Booking system help and advice

Hi

I like to be able to check on-line availability on a calendar but also to be able to book specific pitch

Take a look at Eye Kettleby Lakes brilliant site, great web site with site plan you can select your pitch then choose the date 

Looking at your details your site looks lovely, not sure the minimum 3 nights booking is ideal for a site with no toilet or shower facilities.  Why do you charge extra for large motorhomes, and what do you class as a large motorhome?

But which pitch would I choose from your website photo? It looks as though it's a hire a go cart track.  

Landscape it, plant flowering shrubs and roses, make it pretty. Be flexible, dump your three day minimum rule, welcome tents as well as caravans, open yourself to families, offer take away meals, deliver breakfasts, sell ice creams and drinks. You are now in the tourist hospitality business.

Good wishes for your business. 

Looks nice, but will be better for larger vans and MHs when you have the hardstandings. 

Being able to check availability on line would be good, but I would not bother with specific pitch booking, in a busy period that could cut down on income as people may not be able to book as  many  nights on a pitch as they may need so may look elsewhere.

Caravanners do not want to have to move pitch part way through a stay.

However, if you are installing fewer than 5 hardstandings, I personally would want to be able to book a hardstanding rather than taking the chance of ending up on grass in wet weather.

I am also wondering why a minimum 3 night stay.

Good that there is water on each pitch, would have been even better  for caravanners with a drain for each pitch too, 

£18 is at the very top end of what we would usually  pay for a CL.

but I look at CLs as they have a better chance of offering me the grass pitch I want. If they were all gravel I would look elsewhere ..... let those who want to stay on a gravel car park book a pitch at a CC site.

can someone post a link please? I've looked but can't find the site 

Found it .... who knew the CC search would be better than Google!?! 🤣

Nice to see availability, but not bothered about selecting a specific pitch. However at £18 pn I wouldn't entertain visiting your site at present... way above my £15 pn limit.

As I posted earlier in the Story section, I think it’s imperative that you respond promptly to phone messages and emails. Leaving people not knowing if they can get a pitch will send them elsewhere.

However, with a 3 night minimum stay, I will not be using your site. That is a huge no-no and not in the spirit of touring to my mind.

Good luck anyway.

 Personally, as long as I can get a prompt reply to emails about availability I'm not too concerned with selecting a specific pitch and would be quite happy with grass or HS.

But I have to say I think the 3 day minimum will lose you a lot of possible visitors and for £18 a night we've stayed on many established CLs with shower & toilet facilities and even wifi.

So, regretfully, not for us at the moment, but I do wish you luck with your new venture. 

Hi old pasture park

I been using freetobook online booking system. Have been delighted with it is actually free! If you want to take card payments is a addon. https://en.freetobook.com

Like a lot of others giving information we are extensive users of CLs, and not far away from you in terms of somewhere to stay. I won’t comment on your website set up choices, as this seldom influences our choice of somewhere to stay.

For a new CL, I think you might just be best testing the water in terms of how many nights stay you decide to limit, as a lot of folks like to tour and may only want one or two nights in the area, others may prefer longer of course, but you are losing the short stayers straight away. If you find you are a busy CL, then consider minimum night stays at weekends, or during busy periods such as school holidays, or when events are on in the area. This is what a lot of established CLs do quite successfully. 

I think if you are going to charge extra for larger vans and MHs, then specify what are your criteria, eg twin axles, or MHs over 7metres for example, otherwise you are leaving potential visitors guessing. Be prepared to give the reasons why as well, because someone will undoubtably ask!

Like others, we would find £18 per night too expensive for what you are offering, and in your area. Other than orientation of a van or MH to catch the sun at selected times of the day, with your pitch layout, pitch selection is perhaps not required. I am sure your pitching area will look less stark once you get established, and can think more about general attractiveness. A few daffodil bulbs in Spring, and some planters in Summer can make somewhere a bit more special.

Please don’t get disheartened by some of the suggestions, these are folks that use CLs on a regular basis, and I am sure that everyone will wish you all the best. Good communications with your potential visitors is key, whichever way you choose to do it. 

Wishing you all the best, and hope your new venture is a success😁