Leaving club

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the review which is obviously going on currently. I think it is the first time I have heard the Club not ruling out deposits. The present system, which is very generous to members, does rather discourage those that are not in a position to book a long time ahead. I have just tried to book two sites in early July, that is my definition of booking a long time in advance!!! I have managed to book 2 days out of 3 for one site and 4 days out of 7 for the second site. I will try my normal wait and see approach but if I can't get the extra days I will just have to cancel and think again. If there were a deposit system I am not sure it would help me and it would certainly end the idea of booking the days available in the hope the rest would also become available. 2021 is likely to be a strange year for UK occupancy because many will have given up on going abroad. Perhaps it will return to more normal times next year?

David

Booking in May for July is leaving it pretty late to my mind, David, and I'm surprised you got as many days as you did. Still, that shows things aren't as fully booked as we might be led to believe.

If the club changes anything, I hope they don't do it until we've had at least one full normal year. Any changes made based on 2020/21 will be a knee jerk reaction to these very unusual times and it might come back to bite them.

Agree Tinny. We are actually booking and using more Club Sites this year, purely because of the ease of booking, no deposits up front, and should something happen, knowing we can cancel within four days of being due on a Site. I don’t actually mind if they extend that cancel period to say a week, but at the moment, I will not be happy paying deposits. I haven’t had to pay a deposit on a cottage holiday worth four figures, so I won’t do it for Club Site. This is going to be a year like no other. More outfits on the UK roads, staying at home, more outfits that might not be going overseas, it could all change next year🤷‍♀️

TW

Never too late! I can only go by the availability shown on the website and both sites are showing odd days. I have already managed to bag one extra day and this is only day two of my quest!!! When I checked after my booking that day was now not available so it appears only odd days available rather than multiple nights for the same day if that makes sense. 

The problems existed before COVID, perhaps not quite so bad? All COVID has done is amplify them. The Club has already lost a weeks booking from me at Sandringham, I simply switched to the C&CC's site. I will be very surprised if the 3 June days I couldn't get don't become available nearer the time.

peedee

Apologies everyone. We have and have had a number of hols booked this year. We have had to cancel one, and are hanging on to see/hoping that hubby is fit enough to do the next one in 15 days time. Had a big op in March and now unexpectedly having to undergo more treatment..... We are praying for a few weeks away this year, so are really grateful that we can cancel a week or so in advance if he isn't fit enough.... 

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One of the important points of the current system is that people can pick up cancellations nearer the time and the club sells the pitches and so keep the income up. income.

Another is that when people did pay a deposit and they didn't want show up for whatever reason they usually did not let the club site know (I've paid a deposit so what does it matter) and hence lost income. When the club got rid of deposits the number of no shows went down significantly as perhaps people were more likely to let the club know and those pitches could be sold to those who have more flexibility.

Introduce a deposit and this might change again? would the club want to risk that?

I suspect those people that usually want a deposit system are those want to book club site and due to lack of foresight or early booking can't get their own way as sites are so popular and think a deposit will make everything right. I'm not so sure.

The only time I book months ahead is when I know there is an event I particularly want to be at, otherwise I very much book as the mood and destination takes me and am not at all bothered if there are no pitches available on Club sites. Nine times out of ten I will book elsewhere. Even with the 4 night booking I mentioned early when I accepted just the three nights I have a motorhome stopover contingency in place for the 4th night just a few miles away just in case.

peedee

TDA wrote "I don’t actually mind if they extend that cancel period to say a week"

I've always thought 72 hours was too short. A week is far more realistic to dissuade speculative bookers.

I've mapped out an itinerary for about a months tour to Scotland although I have, as yet, booked nothing because I'm uncertain at the moment of my departure date. The itinerary is a bit fluid and I'm uncertain even when the departure date becomes certain where I'll be a any given point. That makes it difficult to book ahead unless I blanket booked numerous alternatives, cancelling unrequired ones as the journey progressed. Would such a course of action, although 'rule compliant' be fair on others?