Really fed up of having to book in advance

[olderthanyouthink]

I hate having to book everything in advance, I either can't get a place or manage it and then have to cancel because something has come up or most likely because DD is sick AGAIN

I've been trying to take her swimming since pools reopened and I've managed to book 4 times I think and attend once, a couple house things came up so I had to stay in and now she's got D&V so obviously can't go in a pool. I just want to be able to go whenever we get a moment, booking a week in advance is shit because I have no idea if she'll have yet another cough or fever and we have to isolate and test (she's had about 7/8 tests since starting nursery in September). The booking system is so shit that I can't even cancel, I've tried speaking to them and they are useless. Similar issue with the local museum, aquarium, playgroups, sports groups etc.

It's not easy to get book stuff as the competition is so high and then it's such a waste of money and opportunity to not go.

When will we be able to wake up and just go somewhere????

Agree.
Such a pain in the a*

Yep for me this is the worst part of all the restrictions. No spontaneity.

I hate booking in advance :(

We're a household of two adults both with chronic illness who can wake up one morning either full of beans and raring to go, or able to function but not up to going out.
We haven't been to any of our usual places locally as I can't risk booking and then it being a bad pain day.
We're season ticket holders for most of them, as previously we would go often. Only one of these places allows season ticket members to book slots for free (and they understandably limit these slots daily) the others you have to pay. While I don't necessarily have a problem with paying again to help them survive the pandemic, it is a waste for us if we are then too ill to go.

While I understand completely why this process has been necessary, we are still allowed to find this situation very frustrating.

People on this thread have no idea of the financial impact the restrictions have taken on so many businesses.

The majority of the things you mention, swimming, soft play, museums have all been shut for 5 months this year (my business included).
If I open and take bookings and people fail to attend of course I charge them. I’m already running at a loss because of reduced capacity, something I did because “freedom day” was only 5 weeks away. Lol.

So many have had to permanently shut their doors. Families losing their jobs. Dreams down the drain. Having to book in advance isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

So many have had to permanently shut their doors. Families losing their jobs. Dreams down the drain. Having to book in advance isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Its not a race to the bottom. No one is saying this is the most terrible thing to ever happen because of the pandemic and no one is disputing that its shit for business. I'm sorry you are struggling and of course people appreciate how tough it's been.

Nevertheless its perfectly fine and normal to want to have a general moan and people should be able to do that without needing to acknowledge before they do a list of reasons why others have it worse.

I agree OP. We’ve been very lucky so far with not having to cancel stuff (we’re members at a private pool where you can just turn up, which is a total godsend) but it’s time consuming and stressful planning everything to within an inch of its life, keeping track of all the emails etc and then finding when you get there that most places now lack any kind of atmosphere or ‘life’. I want spontaneity back.

I’m on a short U.K. break at the moment and while it’s pleasant and I know I’m lucky etc the experience just feels regimented and a tad joyless, with none of the sense of freedom or possibility that holidays usually have. Everything, down to the on-site pools, has to be booked in advance and all the systems are different so DP and I are wasting time staring at our phones organising stuff instead of relaxing. The most popular local outdoor attraction for DD had to be booked weeks in advance and now the weather is looking dodgy on that day so we may not be able to go.

I really hope all this military planning is just a temporary measure and not a permanent feature of our lives now.

@GreenCrayon I agree actually, it’s a draining existence and I wish we could go back to being able to drop into activities and I didn’t freeze every time a customer coughs!
Sorry for my prickly response, it just touched a nerve.

Yes I hate booking in advance too. Theres no spontaneity now. I got a rare bit of respite at the same time as my husband when my mum was able to look after my son with asd at short notice. We couldnt get into any cafes as they were all pre booked. We havent managed to go to any pre booked national trust things either.

I totally understand this isnt a big problem in the scheme of life and death and peoples financial security.

@Terminallysleepdeprived

A new cough is not a reason to isolate and test, only if it is persistent. I think you are possibly taking things to the extreme.

And as previous poster says, a lot of what you mention ie museums and aquariums had to be booked in advance ore covid to ensure the time slot you wanted.

It's not like she coughs once and I whip out the swab. She coughs I take note, and then she does it more and more all day and the next day maybe and we're off to the test centre again and cancelling things.

@SorrySoldOut

So you want these type of places to put their staff at risk by allowing multiple people to turn up en masse whenever they feel like it?? Bit selfish isn’t it?

