Marina Pre Booking

[terryw]

In the hope that some Marina Managers view this site, I would like to make a suggestion regarding pre booking visitor berths in their marinas. I appreciate that some already do, but very few, and also appreciate that some people book and do not turn up thereby reducing revenue as berths remain empty. My suggestion is to accept a booking with a Visa card on the understanding that if you have not arrived within say 1 hour of your agreed time, thay can keep your money, and re-let the berth, thereby getting double income. As a proviso, if you get delayed by conditions and notify the marina you are still planning to arrive they will adjust the arrival time accordingly.
My reason for making this suggestion is that last year I was going to visit Weymouth and Torquay but when I phoned I was told that although they had spaces at that time they could not guarantee that there would be space in a couple of hours, and Southampton to Weymouth is a long way if you cannot get parked, and have to return home, or try and find somewhere else. This meant that we did not get to visit either. Longish journeys have enough stressful moments without the uncertainty of not getting a berth at the end of it, and holiday planning would be much easier if you knew you could get in at each intended Port.
These are just my suggestions, but feel many would benefit from some sort of pre booking scheme.

Terry

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[duncan]

I agree with the principle but have found that people do not want to pay in advance regardless of attendance. Dolphin Haven in Poole operate on a booking basis but many cancel at the 'last minute' etc etc but staff don't pursue them for money (yet), just don't take their bookings next time!
Many of the ones that won't take bookings are because they 'pack 'em in', rafts etc and it is impractical to take bookings that aren't allocated fixed space - Yarmouth, Weymouth are examples of this.
Most commercial marinas will take bookings, especially if you pay in advance.

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