etc became available. Being downloadable it is also available offline, answering my previous complaint to CAMC on the absence of full information on site prices in the handbook.
I agree with NTH that a paper version of the SD is still desirable notwithstanding such a potential enhancement.
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Well something had to be done, I really couldn’t quite believe it when told how many cancellations are being made, so much speculative booking, just because they can. However, the reason we used the Club was because if we really had to we could cancel. In all the years we only ever did this twice, once because my Mum became critically ill and once because we had problems with the van. Towing a van is more risky for hols, the car has to be in good order and the van. 21 days notice is unlikely to help with either of these potential problems. Might as well book with a commercial site now as there will be little difference with deposits. Personally I would have taken non refundable deposits from anyone who had cancelled two or more bookings in any one calendar year, thus not inconveniencing genuine bookers. I think there will be empty pitches from people who need to cancel within 21 days but now just don’t bother to let the Club know. Good to be able to book a pitch type though, long overdue and might help with the early morning queue at the gates.
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Many CLs already take some form of payment in advance, V. They know it's good business sense to keep the cash rolling in and it's my belief it is also a driver behind the club's move to deposits.
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+1 I never knew C&MC existed until I was older. When the family was established & they were old enough they explored the world with a guide-me👍🏻
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Some commercials not only charge a (sometimes refundable) deposit but also the balance payment two weeks or so before arrival. Our New Year site has just emailed a reminder.
I guess that makes the club quite generous in allowing the balance to be paid on arrival or the night before..
tours with several club sites booked together will now need a deposit to cover 20% of the total cost, again little different to a tour of commercials or C&CC.
I don't really care about deposits as our touring here during the UK better weather will include CL/CS/THS sites and commercials where deposit terms can vary.
However, I'm interested in how 'booking a tour of CC sites' might be made easier in some way with the new booking system, when the primary impediment to linking multiple sites together for desired dates is the availability of pitches at each of those individual sites...no different to now..
the new system might save a few clicks by adding a 'book a tour' button and availability might be improved if all the clubs spin re deposits is to be believed.
we will wait and see...in the meantime I'll continue to make any bookings for sites we want to be at next year...a concert at one venue already booked and a couple of additional sites to create a mini tour...
will doing this sort of thing be easier or trickier next year?...the jury's out.
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Like PeeDee, I use the two club apps...easy map reading with a real view of how sites are located in relation to towns etc, along with simple route mapping, and even pictures which aren't in the directory.
I use apps for all my site/lpg/aire searching as it's so easy to just zoom for location and then tap to get full details...
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I am glad to note that the touring on sites as you also post , has not been at this time it seems covered by any QAs from the club as I tried to say yesterday, but it seemed that it was as many of my posts an attack on whoever did not read what I was trying to point out,
Not every one who posts has what it seems is needed a degree in the English language to make some understand, ?
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Morning
I don't think there will be empty pitches from people cancelling within 21 days, or even people not bothering. If you haven't turned up on the day of arrival we will attempt to contact. Next day the booking is no showed and pitch back for sale. Deposits confirm commitment and will hopefully give some people a bit of focus.
The early morning queue at the gates, well, the only difference is hopefully the early morning arrival will have paid already so will be handed a site plan with available pitch surface that has been booked and crack on, should take all of two or three minutes. Unless of course the site is full, then it will be come back after the advertised arrival time.
JK
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OK
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Thanks DK.
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Obviously availability is the key BB, but at least you will be able to attempt to book a tour in one go, looking at all the sites you'd like to visit without having to do one site at a time as you do now. If a site isn't available the map search will give alternative sites nearby, including cl's along with the nightly from prices (not for cl's though).
JK
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As I have tried to post ,if when booking a tour. ,some sites as this year, on our route had odd days not available ,how will that be addressed with both systems running together. When one books what is available and keep looking as this year to fill the odd days
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The thing is, despite having paid for a specific pitch type, some will still want the 'best' HS, 'best' SP or 'best' grass pitch which will continue to drive them to site at the earliest possible time...so queues will still ensue.
agreed, getting some from the gates to the pitch might go smoother, but this will depend on how many pay before arrival, how many pay on arrival, and how many still want to use cash...
the biggest issue is certainly going to be during the transition period where 'early bookers' (no specified pitch type) might rest content in the (misplaced) knowledge that they're sorted with a pitch...and a 'best' one at that if they arrive early.
not so..unless they've moved the booking to the new system, they may arrive only to be told that there are no HS pitches 'left' (despite many being unoccupied) and that there are only grass left...
I think this is the one big downside of pitch type booking that's not been made apparent in the new system 'briefing'.
anyone not privy to this sort of 'discussion' (CT, FB) is unlikely to consider the implications of an early booking over a later (new style) one, where we've always been encouraged to 'book early'👍
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any one not privy to this sort of 'discussion' (CT, FB) is unlikely to consider the implications of an early booking over a later (new style) one, where we've always been encouraged to 'book early'👍
Totally agree BB. Already changed one of ours that would be at risk to a service pitch. The other with no service pitches, will get changed to a HS booking as soon as I am able. If of course it does not look like we will loose the booking in the process.
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If they are going to bring in pitch booking to run alongside current bookings there is not much else one can do, unless this mentioned online amendment system is also extended to existing bookings. If they did that they would also get a deposit out of anyone updating a booking, so it would be beneficial.
As it is, when the scheme comes in I will take a view on existing bookings for the period I want and if it looks safe cancel and rebook.
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I presume that to pick up those odd days under the new system and add those to those already booked you will have to either make a seperate booking for them and pay a deposit. You will then have two bookings running consequtively or alternatively to obtain one booking you cancel your first and will hopefully be able to make a new single booking for all the days required under the new system????????
peedee
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We have hopefully done all our tour bookings for next year,,in anticipation of what the new system may throw up? ,hence my inquiring posts
.With it possibly being our last year of any long trips as in the past ,
we may not even manage all of next year
I have sent an Email to EGH asking for clarification although I am still waiting a reply from about two months ago, on a similar subject so am not optimistic about a reply ,
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I suggest earlier in this thread that on the introduction of the new system, those that have bookings should be allowed to select the type of pitch they require. It might be a bit of a bun fight and some may lose out but it would mean all future arrivals will know the type of pitch they should be getting.
I will be avoiding all this nonsense by simply not booking anything until the new system is operational or if I wish to go away before then i will either use Club sites at at short notice, if pitches are available, or use non Club sites.
peedee
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JK
I'm sure you didn't mean to but you're encouraging early payment as a method to arrive early and getting on site straight away, these early arrivals may be a pain at the gate but they are a nightmare when after leaving site well before time you meet them on the narrow roads to some sites, please don't put ideas in their heads.
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Under the new system it will be a bit galling if one is having to make multiple bookings to acquire all the days required for a stay at a site and then having to cancel what one has got before the 28 days, only to find that the intermediate dates one wanted suddenly become available.
Perhaps the simple solution is that if the days required at a Caravan Club site are not available on original booking to just cancel the whole tour and go elsewhere.
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Not that at all JVB.
It is a huge risk to have multipe deposits stuck on bookings and be waiting for a "missing" day to become available that may or may not not be flushed out by the 28 day rule. There are plenty of other parts of Great Britain I am happy to visit, so at the first booking hurdle just move the whole plan to keep things easy. Holidays are supposed to have a big element of fun, after all.
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