Booking difficulty for pre covid members

Redzed32 replied on 30/08/2020 10:25

Posted on 30/08/2020 10:25

With the onslaught of the covid virus and the massive restrictions on foreign travel , it appears not only that the existing membership are filling up club sites , but I suspect also a large influx of new members are too . This is great for the campsites , as they have all faced a very difficult season this year . However , I am experiencing that finding pitches now is very difficult , and a great deal of the sites that could be booked a month in advance previously are full to the end of the season . This obviously makes me question whether membership is actually worth it now , as so far this summer after about  6 weekend breaks , I have realised that none of these were possible through the club . 

This is obviously very disheartening , but there is a much bigger concern at play here , and that is next years bookings . No one has a crystal ball regarding the impact of covid , and we cannot predict what will happen next month , far less what will happen next year . We have the possibility of much of next years sites being booked up by people who would normally holiday abroad , and taking advantage of the booking system . If this occurs , and next year we have little or no travel restrictions , we will end up with a situation again where pre covid members cannot get pitches , and the sites will have a whole load of pre-booked vacant pitches . 

Can I ask ; are other members here experiencing this as well ? And Also ; Does the club itself have concerns about the possibility of the above situation occurring , and how to address this ? 

Wherenext replied on 04/09/2020 19:40

Posted on 04/09/2020 10:28 by JVB66

That is why we normally as many thousands of others use club sites,it avoids profiteering as has been found by ,posters when using other site owners

Posted on 04/09/2020 19:40

Staying on an Independent site within 15 miles of Barnard Castle site.

Price for CAMC site £27.30 per night.

Price for Independent Site - £20 per night.

Who is profiteering now? Don't tar every non CAMC site with the same brush.

And yes, there is no charge for awnings, dogs etc.etc. We'll use club sites if it suits but not if there is a cheaper, good as, alternative in the same area.

And yes we do have a stay on a club site coming up.

Cornersteady replied on 04/09/2020 19:47

Posted on 04/09/2020 15:06 by moulesy

This discussion, or a very similar one, has been had on CT time and time again over the years. 

To summarise - there are cheaper sites than club sites, there are also dearer ones.

There are better equipped sites than club sites, there are also more, shall we say,  basic ones.

If you have children or dogs or an awning, club sites almost always work out cheaper, if you just have a basic unit they possibly don't.

If you're a single person club sites often work out cheaper than commercials with their "up to 6 adult" offerings.

If you want to be flexible (buzz word for some) the club booking system and lack of deposit (returnable or not) allows you to change at relatively short notice (arguably a good thing).

At the end of the day, all such comparisons are pretty pointless - don't most folk choose where they want to go first and then look at available sites?

To pretend one or the other is always best is too simplistic - it's all down to personal preference.

Posted on 04/09/2020 19:47

Good post M, says it all

JVB66 replied on 04/09/2020 19:48

Posted on 04/09/2020 19:40 by Wherenext

Staying on an Independent site within 15 miles of Barnard Castle site.

Price for CAMC site £27.30 per night.

Price for Independent Site - £20 per night.

Who is profiteering now? Don't tar every non CAMC site with the same brush.

And yes, there is no charge for awnings, dogs etc.etc. We'll use club sites if it suits but not if there is a cheaper, good as, alternative in the same area.

And yes we do have a stay on a club site coming up.

Posted on 04/09/2020 19:48

That is not in the context of what was posted that ny post was aboutundecided

and i take it that all the facilities and showers electric are included in you site fees ?

replied on 04/09/2020 20:03

Posted on 04/09/2020 10:30 by GTP

 

Does it have to be CAMC sites or bust????

Of course not..I have two excellent BoB upcoming bookings....with very large / level / spacious / fully serviced pitches ( one is also a 'Tranquil' site for adults only, but that's not the reason I booked it..) Both are in fact cheaper than CaMC sites for these dates...

But of course there is a deposit to be paid...and most CaMC members don't like deposits.....

Posted on 04/09/2020 20:03

For me, in general if a CMC site is located where I wish to be for a stop on a tour on a tour it is generally first choice. If not I look for alternatives. Whether they are a bit dearer or a bit cheaper does not really matter.

Tinwheeler replied on 04/09/2020 20:03

Posted on 04/09/2020 19:40 by Wherenext

Staying on an Independent site within 15 miles of Barnard Castle site.

Price for CAMC site £27.30 per night.

Price for Independent Site - £20 per night.

Who is profiteering now? Don't tar every non CAMC site with the same brush.

And yes, there is no charge for awnings, dogs etc.etc. We'll use club sites if it suits but not if there is a cheaper, good as, alternative in the same area.

And yes we do have a stay on a club site coming up.

Posted on 04/09/2020 20:03

I think, WN, that most of us accept that there are non-club sites out there that are both cheaper and dearer, better and worse than club sites. M summed it up well.

We use what’s best for us on the occasion whether it be a CAMC site, CL/CS, C&CC site, commercial. Surely, that’s what choice is all about.

Enjoy your stay. 

JVB66 replied on 04/09/2020 20:11

Posted on 04/09/2020 16:48 by SeasideBill

Yes, but I want to go now, not in the peak season with my kids & dogs. Could it be the Club knows it’s demographic well and realises the potential of maintaining high prices in all seasons?

 

Posted on 04/09/2020 20:11

High prices? in all seasons ,more like prices that are not trying get max profit out of families for the short periods that people normally visit the south west  ,but spread out to try to be for everyone 

Haven are one of the more "rip off sites" with their  prices at peak and then do loss leaders off peak which have been "subsidised" by family peak prices

Wherenext replied on 04/09/2020 21:25

Posted on 04/09/2020 19:48 by JVB66

That is not in the context of what was posted that ny post was aboutundecided

and i take it that all the facilities and showers electric are included in you site fees ?

Posted on 04/09/2020 21:25

Yes it was and Yes they are.

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