What Club to Join ???

[Chrissy]

Hi Ev1

Just wondered which is your preference of the many clubs there are to join to get discounts on site bookings. I had a look at the Motor Caravaners Club @ £27.50 per year didn't seem too bad - had some good CL's at very reasonable prices and across the UK.

I would appreciate your comments and guidance as to who (if any of them) you have chosen and why. I would also appreciate the negatives of joining these clubs.

I have to join one to validate my MH insurance as they gave me 15% discount. We have a Bedford CF (1981) with a Holdsworth Ranger coachbuilt.


Thanks for looking
kind regards
Christine

 

[Channa]

I am a member of the Caravan Club. The subscription is about £35 per annum and tbh I soon get this back on discounts when I stop on their sites

There is also an extensive range of cl's which vary in facilities and you never seem far away from one.

I havent really found a negative other than on occasions things are perhaps a touch too regimented. But I guess that is a byproduct of any organisation.

I hope you have many happy miles in your camper

Channa

 

[salopian]

Me too, The discount for the ferries are worth the membership alone, £53 for an 8 metre MH dover -calais 6 weeks ago !!!...

 

[tresrikay]

I used to be a member of both the big clubs, but I sacked the caravan club as I found their attitude a bit stuffy to M/Hs , whereas the C&CC seems a little more M/H friendly and the sites dont look like mini Housing estates.
Don't know much about the Motorcaravan club so can't comment.

 

[robert b]

i to am a member of the c@cc i have found it to be a cheap club and never had any probs on their sites.

 

[christine]

Why not join both then you have even more CL's to go at? We have belonged to both ever since we have had a motorhome (13 years). I can't say I like Caravan Club full facility sites, way, way too organised for us. We only ever use CL's, and mostly the ones without electricity, unfortunately these are becoming less and less.

 

[bob690]

Hi Chrissy, I was a member of the caravan club and the C&cc at the same time when I started some years ago. But I repeatedly found an underlying animosity with the caravan club, towards motorhomers. Especially towards single members who take pitches up when, in their eyes, they could have the fees for a couple. Also a lack of flexibility, and a love of dont do signs.
I have not found the same inflexibility with the Camping and Caravanning club, and they do seem more freindly. But hey, thats just my pennyworth. After 2 years I packed in the Caravan club and have not missed anything, camping club also do ferries, overseas etc. Good luck with your choice......Bob

 

[kalamitty]

i have been in both the cc, and the c&cc and can say there is no need to be in any the only benifits are you get a book in each giving info about cls/cs's. i found the c&cc wardens at winchcoombe to be the most unpleasnt i had met and never renwed after that visit. if it's only the discount from the insurers you are after then just join the cheapest, as what you will find most caravaners tend to leave their caravans on a site club or cls all season usally in the best spots, now i just tour an area and take pot luck that i will find somewhere. i now have a tomtom sat nav and was able to download all locations of sites onto it,

 

[Chrissy]

Why not join both then you have even more CL's to go at? We have belonged to both ever since we have had a motorhome (13 years). I can't say I like Caravan Club full facility sites, way, way too organised for us. We only ever use CL's, and mostly the ones without electricity, unfortunately these are becoming less and less.

Thanks Christine - these are definately our kind of sites as well

 

[Chrissy]

i have been in both the cc, and the c&cc and can say there is no need to be in any the only benifits are you get a book in each giving info about cls/cs's. i found the c&cc wardens at winchcoombe to be the most unpleasnt i had met and never renwed after that visit. if it's only the discount from the insurers you are after then just join the cheapest, as what you will find most caravaners tend to leave their caravans on a site club or cls all season usally in the best spots, now i just tour an area and take pot luck that i will find somewhere. i now have a tomtom sat nav and was able to download all locations of sites onto it,

Thanks Kalamitty - we have a Blaupunkt sat nav - I will investigate getting the download too or would it be the same for both models, does anyone know? - a brilliant idea

 

[boblyn]

wot club

hi chrisy i aint joined any club thinkin bout it though ccc apeals cos of site network,but then again i like goin wild so dont see much point.seein as our kids dont come with us i dont want to put up with screaming kids etc not been on a full site since we ditched the tent THANKS for this thread btw

 

[bob690]

Hi again Chrissy, what kalamitty failed to tell you is that you cant use the cl,s or ci,s unless you are a member of the relevant club!....Bob

 

[shortcircuit]

Member of CCC and now starting to make more use of. Was just about to book a CL when I found out I was far cheaper on a CCC site with what I have found so far spotless facilities. Possibly the age concession makes the difference.

I have to say I find the Big Book a bit confusing. I do use CLs but try to find one with at least a WC. Look in the listing and find an entry indicating a WC then an inspectors report stating "Own sanitation essential". I then phone the site to find out.

Good value for money and so far and have only met extremely friendly and efficient wardens.

