Camping and Caravanning Club - out of touch? (1 Viewer)

[Teepee]

The trouble in this country is the relaxed laws regarding so called travellers, causing trouble thieving dumping rubbish no due respect for anyone or anything, that's why not many areas accept free camping. Until this country gets a grip on them instead of giving into them nothing will change for the motorhoming tourist. They are now classed as an ethnic minority, so they have the law on their side.

 

[Tootles]

We came out of the C&CC two years ago, after being 'faithful' members for forty years. Reasons being that A, I don't like being told where to pitch up, (Oh your quite small, go behind the loos), and B, the state of the facilities. Our last stay was in Clitheroe, Lancs. The 'nice' toilet block was closed, (because the warden was too lazy to clean it), whilst the old tin shack with no heating and the worlds entire population of spiders, was a hole. The pitches were terrible, like parking up in a mudbath, and the warden himself had the same answer to every question you asked.....A blank stare.
Many years ago, to join the CC, you had to be proposed and seconded by existing members, and NO CHANCE unless your van fell out of the showroom less then three years before.

 

[Inthezone]

To be honest, when we decided to buy the motorhome we expected to pay various prices for sites and we have been at places where its £8 a night with nothing except a field in the middle of nowhere and at the other extreme right on a beach looking over the sea paying £37 Inc. all facilities a night, part of having a MH is the ability to have a choice of where we go and budget for it, We mix commercial sites with CCC sites, CL, THS and Meets. We have found that over the years that the ones we prefer are coastal and these come at a premium, we are fortunate that we live in a rural area surrounded by woodland and that why we choose the sites we do.
Getting back to the cost of sites as there are more and more people looking for sites to go to then the cost will stay high, just look at this weekend coming good location sites with vacancies are like hens teeth and at full price because most working folk with children have no other choice if they wish to have a late summer break.

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[Tootles]

because most working folk with children have no other choice if they wish to have a late summer break.

And thereby lies the problem. These organisations aren't 'clubs'. Clubs comprise of members looking after the rights and well-being of fellow members. Both the CC, and the C&CC, are profit making companies, and despite the 'cosy cosy' crap they publish in their profit making magazines, they don't really give a damn about their customers, only the money those customers bring in. Therefore the emphasis is on 'sting them at school holiday times'.

 

[chaser]

Yesterday you could have booked on myferry link to go to France £47 return and parked up pretty much where you like for free,for as long as you like, where's the sense in paying ccc £42 then paying 30 odd quid for one night on a grotty English campsite, no brainer

 

[keith]

This thread only goes to show that there are many MH's who will pay these extortionate prices and support the clubs and as long as this situation exists nothing will change. We are motorhomes not caravans and have different/less needs but none of the clubs, or for that matter licensed sites, will change if we turn up and pay their prices. Time we voted with our wheels and stayed away.

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[buttons]

£30 a night sounds high what did that consist of. Your pose could be deemed as a bit unfair without a breakdown of this £30 per night. Attached a link to this site with pricing.
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/cheshire/northwich/delamereforest

 

[Dave and Ginny]

We were in both the CC and the C&CC but after having some trouble trying to book a site in Scotland that they had emailed me a discount about I had a moan to them. They took ages replying and then with some standard knocked out letter. I did not bother to renew this year and they proceeded to badger me with phone calls and an email. Sorry too late and their loss I'm afraid. I remain with the CC to use CL's which we much prefer anyways.

 

[chaser]

This thread only goes to show that there are many MH's who will pay these extortionate prices and support the clubs and as long as this situation exists nothing will change. We are motorhomes not caravans and have different/less needs but none of the clubs, or for that matter licensed sites, will change if we turn up and pay their prices. Time we voted with our wheels and stayed away.

I suppose though these clubs are actually "caravan" clubs and never set out to be motorhome clubs and we are not really in the right place, they are catering for those that have to park up for a week with no on board facilities , not for us who have already paid for our own services,they are ok when you are just starting out in a mh but not much use once you have found your feet

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[keith]

£30 a night sounds high what did that consist of. Your pose could be deemed as a bit unfair without a breakdown of this £30 per night. Attached a link to this site with pricing.
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/cheshire/northwich/delamereforest

£12.95 per person plus pitch fee would add up to over £30 so sounds about righ to meabout right to me. They don't actually give prices on the prices page, slaps of a con to me.

