I would never pay a deposit, based on the fact I've never found a campsite with any cancellation policy.
If I book a hotel, usually it's loss of deposit up to several weeks before, then 50% for the week before, then loss of 100% for cancellation on the day, or no show.
I have booked campsites in the past, paid for 2 weeks when I arrived on site, then as we had to leave early as one of the children was ill, lost everything.
If a hotel can afford to refund 50% up to the day before, why can't a campsite?
I usually phone ahead now, and book night to night. We have a motorhome, so this suits me, as sometimes we have travelled on, and don't want to backtrack anyway.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I think in the current economic climate you will find more hotels will insist on largish deposits or full payment in advance and will be reluctant to give refunds except in very exceptional circumstances.
Also people are less likely to not turn up at a hotel for a trivial reason whereas there are some fair weather campers who book campsites and then don't show just because rain is forecast.
I think the opposite, in the current climate, if they have a reasonable cancellation policy, they will attract customers. If they claw as much money as possible from guests up front, they will find the customer has enough choice to move elsewhere. It may be for any reason, from poor cashflow, bad customer service, greed, having had poor customers in the past, but I don't part with my money without something in return, or some guarentee of getting it back.
On the flip side of this, if the caravan club for instance asked for a deposit you wouldn't have the people that book every weekend at the beginning of the season knowing full well that they will not be able to fullfill all the bookings, thus making it harder for people who just may fancy a weekend away on the spur of the moment being able to find somewhere they like.
Granty.
Post last edited on 21/02/2009 11:47:31
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Or the reverse, such as the Camping and Caravaning Club policy of not refunding deposits, if you cancel up to 7 days before, but keeping them in your account for a year, then losing it if you don't re-book, and very little chance of a refund after 7 days, even in the fully booked busy seasons.
As to canceling just because the weather is bad, if the campsites cancels you if the weather is bad, do they offer compensation? If a package holiday cancels you, they offer alternatives.
As I say, I don't object to a proper cancellation policy, so long as it has benefits for both sides.
I can choose where to spend my money, just as campsites can choose who they want to camp with them, and dictate policy accordingly.
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Topic: Full payment up front
