Been doing it for a long time now, and it strikes me how variable are the responses, from those who have no email address, or don't respond to emails, to an availability calendar or an even more sophisticated system, such as Rivendell at Reynalton in Pembrokeshire where we are going for Christmas.
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depends on the area i guess? im not to surprised to find that farms are the slowest to respond, why would they? its not their main business is it? add to that the area the farm may be in might have such terrible internet connection that they simply dont bother with it and rely on a god old fashioned thing of phoning them i find around meal time works best.
Same applies to independent sites and not just CSs/CLs.
I believe that is a reflection of how one adapts to changes in technology, for example, there are people and organisations still writing/accepting cheques and internet banking is evil, etc. etc...
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Not written a cheque for ages, most sites don't accept them any more in my experience. Back in the 1970s I was temping for a while. My job was to parcel up cheque books and send them out.
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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 29/11/2024
Not written a cheque for ages, most sites don't accept them any more in my experience. Back in the 1970s I was temping for a while. My job was to parcel up cheque books and send them out.
I have no clue where my cheque books are kept - they are buried in the house somewhere!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
There seems to be a vast difference between CL/CS/independent sites and their booking arrangements in my experience, and I think a lot of it is down to how good they are as business managers.
Recently booked a CL, and it had a full blown online presence (entirely independent of CAMC), which handled every aspect of the booking, and in fact the owners were redundant in the process as pretty much all automated, and self pitching on fully pre-paid, pre-allocated pitch on arrival ….. then again I've booked other sites over the telephone with owners (when I can actually get an answer! - multiple attempts!) and paid the full cost in cash on arrival after 'knocking on the door of the cottage up the lane'!
TBH, the automated online booking was a bit of a PITA, as COMPLETE overkill with all the excess details needed to progress through the system, obviously a software system aimed somewhat higher than a humble CL site!
On the other hand, an unconfirmed in writing booking over the phone leaves you a tad anxious that it may not be honoured on arrival for a number of reasons, and I really don't like withdrawing a wad of cash from the bank and travelling around with it in my pocket, then having no receipt as proof of payment!
Ideally, an online availability calendar, a written confirmation of booking, and payment by card or bank transfer suits me perfectly.
There are a surprising number of sites still accepting cheques though! When I was in business, my heart sank if a client paid by cheque. Time and effort to bank then a delay in being sure funds were cleared! … and I don't recall writing a cheque in probably decades!
Slightly off topic, but an example of how to get it VERY wrong! CAMC!!!!! Despite availability of a number of software packages specifically written for campsite management and bookings, and apparently successfully used my many camp sites, the most recent update to the club booking system is a mangelated version of a cruise ship booking system, or so I'm told by club staff on several occasions! To the public user it's as clunky as hell, but on the staff end it's even worse! Apparently your ARRIVAL date appears on the system as DEPARTURE date (as in ship sailing!), pitch number is a cabin number, payments are 'tickets', etc. etc.!!!! It's hated by staff perhaps even more then members! ….. and allegedly the club paid £4m for it!!!!!!!! …. AND 'trained' their staff in it's use by an online video without actual hands on access to software until it went live! ….. that would explain the weeks of chaos at it's implementation!
Maybe be careful what you wish for when being critical of telephone bookings and cash payments, it can be MUCH worse!!!!
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I haven't had a cheque book since I last changed my current account nearly 3 years ago, and the previous one I'd had for years. I was writing an average of 2 cheques a year.
As for booking sites, UK Campsite is my main source of information, and I like to book online. One vital piece of information I want is price. If I can't find out the price online I am unlikely to go any further with a booking, as I work on the same principle as I do with everything. "If the price isn't immediately obvious, it's probably too expensive."
I don't like phoning as if they ring me back I probably won't answer because I won't recognise their number.
I agree with you, Colin. The first thing I look for is the price and if it is not immediately available I move my search to another site otherwise there is a risk of wasting time reading and studying something that may prove very costly.
Re cheques: a number of people or small organisations or businesses that I deal with are cash or cheque. With cheques, I have a record of payment & I don’t need to get to the ATM. So I get through one cheque book per year.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 29/11/2024
Re cheques: a number of people or small organisations or businesses that I deal with are cash or cheque. With cheques, I have a record of payment & I don’t need to get to the ATM. So I get through one cheque book per year.
I can remember a time when I'd get through a cheque book every 3 or 4 months, but it gradually fell to more like one every 3 or 4 years. I wasn't even asked if I wanted one when I last changed my account. Now nobody I know even takes cheques. I was using two a year, one to a society which has since disbanded, and the other to an organisation that now only takes cards.
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Same with others in that I would use UKCS's search facilities first to find new to me campsites in an area that I am not familiar with, before I go to their websites to check their prices etc...
Having said that, I should stick with C&CC club sites more from next year onwards when I qualify for their age concession at long last since I became a member in 2007!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 30/11/2024
Same with others in that I would use UKCS's search facilities first to find new to me campsites in an area that I am not familiar with, before I go to their websites to check their prices etc...
Having said that, I should stick with C&CC club sites more from next year onwards when I qualify for their age concession at long last since I became a member in 2007!
DK
Even with age-concession rates I still find commercial sites can be cheaper. It does depend where you are going of course but we have found that often the age-concession rates just make an expensive site a bit less so. Other, often very good, sites can still work out cheaper.
Quote: Originally posted by Squillian on 30/11/2024
Even with age-concession rates I still find commercial sites can be cheaper. It does depend where you are going of course but we have found that often the age-concession rates just make an expensive site a bit less so. Other, often very good, sites can still work out cheaper.
I shall bear that in mind, thanks.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
However they expect to be paid, if I can't spot the final/total pitch cost PDQ in perusing their site info, I assume they are being shady and hiding extortionate fees from me, and I simply go looking elsewhere!
A competitive pitch fee is a GOOD marketing point, so not wise to bury it! ... but usually find the buried prices are hidden for good reason, they sometimes make me laugh at their cheek, but they NEVER get my booking!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: CL/CS booking
via mobile 29/11/2024 at 7:12am