 

[Steve]

I have just spent a total of 6 weeks (4+2) at Chertsey C&cc site what I found,

1. very grumpy greeting on arrival just telling me how busy they are and I was lucky to get on (even thou I booked)
2. just wanted pitch but had to have all services
3. Pitch it selve ok but service stn car park would have less traffic.
4. This is differently NOT a quiet site, planes kids traffic
5. Shower block looking like its well over due for some repairs
6. The site staff were having a falling out with the manager and his wife and had already got the Head Office looking into ‘matters’ apparently the same thing happen on their last site!
   As I was working locally I had the choice of staying put and a short drive to work or find another site and a longer drive. So put up and shut up or move on.

 

[sdc77]

I suppose though these clubs are actually "caravan" clubs and never set out to be motorhome clubs and we are not really in the right place, they are catering for those that have to park up for a week with no on board facilities , not for us who have already paid for our own services,they are ok when you are just starting out in a mh but not much use once you have found your feet

On the contrary we enjoy visiting nice sites.. and we have little desire to go wild camping. Our decision to visit a site often rests on EHU for example. We use onboard facilities when we need to but if the site has nice facilities then we may use them. In fact some sites have great facilities... Teversal comes to mind..
I'm not defending their pricing structure at all.. But the temp sites and cls are a great network so we will stay with them..
I'm sure we've found our feet...
... We do what we want.. Not what someone else thinks we should do.

(And as for Chertsey... Wouldn't even consider going there.. A simple read of the reviews would settle that.)

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[chaser]

On the contrary we enjoy visiting nice sites.. and we have little desire to go wild camping. Our decision to visit a site often rests on EHU for example. We use onboard facilities when we need to but if the site has nice facilities then we may use them. In fact some sites have great facilities... Teversal comes to mind..
I'm not defending their pricing structure at all.. But the temp sites and cls are a great network so we will stay with them..
I'm sure we've found our feet...
... We do what we want.. Not what someone else thinks we should do.

(And as for Chertsey... Wouldn't even consider going there.. A simple read of the reviews would settle that.)

You got me a bit wrong there, I was even sticking up for the clubs in that they are not designed for us, if you like them that's fine, but what I ment was it's no use us going there if they are not designed for mhs, and then complaining about them, just let them get on with it, and save the money

 

[Gooney]

When discussing the subject of site fees whilst in my local a few weeks ago, I couldn't believe that some believed the clubs prices where discount prices because you'd paid a membership fee, they couldn't understand that non members were paying a surcharge

 

[homercostello]

we wont be renewing our ccc membership this year hardly use the sites now prefer going to the shows now with the funsters.

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[tambo]

What I'd like to know with campsites is how they now charge for the vehicle and then per person .....The camper can't go on holiday itself and the people can't go camping without a van/caravan/tent etc

They're taking advantage pure and simple and as long as people pay it they will continue to do so

Personally I refuse to pay more than £15 per night on the very rare occasion that I use a site ......I've turned round and walked out of many when they've stated stupid prices

I joined the caravan club once in my twenties when I was stupid ....supposed to give me discount when using sites but as the sites were extortionate in the first place it's hardly an incentive.

It's the reason I changed from caravan to motorhome .....i no longer use sites , but then I also never use 240v hookup etc so I don't need to

 

[Tootles]

What I'd like to know with campsites is how they now charge for the vehicle and then per person .....The camper can't go on holiday itself and the people can't go camping without a van/caravan/tent etc

They're taking advantage pure and simple and as long as people pay it they will continue to do so

Personally I refuse to pay more than £15 per night on the very rare occasion that I use a site ......I've turned round and walked out of many when they've stated stupid prices

I joined the caravan club once in my twenties when I was stupid ....supposed to give me discount when using sites but as the sites were extortionate in the first place it's hardly an incentive.

