An altogether better booking experience

Hi Guys,

My main concern here is the deposit issue, this has been covered in many discussions and most seem against the idea.

I currently have a list of 12 bookings over a period of four months these have been ‘tweaked’ over & over until the holiday length & the sites are right for us it is currently very useful to be able to do this as we are retired on a fixed income so to have to fork out deposits for these bookings would be beyond our means. We avoid the private sites for this reason also as most do not alter bookings without charging ‘admin’.

I am very concerned that if the club decides to introduce this system it will impact on many members who are on fixed incomes but try to continue touring the best we can.

I agree with other comments that a ballot of all the members should take place before any major changes as I have never met anyone who has been involved in any form of focus group or indeed been asked for any opinions on any changes by the club.

I did suggest in an email to the club re bookings, that there was really no need for ‘awning’ or ‘non awning’ pitches surely this would simplify the booking system somewhat? Members would still pitch on which ever one suited them on the day, it would do away with those who have to book one type of pitch (ie non awning) for a day or so & then book one of the others (ie awning) to get there holiday dates.

there is no known technical, commercial, or practical reason for this not to happen.

Booking via the club website of CLs is presently, and likely to remain, not a viable proposition. Technically it could be done if all parties wished it. Obviously CLs and the club are separate commercial enterprises. The practical reason against it is that a memer phoning a CL and making a booking would not effect the number of vacant pitches shown against a CL. CL owners would not have access to update this. Yes there could be a technical work round that would require input from the CL owner. 

I cannot understand however why a CL owner would not set up a CL website though as it is easy and can be free. 

"I cannot understand however why a CL owner would not set up a CL website though as it is easy and can be free."

For some CL owners I can understand why a website might not be a priority, but what I must admit puzzles is me is why there are still so many CLs,  some with many glowing reviews, who do not submit photos for the club Web pages.  It's not a deal breaker for us, but given the choice between different CLs in the same area we'd almost always go for the one with photos.

I am very concerned that if the club decides to introduce this system it will impact on many members who are on fixed incomes but try to continue touring the best we can.

It would not affect my plans at all to pay a deposit but, for the same reason as you, I would prefer no deposits.

I did suggest in an email to the club re bookings, that there was really no need for ‘awning’ or ‘non awning’ pitches surely this would simplify the booking system somewhat? Members would still pitch on which ever one suited them on the day, it would do away with those who have to book one type of pitch (ie non awning) for a day or so & then book one of the others (ie awning) to get there holiday dates.

The big problem with that suggestion is for members who, for whatever reason, really need to erect an awning on arrival to site. If they arrive on site and all available awning pitches are gone they may have, what is for them perhaps, a major problem.

They may need the awning to store a mobility scooter etc, or to provide enough space for both them and there four border collies or even for grand ma and grand pa to accommodate grand kids with their two berth caravans. 

Moderator Comment - By all means quote the post you wish to reply to but please don't re-quote the post a second time within you post. Either or would be enough!

When I ran a Friendship Group I set up a website, many years ago, so that anybody interested, often people who had been thrown a curve ball in life, could be passed a card to see what we did and who we were.

It was simple. A page to say who we were why we existed and that it was FREE. A page giving more detail of the things that we did including weeks away, weekend breaks, day trips with shared transport, canal trips etc. A photo album page of parties, canal trips, groups on visits to Ironbridge, days out etc, etc. A page which importantly gave a sample monthly events calendar. And lastly a contact page where you could leave a contact phone number or e-mail and a name. To take the time to tell folks about what was on offer and the benefits to an enquiry would have been a waste for both parties when they could see for themselves what they were missing. 

Similarly if I was looking to book a meal somewhere new. I would want to look at websites to see sample menus to see whether there were suitable options for the odd vegetarian or coeliac or one that would only eat fish when it came to meats. No website menu (that was also useful to me to pass on) and no booking. 

On a similar note, when I was looking for a site for this September and having looked a couple of commercial sites I simply googled CL Boston to find one. In this day and age I am sure many would make a similar search

But I think maybe the point is that some CLs don't feel they need to set up their own website because they are already there on the club's site anyway. When looking for a CL my first port of call (other than contacting Nellie ) is the club search facility. If a CL has a website I'll then go there and I agree it does give a good impression, although, as with some commercial sites we've used, glossy websites can be misleading, but I think photos and reviews are usually enough to decide before contacting.

But I think maybe the point is that some CLs don't feel they need to set up their own website 

I would say that they are wrong if they really want to promote their business and have something to offer.

The main problem is that they seem to have one piccy. Some provide showers, hard standing, have plenty of space, neatly trimmed grass, fantastic views ,,,,, whatever that is worth more images.

I attach a link to one site that I set up about 2012 (I think that the server for that closes April and I shan't set a replacement up). On the welcome page I am the fat long haired git. My eldest joined us on that trip travelling up with one of the group staying in a hotel near CC site in Durham. She stayed with us and came home with us. We had had a 6 week tour of Scotland and were staying on the Durham site so that the others could join us to visit Durham and to visit Beamish.

It was before I retired 11 years ago and at work the ladies used to put my hair into a pony tail as it got longer and put in butterfly ties etc as I worked towards early retirement.

OK it might be amateurish but can you imagine conveying such info on CC website?

Link Here: https://sites.google.com/site/friendsnearby/home

Trust me, some CLs don’t need their own website. We used to book one a year in advance, every year just to get a pitch. I haven’t done a review for it either. It is what it is. A slice of heaven, part of a much larger enterprise, in a fantastic location. Those that go, (frequently), love it. Very busy April to October, less so rest of year, but there were four on last November we stayed there. The owners have enough on running three other thriving businesses, this is extra income, making use of a spare bit of land. Much like a lot of older CLs were established. It’s also too basic for most folks as well.

When looking for a CL my first port of call (other than contacting Nellie wink) is the club search facility.

Found another for you, M, and it doesn't have a photo either. It does have a web site but it too has no photos of the site & the availability calendar doesn't seem to be working either. However by the looks of the grass pitches it's very popular.