The easiest way to make touring cheaper
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Quite a number of posters have mentioned "Location first" but if you only ever use Club sites then surely you starting point really is "where are there Club sites" At the present time Essex must have never seen CS's caravan.
Even the most ardent supporter must admit that Club sites, whilst in the general locality of your choice of location are not always ideally placed and will involve quite a drive to the local centre e.g Borrowdale CAMC is not ideal for Keswick, the site nearest to Tenby is not that close to Tenby.
CAMC provide a clean safe environment but the downsides are lots of lots of white boxes ( and dogs) at a premium price - whether that price is similar to other nearby commercial sites is irrelevant, caravanning on full facilities sites is not cheap and for us not particularly pleasant.
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We rarely use Club sites for numerous reasons (cost, rows of white boxes, regimentation, similarity etc) but we've just returned from North York Moors outside Whitby.
We use it as it is quiet and cheap (£15) as there are no facilities and in a glorious position with access to stunning scenery and walking.
I do wish the Club would consider creating more of these sites - some of us do not want/like to walk across sites first thing in the morning to follow others into toilets and showers when we have totally adequate facilities in the van. Out of bed (fixed), kettle on, into shower, make tea and plan the day.
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Even if club sites were free in Essex...
For me club sites are idelly placed or I wouldn't go. I'm sure that's true of most user? or are you saying we meekly go to a club site whatever?Some club sites are placed near to local towns and some are not. You choose what is good for you. A strange choice using Borrowdale there mind, if you want a walking holiday with Wainwrights on your caravan door step then there are none better? If you want to while away your trip to the lakes in the pubs and the curry houses in Keswick then why would you choose Borrowdale? Again the idea that club site users just go to a club site without any thought?
Are you forced to go to a club site then swifty? Your last paragraph sounds as if you have to? Thought the idea of too many dogs and all those BBQs with pies on them would put you off?
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Yep, I wondered how long before Burts managed to mention dogs.
(Btw, you’ve been rumbled and thanks to the rubbish software, many of us saw the mod’s comments yesterday.)
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old news?
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Of course not but now it’s officially recognised.
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“BTW, I think you're right, customers shouldn't just 'meekly' pay up, if we think prices are too high, we should vote with our feet and leave Club Sites to those who have actually weighed up the cost and thought it at least acceptable and at the best good value?”
I’ll ignore the condescending stuff at the start and say the quoted comment is blindingly obvious, BB. Nothing new there and it’s good to see you are seemingly amongst those of us who find club site prices acceptable at the right time in the right place. Good for you - it proves we should all keep open minds and not restrict ourselves in any way.This isn’t a battle between ‘us’, the members, and ‘them’, the club, and it’s good to see you and others appreciate that. 👍🏻
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Some club sites are placed near to local towns and some are not. You choose what is good for you. A strange choice using Borrowdale there mind, if you want a walking holiday with Wainwrights on your caravan door step then there are none better? If you want to while away your trip to the lakes in the pubs and the curry houses in Keswick then why would you choose Borrowdale?
CS, Many members who do not know the Lake District would assume, looking at the address of the site, Borrowdale CAMC site Keswick that it is ideally placed for the town of Keswick would they not?
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TF, I have kept away from CC sites for a while now due to the prices. My feeling is that I go away to browse an area or visit attractions and don't spend a lot of time on site. We are happy to use our own facilities so it makes more sense to us to pay less. Some people may enjoy spending a lot of time on site and of course they are entitled to their want and view. One thing that has crossed my mind though is that CL owners and the like may see an increase in customers due to people like you and me and put their prices up! Hope I am wrong and only time will tell.
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we should vote with our feet and leave Club Sites
I think perhaps TW that perhaps BB means after his recent stay at two club sites, where I assume he meekly paid up the price and didn't think it acceptable or good value? (Although that is strange as he went from one club site straight to another?) he won't be going to any more sites?
He can't really go to another club site after writing that can he?
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not very friendly there TF?
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Oh swifty, sorry Burt, that was not your point, you said Borrowdale was not handy for Keswick, and for someone like yourself who loves pies I can see the attraction
Now you're changing your point?
I give members more credit than you and others do. I am sure they would at a map to see where all the club sites are in the Lakes and if it fits in with their interests? I really can't believe that anyone would book a site based on an address. They would look at the site, see how far it is from Keswick (or whatever) and then decide to book.
