Changes to site opening

That reads to me that quite a few club sites are being less frequently used or booked than anticipated. Wonder what the reasons for that is?

Nellie

It could be nothing to do with price but perhaps more members being unwilling to commit too far in advance? They seem to be basing the decision of future bookings, or lack of them, by the read of what Rowena said. In all the discussions we have had on here about the new booking system I have sensed an undertone from some members not wanting to commit money up front because they worry, for various genuine personal reasons, they might not be able to honour the booking and don't want to lose a deposit. We have struggled this year through health problems, mainly mobility issues,  and also lost a couple of deposits. If we manage to get to our next booked site in October it will mean we have only had half the nights away this year compared to last. I just wonder how many are in a similar situation? Its not particularly a money thing for us but you do get a bit fed up with cancelling bookings. At least with the Club all you lose is the deposit so still a better bet than most  commercial sites?

 David

The club do not understand the membership, a large proportion are retired and as such are from an era where people were married at a young age and consequently started their families at an early age, If their parents live longer they will be like mine in their 90s and require care and support this makes pre booking unattractive if there are financial consequences ie lost deposits.

I would normally have booked June and September by now but not prepared to risk losing a significant amount of deposits if the necessity to cancell arises.

Folks like us who tour all year round, who used Club Sites in the off peak, who turned up regardless of the weather, who were happy to support the Club over the quieter months are the losers Nellie. Spectacular own goal in terms of all the new booking terms and conditions, that’s why the deposits have reduced to only 10%. Clearly the numbers aren’t happening, so it’s more condensing of site opening periods. The Club have initiated a cycle whereby folks will have to use alternatives, those alternatives will prove very nice (they certainly have been from our point of view), and some may never go back to Club Sites they had previously loved in the Winter. Sad, very sad. ☹️

That's absolutely fine, Rowena and what I would expect of a well-managed organisation.  However, what I am suggesting is that we - the members - aren't kept informed when these decisions are made.  As I said in my earlier post, it was an absolute fluke that I happened to notice that Sandringham has been reopened for this Christmas. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall this fact being circulated anywhere.

I seem to get a deluge of emails from the Club about this special offer and that special offer - which quite frankly aren't a lot of interest to me - yet on something as fundamental as which sites are open and when, we seem to hear nothing. 

It seems to me that the reason so many sites were previously booked so far ahead was simply FOMO ( the fear of missing out). This was fine when no financial committment was at stake.

The deposit scheme has achieved exactly what the Club intended and "frivolous" bookings have disappeared, possibly it has worked too well and members now realise there is no need to book months in advance.

With the changeable weather evident throughout the year doesn't it make more sense, for those with no committments, to go away when the forecast is good rather than to an aribtrary date. This week is awful but next week is forecast to be a cracker - I think we''ll go away. 

I do think the Club need to make up its mind on what its doing with deposits. Yet another promotion period with the 10%. Perhaps its an experiment to see if the 10% works better for the Club rather than 20%? I just think they need to decide one way or the other. 10% might be more attractive as its a much smaller upfront payment but I suppose there is the danger that as a result of it being smaller people will be inclined to forego the deposit at the last minute as they did in the past?

Interesting that on those sites where the opening periods have been reduced that there seemed to be no offers encouraging people to book those sites to fill the space just to keep the sites ticking over. Is it a case of dynamic pricing only working in one direction?

David

Ttda, you are exactly like us.  We always used to go to our favourite club sites for at least a week each month, from November to March: Wharfedale, Hawes, Bolton Abbey, Castleton and Meathop mainly.  Not too far from home.  In December we've also gone further afield, the Cotswolds, and made a fortnight of it, visiting a few Christmas markets in the area.  Only once did we cancel a January booking, and that was due to extremely high winds on the day we were due to travel; warnings were in force not to travel unless necessary etc, etc.  Other than that, we've always turned up, even if the weather was forecast to be wet.

Like you, we have found plenty of alternative sites, as good as, sometimes better than, club sites, and certainly much less expensive.  So, like you, we won't be fequenting club sites over winter any more, and agree it's very sad.

Received an email only today, with an extended offer of only 10% deposit.  I'm afraid that's not enough to tempt me back onto club sites

InaD....Ditto...We would also have booked a club site for at least a week each month from now until March...and whilst I do have several bookings (only one with a small deposit) not one is a CaMC site..

As you say...lots of alternatives and if like us who use our onboard facilities...there are some excellent CL's out there...who I might add go the extra mile for your business...

When Bolton Abbey Site season was reduced, we reverted to using a wonderful small campsite, which also has a CL area, not far away. Discovered they also had a lovely holiday cottage, and owners let me have a look around while it was changeover, to see if it was suitable to take my Mum who is/was at the time in her 90’s and able to go away with us. Had some lovely stays there since. We used to use Durham Grange to visit the Xmas Fair in Hexham, but then found a good cottage a few miles from Hexham. All better options.

Regarding booking, deposits and cancellations. We used to use a cottage at Old Byland each January. Notorious area of Yorkshire for heavy snowfalls, but as we had a 4x4, it was never an issue for us bar the once. A week before we should have set off, huge snowfall and the whole village was cut off, only tractors able to get in and out. I received a phone call from owner, concerned about our visit, would we like our full amount back, or did we want to change our dates? We duly took a week a fortnight later and everyone was happy.