I get why we have to limit numbers doesn't mean I can't be frustrated by the situation.

It's infuriating that on a normal Tuesday I could just show up to the pool and be the only person using it or one of three maybe and now I can't get a slot without loving on first thing a week in advance. Same for the museum and aquarium, we usually had the run of the place unless it was half term or the weekend.

[quote AnotherDayAnotherCake]@GreenCrayon I agree actually, it’s a draining existence and I wish we could go back to being able to drop into activities and I didn’t freeze every time a customer coughs!
Sorry for my prickly response, it just touched a nerve.[/quote]
No need to apologise. It is indeed incredibly draining and hopefully soon things will once again be spontaneous. Hang in there I'm sure you're doing a great job.

Totally agree.
When you have multiple (I.e 3 or 4) children you have a much higher chance of someone being poorly. Usually is a sickness bug or feeling sick. Or it might be someone was up all night for some reason and the day won’t be enjoyable. But still, you have paid you £70+ for the 6 of you to go so go you must, even if it’s a shit stressful day with awful weather on top. The. Because you have spent that money and been, you know you won’t be able to go back any time soon so the day is just ruined.
Or
You book somewhere inside a month ahead (ie. swimming if you can ever get a slot which is as rare as hens teeth) and it turns out that day is the only hot day of summer and you are now stuck inside a sweaty indoor pool missing it.
It’s one of the worst parts for me.

@SorrySoldOut

So you want these type of places to put their staff at risk by allowing multiple people to turn up en masse whenever they feel like it?? Bit selfish isn’t it?

Are you applying that same rule to anyone who has to work in a shop/factory/food industry etc…. Didnt they need to be protected too? Was it not selfish too?

The thing with NT places where you have to book in advance. For a walk in a huge garden. Where you normally don’t really come across many people anyway and you certainly are not closer to anyone than walking down the street.

Why???

Totally agree. It is ridiculous for many activities and unnecessary. Hopefully this will disappear from the 19th.

I think booking ahead already was a thing, maybe not for something like swimming, but definitely for visiting theme parks or even attending a class at the gym.

I've been to a National Trust place once since the winter lockdown and it was very pleasant. But the car park was busy as it was, so goodness knows what it's like on a normal day! I think some people like crowds because it validates their decision to go somewhere (if other people are here it must be good) whereas I prefer it if it's quieter.

I agree OP, we’ve got Center parcs booked and I don’t want to have to decide weeks in advance what time we’ll want to swim on our holiday!

Maybe not @Carameljack but for just about every other activity at CP you do (and have always had to) book in advance or take pot luck, so it's a bit weird that you are baulking at doing that for swimming.

For the rest of the world it is still quite often possible to book on the day. I've done that w several attractions.

I actually really like booking ahead and knowing it's not going to be too busy but I feel for those with chronic illnesses etc who don't know if they'll be feeling ok on the day.

We can't even get a swimming slot though as leisure centre online booking is stuck in the early 2000s so I'd be very cross if I managed to book and then had to cancel.

I wonder if, as we move out of this, some kind of hybrid approach will work? Where, say, 50% of places can be booked and the the rest are walk up slots? Possibly a logistical nightmare though.

I agree that it's the loss of spontaneity. Really sucks the joy out of life, most people live such busy lives they don't want to be thinking what will they will be doing in 2 weeks time just to book a slot at a place they already have membership for!!!

But it’s only ‘not too busy’ because they have been rationing entrances.
This will not be sustainable on a business POV. Also are we really all happy to see those places rationed?
What about tourists, holidaymakers who won’t be able to plan that far ahead?

I’ve got several chronic illnesses and the booking ahead has helped me a bit as I can plan and pace, it also reduces the chance of standing in a queue to get in as I struggle with standing up for a long time.

Agree it’s hard with a 3yo as some days he’s knackered and needs a rest but we’ve prebooked something. I’d love to win the swimming session lottery!

@NotAllTheOnesWhoWanderAreLost

But it’s only ‘not too busy’ because they have been rationing entrances. This will not be sustainable on a business POV. Also are we really all happy to see those places rationed? What about tourists, holidaymakers who won’t be able to plan that far ahead?

Yes, I understand it's because they've been rationing entrances. And if we drop social distancing measures on 19 July they won't have to any more. So I'm enjoying it while I can.