How to book a CL on the revised website

Yes, this is affecting many CLs very badly.  As we begin with 'S' our CL does not appear in the first 20 and, as you say, there is then no option to view the next 20 and so on. 

We are located in Lincolnshire and appear under Lincoln in the sites directory.  Sadly, a search for CLs in and around Lincoln returns (as above) the first 20 CLs which are located in Nottinghamshire, Rutland, South Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk as well as other areas of Lincolnshire but not Lincoln.  Only one CL out of 11 CLs in total listed as Lincoln actually appears in the first 20 and that is because it begins with 'B'.

There is an option to sort the results to show price - high to low or low to high. For the same Lincoln search changing the sort option to show CLs priced high to low returns Club sites including Sandringham in Norfolk!  It's a pretty useless sort option when CL prices are not even quoted on the new system.

I have written to CAMC about these and other issues negatively impacting CLs on the new 'Booking Experience'.

Thankfully we are also listed on another CAMC CL search website which does work and which, not surprisingly, has recently received a flurry of new CLs wanting to join.

Skybarn Farm CL

Nicola - I am certainly not a fan of this new website and booking arrangement - and that's an understatement - but having read your post, I gave it a try and you will be relieved to know that I found you quite easily:

Find a UK Campsite/CLs/England/Lincolnshire/Lincoln/Skybarn Farm

I don't know whether the difficulties are operating system related but I am using an iMac, running Monterey 12.6, using Chrome as a browser.

richardandros

Yes, you can find us that way but I'm referring to the new search facility for anyone who doesn't know the area or local CL sites and wants to search for CLs in/around Lincoln that way.

In the screenshot I've added below for a search for Lincoln UK, the first CL site of the 20 returned is in Doncaster, quite a way from Lincoln.  The next ones are located in Newark, Stamford, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Mablethorpe and so on.

This is the link for the search I did: https://bookings.caravanclub.co.uk/sites?types=1&types=4&types=3&ne_lat=53.7064086425588&ne_lng=0.9881189218749853&sw_lat=52.54791091266421&sw_lng=-1.4508459218749947&eventType=2&location=Lincoln%2C%20UK&showResults=true&zoomLevel=9

To actually then get Lincoln you need to zoom in on the map (okay on a laptop but not at all easy on a mobile).  It should actually return CLs listed under Lincoln by default not by having to then technically amend the search.  When I've searched other towns around the country it does just return CLs near that town, not all over the place.

Hope you're both well and Meg too of course.

Yes it’s the search facility that does not work properly. You can do a search via country, then County then town. But that replicates the handbook and needs you to know which county you want a site in what is not always straightforward near county boundaries, and then you need to know your geography well enough to know which town sites may be attached to. Again not straightforward as some sites are associated with sites 12 miles away. The good old paper map helps with the handbook because of course you have the site numbers.

Searching on the interactive map had become quite good on the old site, with links to full details of site etc. The CL filter had improved. All of this seems to have been lost.

Given that changes to the web site were driven by the need to change the booking system for Club sites it is even more dire that now that some improvements to the site have been made since it’s launch, it is the CL section that is suffering so badly. I really do get the impression that the Club doesn’t care about CLs. I appreciate they don’t directly bring money into the club, but they do get our membership fee. And for someone like me who rarely uses club sites, it is the CL network that keeps me a member.

I hope people are submitting appropriate AGM questions.

If you calculate the membership fees taken by CAMC for members who mainly opt for CLs say 10,000 as a basic but undoubtedly many more CAMC hasn't provided adequate representation on the new booking system for either CL owners or users. People who use CLs and know many by name and area can probably find what they need via the web site and other providers and by not using the booking area but more recent members won't benefit from any previous knowledge.

As a CL user I have tried since the launch of the new booking system to use it to find CLs.  I don't know if some systems work better than others, as you mention and I have read that laptops appear to be working well.  But how many people still use laptops?  I don't, and certainly wouldn't take a laptop with me when touring.  I'm using a Samsung tablet, Android, using Firefox.

