Service Pitches

Some interesting comments. However, in my experience many of us who stay on sites during this festive period do so only for a few nights during the 12 'official' days of Christmas and very few indeed in my experience do so for more than a week. The system at present allows those who can only make a few of these days to book their holiday and they may well make up what is the majority of nights sold during this period. I'm not sure at all that the suggestion would work and could in fact be counter productive as far as the total number of pitches occupied during those 12 nights. Keep as is for me, I've always managed to book those days I wanted even if it meant, on that odd occasion, checking and checking again as the period advances towards us and modifying our booking as needed. 

I would think it is a combination of high demand at that time of year, not booking as soon as booking opened, and not realising that bookings beyond 3rd January are not yet available.

A quick look shows that only the 30th and 31st December are fully booked for serviced pitches at H M at the moment.

We too would have asked to move to a vacant serviced pitch part way through the stay, if a serviced pitch was what we really wanted, but we do not use an awning, we only have a Fiamma Canopy, so moving is easy.

When we arrive at a site where there are serviced pitches, if we want one we always ask if there has been a last minute cancellation.

I have also checked the Bookings at HM and as stated it is only two days that the period in question is full,

I think i would have booked all other available dates and then rung the site when available

M and Brue, youre both right, its much later in the year....may even be into the autumn....we've been caught twice, must be the only CC members who want to take a New Year break beyond 3rd Jan....

...apart from the OP...

yes, this club 'anomaly' might in fact help the OP with the dates beyond New Year....

Firstly like BB why didn't you move to a service pitch when they were vacant. Also did you ask the wardens why so many were vacant?

I am a service pitch user as well and they do go very quickly and this is compounded by the fact that there are only a few of them compared to other types. Your system would lead to even more loss of income, the short stays and medium stays are full, but the longer stay pitches are empty? I can't book them as I only want to stay a few days?

I think you are trying to change the way the current system works to suit you as a long stay user at the expense of others who don't have that luxury.  Getting a service pitch is all down to booking early, its first come first served in booking I'm afraid 

Some good points from Corners there.

My personal preference would have been to stay at Birchfields which is almost opposite Hunters Moon. In my opinion it's a better site and has more serviced pitches.

http://www.birchwoodtouristpark.co.uk

If possible we always book a service pitch if they're available and we don't always get one.  I always ring the site to see if any become available and sometimes we're lucky sometimes we're not.  

It's more annoying when you're told you can't have one because they're all booked up to the extent that there still aren't any when you check in but, in reality, due to no shows you find when on site you could have had one!

Even more annoying are the units that have one but then don't use them by not connecting to the water or waste!!

That's their choice whether to fully utilise the service or not, Mbee. If they've paid for the pitch they can use the services to whatever extent they like. We've discussed this before.

Your second paragraph applies equally to non service pitches as well. It's just more noticeable because of the fewer service pitches which on  most sites number about 10. You couldn't really have had one as it was booked. Also you don't know it was a no show, it could have been someone leaving early.

I'm sorry but I cannot agree your last paragraph at all. They have paid for their service pitch and what they do with it is up to them. Do you feel annoyed about people not using the EHU on other pitches? Or non awning on awning pitches?

No I don't because there are so few non electric pitches on Club sites. I appreciate members pay extra for a service pitch but I just don't understand why pay extra and not use them when I want to pay extra but can't use them because I can't get one!