Is CAMC still the club for me ?
I should preface this by saying I can be a miserable old sod but Ive just had the least enjoyable van trip of my 25+ years membership. Starting off with calling the club site to tell them I was going to travel down a day later than booked because of predicted storm force winds on the original day. I was surprised to be greeted with derision by the warden who said I was in a minority, I don't care I put safety first. I should say the site was extremely busy when we arrived so not the only ones who delayed arrival it seems. Having a limited choice of pitch I cleverly picked one that required my ramps to level the van, big mistake. When the torrential rain arrived it came down the slope like a tsunami running like the amazon through my awning for a day. We then were treated to our many neighbours various ways of winding me up, from the family that held a very drunken karaoke session one night to the man who kept his dogs in cages fitted to the back of his car where they barked for hours on end at every movement. Am I anti dog ? No, I commend my own mutt for his restraint in not answering back. Did I mention the daily game of "IT" which involved 10 kids looking for the one who was "IT" , they were certainly thorough as they searched my awning and banged on the toilet cubicle door in the site facilities and wouldn't go away until I spoke. Can I confirm that the wardens worked their socks off all week and were entirely pleasant and helpful throughout but what a workload. I titled this "is the club still for me", I guess it is albeit I will be more careful what sites and when I book as our trip to a "private" site last year was the same price and they had VERY strict noise and behaviour rules which they enforced. They also allowed me to book out early evening so I could have the whole weekend. I guess I feel the nature of the club is changing , or am I just getting old.Strangely I cant wait to get out in the van again.
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I think you’ve answered your own question.
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I think your choice of avatar speaks volumes & your ability to use modern communication is astounding. I commend your longevity too👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Enjoy your day. . .I SAID ENJOY YOUR DAY😂😂
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Much more pleasant, peaceful and quiet in my garden during the school holidays. I wouldn't dream of going away when the schools are closed. I can go any other time.
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We learned long ago that going away to a Club Site during school holidays is an entirely different experience to using one when children are at school. If you don’t have to, quite frankly don’t do it unless you can cope with the difference. We use alternatives, or Club Sites we know won’t be overly busy.😄
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Yes, completely agree. Having been tied to school holidays for most of our working lives, nothing would persuade me to use a club site now during the July /August holiday in particular. Nothing to do with price - it's simply that they're likely to be just too busy. Leave that period to families to "enjoy" themselves. Plenty of more peaceful alternatives out there!
(Spoken as a fellow "miserable old sod" - well, not that old really! )
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After 25+ years of supervising other folks children during school holidays, (some extremely badly behaved and socialised,) we now avoid like the plague! When I was working, I always made sure that at least two weeks away was over school holidays, as I was burnt out after first two weeks dealing with the issues. Swings and roundabouts...... 😁
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I don’t have an issue with the children, it’s the parenting that bothers me. It’s quite noticeable on trains when travelling with families just how well behaved and supervised children from overseas are compared with the indigenous population. Quiet coach from Doncaster 6am, just me in it catching up on sleep. Two stops later, on gets Grandpa and his charge for the day, next thing you know they are actually playing football in the coach. Until I woke up, explained to him what a “Quiet Coach” was. He didn’t grasp the fundamentals but did get the old English that I finally resorted to using, and the “behave or you are off” from the Train Manager.
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Yes, we've had good holidays surrounded by families and children, even did an August bank Holiday once and survived but it is busy and crowded and not for the faint hearted or anyone wanting peace and quiet!
I'm afraid you can't guarantee a good holiday anywhere or at anytime, enjoy the successful ones and develop a sense of humour about the ones that go wrong, but don't give up!
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Im enjoying the responses so far, and most people are of the opinion as I am now that its best to avoid some of the CC sites during the summer holidays if you can. Funnily enough I am an old git but I had me teenage "children" with me so I am still tied to the scheduled breaks. Their often response was - "you would never have allowed me to do that". It would be wrong to say we didn't enjoy our time away from the site we did. Just my reasons for choosing CC sites are not as clear cut now. I agree that "Club" suggests its something other than a business which it isn't any more.
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What’s an FD, DD? Code for something?🤔
Edit: Oops, DD’s FD has done a runner......now I will never know😁
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You're better off not knowing. Suffice to say it’s not meant as a compliment.☹️
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I’ve never really thought I belonged to a club per see. I pay for the (privilege)
Most clubs that need to employ staff for major admin require a subscription. I ran a social group (mainly singles) for nearly 20 years. I would spend at least full day every month researching events, days out, walks, weekends away etc producing event diaries, making bookings. Also time spent organising and booking ferries and flights, spain locations, Greek Islands, Malta, French, Holland, Brussels, Prague, Germany Isle of Man etc, usually two holidays a year and several weekend jaunts. Of course I did it free of charge but many similar groups didn't.
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Ah, Latin. Got it now. I came up with Federal Debt.😂
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The golf club I belonged to, yes was expensive, but, with a few exceptions I could play whenever I wanted to. The social side was fantastic and the biggest complaint was, not money but.....slow play stopping folks from getting to the 19th. Now that’s a club. 🏌️♂️🍺🍻
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Is CAMC still the club for me ?
I have been thinking about this long and hard recently. The mandatory diagram showing how to pitch your caravan with reference to the peg is just the start of the frustration. The yield management at peak times. The overcrowding. The sheer cost. All negatives. By and large the facilities that I use (water and elsan disposal and EHU) are all first class. Wardens are a mixed bag but generally excellent. The ability to book and cancel is brilliant. But still the inner me wants something more. Peace and quiet. Some contemplation maybe. I tried some CLs. A recent stay found me on a 1/2 acre site with 4 other very large units across the road from the same owners holiday barn full of young men drinking Stella for breakfast and yelling all day. I have just returned from another CL. 3 acres, £6 per night, no EHU. Fantastic views. Peace and quiet. This was the bank holiday weekend.
If you look hard enough you can find what you want in the pages of the CAMC handbook. Without being a member I couldn't stop on CLs.
So, yes CAMC is still the club for me.
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here I am agreeing with TTDA and Moulesy
....yes, don't do it, unless absolutely unavoidable...we are on a little slice of heaven (adults only) CS (t'other club, but you get the gist) on the Selsey, south of Chichester and it's so quiet....definitely back here again for so many reasons.....
we deserve our rest, too......don't we?....
after all, we did cycle 20 mins to the pub for an amazing lobster lunch...
well, someone's got to do it
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wow, that was quick.....almost as fast as us cycling to the pub for lunch....you and M have a great time....
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Yes the OPs mistake was going to a CMC site during the school holidays. There are many Commercial sites that are 'Adults Only' and only too willing to take 'Old Gits' looking for a bit of peace and quiet during school holidays. They seem to be surviving by targeting their clientele.Us, we stay home during those periods.
Dont know what age qualifies as 'Adult' could be as low as 16 ? but no lower.So the OPs teenagers might qualify ?
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I think I've built up children anti bodies. Children just exist and they just don't bother me. On holiday they are not my responsibility.
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