 

[derekfaeberwick]

i have been in both the cc, and the c&cc and can say there is no need to be in any the only benifits are you get a book in each giving info about cls/cs's. i found the c&cc wardens at winchcoombe to be the most unpleasnt i had met and never renwed after that visit. if it's only the discount from the insurers you are after then just join the cheapest, as what you will find most caravaners tend to leave their caravans on a site club or cls all season usally in the best spots, now i just tour an area and take pot luck that i will find somewhere. i now have a tomtom sat nav and was able to download all locations of sites onto it,

Couldn't agree more. They are a complete waste of money so take the cheapest then just Wildcamp !

 

[shortcircuit]

""Kalamity "i have been in both the cc, and the c&cc and can say there is no need to be in any the only benifits are you get a book in each giving info about cls/cs's. i found the c&cc wardens at winchcoombe to be the most unpleasnt i had met and never renwed after that visit. if it's only the discount from the insurers you are after then just join the cheapest, as what you will find most caravaners tend to leave their caravans on a site club or cls all season usally in the best spots, now i just tour an area and take pot luck that i will find somewhere. i now have a tomtom sat nav and was able to download all locations of sites onto it"""

There is always two sides to a story and I do not envy anybody that has to deal with the public today.

"leave their caravans on a site club or cls all season" What a load of tosh. For a start you are limited to the time on a CL. In addition I think I have now been on at least 20 sites and have yet to encounter the situation you describe.

 

[Channa]

""
"leave their caravans on a site club or cls all season" What a load of tosh. For a start you are limited to the time on a CL. In addition I think I have now been on at least 20 sites and have yet to encounter the situation you describe.

I think you are accurately describing what should happen but I know of a CL just outside Doncaster where two vans are sited on a pretty much permanent basis and only occupied at weekends. They have definitely not diasspeared after 28 days although the 28 rule relates more to occupancy, Which leads me nicely to the next part.

The CC club do deals on selected sites for long term campers Clumber Park has been one over the winter. Has an example they will charge say £500 for the period 2nd Jan till the end of May. I suspect the campers are supposed to disappear for 24 hours every 28 days. I was told by someone taking advantage of the promotion a lot of the time it boils down to the wardens and there willingness to turn a blind eye.

I guess in the case of a Cl and the CC, and I suspect the CCC ( albeit I am not a member ) There is additional pressure nowadays on occupancy rates to make and keep the sites viable particularly off season.

Some of the pitches are earmarked for this purpose as well ( not all ) but iMHO they tend to be the more basic pitches or fully serviced. not thos middle of the road

Channa

 

[shortcircuit]

Thanks for your info Channa.

I only posted due to the blinkered input. If you are in business and somebody guarantees you money if he can book a spot you would be a fool not to take it.

 

[Channa]

Thanks for your info Channa.

I only posted due to the blinkered input. If you are in business and somebody guarantees you money if he can book a spot you would be a fool not to take it.

I would agree, It has occured to me that the CC particularly and its CL's are sailing towards stormy seas.

Has discussed on another thread re driving licences, The next generation of caravanners will have passed their tests after Aug 1st 1997. With the exception of micro caravans they are not entitled to tow in effect . Bearing this in mind the CC and its Cl's are heading for a significantly diminished potential customer base. Also considering that a lot of their membership are in the autumn of their lives.

Of course it isnt going to be good for used caravan values either. when you consider the boom the industry has had over the last few years. Supply and future demand etc.

My thoughts are probably flawed, but they do seem to be a distinct possibility

Channa

 

[Chrissy]

hi chrisy i aint joined any club thinkin bout it though ccc apeals cos of site network,but then again i like goin wild so dont see much point.seein as our kids dont come with us i dont want to put up with screaming kids etc not been on a full site since we ditched the tent THANKS for this thread btw

It's good to know it's not just us that don't want to hear others' screaming kids - we have 3 grandchildren - lovely, scrummy, yummy. Hiowever, I don't want to deal with or even listen to the ones on sites that just don't have any manners or respect for their own parents, let alone anyone else.

 

[kalamitty]

in reply to bob690 the cls and cs's are run by farmers etc. you don't have to be in the clubs to use as they won't turn money away, next time you are out and about have a look at some of the grass around the caravans and it is those that have stayed all season the grass is longer around the edge of the van. as for the winchcoombe site i pulled on a friday evening heading north on the return from my trip to the isle of whight, i did not want to phone ahead but i was getting tired, on asking if they had a spare site the warden told me it was friday and after a lot of mumbling and eyes rolling found me a pitch, then the next problem was when he showed me where the water tap was in the middle of his prised lawn and don't drive the van over it there was no way i could fill up the water tank apart from a little container, so after a meal we decided to move out for the evening, i didn't know the layout of the site so was going down a deadend when missus warden screamed at me where do you think you are going turn around now. as doing this another warden shouted something so on leaving the site i came across another little gem and ended up there for the next two days vowing never to use a c&cc site again. i have since used the cc crystal palace site as a non member and found this a good one, regarding tom tom downloads i got these from tomtom home site as pois. sorry if this has hijacked the site but there are two sides to everything.