CL contact methods

Athel, you raise a very good point.  Reducing the 'friction' of booking a CL will enhance the number of enquiries and bookings.  

Times are changing and Members (rightly in my opinion) expect to be able to see the availability of a CL and book it pretty quickly.  Calling multiple CL's, and then awaiting an answer from the answerphone message etc. over the following few days is now (in my opinion) 'Old School'.  CL's should (at a minimum) offer an email address and many do.  Some (like us) now offer on-line booking.

As a member of the CL Owners Group I can relate (from meeting with and talking to many owners)  that most CL's now have email, but a few still like to talk to their guests at the time of booking to get to know them a little before their arrival, answer questions etc.  I can appreciate their viewpoint, but I'd agree with you that in these busy times, many people don't have time for a chat on the phone to book 1 or 2 nights at a CL..

I think we are a long, long way away from a universal CL booking system, for a host of reasons..  Until then, if you want to book a CL quickly you might want to choose one with Online booking..

Happy to phone or use email. Either not a problem, both preferable to automated booking. We usually have a few questions to ask before we book.

Happy to phone or use email especially for first time booking. As TDA says in case of questions. Happy to use automated too, even if I phoned, at least you can see availability. We often phone and leave message on answerphone but call not returned 😔. That's annoying cos I need to book something. Usually give 36-48 hours. Similarly no response to emails in a timely manner. These days calls or emails can be picked up anywhere so generally scratch any future stops at such sites 😉

We too are happy to phone or e-mail, but would expect a response within 36 hrs. It's is most annoying when the CL owner doesn't respond, and as you say B2, we too would scratch future visits to those sites. 

I must admit I like bookings by email as everything is in black and white and dates booked and leaving are easily clarified, plus you can guarantee the phone call comes as the door bell rings or you are sitting down to a meal or even the quick cat nap !.  But never worry as long as the phone is ringing or the email is working we are filling up pitches making the project worthwhile.

David www.perthshirecl.co.uk

Hi. When my parents started our cl twenty years ago email didn't exist! We are working hard at bringing our advertising and contact details in more modern format. We have a fab site Resthaven Farm which is near Woolacombe in North Devon. Please feel free to check out our Facebook Page Resthaven Farm Cl site and of course you can email us relaxatresthaven@yahoo.com😀

I stay regularly on CLs, and 1 owner told me that they take bookings on either of their phones (landline and mobile) and they get enquiries by text to their mobile which they respond to. I never thought of texting an enquiry but I will bear it in mind in future if a mobile number is available 

If I need to know anything I can generally illicit the info from the CL website  or from the reviews.  E-mail is just so much easier for me.  

Guess there is no right or wrong way, it is personal preference

I too have never thought of enquiring about a booking by text, but will certainly consider it in the future.

Nellie,   Whilst we have a mobile number we do not do texts, the mobile is used by us for emergency use only. Only just getting used to decimal coinage !.

David www.perthshirecl.co.uk

PS.  We do take plastic notes though.