Camping Booking - Risk it?
Discussion
Right,
So i'm trying to organise a group of 12 to go to Le Mans. I got in pretty early with Tickets-2-U and have 8 pitches reservedin Maison Blanche.
Problem is, as everyone knows - each pitch has to come with 2 General entry. Not a problem in the long run, but seemingly a bit of an issue in the short run. I don't have the ability, nor the want, to just book it up and chase 11 people for £127 each over the next 9 months.
I've also found the ACO website only just opened up booking (well, start of October) and have put in an application with them. Problem is, it's a risk. They've told me they have 1500 applications to go through before mine. Is this a lot? I don't know how many pitches there are? Seems like a lot.
Thing is, it's a lot easier for people to pay up £40 in December and then general entry when we get there than £127 right now. It also works out nearly £40 cheaper per person overall with general entry included.
Am I looking a gift horse in the mouth with my MB reservation? I've got 2 weeks before they want payment for that one and pass my reservation on to someone else.
I realise the figures won't sound like a lot of money to some people but with everything x12, I don't really know what to do.
So i'm trying to organise a group of 12 to go to Le Mans. I got in pretty early with Tickets-2-U and have 8 pitches reservedin Maison Blanche.
Problem is, as everyone knows - each pitch has to come with 2 General entry. Not a problem in the long run, but seemingly a bit of an issue in the short run. I don't have the ability, nor the want, to just book it up and chase 11 people for £127 each over the next 9 months.
I've also found the ACO website only just opened up booking (well, start of October) and have put in an application with them. Problem is, it's a risk. They've told me they have 1500 applications to go through before mine. Is this a lot? I don't know how many pitches there are? Seems like a lot.
Thing is, it's a lot easier for people to pay up £40 in December and then general entry when we get there than £127 right now. It also works out nearly £40 cheaper per person overall with general entry included.
Am I looking a gift horse in the mouth with my MB reservation? I've got 2 weeks before they want payment for that one and pass my reservation on to someone else.
I realise the figures won't sound like a lot of money to some people but with everything x12, I don't really know what to do.
Sounds like you've got my job, the one who books up and takes the risks with the cash. You need to face facts, with an application through the ACO you won't be getting MB, you'll get BSJ or one of the new ones like Pincedaire.
I've used agencies for the last 5 years and have decided to take a punt with the Le Mans tourisn office to get face value TR or Houx. If we fail, then eBay or agency it is.
As for getting cash, it's simple, just get them to pay up or you put them on ebay for face value. You might even be able to sell the extra admission tickets for face value to get some money back.
I've used agencies for the last 5 years and have decided to take a punt with the Le Mans tourisn office to get face value TR or Houx. If we fail, then eBay or agency it is.
As for getting cash, it's simple, just get them to pay up or you put them on ebay for face value. You might even be able to sell the extra admission tickets for face value to get some money back.
Don't take the risk. Be realistic with your numbers and try to get as many people to confirm with money up front (if they really want to go, they wont mind coughing up)
As you said, spending the next 7 months chasing people for money, or trying to 'fill' spaces is no fun, and from my experience trying to flog left over tickets closer to the date is a bit of an uneasy task, which never ends up making money, more often than not with a loss.
As you said, spending the next 7 months chasing people for money, or trying to 'fill' spaces is no fun, and from my experience trying to flog left over tickets closer to the date is a bit of an uneasy task, which never ends up making money, more often than not with a loss.
For what it is worth you will not get MB through the ACO, I only discovered that they released the normal paper reservation process at the same time as the online booking system (1/10/09) yesterday.
I have lodged the usual request (MB, Kart N, Bleu S, Bleu N) but I expect to get allocated BSJ, which isn't good. They did however confirm, over the course of a few e-mails, that MB has all gone. Don't know when you lodged your request, and I know this isn't actually your question, but if you put it in yesterday forget MB though the ACO.
My vote, your mates stump up the cash or they don't get to go! Why should you bank roll their trip.
I have lodged the usual request (MB, Kart N, Bleu S, Bleu N) but I expect to get allocated BSJ, which isn't good. They did however confirm, over the course of a few e-mails, that MB has all gone. Don't know when you lodged your request, and I know this isn't actually your question, but if you put it in yesterday forget MB though the ACO.
My vote, your mates stump up the cash or they don't get to go! Why should you bank roll their trip.
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