CMC or CCC?

[colinm]

Re C&CC CS's checking membership, it depends on the area and how popular they are, I know a couple of CS's who always ask for membership number as they have gotten grief off the club for allowing non members, but as Barry says, out of the way farms, probably never been asked.

 

[GeoffL]

We're members of both CCC and CMC. The CMC for one of its club sites and a couple of CLs that we use (but only perhaps ten or fifteen nights a year) and the CCC mainly because it offers 'pump and dump' stops. That said, we used club sites of both clubs over the years and have found the CMC sites to be more 'regimented' (you must park your van with the rear corner right next to the peg -- even though that means your van's 'on the wonk'! etc.)
Re. checking for membership, I've been asked for my membership card for both clubs on several occasions and the warden has noted my membership number. A friend used to run a CS near Bodmin and was required to send the membership numbers to CCC head office -- but didn't press the issue if the 'member' had 'left their card at home'...

 

[Sharon the Cat]

We're members of both CCC and CMC. The CMC for one of its club sites and a couple of CLs that we use (but only perhaps ten or fifteen nights a year) and the CCC mainly because it offers 'pump and dump' stops. That said, we used club sites of both clubs over the years and have found the CMC sites to be more 'regimented' (you must park your van with the rear corner right next to the peg -- even though that means your van's 'on the wonk'! etc.)
Re. checking for membership, I've been asked for my membership card for both clubs on several occasions and the warden has noted my membership number. A friend used to run a CS near Bodmin and was required to send the membership numbers to CCC head office -- but didn't press the issue if the 'member' had 'left their card at home'...

If it's a club site with wardens I think you will always get asked for membership. The CS/CLs less likely. We've never been asked on one if those, but we go for the field without facilities type.

 

[GeoffL]

If it's a club site with wardens I think you will always get asked for membership. The CS/CLs less likely. We've never been asked on one if those, but we go for the field without facilities type.

Agreed that, unlike CLs and CSs, club sites always seem to ask -- even if you're just doing a 'pump and dump'! However, I've been asked for my membership card on several CLs/CSs (although I usually offer it anyway when paying, which might skew the figures a little!) As mentioned upthread, my friend who once ran a CS was required to send membership details of all who camped there. I suspect that those who didn't show their membership card might have been omitted from the reports she sent back.

Re. Scone CCC site: we use that site to get rid of black waste when visiting our niece in Blairgowrie and always found the wardens to be super friendly. Once they were cleaning the toilet blocks when we arrived and offered us an extra time on site to take a shower if we wanted it.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

Agreed that, unlike CLs and CSs, club sites always seem to ask -- even if you're just doing a 'pump and dump'! However, I've been asked for my membership card on several CLs/CSs (although I usually offer it anyway when paying, which might skew the figures a little!) As mentioned upthread, my friend who once ran a CS was required to send membership details of all who camped there. I suspect that those who didn't show their membership card might have been omitted from the reports she sent back.

Re. Scone CCC site: we use that site to get rid of black waste when visiting our niece in Blairgowrie and always found the wardens to be super friendly. Once they were cleaning the toilet blocks when we arrived and offered us an extra time on site to take a shower if we wanted it.

The 'never again' for Scone was for the laundry facilities. I sat their for hours feeding coins into the tumble drier and still didn't get everything dry. From the look of the machines they were adapted domestic models, rather than ones intended for high usage. When using revolution laundries I can get a whole load washed and dried in an hour.
We've only ever used the 2 club sites, and have luckily never come across the officious wardens who behave like the little Austrian chap with a mustache.

 

[Rolyan57]

When it comes to CS/CLs have you ever been asked for membership details? I haven't. Mind you, not all of them are on the unmentionable sites/apps.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It varies between not asking, asking when booking and even asking to see the current membership card.

I wish more insisted on it, and action taken if they didn’t.

As for which club, I’m in both and use both, full sites and 5 van sites. I can only go from my own experience but I have never found them officious or overbearing, I don’t come across any unnecessary or unwanted rules, and it’s generally friendly and relaxed with zero issues. If I had to be in one I would go for the C&CC, for the age discount and Arrival breakdown.

 

[Drover]

Never ever again would I give any of my hard earned cash to the CMC.
A few years back I wrote how bad they were and I'm not thinking about that again.
Not a clue on CCC .
We spend up to 9 months of the year travelling (used to be 12,) and have managed very well without them.

 

[Debroos]

If you look at searchforsites and browse their maps they have loads of sites including cmc and ccc and they also have the small pop up sites. Often they are small with no facilities and cheap. Also often in lovely locations. And you don't have to pay to join!

 

[gasgas]

......... take M40 exit after a couple of miles. Next stop Central Warwick Services nr J12 Gaydon to use the services and save the bother of emptying a cassette! .....
Steve

Here's a question for y'all: would you wheel your cassette into a motorway services toilets and empty it in there? I have. Not out of habit, just occasionally when it needs emptying. My take on it is that very few people in there would know what it is, and so long as it is clean on the outside they might just assume it is some kind of tool box.

