New Site Booking System

I can’t see the issue of weekend pitch availability is ever going to be resolved, unless you don’t allow 2 day weekend bookings and force folk to have set arrival days for longer stays, as some commercials do at peak times. Not something any of us would wish for I presume.  When we were working our holidays started and finished on weekends, plus we booked a few separate weekends throughout the year. It is therefore hardly surprising they are the first to glow orange, particularly the Saturdays.

I agree and in the past it hasn't been a huge issue for me as I would book the available week days then book the weekends as they became available which they invariably did, but with the new system the pitch type has been put into the melting pot making it very difficult.

HW, your-‘I’ll have to review my 2023 renewal’, that will go a small way to alleviate the booking problems from the rest of us. Thank you that is very altruistic of you. We just need a few thousand more with that noble attitude👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I realise that, and thank you for the suggestion.  I was only saying that it is not IMO really suitable for covering site bookings when touring.

Well that is your opinion. I'm lucky enough to be able to plan my year ahead with some certainty and I make few changes over that period anyway .. so I'm anticipating little impact on me. Or would you prefer a system that only opens up all pitches 3 weeks ahead and go back to the free for all that we had a few years ago which clogged up the CAMH booking system? For me, be it 36, 24,12, 6 or 3 weeks ahead I can (largely) cope with that but it won't solve the problem of those who missed out on booking a pitch because they weren't organised enough to log-on in time....

I just don't understand this changing sites business. Why do members do it?  It is not something I recall ever doing or had reason to do. Once I have made my mind up to book a site, that is it and I stick to it. Surely if you cannot be certain which site you want or even dates to go away, you are specualting in booking a site which you ultimately change?

peedee

KJ, our bank account gives worldwide insurance cover. It also includes breakdown cover plus other bits and pieces so is quite competitive if one takes a few holidays per year. Unfortunately they do have an age limit, which thankfully I have not yet reached. 

I have just spent the best part £400 on deposits for cottage holidays this year so it will cover that, but I wouldn't be bothered with it for CAMC deposits but it might come in handy if you pay upfront and are in danger of forfeiting a larger amount.

Anyway for CAMC bookings the problem for me is moot as I tend to use CLs for most of my UK trips with the occasional CAMC site and Independent one thrown in. I have found a lot more CL owners now asking for deposits, again due to no shows, and I have a lot of sympathy with their problem. Last year nearly 50% of CL trips had a deposit paid and a couple of stays had to be paid a few days in advance of arrival. 

As Brue said upthread we have been fortunate having no deposits for a while but if the CAMC are losing a lot of income through not letting pitches then something has to be done. A few people will throw a tantrum and leave but the vast majority will continue IMO.

Well, one reason. I’ve just changed one for later in the year to one close to our original choice, but where I could guarantee a HS pitch, given that earlier bookers are going to be second class citizens when it comes to getting such a pitch during this first year of pitch type booking.

I recall a time we went to the Norfolk broads site booked for 2 weeks the weather was awful gale force winds on the coast miserably wet and misty after 3 days we decided to move sites to Battle in East Sussex the site manager's at both sites couldn't have been more helpful in arranging it, the sun came out at the Dartford bridge we had a fabulous 2 weeks in Battle extending our stay, nobody lost out and a perfect example of a caring flexible club and how loyalty is earned, ahh the good old days. 

We occasionally have second thoughts, or realise we have not done sufficient research. This is a fairly recent problem, due to crowded sites, or not  making the right decision in the first place.

Last year, in June/early July, we swapped from Fairlight Wood to Battle as we wanted to be sure of a hardstanding, same dates, and then decided not to go as far east as Lowestoft on our way north and changed to CCC Hertford.

We then realised that we would be arriving late on at CAMC Stamford on a Friday, the site was fully booked, and we would likely end up on grass, so we opted for a nearby CL with serviced HS pitches instead.

And finally we swapped Poolsbrook for a CCC site.  All done within the rules.   Actually the first year we have made any such changes.