So what did the Club ever do for Motorcaravanners?
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Perhaps 'harped on' is an oblique reference to a site being heavenly.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.
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Exactly my point PD. One man's (person's) "meaningless statement" is obviously another's "good point", but you are not the arbiter of that (nor am I, nor BB come to that.)
But the sort of rudeness and ridicule that has sometimes been blatantly used does nothing to further the debate does it?
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So why be rude?
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+1
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You are generalising again BB. You know it’s possible to tour all over this country much as you do overseas, if you use a combination of site types. We have been doing it for the last 30 plus years, all seasons, weekends and midweek, and unless we want a long stay (28 days) we never book other than perhaps our first site, and that usually day before the off. Much like you book your ferry overseas to guarantee a ferry berth.Its perfectly possible to do this with a caravan as well most of the time. We often change our routes, places to see much like you can, depending on what the weather is doing. Nellie does caravan tours like this, all year round, might only have his first site confirmed.
If the above is your serious view on Club stays, all I can say is that you have been very unlucky. We’ve even managed to extend a stay at YRP in July with no difficulty, so that’s another “myth” busted. And not due to weather being bad either, it was scorching when we were there.
We were looking both East and West this last week, nothing at all booked. Horrendous turn in weather means we are happier at home at moment. Nothing booked, nothing to cancel, no lost deposits, no let down CL owners. It is very easy, trust me. Give it a go, because you are coming over as though you have never tried it over here, but doing what everyone else thinks they need to do.
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We have been doing it for 30 plus years ET. Not every holiday, sometimes we do book a site if we want a long stay and past experience has told us the site we want might be busy. We used to roll up at Marazion (Threeways) with caravan until early 2000s, but Site was getting busier, so we did book. But nowadays, back using MH, we might phone a CL night before we set off, see if they have space. This isn’t a booking, we don’t confirm or pay anything, just a quick check to see if our first destination is free. After that, we do what we want, where we want.
An early tour with our camper van found us in Northumberland. Couple of weeks footling around, looking at this and that. Then yippee, we got tickets to a rock concert at Earls Court. So off down the A1, walked the dog at Clumber Park, parked up at Earls Court, enjoyed concert, decided to drive out of London while it was quiet, finally parked up in a lay-by somewhere in Suffolk. A big safe one. It was a tad noisy, as it was somewhere at end of runway with huge US planes flying out of Mildenhall. Fakenham Racecourse and a few more Sites in North Norfolk ended that tour. All that we can recall “booking” was two seats at Earls Court to see Supertramp!
Our most recent tour, South West last October took in around six or seven mixed sites. Only one I phoned in advance was Warwick Racecourse, because I knew it would be busy. We did get caught out once that tour, CL we headed to was fully booked, but we found somewhere else.
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If you think that iwas rude TW, it nowhere near matches those that just post for point scoring. At least most of my posts try to be objective. i won't be posting further on this thread but no doubt if there is no feedback it will be raised again.
peedee
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Feedback IMHO is definitely needed to clarify the original point of the post regarding 'Nighthalts' and the club. I will continue read in the hope of a response.
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yes, I can imagine most northern cc members travelling down to Mazzarron (or southerners heading for YRP) in peak season without a booking thinking they'll get in on the off chance...
you've mentioned CLs and Nellie, who uses them, but my point wasn't about using CLs....or THS or......I've already said I do this
.....the point was about allowing members to be able to do this sort of touring on their own club sites....without the booking and planning.
it isn't easy to do and I'll guess the majority of members book (and book and book) well in advance as they just can't do anything else and get a pitch....as the club provides no quick turnaround impromptu facility...
however, as Peedee says, lets sit back and wait for that small miracle..
Club Feedback....
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however, as Peedee says, lets sit back and wait for that small miracle..
Club Feedback....
if the response is anything like the Esso Card feedback, then all of this post will have been a complete waste of time, but then as i said previously it is now difficult to see the wood from the tree's , so perhaps they will not bother
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I see polite point making, not scoring, PD.
I assume those of you who want club feedback will be following the matter up directly with the club.
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Morning
I would imagine, if the club were preparing a response to this out of control thread, with it's constant derogatory remarks that they would be in two minds to respond at all and if anything somewhat embarrassed if that's the right word, regarding the attitude of some of it's members (and non members) posting on it. Just saying
JK
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I still can't get my head around the idea that, no matter how many "quick turnaround" ( or whatever they might be called ) pitches there are at a site, what happens when they are all full and yet more people turn up expecting to use them with no booking.
For the "another just around the corner" concept to work there would need to be thousands of such sites throughout the country to guarantee that there were always empty spaces everywhere. That would be a huge investment by the Clubs, local authorities, site operators, supermarkets, whatever, to provide empty spaces just in case one was needed in that particular spot.
And to keep looking at the cheery side, even if this was to happen, the manufacturers would just sell more trailer and motor caravan to fill up the gaps!
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We all tour differently. We all make choices. Not everything about membership suits us, but we don’t constantly bang on about how much nicer it is elsewhere. I don’t need to be convinced there are some gorgeous locations, lovely sites, different prices, different methods of doing things elsewhere.
But the two touring Clubs in this country represent a very unique model. It suits a few hundred thousand people to be members, taking advantage of what is on offer, embracing the huge variety of sites, in the main getting more than their money back on membership. Those that don’t feel they do, then they look elsewhere. There are plenty of options. Get together, form a lobby group, push LAs to put in night stops, some are already doing it up here as I pointed out early in this thread.
Understanding that everything the Club does requires permission, sometimes from landowners, sometimes via the Planning Restrictions makes altering things and putting in different facilities costly. Doing it for a small if vocal section of the membership, whose main interests lie overseas, doesn’t add up to good value for money in the eyes of the vast majority of members. I won’t comment on none members pushing for changes.
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I think from reading this and similar threads we need to be considering three categories now. Trailer (or towbar) caravanners (established 1907), motor caravanners (established 1967) and a recent third category of people who want the benefits but wish to be dissociated from caravanns.
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This caravanner, and motorhomer doesn’t agree. The welcome and facilities, and price are the same regardless of which we choose to use.
Club missed a huge opportunity in adding “ Motorhome” to name. Should have gone for Touring Club of GB. Inclusive to everyone, including tents. Which have been welcome on some Club Sites a lot longer than some folks would think. 😂
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"…and a recent third category of people who want the benefits but wish to be dissociated from caravanns."
Or wish to be disassociated from the club.
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good post, agree with all.
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Also agree with takethedogalong's post on the previous page at 10.52.
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Even though I posted hoping for clarity from HO I will not be "following the matter up directly with the club." as you assumed. My personal choice/reasons.
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Why ? they are mostly standing empty ? they COULD be generating capital for the site.
Strictly max 2 nights stay at a reduced rate, not JUST for Motorhomes, Caravans too. Great when breaking up a long journey, AND means pitches onsite can be freed up from single night stayers.
Just a thought.
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Being a caravanner for nigh on 40 years I know my place, and thoroughly enjoy caravanning in the UK and abroad. It looks as if "aires" have been mentioned. Just spoken to a motorhomer who recently stayed at the leisure centre inn Stratford upon Avon, at £10 for 24hrs. and £20 for 72hrs. using their facilities. That is not "open" for us caravanners, however I presume that we are more than happy in "planning" where to go and stay, using the readily available campsites.
So if people look, there are facilities similar to "aires" in the UK!
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