It's the reason I changed from caravan to motorhome .....i no longer use sites , but then I also never use 240v hookup etc so I don't need to

Didnt know they were going in the twenties........

 

[tambo]

Didnt know they were going in the twenties........

Put your glasses on Tootles I said my twenties

While I'm in rant mood I forgot to mention the incident that finished me with caravan club

I was staying in a site in Filey with a 20 foot van for a week , I'd spent an hour in the rain parking up attaching awning etc when a jobsworth warden came over and started to complain that looking down the line I was sitting 9 inches to a foot in front of the other vans .....He suggested moving it to which I gave a chuckle thinking he was joking .........when he started pulling out my awning pegs and saying il give a hand to move you I realised he wasn't!

No other reason than because he thought it was untidy .....

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[DonA4000]

We're just coming up to the end of our first year as a motorhomer, right from the beginning we couldn't decide if we should get a membership, so we didn't bother. We have only been traveling round Scotland and have just turned up at sites paid between £17 to £22 p/night, we have used premier parks 2 nights for £20 which had swimming pool and a club/pub on site. We have the Brit stop membership which has been great, we have also taken to wild camping where the further North you go the more welcome you are But as its already been said "maybe voting with your wheels" I don't mind paying for something as long as theres some value for money and not just sitting there thinking what are we paying for! One thing we will do is go to Hawick to show our support for the council in providing somewhere for us mh spend some money in the town and next year we're going to make our first trip to France, after speaking to other mh out on the road, once out of the UK you won't want to holiday here

 

[Bellini]

Not sure how this will be received. Probably just ignored, but here goes...

Since buying Udo nearly a year ago, we've used pretty much nothing other than C&CC and CC sites. We're members of both.

Why? Well, after years of camping in a tent with friends on 'ordinary' sites with Land Rovers, basic (often very basic) facilities, muddy grass and the like, we wanted to experience how the other half do it.

And you know what? We like it. I love the level, flat pitches and the space that most of them, so far, offer. I love having lovely toilets and showers to use if I so want to. I love the locations and the calm that often prevails.

But we do want to wild camp. It seems a shame not to use Udo that way. And we shall. But we're busy exploring the many good sites around us and returning to them for the odd weekend. I've been fettling Udo with various things and it's good to try these things out in a secure place where potential failure isn't such a problem.

And because we like these 5-Star sites, we'll continue to use them.

But, if I'm honest, the smaller sites appeal where the facilities are less but the views and locations are better. There's no rush as we're enjoying things and we'll get there. My photos of CC sites don't appear to generate much comment, so I'll not post them again, but it shows we still love motorhoming. I don't like the regimentation, but equally am I not terribly fussed about being asked to move a little. Let the wardens do their thing if it suits them. I'll do mine.

We've used Chertsey once and have just booked again. I'm mindful of the above comments and will look into that as we thoroughly enjoyed our very peaceful stay there last time.

I suppose the days when we fill Udo's water tank at home and then venture out to somewhere totally away from it all aren't far off. Maybe we'll try it. But I can't see us ever straying from the security of a site in some form. I like the peace of mind and the cost, to me, justifies that. It's not purely for toilets and showers but being able to have space, freedom around you and the guarantee that no-one will park close by.

 

[tambo]

We're just coming up to the end of our first year as a motorhomer, right from the beginning we couldn't decide if we should get a membership, so we didn't bother. We have only been traveling round Scotland and have just turned up at sites paid between £17 to £22 p/night, we have used premier parks 2 nights for £20 which had swimming pool and a club/pub on site. We have the Brit stop membership which has been great, we have also taken to wild camping where the further North you go the more welcome you are But as its already been said "maybe voting with your wheels" I don't mind paying for something as long as theres some value for money and not just sitting there thinking what are we paying for! One thing we will do is go to Hawick to show our support for the council in providing somewhere for us mh spend some money in the town and next year we're going to make our first trip to France, after speaking to other mh out on the road, once out of the UK you won't want to holiday here

I have to say my recent trip to france was good ....but not a patch on Scotland

Weather a bit warmer and obviously fuel a little cheaper but other than that It fell short of the places I like to go usually

Fancy Norway next year though

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[GJH]

As others have said, the original aims of the clubs were not to cater for motorhomes. C&CC started out in 1901 with cycle campers using tents to sleep in whilst CC started in 1907 to cater for towed caravans. In those days there were no motorhomes. Their development reflects the history, in this country as opposed to others, of towed caravan usage rather than motorhome usage. The clubs could have decided not to allow motorhomes at all so at least the fact that they do gives us an option if we want to take it.

