Booking difficulty for pre covid members

Posted on 01/09/2020 08:08 by

I know this years scramble for pitches is unprecedented but the more I read of how even in normal times all that's needed to tour in the UK is; forward planning, flexibility, and persistence the less tempted I am to change my ways. For 40 years  I have been traveling throughout mainland Europe with none of those constraints; never needing to book never been turned away from a full site and invariably able to come and go as I please. If I was prepared to risk lockdown and insurance problems I could be doing it today. My advice to any of those "Post Covid" members starting out in the hobby  reading is once this is over please  don't have your life ruled by booking conditions, for a few quid over the water there is another world.

Posted on 01/09/2020 08:08 by

I know this years scramble for pitches is unprecedented but the more I read of how even in normal times all that's needed to tour in the UK is; forward planning, flexibility, and persistence the less tempted I am to change my ways. For 40 years  I have been traveling throughout mainland Europe with none of those constraints; never needing to book never been turned away from a full site and invariably able to come and go as I please. If I was prepared to risk lockdown and insurance problems I could be doing it today. My advice to any of those "Post Covid" members starting out in the hobby  reading is once this is over please  don't have your life ruled by booking conditions, for a few quid over the water there is another world.

Posted on 01/09/2020 11:55 by moulesy

I'm sure booking this year for any sort of accommodation in the UK has been made considerably more difficult because of the unique situation we all find ourselves in. There are far more folk competing for a limited number of outlets. However, I have to say that in 40+ years of touring, first in a tent and then in a caravan, I have never found any booking conditions particularly onerous and I can rarely remember a time when we have not been able to get the location we wanted.

For balance, I'm sure what folk say about touring in Europe, away from high season at least,  is true.  But I've also read that if one wants a specific pitch on a specific site it is necessary to book and pay a deposit a year in advance! 

Posted on 01/09/2020 12:05 by SeasideBill

No surprises there, isn’t that the case the world over? Not sure if they still do it but a site near me runs a lottery each year for the privilege of booking a beach side pitch.

Posted on 01/09/2020 12:10 by moulesy

I guess it depends how desperate one is to return to exactly the same spot year after year. Nothing wrong with that of course, all down to personal choice, but travelling around the world I'd rather see different places. 

Posted on 01/09/2020 13:52

• Quote
• Report
• Like

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Gallery

1 person likes this

Posted on 01/09/2020 11:42 by brue

David, having read your previous posts about your holiday plans being thwarted, updated, altered, moved on, ferry ports changed  etc I think it would be fair to say that booking UK sites at present is far less complicated. 

I would also say to anyone, booking with CAMC it is easy, uncomplicated, with no deposits to lose or transfer!

The CAMC booking conditions are probably the most flexible around.

There certainly is another world over the water I expect that's what brings tourists here in normal circumstances. 

Posted on 01/09/2020 08:08 by

I know this years scramble for pitches is unprecedented but the more I read of how even in normal times all that's needed to tour in the UK is; forward planning, flexibility, and persistence the less tempted I am to change my ways. For 40 years  I have been traveling throughout mainland Europe with none of those constraints; never needing to book never been turned away from a full site and invariably able to come and go as I please. If I was prepared to risk lockdown and insurance problems I could be doing it today. My advice to any of those "Post Covid" members starting out in the hobby  reading is once this is over please  don't have your life ruled by booking conditions, for a few quid over the water there is another world.

Posted on 01/09/2020 16:20 by DavidKlyne

I think there are constraints in touring abroad as there are touring in the UK but perhaps not so obvious. When touring in Europe the upfront costs like crossing and insurance means for it to be worthwhile that you have to go for longer. No hardship of course. Where as touring in the UK it is easier to come and go, a weekend there a three week tour here. If people think of touring in the UK as second best as opposed to it being  complementary it will be second best. COVID is not the only reason that prevents people touring abroad. Sometimes it is the lack of flexibility on some medical conditions that force that change and when that happens you either have to search around for alternative cover or reach the conclusion on whether it is all worthwhile. We have had wonderful trips to Europe between 1987 and 2016 but I can't say I feel disadvantaged because we have recently had to restrict our touring to the UK. In fact we are discovering parts of the UK which we have not been to before, so there is some payback as well.

David