Secure you summer holiday for just £5 deposit

From my experience on club sites they are suited to any outfit, either short stay or long stay.

There are caravans that leave after one day, there are MHs that stay two weeks. There are caravaners that stay on site and use whatever other transport they wish, there are MHs that go out every day. There is no fixed pattern that I can discern. Age or fitness levels don't appear different either.. But as already noted by myself and Steve, and others MHs now usually  outnumber caravans on site and usually MH now outnumber caravans on service pitches as well.  

So I must think the club is doing right in attracting them in such large numbers. 

As for being suited to caravaners who can afford the prices, I just don't get that either? MHs pay the same as caravaners. In any case I don't think it's question of being able to afford anything, it's if one is prepared to pay the prices.

The club have backed down to a few whinging moaners, losing £5 deposit won’t put people off making speculative bookings because they will save that in fuel, 

Anywhere else in the holiday industry you have to pay a deposit usually a lot higher and pay the balance several weeks in advance and people can manage that,

what is it about that certain caravanners seem to struggle with paying a simple deposit, watch the number of cancellations start to rise and other people struggle to get a 7day or longer stay

There’s a comma in there Corners, I didn’t mean only caravan users who can afford the prices, but anyone, in any outfit, that can afford Club Site prices.

There’s a whole world of difference between being prepared to pay an asking price, (that’s choice), and being able to afford to pay an asking price (that’s economic circumstances). I don’t think the two are the same.

That’s why I think pricing may be contributing to the Club trying to offer incentives, the drop off in pitch nights sold is clearly a factor (otherwise why inundate Members with “special offers”) in terms of take up. Going back to a very small deposit (it has been done before) is another sprat to catch a passing mackerel, but it doesn’t alter the underlying issue that for many who like and love Club Sites, many are now making an informed choice due to economic circumstances and perhaps not taking as many Club Site nights, or choosing an alternative provider. I know we are, and many of our friends.

If you factor in that many folks who work, have health issues, caring responsibilities, simply cannot book very far ahead, it doesn’t matter how much the deposit is, if you cannot commit inside 21 days. Admittedly, losing £5 is better than losing more, or a big % of a deposit, but then the Club have made it easy for folks to simply book, but then walk away, losing a mere £5. Which sort of makes a mockery of having a deposit scheme🤷‍♀️

Deposits haven’t totally cured this. Some sites are still busy at weekends, but more than half empty in the week, so it was a sledgehammer that tried to crack a nut, but hasn’t fully achieved it. We have been on two Club Sites this year, quiet in the week, full Friday/Sat. So no full weeks there.🤷‍♀️

The club have backed down to a few whinging moaners, losing £5 deposit 

I think the whinging moaners as you call them had their say when the changes were  made, this deposit change has probably been brought in to try and reverse the decline in bookings so don't be a whinging moaner embrace it and make a booking.

Has anyone else seen the latest email from Nick Lomas about the introduction (or reintroduction) of the £5 deposit? It seems to me that the Club have a problem and they seem a little uncertain how to overcome it having tried several promotions, which whilst welcomed by members, don't seem to have solved the problem the Club have which basically seems to be income associated. He does explain the reason why it has been put in place only until a certain date is because they want to monitor what impact it has on late cancellations. So they seem to be aware of the potential issues which have been mentioned here but seem to be hoping that change will encourage people to book in advance.

David

...but seem to be hoping that change will encourage people to book in advance.

And therein lays the problem.  There are those who can't or don't want to book ahead.  

Yes just read it. At least it is honest enough to confirm the difficult position at the moment, and that they are trying to react in different ways.

It’s not just the camping holiday industry, some cottage owners are feeling the pinch now. One we know well was telling us her four cottages aren’t doing great, and folks are booking later to snap up much lower prices close to sell by dates. 

But on the other hand there are those who do like myself and I have.

Just received it today...and have taken advantage of the £5 deposit by making a booking, albeit I would have booked the site in any case as on orders from OH..who incidentally says the £5 deposit could well see a return to speculative bookings.

In his opening paragraph Nick Lomas says "Last year I wrote to you personally highlighting the challenges we have faced as an organisation, and the pressures the increased cost of living has had on our members and their holiday plans.". I believe he has a valid point, and not just here in the UK.... We have just returned from Spain and France..staying at our favourite sites and meeting up with friends old and new....Sadly at all the sites the owners say that bookings are down from this time last year...Even the Eurocamp rep said as much.  Only the French school holidays are as normal.

In addition to this, Brittany Ferries appear to be suffering, apart from the many email offers.. on our return Ferry from St Malo I could count just one lane of caravans and half a lane of MH's. Last year at the same time four lanes were full..so are we, as others have commented, moving away from 'camping'... I do think the cost of living, energy prices, staffing cost etc has had a major impact on our hobby...and will be a challenge for the club going forward.

But Mr Lomas, the OH is not happy at the price increase of her favourite site from a stay in March 2024 to six months later...by an increase of £25.76 / £3.68 pn for the same pitch type/duration