Goodness knows how many independent licensed caravan sites there are in this country but how many of them cater only for motorhomes? There may well be more but I can only think of Rimmer House at Bamber Bridge off the top of my head. Any one of those independent sites could decide not to allow motorhomes at all but the fact that they do gives us an option if we want to take it.

If anyone seriously wants to open one or more licensed sites for motorhomes only the mechanism is there. All they have to do is obtain land, license and planning permission and invest a few tens of thousands of pounds. However, the MCC has been in existence since 1960 but has no licensed sites (comparable to those of the CC and C&CC) purely for motorhomes, only its CL network. Why is this? Why does virtually nobody (club or independent business) cater for motorhomes only? Could it be that to do so does not provide a viable business model?

As I've said, we much prefer to use rallies and CLs where we do not have to pay for facilities we don't require but we have to accept that we can't force people to run specialised businesses just because we find it convenient.

 

[Movinon]

Key operated facilities with a discount if you don't take the key would seem to be one solution. But of course you'd have too many tuggers moaning.

 

[Wildbill]

don't need to worry abut them sharks banned for life

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[tambo]

As others have said, the original aims of the clubs were not to cater for motorhomes. C&CC started out in 1901 with cycle campers using tents to sleep in whilst CC started in 1907 to cater for towed caravans. In those days there were no motorhomes. Their development reflects the history, in this country as opposed to others, of towed caravan usage rather than motorhome usage. The clubs could have decided not to allow motorhomes at all so at least the fact that they do gives us an option if we want to take it.

Goodness knows how many independent licensed caravan sites there are in this country but how many of them cater only for motorhomes? There may well be more but I can only think of Rimmer House at Bamber Bridge off the top of my head. Any one of those independent sites could decide not to allow motorhomes at all but the fact that they do gives us an option if we want to take it.

If anyone seriously wants to open one or more licensed sites for motorhomes only the mechanism is there. All they have to do is obtain land, license and planning permission and invest a few tens of thousands of pounds. However, the MCC has been in existence since 1960 but has no licensed sites (comparable to those of the CC and C&CC) purely for motorhomes, only its CL network. Why is this? Why does virtually nobody (club or independent business) cater for motorhomes only? Could it be that to do so does not provide a viable business model?

As I've said, we much prefer to use rallies and CLs where we do not have to pay for facilities we don't require but we have to accept that we can't force people to run specialised businesses just because we find it convenient.

Whether it's a motorhome or a caravan or a tent ....theyre still too expensive in comparison to a b&b

 

[chaser]

Whether it's a motorhome or a caravan or a tent ....theyre still too expensive in comparison to a b&b

Well we keep saying that, but some think they best thing since sliced bread, just different outlook on things, can't see me being on one again, to be honest since going to France this last three years , any camp in England just doesn't do anything for me anymore whatever it costs.

 

[kglblue]

I just wrote this, without any knowledge of this thread and lo and behold I am not alone in my thoughts.

I’m having another rant, is it something I qualified for when I drew my first state pension payment in March?

When is a club, not a club? In my opinion the answer is when it’s a business run as a business that’s primary aim is to make money. Take this months “free to members” edition of the Camping and Caravan magazine. It’s a vehicle (no pun intended) for advertising or to use a phrase from the magazine, selling stuff. It trumpets it’s new ipad version, and, it says, we happy campers can read it when on the road.

You have to be a paid up member to log in and view it, but of course, the paid up member has to cough up even more dosh to view it. End of first rant, on to rant number 2.

