Booking Fees for the Honeypots

 When I looked t'other day there were a number of odd days, I think one instance of two days together. Not sure that I would wish to arrive after 1pm, set up, and depart the following morning however. 

Indeed my first reaction to the suggestion put forward a long while ago was that it would be better than paying deposits. Then I thought about security and hence why the CC have an e-mail address for me that only they use as a rule. 

Just checked again, 21 - 26 dec is available as is 20 - 23, OP stated he wanted 2 nights, as suggested Beechwood Grange has plenty, I'd be tempted to book that and keep an eye on RP just in case. OP is a motor homer so setting up for 2 nights isn't a problem. We are at another honeypot site BW we arrived today at 1.30 and leave Friday at 12.00 a couple of nights is a favorite for MH's don't weekends consist of 2 nights.

2 nights was never a problem in a caravan Phil. The point I was making is that one night is not a lot of use at York if you want to spend time in York. 

I would not do 2 nights now though as we usually are away between 4 and 7 weeks on each trip and tend to spend five nights at each location as I have the time. 

Being a working family with kids, we are unable to book sites on the bun fight day, as we cannot plan that far ahead for weekends, with school activities, overtime etc.

This essentially precludes us from ever getting one of these 'honey pot sites', unless someone cancels for dates that we already have booked at another CC site and we are able to change our destination.

It is strange though that when we book a foreign holiday, we pay for it in advance and have a non-refundable deposit. And when we book into a hotel or even premier inn, we pay a non refundable fee at the time of booking (unless we pay extra for a cancellable room).
All with no issues....primarily because we only book for things we know we are going to do.

So for me (and I appreciate this is at odds with most of the respondents, but in line with the OP), I would be more than happy to see a system where you pay for your booking, to stop some of this speculative book that the current system encourages.

I don't mind the principle of deposits although the C&CC system is a pain if you need to amend your booking in anyway. 

However I think the main issue is the fact that there's a bunfight day. How can anyone know what's likely to happen a year ahead?  How does the OP know that he'll be able to take up his booking yet believes others won't?

The bunfight causes these sites to get booked up. A rolling system of release of dates would be better. That is why it's easier to book with the other club not deposits. Although I do think the number of tent campers makes a difference too. 

So, when booking, pay in full then? For me I guess that would be around £2,500. A little bit severe as a club member methinks. 

Hopefully CJ meant a deposit. Otherwise it would put the CC at the other end of the spectrum. Not many holiday firms charge the full amount 6 months or more before. You usually stump up the rest 8 weeks to a month ahead, or with some when you arrive.

That's not what I was suggesting EasyT, just stating that facts about all other holidays outside of the CC!

However, if you know you are going to go to all those bookings, what difference does it make you are spending the exact same amount of money!

If its too much in a single lump sum, then you break down your bookings into more manageable lumps and risk not getting the sites you want like the rest of us who cannot book through the whole year because of life commitments (makes it fairer for us then who cannot be so planned and can't find pitches because they are all fully booked). 

If its too much in a single lump sum, then you break down your bookings into more manageable lumps and risk not getting the sites you want like the rest of us who cannot book through the whole year because of life commitments (makes it fairer for us then who cannot be so planned and can't find pitches because they are all fully booked).

The truth is CJ that I wan't my sites in a suitable order along a tour route. I found that when I tried to book (say) 10 sites in sequence I had to chop and change my plans. We usually have only 3 or 4 weeks between tours and don't want to be faffed deciding when to fit in time for bookings.

If I had to pay a substantial amount up front I would do so. Not every body with a young family would be comfortable with that mid December just before Christmas. So hardly fair to all CJ