Posted on 06/11/2021 09:02
Hi everyone,
Not sure if it’s just me but since starting caravan life I have found one site which is busy most of the time and this site is chatsworth park. What is frustrating is you can book space here well in advance but noticed that people release their booked space indicating that they only booked in case they want to go. Maybe a small deposit would stop the crazy booking system.
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Posted on 09/11/2021 10:30 by SteveLCurrently the C&CC charge £25 deposit. Plus we get age related discount much of the year, saving around £8 a night. You were talking about a deposit of at least £50. At the moment this club is our go to choice of the two. If the deposit is £25 that is unlikely to change, although as we have to pay a deposit anyway, if two sites were in the same area the C&CC would probably win out if age related discount was available. If the deposit is double the C&CC my bookings will reduce dramatically.
Posted on 09/11/2021 10:49
With the other club it's a £25 deposit or the actual cost up front if only a one night stay. I don't find this a problem and have never wanted to go anywhere over and over again for weekends etc to the same place. It is possible that the local weekend bookers are making it less possible for others to enjoy popular places like Chatsworth if they can book ahead speculatively and then cancel easily. This is too late for some who need to plan and book but it gives further leeway to those who can book at the last minute. I presume a balance now needs to be struck somewhere and deposits may even out the advantages that some have enjoyed? It might be fairer to all in the long run.
Posted on 09/11/2021 10:49 by brueWith the other club it's a £25 deposit or the actual cost up front if only a one night stay. I don't find this a problem and have never wanted to go anywhere over and over again for weekends etc to the same place. It is possible that the local weekend bookers are making it less possible for others to enjoy popular places like Chatsworth if they can book ahead speculatively and then cancel easily. This is too late for some who need to plan and book but it gives further leeway to those who can book at the last minute. I presume a balance now needs to be struck somewhere and deposits may even out the advantages that some have enjoyed? It might be fairer to all in the long run.
Posted on 09/11/2021 10:58
I admit brue, the site at Chatsworth is like our second home It's 20 miles from home so do we really need to for the weekend - no. But we do. And often if we get the chance. My wife also had elderly and somewhat trying parents so it meant we could get away but be near enough for her to pop back if they needed her.
We don't do much when we're there. We walk the dogs in the park. Over to the stable for a coffee and a cake then a leisurely walk back. Wander around Bakewell and, generally, just relax. Sometimes we don't even go out. We take books, have the TV and I take the dogs for a wander.
We could do the same at Clumber which is also close but we need to be in contact with her parents and there is no mobile signal there at all.
Posted on 09/11/2021 10:43 byWhen I collected my new van from a dealer I booked onto a nearbye club site for 3 nights. I would estimate the site was between a third and half full. As we had parked under a tall tree and rain was hammering on the roof when it fell. I asked the warden for a move out into the open. His response was "we are fully booked tonight but will see what I can arrange".He did but It was still less than half full next day and the day after.
Posted on 09/11/2021 11:03
Commons wood has both awni g and non awning pitches if you had booked either then you may well have been told they were fully booked of the type you were on, ,we tend to book a non awning pitch there as most are as here better than some awning pitches it seems with that site now the regular staff do not do "what iffs?"
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Posted on 09/11/2021 10:05 by mbee1Take Chatsworth as an example. We had 9 nights there at the end of October (generally half term week and the second week of the Nottinghamshire half term as we get two weeks). As everyone knows Chatsworth is always full according to the website apart from an odd night here and there.
I'd have a walk out about 10.30 pm to take the dog for a last walk and it was never full. On a couple of nights there were 3 super pitches empty - something almost unheard of, in addition to standard pitches. and this was during half term. On one night I counted 6 empty pitches! This is unheard of at this site!
Empty pitches at a site like Chatsworth I suspect is down to no shows rather than cancellations. Deposits, as long as they're meaningful, would stop that.
Posted on 09/11/2021 11:12
Empty pitches at a site like Chatsworth I suspect is down to no shows rather than cancellations. Deposits, as long as they're meaningful, would stop that.
Sorry disagree, we have in the past due to circumstances we could not control had to cancel some sites at the C&CC but as their useless system does not allow a change within 30 days we chose not to turn up and just lost the deposit so the site lost out on a full night fees, others lost out on booking the sites so no one was a winner.
Deposits or lack of are the clubs USP why would you change that and potentially lose out on full nights fee's if someone does not turn up. At least now if you cancel the pitch is available for others to use.
I am sure there are a few who book a year in advance (because you have to now if you want to guarantee a pitch at certain time) and then maybe cancel nearer the time as they fine tune their plans but these are few and far between so the club should maybe monitor this if they do not already, but if I say book Chatsworth for every weekend and then cancel the ones I do not want what difference does it make if the cancel period is 72 hours, a week or a month the site still becomes available for others to book which may not happen if deposits are introduced.