The cost of being a member of this club and the Caravan club is high especially if like us you are members of both. We joined when we took up motor homing some years ago and have paid every year since by Direct Debit. But we can’t afford to pay the fee for the club sites, the last time we used one it was about £23 to £25 a night for members. But, as we gained experience we found it’s easy to hop across the channel, tour France, Holland and Belgium with an ACSI card and pay between 13 and 16 Euro a night. So for at least 2 years we have not used a site in the UK.

I wonder why it’s so expensive, the only thing I can think of is the cost of Land, it must be higher in the UK, and perhaps this is so.

In a huge country like France land may be cheaper, but both Holland and Belgium are much smaller than the UK.

I return to my point, both clubs were started by members and run by members for members. This is no longer the case, both clubs are now a business that charges a fee to join. Then makes even more profit by selling us stuff. Not just pricey camping fees, but Vehicle and holiday Insurance, and Travel such as Ferry crossings and holidays. I think we are the “cash cow” that keeps on paying. I’m not renewing my direct debits and will spend the money touring the Continent, cheap restaurants and cheap booze.

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[tambo]

I just wrote this, without any knowledge of this thread and lo and behold I am not alone in my thoughts.

I’m having another rant, is it something I qualified for when I drew my first state pension payment in March?

When is a club, not a club? In my opinion the answer is when it’s a business run as a business that’s primary aim is to make money. Take this months “free to members” edition of the Camping and Caravan magazine. It’s a vehicle (no pun intended) for advertising or to use a phrase from the magazine, selling stuff. It trumpets it’s new ipad version, and, it says, we happy campers can read it when on the road.

You have to be a paid up member to log in and view it, but of course, the paid up member has to cough up even more dosh to view it. End of first rant, on to rant number 2.

The cost of being a member of this club and the Caravan club is high especially if like us you are members of both. We joined when we took up motor homing some years ago and have paid every year since by Direct Debit. But we can’t afford to pay the fee for the club sites, the last time we used one it was about £23 to £25 a night for members. But, as we gained experience we found it’s easy to hop across the channel, tour France, Holland and Belgium with an ACSI card and pay between 13 and 16 Euro a night. So for at least 2 years we have not used a site in the UK.

I wonder why it’s so expensive, the only thing I can think of is the cost of Land, it must be higher in the UK, and perhaps this is so.

In a huge country like France land may be cheaper, but both Holland and Belgium are much smaller than the UK.

I return to my point, both clubs were started by members and run by members for members. This is no longer the case, both clubs are now a business that charges a fee to join. Then makes even more profit by selling us stuff. Not just pricey camping fees, but Vehicle and holiday Insurance, and Travel such as Ferry crossings and holidays. I think we are the “cash cow” that keeps on paying. I’m not renewing my direct debits and will spend the money touring the Continent, cheap restaurants and cheap booze.

I don't think it's the land prices .....It never used to be as expensive I can remember when it was £10 a night, when the recession hit more people holidayed at home because of rising costs to go abroad so the campsites rubbed their hands and thought they'd rip us off .

There's a campsite in Arisaig called the Croft still charges £5 per night .....its basic but it's on the beach and it's always busy

The same way when more people changed to diesel the price rose above petrol despite being cheaper to refine .......its rip off Britain anyway they can.

And to guarantee the business they buy up all the smaller private sites and raise the prices on them too.......

 

[canopus]

We tend to use C&CC largely for the DA meets and holiday rallys. Sat on a THS as I type this overlooking Rutland Water and it will cost us just £51 if we stay for our intended six nights. There is no EHU but water and elsan are close to hand.

 

[keith]

I see the problem as more and more people buying MH who don't have the expertise or the knowledge of many of us long timers so use the club sites as the easy way of "getting into it". I'm sure as the more you use your MH the more you will see the injustice of "The Clubs" attitude. Why they cannot see the potential of welcoming MH's instead of alienating this section of our population seems to me to be a lack of planning. I'm sure Graham is right that to set up MH only sites would not be a viable business. but I think the clubs, and to some extent the licensed sites, are missing a potential market.

It will take time but eventually they might see the light.

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