New Site Booking System

Posted on 05/12/2021 13:38 by brue

It's what we've done on Orkney JVB, you can arrive late at night too due to the ferry timetables.  

Posted on 04/12/2021 15:30 by DavidKlyne

But the problem is the current system  hasn't worked for many. With the ever growing number of motorhomers in the Club there is a demand for hardstanding pitches. There are also many caravanners that also prefer hardstandings. Grass pitches are often situated away from the site roads so even more likelihood at best the grass will be damaged and at worst someone will be stuck in the mud. I think it will be a great idea to book a hardstanding. If on any site the choice is only grass I will go elsewhere. Being able to book a particular pitch surface is the industry standard these days and to that end the Club, until the changes happen, are behind the times. They have clearly recognised this otherwise I imagine they wouldn't be changing it. I suspect there has been more customer feedback on this compared to deposits?

David

Posted on 05/12/2021 12:35 by Graydjames

 

I can see that those people who prefer to pitch on grass, except in bad weather, might be frustrated by this change in system. But otherwise, I cannot see that there are many who would view factors such as light, views, space etc., as trumping the issue of whether one pitches on grass or hard standing. In any case, it is hard to think you won't get plenty of choice even if you are confined to one pitch type or the other. On these other factors, it remains first come first served, so I do not see the above as much of an argument.  

For me it is quite simple; I will not pitch on grass. However, as a counter argument, I must admit that, I cannot ever recall being forced to take a grass pitch as the only pitch type left available (except on all grass sites, obviously, which I now avoid). Judging by other comments here, from people who imply having to go on grass against their will, I appear to have been lucky.

As others have stated, for me, the absolutely ideal system would be to be able to book a specific pitch in advance. Now I see this would stymie Thehappycaravanners, but with that, and payment in advance, it would enable one to be much more relaxed about avoiding unseemly rushes at 1 o-clock and much less in the way of queues. It is clearly not beyond the wit of software developers to have a system like that.       

Posted on 05/12/2021 13:09 by MikeyA

Booking a specific pitch may well possible in the off season (here and abroad) but using this system at peak times and expecting fuly utilised sites is a pipe dream.

I've seen it fail on a 5 van site, requiring the 5th van to move pitches on consecutive nights. 

 

Posted on 05/12/2021 14:02 by DSB

Abslutely 100%  agree, David.

Apart from the fact that many prefer to be able to guarantee the surface type before arriving, there is the issue of motorhomes and weight.  Some motorhomes are quite large, and require a hardstanding - especially if it is wet and the motorhome is moved off and onto the pitch on a daily basis.  This will contribute to churning up the grass and the possibility of leaving the pitch unusable over a period of time, maybe making it necessary to take a pitch, or pitches out of service with the possibility of the club having to cancel members bookings, last minute.  It seems hardly practical (fair. ??!!) to offer motorhomers the facility to book a hardstanding, but not the caravanner - especially as there are also heavy caravans about too.

The desire for booking surface type before arrival has been discussed at Club Council (too my knowledge) for going on 10 years - partly after my own questions and contributions to discussions.  A few years ago, the Club experienced a slight drop in summer bookings and a rise in 'out of season' bookings. I did point out that, personally, I would not even consider booking a standard pitch on CAMC site 'in season' as the Club could not guarantee me a hardstanding.  I would happily use a private site or a C&CC site  in season, where this is almost universally possible.  I would book out of season pitches with the CAMC, after first checking that grass pitches were taken out of use.  I did suggest that others may be doing similar, and that this was a possible reason for the 'levling out' of bookings between 'in' and 'out' of season.

Not sure of this.... can't remember, to be honest.... but if you book a surface type and wish to change when you arrive on site, I can't see any reason why this couldn't be done, providing there is a pitch available (I.e. not already booked) for the surface type you want to change to.

I'm guessing here, but I would envisage other changes in the future.  Again, I'm guessing, but I wonder if we might see a further increase in full serviced pitches?   With the necessity for caravanners to think carefully about how much stuff they carry (I.e. the weight of the caravan) and the desire of manufacturers to keep the weight down (possibly thinking that these leisure vehicles will ultimately need to be towed by 'electric' cars) - and especially after the circa 2016 Alko collapsed axles - leaving the aquaroll and wastemaster at home (and other things too) in order to save weight, could result in the increased demand serviced pitches.  A serviced pitch is our pitch of choice now, for this very reason.

We've probably all got to be ready to accept (and make) further changes over the coming few years - not specifically within the CAMC, but with Caravanning, Motorhoming and Tenting generally.  It will be interesting to see how everything pans out...

David

 

Posted on 05/12/2021 14:17 by KjellNN

OH looked a while back at a CL where specific pitch booking was available, not that we would have much idea which pitch we would prefer.

Reading to the bottom it turned out that they also reserved the right to allocate you a different pitch in the interests of filling up the site...... fair enough ......but then also to ask you to move pitch during your stay, for the same reason........no chance!!

We booked elsewhere.

This year we used a CL up north where pitch booking was allowed, but they had more than 5 pitches available so no moving around needed.   Only 5 pitches were in use on any one night.

Posted on 05/12/2021 14:22 by JVB66

In the many years we have used clubs it's and in recent years with the growth of motor caravans. It is not very often that they move off site once pitched up ,so grass pitch damage is not it seems a problem? campervans(PVCs)some  may go out for the day

Posted on 05/12/2021 14:37 by SteveL

More of an issue for us, even if the ground is suitable, is that particularly towards the end of season the area where the awning goes is wrecked. If spacing permitted parking on this area it wouldn’t be so bad, but it doesn’t.