Camping Cheques - The Future

2

Comments

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited February 2018 #32

    That is pretty grim news from the Club? Even if Camping Cheques get their act together I think I would be very cautious  about buying them again in the future without some hard and fast guarantees.

    Or should that be Camping Cheques RIP?

    David

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #33

    I rather have the feeling that your last paragraph may turn out to be true David.  Somehow, with the success (and simplicity) of ACSI I simply can't see that an alternative scheme which means paying in advance is going to be viable. 

    When Camping Cheques were the only real discount on offer it made sense to buy a 'voucher' for £10 and use it to pay for a night which would have cost £20 on a Les Castels site, or sites of similar quality.  Now the cost of a cheque is more, and the discount less.  Now most of the the sites on offer are no longer mainly four and five star, as they used to be.

    A sad announcement for those of us who have been using Camping Cheques since the year they started!  

  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #34

    As I said in my OP the demise of Camping Cheques does not happen over night and I'm surprised that this announcement from the club has taken as long as it did.

    In view of the comment from Thomas Nash HQ, "Any 2017/2018 Camping Cheques already bought or money loaded onto a Gold or Silver card can still be used (until the stated expiration date) and can be used on participating Camping Cheque campsites." This all seems well and good but what happens if site operators listed in the scheme decide to pull the plug. Members will then have worthless cheques left on their hands.

  • Martatin
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited February 2018 #35

    Booked my ferry in November and purchased 5 cheques as thought these would give me greater flexibility an error in hindsight! Was told cheques would be sent out when I paid the balance at end of March. Hopefully they will send me club site vouchers instead. smile 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2018 #36
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2018 #37

    The price was about the same for 4 CAMC vouchers/5 Camping Cheques, so I would have thought that CAMC 'best' offer would be 4 - assuming they haven't already passed the money to Camping Cheque!

    I have 20 cheques on my Gold Card, and bought 5 paper ones with the ferry crossing. My plan is to use them all up this year. I've already checked with the sites I plan to use, and they have all confirmed they will be accepting them in 2018.

    ACSi next year - reluctantly as Camping Cheques have served me very well in the past.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2018 #38
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2018 #39

    David,

    I just checked on the Camping Travel Club website.

    Mas Nou in Spain shows the 2018 dates.

    Selecting France only shows page 1 again.!

    However, typing the site names in (rather than the country) showed 2018 acceptance dates on both sites - Ma Praire and Soleil Plage, BUT also showed older dates as well

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2018 #40
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited February 2018 #41

    ACSi next year - reluctantly as Camping Cheques have served me very well in the past.

    We used Camping Cheques for some years, but in the last 2 or 3 years found that some CC sites were moving over to ACSI, so last year we didn't use any.  We didn't miss them at all, plenty of choice in France without CCs.  But I appreciate that, if you have some left on your card that you want to use them, so I'd make sure I used them this year, as I also think that they won't be here for much longer.

     

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2018 #42

    Just checked the website again. Still only page 1, but some progress - Riva Bella at Ouistram has now been removed, and some 2018 updates added to a few sites. At this rate, I'll be in France before the website updates are finished - and I don't sail till late Aprilsmile

  • Martatin
    Martatin Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited February 2018 #43

    Just spoken to Overseas Team re my ferry booking and camping cheques. All still in the air re cheques. Switched my 5 camping cheques to 4 site vouchers and they gave me a refund for slight difference in price. All to be adjusted when final balance due at end of March. Admin fee waived for alteration. Site vouchers suite for this trip as planning on being on a site for a few days that accepts them.

    Thanks all for heads up on this one.     

  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #44

    I have 5 cheques bought with a ferry booking and because I'm now suspicious of the company have decided to use them in the UK. Just phoned Rivendale caravan site, Derbyshire and asked to use them and was politely told they have stopped accepting cheques from this year.

    I'm even more suspicious now.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #45

    Sorry, that may be me jumping the gun.   My apologies.  I'm going off to find out more details so please don't pass on the information.   I wonder if someone could report my original post and ask that the link be removed please.

     

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #46

    There don't appear to be any UK sites now, Harry.  

  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #47

    I don't think I am seeing the same site as others.

    The UK map shows 2 in the North, Preston and Silloth and a small clutch of sties throught Dorset into Devon and Cornwall

  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #48

    Done

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #49

    Thanks Harry.  I think my PC has got a gremlin this afternoon.undecided

    Firstly it led me to some misinformation............ then the information disappeared.  Then the Camping Travel Club website didn't show any British sites, now it does.  I think I shall just go and lie down!  Apologies again.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited February 2018 #50

    Val

    I Deleted User your post for you.