Or do they just put the post code into their sat nav and go?
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Hmm, there was me almost congratulating BB on his open mindedness in choosing to use club sites recently but you’ve thrown a different light on it, Corners.
Time will tell. Will he or won’t he walk from the club and will he or won’t he use club sites in future?🤔
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I am sure we will be there to remind him if he does?
This is very harry Potter isn't it? here Of course I'm not saying that BB is anyway like Lucius Malfoy, or I'm harry, but I do see you TW as Dumbledore?
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Sarcasm doesn't become you, BB, and you missed the point that I was actually in agreement with you for the most part.
Still, don't let that little matter mar your delight in repeating up the same old comments about me again and again and.....
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It's absolutely the point, One, and I hope no one cuts off their nose to spite their face meaning they end up where they dont want to be for the sake of a few £s.
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+1
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another +1
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Location for me is important. However that certainly does not mean a site like Rowntree Park. I wish to stay in an area for 5 days usually. If York was on my doorstep I would only visit once and so would rather use the site outside York and the P&R. Location for me means ideally 50 to 80 mile of previous site in an area that I wish to visit - not just a particular town or village. And, like many, I amnot constrained to CC sites
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Obviously the easiest way to make touring cheaper is simply to give up and stay at home, presumably under the duvet!
But assuming one wants to carry on touring, it's surely simple to do a bit of research on the area one wants to visit and find the best deal in that area.
I'm assuming here obviously that folk are reasonably intelligent - some seem to think otherwise. I mean, would anyone just turn up at Borrowdale and expect to be at Keswick? Almost the first statement in the site description is "5 miles from Keswick" - anyone wanting to book would surely have read that.
And as for "meekly" paying up - it's not what we do and presumably it's not what you did in your stays on club site in high season, BB. So why insult others by suggesting that's what they do?
To me, it matters not if it's (either) club sites or CLs / CSs I'm staying on - if it's where I want to be when I want to be there that's all that really matters.
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Moulesy, Actually you can blame me for using the term meekly paying up, and on reflection that was a poor choice of words. What I was meaning to say that we as members should avoid paying whatever is asked of us without demure. Otherwise there is little to discourage the club from constantly raising prices as they wish because everyone appears happy to pay.
It may not be evident to all but I actually have the clubs future in my mind, because I have been a member since 1979 with a short break in the mid eighties. I want the club to continue to survive and despite success at the moment, I really do think that it is making itself very vulnerable by its present direction.
Many years ago it was almost the only option available, but that has changed. Today there are many others in the game and I truly don't want the club to cause itself a problem by pricing itself into a disadvantage. Someone has to say that the Emperors new clothes are a bit questionable. Its Ok to claim you are the smartest but not if your customers are finding others almost as good but cheaper!
TF
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Many years ago it was almost the only option available, but that has changed. Today there are many others in the game and I truly don't want the club to cause itself a problem by pricing itself into a disadvantage. Someone has to say that the Emperors new clothes are a bit questionable. Its Ok to claim you are the smartest but not if your customers are finding others almost as good but cheaper!
when I joined CC 35+ years ago there were many other options. However, in my view the CC was the better option. In general I hold the same view today. As far as prices go I see little to choose between the main options on a cost basis. I exclude CC sites and those of a lesser standard, many of which l have found overpriced for what they provide (and I do not mean CLs).
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yes +1
What some on here seem always to miss, either deliberately or not, is that the club is middle of the road for prices, and in my view far better quality than those costing more. But everyone has to judge that for themselves.
The club appears to be doing better than OK, sites are still popular, full even in peak, and I just never see that with other non club sites. I could, and have done in the past on here, go onto a full club site in peak and then find spaces with those non club sites nearby. I wonder why that is?
I personally don't think the club has anything to worry about except getting more sites (and more HS) to meet demand?
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Yes, I agree that club prices are just about the median for sites of similar standard on a like for like basis.
There are two things which occur to me - for many club sites there are several alternatives within, say a 5 or 6 like radius. Some will be cheaper, some more expensive. But cost is no guarantee of quality as we have found to our cost (no pun intended) on more than one occasion.
On the other hand, for some club sites there is no real alternative close by - Moreton in Marsh is a case in point now that Fosseway Farm has closed. So if you want to go there you'll have to pay the going rate, although if you choose your time it can and does work out a very affordable option (by which I mean under £20 a night) with little alternative nearby.
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