Club sites - advance booking system

Ask66

Given Eurotravellers  idea of a campsite a few miles away from Castleton might it be an idea to investigate local taxi companies. We often use taxi's when the place we need to visit is too far to walk or not on convenient transport routes. However I would check that they will operate within the time frame you need. 

David

 

 

+1

Also if people do pay a deposit and they want to cancel, why bother tell anyone? I've paid my deposit so I just won't turn up, it's my £10 to lose

And strangely enough that is what happened, when the club stopped taking deposits the number of no shows went down!

OK Ask66 - so say we pay a deposit, and I cancel before the 72 hours, I'd want my deposit back or as you talking about a non refundable one? Bit harsh? No refunds after a certain date then? Two weeks? OK I'll book a year in advance and cancel just before that.

So what would taking a deposit actually achieve? The sites would still show full.

Thanks for the tip David.

It's an old debate this one, although perhaps ask66 hasn't seen it before. The Club offers a somewhat unique no deposit, quite late cancellation policy to its members, and in truth, I am guessing it is reasonably well monitored at sites and HQ, although probably not to the depth Ask is suggesting. The simple fact is that the take up of pitches is the prime consideration for the Club, and most cancellations at honeypot sites will probably be snapped up, even the very late ones. It's a balancing act, between inconveniencing members with deposits that are meaningful, and allowing for a few folks who do transgress the system. Start with meaningful deposits, and members will possibly have to use travel insurance just in case, just as you do when booking any other form of holiday. Personally, it works as it is for me. It's hard luck if you realise you need a specific date late after Frenzy Day, but this new system of rolling bookings might help a bit.

Hi Cornersteady, maybe there isn't a problem - I guess only our Club knows that, because it has access to the booking and cancellation details.  And maybe individual members have some idea, if they have found that one day a site shows full, and the next day it shows availability.

I'm not saying I have a perfect solution, just that maybe there's a problem which should be investigated.

Earlier in this thread I mentioned Ryanair, where you pay in full, in advance.  That's a real incentive to turn up at the airport!  Where there is a genuine reason (e.g. close family bereavement), Ryanair will refund you - I know that from experience.  For less serious cases, it's up to you to take out travel insurance if you wish.

Is there a good reason why our Club can't do the same, or at least move in this direction?

Only if you are a single person and the Club would prefer a family. 

Cancellations aren't the only reason that an apparently full site suddenly has availability, Ask. Pitches out of commission for a variety of reasons then become usable so are entered on the system. The whole premise assumes that the availability shown is accurate in the first place which might be doubtful.

"Is there a good reason why our Club can't do the same, or at least move in this direction?" Yes, the cost of administration, and the fact that we are members and not customers wandering in off the street.

I'm afraid that none of your ideas, will prevent the honeypot sites showing as full at popular times. Nor will they ensure that people turn up.

I think you are falling into the trap of wanting to change the system to suit you regardless of the many people who are quite happy with things the way they are. Isn't it perhaps time to accept that you maybe should have booked earlier and now need to move on? Good luck with finding an alternative.

Tinwheeler, this isn't about me wanting to stay somewhere in Castleton on a weekend in late June 2018 (I can easily book a hotel room and sort that one out) - it's about a booking system that I think needs improvement, not just to benefit me, but to benefit many current and future members of our Club.  You and others are obviously happy with the current system, but that doesn't mean you represent a majority, or that discussion shouldn't continue!  All opinions are valid, and worthy of respect, aren't they?

 

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Deposits have been discussed many times. I do not see that they serve an advantage for members.

There are a number of sites that are booked up for weekends at certain times of the year. If you want them you will need to book ahead (as at Castleton in June). Most providers require a £25 deposit or similar for a few days booking. If CC required such a deposit it would not be a reason not to use them as you will still pay elsewhere generally.

A £25 deposit will not prevent such sites getting from booked up and offers little advantage in my opinion.