    David

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #51

    Thanks David!

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2018 #52
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • eddietheeagle
    eddietheeagle Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited February 2018 #53

    I have been a member of Camping Travel Club,Camping Cheque,since 2,000,as a gold card holder.My gold card expired during the second half of 2017 and I have been trying to renew my membership since December 2017.

    After numerous telephone calls to France, I was finally advised on the 16th January 2018,that my gold card could not be renewed for 2018 as Camping Cheque was not being offered as a product for 2018.

    However,the credit on my expired gold card could be used at participating sites in 2018.

    I was further advised that there may be a new Camping Cheque product for 2019.

    I have updated the Caravan Club Head Office staff throughout January and February 2018 with the details of my conversations with Camping Cheque,France.

    Hope this resume is of help to members.

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2018 #54

    Eddie, you have certainly 'put the cat amongst the pigeons' with that information.

    None of what you were told, or have told the club has been acknowledged by the club as far as I am aware. When I asked in LATE January, they said there was a meeting in Paris 31st Jan where more info may be forthcoming, but not much was.

    I'm unsure if anyone in our Club or Camping Cheque HQ has anymore of a clue whats happening than we do!

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #55

    The Club has already explained that any existing Camping  Cheques will be accepted at participating sites this year - and 85 such sites in France are now listed on the Camping Travel Club website,  most with acceptance dates given.

    However the Club has also said they are unable to sell any more of those Cheques and is offering new purchasers the chance to buy their own vouchers instead. They will be valid at sites on the Venture Abroad booklet.

    No cat, no pigeons ? 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2018 #56
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • eddietheeagle
    eddietheeagle Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited February 2018 #57

    I would advise that my recent posting on Camping Cheque was to advise members of my experience to date in an attempt to provide helpful additional information to members.

    I would make the following comments with regard to subsequent postings:-

    I am not aware of the Caravan Club being unable to sell any more Camping Cheques as to the best of my knowledge they have currently paused sales pending their further deliberations with Camping Cheque,France.

    In addition the Caravan Club has advised that any existing Camping Cheques can be used at participating sites but have not stated that they will be accepted.

    I have telephoned three UK sites in the recent days and asked if they are taking Camping Cheques in 2018.

    Site 1.No we are not accepting Camping Cheques during 2018

    Site 2.We are at the moment planning to take Paper CampingCheques only and not Silver/Gold Card.However,if we cannot accept paper Camping Cheques upon your arrival then you will be charged the full tariff.

    Site3.We are currently only planning to take Gold Card for 2018.

     

     

     

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2018 #58

    Eddie - for the benefit of others that may be considering using those 3 sites, could you possibly name them, and confirm whether they are amongst the 7 listed currently on the Camping Travel Club website.

     

     

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #59

    I have telephoned three UK sites in the recent days and asked if they are taking Camping Cheques in 2018.

    As we are not going to France till August not bothering with ACSI and Cheques were only being considered if taken to get an ITX package so not been keeping a close eye on this thread.

    BUT having read the above comment just had a look at the Travel Club website which is showing 7 sites in the UK and 6 have dates for 2018-so is it three of these six that despite being shown as accepting cheques,on the website have given the responses quoted??

    Also there are 85 sites shown for France?

    We used Soleil Page last year, it is listed and with 2018 dates, and used up all our cheques, from two years ITX bookings, there.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2018 #60

    These were extracted from the database of Camping Travel Club sites which 'are accepting Camping Cheques for 2018' back in December.

    Whitehill Country Park - Paignton
    River Dart - Ashburton
    Cofton Country Holidays - Starcross
    Orchards - Newbridge Yarmouth
    Newlands - Bridport-Dorset
    Shamba Holidays - St Leonards Ringwood
    Riverside Holidays - Hamble
    Rivendale - Alsop-en-le-Dale Ashbourne
    Beacon Fell View Park - Longridge
    Solway - Silloth

    Those in bold are still listed on the Camping Travel Club website but Shamba doesn't have dates.  I'd be interested to know just which sites have said what as friends have some paper Camping Cheques they were intending to use in this country and it would save them turning up and finding they would not be accepted.

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2018 #61

    This may be of interest to those who have 5 camping cheques, and are considering trying to ask the Club to exchange them for Caravan Club site night vouchers. It was posted on the UKcampsite forum 2 days ago - -

    Had a call from Caravan club etc. about our ferry booking in June.
    It was supposed to include 5 paper Camping Cheques but they are not issuing them now, so as one of the sites we are going to use the new CAMC vouchers they are letting us have 5 of them, to us no difference as still gives 5 nights camping as a bonus to ferry crossing.

     

     

Categories