I clicked on your link and spent some time trying to find CLs - and gave up in the end.  My thought was that perhaps the map covered too big an area and that's why we were seeing CLs outside of Lincoln(shire). But trying to zoom in on a much smaller area was like pulling teeth The map took absolutely ages to load again, kept stopping, then starting again.  I persevered a bit longer, but I'm afraid I gave up.

I agree with hja and brue; if you happen to know the CL by name and area, then you stand a chance of finding it.  But the way I look for CLs is by identifying an area where I want to go, then looking to see what CLs are available within that area.  Hardly a big ask, is it?  If I'm going to an area I haven't been to before, I won't know what the name is of the CL I want. 

If the search facility is indeed dependent on what platform you use, then it's a very poor system.  I am very disappointed and frustrated that I can no longer search for CLs in the way and with the ease I could on the old system, and certainly wouldn't call it progress.

 My mistake Nicola - should have read previous posts more carefully!  I agree about that new search facility - first time I tried it, I gave up and reverted to the 'old' method. Had actually dismissed it in my mind and forgotten about it.

We're fine thanks - apart from age-related aches and pains!  See you next year, hopefully!

The reported absence of pricing for CLs is concerning.  Does anyone buy a product that doesn't advertise its price? Is there a more sinister policy at work? Recent new CLs have, by and large,  certainly shown a significant jump in prices notwithstanding inflationary issues affecting all. CAMCs pricing information for their own sites is, at best, obscurantist. Is it to make it difficult for members to seek out the real bargains whether sites or CLs?

CLs have been informed by the club that they continue to work on a number of 'fixes' that are of concern. 

With regards to Pricing we have been informed see italics:

Pricing:
It is possible to add pricing to the Booking system but there is concern that pricing for some
CLs has not been updated for some years based on the information we have. Although we
appreciate prices are ‘from’ a figure, if an owner has changed that price recently, it makes
the comparison of sites unfair. Therefore to add CL pricing, we need to engage with the
entire network to ensure today’s prices are being reflected.

Personally, I feel this is rather an odd stance.  The pricing for CLs is available on the 'old' pages and whilst it it is true that some CLs may have out-of-date pricing, most of the more engaged CLs will be making an effort to keep their prices up to date. 

Of greater concern is that the comparisons (available with the new system) are unlikely to compare 'apples with apples' as most CLs will price per pitch and assume 2 or more occupants, whilst Club sites start their pricing at 1 adult.

Frankly, they just need to leave the CLs alone. Trying to get all the CL owners to give up to date prices will be like trying to plait fog. It’s why we like to search for CLs, but then always confirm things via an email or a phone call. A good bit easier with CL Bookings, as you can see most of them are up to date, but we are still happy chasing up those lovely little sites we know if they haven’t updated prices. Frustrating for some users no doubts, but you either go with it, or walk away. There are still a good few “gives a bit of income” CLs out there, who aren’t that fussed at filling all five pitches, who possibly don’t use a website, and yes, don’t keep there prices up to date, but it’s a case of dig deeper, or ignore them. They will stand or fall to a certain extent by the efforts they put in, so as a user, we don’t worry. The minute the Club gets involved, they are “guided” to up date this, do that, spend on this, provide that, and it’s an extra chore they don’t want. So long as the Club inspects, issues a certificate, sticks them on a working list, that’s all we need. (Classic example last week, about as basic as you could get, had to phone, although price is in fact up to date, checked on one or two things and bingo, gorgeous little stop for £8 a night. I rang to check price as I didn't believe it, plus it’s phone bookings only) 

I agree with you about the price comparison bit Ted, like apples and pears. Why compare CLs with Club Sites🤷‍♀️ The other thing is CLs price very individually. Last week we used one that had hook up, HS, loo, shower, all for £16. Another had no showers, wasn’t as good re HS, but was £18 per night for a loo, HS, hook up and a tap. Both very nice, but very different.