Seems it is those that cannot plan in advance that are the most vociferous as they cannot book the so called honeypot sites then suddenly think a deposit will open up hundreds of pitches but it won't as those sites will always be fully booked whatever you do so seems to me a sledgehammer to crack a nut for 3 or 4 sites.
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Posted on 09/11/2021 11:12 by MichaelTEmpty pitches at a site like Chatsworth I suspect is down to no shows rather than cancellations. Deposits, as long as they're meaningful, would stop that.
Sorry disagree, we have in the past due to circumstances we could not control had to cancel some sites at the C&CC but as their useless system does not allow a change within 30 days we chose not to turn up and just lost the deposit so the site lost out on a full night fees, others lost out on booking the sites so no one was a winner.
Deposits or lack of are the clubs USP why would you change that and potentially lose out on full nights fee's if someone does not turn up. At least now if you cancel the pitch is available for others to use.
I am sure there are a few who book a year in advance (because you have to now if you want to guarantee a pitch at certain time) and then maybe cancel nearer the time as they fine tune their plans but these are few and far between so the club should maybe monitor this if they do not already, but if I say book Chatsworth for every weekend and then cancel the ones I do not want what difference does it make if the cancel period is 72 hours, a week or a month the site still becomes available for others to book which may not happen if deposits are introduced.
Seems it is those that cannot plan in advance that are the most vociferous as they cannot book the so called honeypot sites then suddenly think a deposit will open up hundreds of pitches but it won't as those sites will always be fully booked whatever you do so seems to me a sledgehammer to crack a nut for 3 or 4 sites.
Posted on 09/11/2021 11:24
Not turning up doesn't help anyone. In most cases cancelling at 72 hours doesn't help many people particularly if they're touring. it really only helps the retired members who might have a look at the website, see a pitch has become available and decide to go. Certainly doesn't help working people who may have to plan leave in advance.
Change that to 30 days may help lots more members and bringing in deposits to stop speculative bookers.
To any club or site a deposit retained is better than an unsold pitch. Common business sense to me but then, I'm in business and perhaps know what I'm talking about.
Posted on 09/11/2021 10:48 by mbee1But a patch of land for (say) two weeks in the summer is not that much cheaper than a cottage in some areas of the country!
Posted on 09/11/2021 11:26
😁 Thats my very point mbee. Whatever happened to camping as a cheaper alternative. We have actually given up on taking tourer somewhere on occasion, we have found a cottage (direct through owners) for not much more, so it’s better value to us.
Bubble will burst in a couple of years, lots will be back off abroad, outfits up for sale, Memberships given up. Sanity will return👍😉
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Posted on 09/11/2021 11:24 by mbee1Not turning up doesn't help anyone. In most cases cancelling at 72 hours doesn't help many people particularly if they're touring. it really only helps the retired members who might have a look at the website, see a pitch has become available and decide to go. Certainly doesn't help working people who may have to plan leave in advance.
Change that to 30 days may help lots more members and bringing in deposits to stop speculative bookers.
To any club or site a deposit retained is better than an unsold pitch. Common business sense to me but then, I'm in business and perhaps know what I'm talking about.
Posted on 09/11/2021 11:28 by JVB66I would have thought those that are on a tour would check out what was available at or near their next destination on a regular if not daily basis so late available availability would be Good
Posted on 09/11/2021 11:24 by mbee1Not turning up doesn't help anyone. In most cases cancelling at 72 hours doesn't help many people particularly if they're touring. it really only helps the retired members who might have a look at the website, see a pitch has become available and decide to go. Certainly doesn't help working people who may have to plan leave in advance.
Change that to 30 days may help lots more members and bringing in deposits to stop speculative bookers.
To any club or site a deposit retained is better than an unsold pitch. Common business sense to me but then, I'm in business and perhaps know what I'm talking about.
Posted on 09/11/2021 11:32
Not turning up doesn't help anyone. In most cases cancelling at 72 hours doesn't help many people particularly if they're touring.
If I am touring I look on the day for a site/pitch so 72 hours is fine and I am sue many others will find the same but we have a MH so more flexible I guess and most caravans do not tour speculatively?
To any club or site a deposit retained is better than an unsold pitch. Common business sense to me but then, I'm in business and perhaps know what I'm talking about.
Being in business you must know what a USP is then, if not look at Dragons Den!! Gaining say £25 for an unused pitch is fine but getting £40 or £50 is much better I would say but that's common business sense. If a person is going to lose a deposit whatever there is no incentive to cancel is there so at least with the present system someone not going to take up their booking can easily cancel so it is available for others.
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