Booking ahead is unfair at some sites

Perhaps weekend bookings from May to September should be for a minimum of 3 nights Friday to Monday.  To me a better option would be to restrict each member to a maximum number of nights booked on a rolling monthly basis.

For example, no more than (say) 25 nights booked at a time.  As you use up those nights you can book more. Or no more than so many weekends booked. Or make stays of up to two or three nights payable in full at the time of booking without a refund if cancelled within 30 days.

Just some thoughts to throw out there.

But is it really a touring club these days? Yes, perhaps if you have a motorhome but unlikely if you have a caravan.

Most caravanners I know or talk to on site  rarely do more than 2 or 3 sites in a two week holiday.

I have never felt the CMC is a consultative or democratic organisation but I do believe they take account of feedback in planning how member services are operated.

Certinly not democratic but there again do I really want it any other way. The current system while appearing to be democration actually does involve a selection process to the Council and Executive committee. Some may refer to this as too much of an the old boy network but it does insure a spread of expertise on the committee that otherwise you might not get! I personally was sad that the rules were not changed to allow representation of the CL owners. A bad mistake I feel.

There is certainly an organisation which allows feedback and questions with regional AGMs and members meetings but in my experience they are not very well attended by the membership at large. The inclusion of questions to the AGM and the opportunity to attend using technology is very welcomed and if members at large do not avail themselves of these facilities, it will always be the most vocal who will get a hearing and feedback..

peedee

I can't see how a minimum number of two nights at weekends will solve the weekend bottleneck? Most people I think book two nights already?

The three night won't help either, if fact it might make things worse? People wanting a weekend might then book three nights and leave late on Sunday (in fact that's what we used to do to make the most of a weekend) so now Sunday evenings will be booked up too? I do notice a lot of retired folk arrive on Sunday afternoons when the younger/working folk leave.

Also it does penalize those who work Monday to Friday.

I have no problem with that as a retired member there is plenty of opportunity to visit sites at other times of the year. If you really want to go to that site just extend your stay to what is accepted, it has to be to the benifit to the Club. Generally for short stays of 2 days or less,  out of preference, I would not stay on a full facility Club site anyway. I think in the fullness of time there will be ample opportunity for short stays at motorhome stopover sites which are now beginning to appear..

peedee

I've got quite used to the minimum 5 night booking at Derwentwater, it seems to work well and it's a pleasantly peaceful experience without too much disturbance each day. No long queues or lots of driving round the site etc. It gives people the opportunity to have stays over the weekend or mid-week and there's no mass exodus, the site is continually full. Spare days are taken up by people turning up on the off chance for an overnight stay etc.

I'm wondering just how much the CAMC intends to adapt the booking system to really improve things for all.

By the way I really appreciate one night stays for stop overs so at present I use both clubs to my own advantage.

When I was working I would have used my 25 nights a year ahead all in one go, or from booking day as it was. We would book our Easter, half terms and summer holidays all in one go and have nothing left for weekends under your plan. Now we book in term time but still plan a year ahead.

I've just taken a few minutes to check fr my coming booking days for the year ahead and stopped counting when I reached 50. And I intend to take them all up before anyone asks, and I have only had to cancel twice in 22 years in the past btw.

Would, or does, any other leisure holiday organisation limit the amount of money/holidays you can spend with them?

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Or they could book 3 nights then arrive Friday and cancel the Sunday (within the rules now) and only have to pay for the 2 nights.

One of the non USP of the C&CC is the minimum nights that infuriate most members as you are unable to book for the odd night, they even advertise one site as an ideal stop over on your way North/South yet you cannot stop over as it is minimum of 2 nights. 

As there are now more and more MH who like to tour the club  would shoot themselves in the foot if they did this and also take into account many people are working so Friday and Saturday are the only times they can visit sites as they have to work or get kids to school on Monday and who want so pay £40-£50 for a night they wont use and leave late on Sunday?

A worse "worst case scenario" for us members, but much liked by accountants, is to simply charge a whacking premium for Friday, Saturday, and perhaps Sunday nights. Works well for airline seats.

Now, if this happens we will know that "management" does read CT . . . !