Booking ahead is unfair at some sites

See >this thread<

peedee

I'm guessing from your screen name that you are new to the forum. I've not been on here very long and I've seen this situation covered several times. 

I'm one of many who totally agree that deposits are the way forward. The current system is abused by a bunch who book on spec, just in case.

There is another post running at present that would suggest changes are ahead. 

 

Colin

But please don't assume people book just in case. Cancellations can be for all sorts of reasons. The thread linked to by PD covers it all - and more.

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

The club has stated that this (what the OP talks about) doesn't happen as often, or as much as people complain about. It's more than a CT 'myth' than reality. Everyone 'knows' someone who does this but who this someone is is never made clear? 

Also with any booking far in advance as one year all booking are 'speculative'. Even a few months really, no one knows what's going to happen so far in advance and most bookings are made in good faith that they'll be taken up. 

But deposits are coming but will it deter this alleged speculative booking? One books a weekend for a £25 deposit (one night?) is that enough? There has been talk of having a 31 day cancelation period, six weeks? I can't see the club having non refundable deposits but if that is the case won't affect me.   

All will be releveled soon(ish) but still likely to be a year at least before they are introduced. But for sites like Chatsworth I personally don't think it will make much difference.

There are many other reasons that in some peoples perception , think is down to others booking and then cancelling at short notice,

This year we have, unusually for us, cancelled around 25 booked nights, with both clubs for the months of September, October and November as we found ourselves unexpectedly and suddenly unable to go away in the van during this period. Not all cancellations are at a whim, some, perhaps many cancellations are of necessity, and some deposits in fact were also lost with our cancellations. The deposits lost didn't matter a jot in the scheme of things. Hopefully normal service will be resumed next year, and to that end we have already booked Chatsworth in November 2022. People cancel for many different reasons, and deposits may not actually be the cure that some hope for... 

There are a small number of Club Sites that are always very busy. They were before the pandemic created a huge surge in tourer ownership, it’s probably even worse now all and sundry wants to go camping.

Chatsworth is one such Club Site, as is York Rowntree Park, and Bristol Baltic Wharf. You have to get organised and well planned. These three serve huge populations located not far away, in the case of Chatsworth, that’s South Yorks, NE Derbyshire and just over the Pennines, area that covers the Manchester conurbations, all looking like you for some fresh air, in a nice place.

Personally, I doubt that having a deposit system will make Chatsworth or YRPark any easier to book, but maybe this time next year we will find out?
Meantime, I hope you get something at Chatsworth, but you are competing with thousands of other tourer owners who also want to go there, so book as early as you are able is my advice. There are some nice CLs around there as well, if you don’t mind a compromise.

Btw, ScreenName13, I don't agree with the word 'unfair' in your thread title. Every one of us has the same chance to book so I don't see how it can he considered unfair.

Let's wait and see what the changes will be but I'm guessing a lot of folk will regret what they wished for.

Incidentally, if you visit My Profile, you'll be able to change your user name to one of your choice.

Maybe a small deposit would stop the crazy booking system.

Given that a two day weekend break can cost up to £112.40 for a family of four (2 adults 2 children). I don’t think a small deposit is going to make much of a difference at sites like Chatsworth. Even if it is non returnable or transferable.