 

[runnach]

Or stool box .

 

[Fisherman]

Here's a question for y'all: would you wheel your cassette into a motorway services toilets and empty it in there? I have. Not out of habit, just occasionally when it needs emptying. My take on it is that very few people in there would know what it is, and so long as it is clean on the outside they might just assume it is some kind of tool box.

So if folk don't know what it is that makes it ok.
I have witnessed folk doing this in various places and the mess they leave is disgraceful.
In New England Bay it got so bad that the public toilets were unfit for human use, and were closed. Dumfries and Galloway Council had to instal an Elsan point
Even on Arran where two free Elsan points have been installed the toilets in Brodick is used like this, even though there is a sign telling you where the Elsan points are, and asking you not to do this, and the toilets are covered in blue and green.


They normally scuttle in and out in about a minute when its dark or getting dark, hoping that no one can see them.
Wonder why, even when signs are up asking them not to do it.
Remarkably they claim to have left the toilet cleaner than when they entered.

Now here's an idea, when planning a trip make sure you plan it in such a way you will have access to an Elsan point as required.
It's not that difficult, in nine years I have never emptied my cassette into a public toilet.
But I have witnessed many times the results of those that do.

So to answer your question, no I would not.

 

[marchie]

Here's a question for y'all: would you wheel your cassette into a motorway services toilets and empty it in there? I have. Not out of habit, just occasionally when it needs emptying. My take on it is that very few people in there would know what it is, and so long as it is clean on the outside they might just assume it is some kind of tool box.

No need to run the risk, so why do so?

Steve

 

[gabby82]

I was in the Caravan & Motorhome club for years and then resigned, mainly because I was either wilding here in Scotland or going to Mainland Europe.

Now plans will include Engerland, including points close to Poole and Portsmouth for Brittany ferries but elsewhere besides.

I'll likely only use the small certified sites.

I understand CCC give over 60s discount and allow members "service only stops" at some big sites, so I'm erring to joining them.

Interested in other views though.

Was a member of both but now just in the C&CC. After 12 years with the Caravan Club I got delayed in France for a few days and missed the renewal date by a couple of days and got dumped. I was required to start as a new member and so did not rejoin on principal. I also don’t like their regimented attitude on site. My Friendly Club membership has been for around 50 years now, including a short break after working abroad in the early days. The long term member discount is also a welcome benefit. In my experience their stewards generally reflect their claim and have been very good in my experience. Their holiday meets are a good and cost effective experience for many.

 

[Beechowl]

We have been members of both for years, largely because we used to need an EHU. It’s nice to have the flexibility of where we can stay and their facilities, and whilst regimented are normally first rate. Horses for courses as they say. Now we are doing more wild camping we don’t use them as often but sometimes meet up with friends who are also members. If going to Scotland CCC are better because there are few CMC sites but in England Opposite is true. No plans to stop subscribing to either of them.

 

[GMJ]

Do the CCC still insist on minimum 2 night bookings at weekends on their campsites?

 

[Fisherman]

Do the CCC still insist on minimum 2 night bookings at weekends on their campsites?

Generally no, but on some popular sites at peak times they may do so.
We have stayed for one night at weekends on their sites.
But this issue is far more prevalent on independent sites.
One several occasions when trying to book one night on independent sites we have been told there’s a min 2 night stay at any time, not just weekends.

 

[colinm]

Do the CCC still insist on minimum 2 night bookings at weekends on their campsites?

Yes, No, Maybe.
It depends on, season, site, and pitch, we have never specifically booked a 2 night weekend due to this rule, we have stayed on sites for one night when the 'rule' is in place, we just don't book.

 

[GMJ]

We dropped CCC after realising that we hadn't used their sites for over 3 years! The 2 day boking/weekend thing was a factor plus in those days they charged a deposit whilst the CMC didn't...which has changed now.

Tbh I'd be surprised if the CMC membership will pay for itself this year. We are moving up to Worcs soon so will reassess then if we will be using CMC sites. Their cost seems to have gone way up too.

 

[colinm]

We use C&CC, as during winter when we use EHU the prices are fairly good for us 'oldies', during warmer/sunnier months we can use grass pitches which are cheaper, but at that time of year we are more likely to be using their CL's or THS's.

 

[Fisherman]

We dropped CCC after realising that we hadn't used their sites for over 3 years! The 2 day boking/weekend thing was a factor plus in those days they charged a deposit whilst the CMC didn't...which has changed now.

Tbh I'd be surprised if the CMC membership will pay for itself this year. We are moving up to Worcs soon so will reassess then if we will be using CMC sites. Their cost seems to have gone way up too.

The fact that the C&MC did not charge deposits created poor behaviour from some who would at the start of each year deliberately book several weekends in advance, knowing full well that they had no intention of honouring these bookings. This lead to a situation where many of their sites were fully booked at weekends months in advance.