Club pitch prices
I am finding actual club pitch prices way too high and unjustified. The club use the excuse that electricity costs are high. This does not stack up when other privately owned parks offering equal quality and facilities for much less. I personally am no longer using club sites as I feel I am being overcharged. The whole idea of paying a club membership fee is to get reasonably priced pitching. As it turns out we pay an annual fee plus expensive pitch fee. The only reason I now maintain membership is to access CL's some of which are very comparable to main club sites but much cheaper.
I really think Camc should make their clubsite prices more realistic. For instance Chatsworth £55.00 per night for 2 adults no extras.
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For yourself you seem to have made the right decision. However, in the case of the site you mention, yes it is expensive but we still consider it value for money and have a visit booked. It does depend on when you go and when you book, we have paid £36.50 a night for a super pitch in November.
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Sadly you are not alone in your views, however, the club do not seem to be in anyway concerned, that so many members are reporting that they are not using sites or are giving up on the membership.
Like you and many other's we hardly ever use a club site anymore but we remain members (for now) to access the CL network and other member discounts.
There has been many posts about high costs, some agree some still think it's VFM.
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A recurring theme...
there have been many similar threads where members have reduced (or stopped) their use of full price club sites mainly due to price levels. Some, like yourself, will have maintained membership for CL access or other benefits.
we won't use club sites now, way to expensive for what's being offered. We use CLs too, hence still members.
some have also mentioned the problems they've had with the booking system and the level of deposits to be paid when booking a season's tour.
the change in the cancellation terms has also been a cause of many disgruntled posts along with the pitch price hikes for 'power costs'...
However, the change to metered power will be a useful addition to those who can operate without hook up and the trial should help iron out any discovered 'bumps' in the connection process for those who do require a supply but some will see this as another annoyance..
Moderator comment: Part of this post has been moderated.
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There are so many vacancies at Chatsworth these days.
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put the above together and it's not hard to see that site occupancy is coming under some pressure, anecdotal evidence here would support that (apart from the odd club diehard).
Depends on how you define value for money. I suppose we could go to one of the CL’s around Chatsworth and also take the Yaris and drive in and pay for parking every day. Or we could just go to Chatsworth and wander through the gate straight into the estate. There’s no right or wrong YT.
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I do hope the club are taking note of the general feelings expressed here and I gather on other posts. There are advantages to membership but sadly the one area it is not reflected is the site prices. I do not know if they are interested or have just become too big and corporate to care.
One of the reasons they do give is raised electricity prices. So will their fees drop as electricity prices fall? I doubt it.
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Steve, you're certainly right with regard to a 'destination site' like Chatsworth...or say Longleat, where the site and the 'attraction' are on the doorstep together...this will certainly skew the VFM equation. We stayed at Longleat a while back to coincide with a rock concert there.
however, one could easily drive a MH to the Chatsworth (or Blenheim or other stately home) car park and enjoy the visit from a far 'better value' site/CL.
other 'stand alone' Club sites won't have this extra 'cachet' and might reside in a general area where they are up against other competition.
if sites were to offer more than just a pitch and toilet block they might seem more attractive but as this is the 'usual' template they have to stand up against commercials that offer far more at similar or better prices.
I was interested to read that DK stayed at Swiss Farm in Henley rather than the Clubs Four Oaks site next door...he reported that he enjoyed the extra facilities of bar/restaurant, swimming pool etc....it also has large hedge divided pitches and was similarly priced.
as you say, it depends on how you measure VFM...a specific 'destination" location might cut it for Chatsworth or Longleat but not, for us, with run of the mill club sites.
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MH owners and Campervan owners………Wheatsheaf Pub in Baslow. Park up and stay for free, eat or drink in pub, walk into estate over the road. Sorry caravanners, it’s not an option for you.
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if sites were to offer more than just a pitch and toilet block they might seem more attractive but as this is the 'usual' template they have to stand up against commercials that offer far more at similar or better prices.
The club used to have a big advantage over other organisations it had a huge membership of loyal members who could book holidays without paying deposits, they could swap and change as they please, they could cancel if the need arose without loss of deposits, it was the reason I and I suspect many others didn't mind paying higher prices, then suddenly the club threw it all away with the new booking rules, they've lost their advantage and its showing in so many vacant pitches.
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While I have used nowhere near as many Club sites in any one year, my patern of usage has been very much the same as yours and are turning into the last resort as well. I have just come from using a commercial site every bit as good as a Club site if not better in some respects. It was much cheaper than either of the nearest C&MC or C&CC sites. I still have not used a C&MC site this year and my next 3 bookings are two CLs and a C&CC site (grass no electric) A close C&MC alternative to one of the CLs was £41 per night!
peedee
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if sites were to offer more than just a pitch and toilet block they might seem more attractive but as this is the 'usual' template they have to stand up against commercials that offer far more at similar or better prices.
Again that depends on the person and how you define value for money. We generally prefer to avoid the sites with all the extra facilities, where ever we are holidaying and I know we are not alone in this.
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I’ve just checked availability at six popular Club Sites, four seaside locations and two popular walking destinations, using the most popular pitch choice (HS with awning). Looked at July/Aug/Sept. Only two dates, interestingly mid week, that show as being “low Availability” over the whole six sites and three months. That’s after all the recent offers that have been put to Members as well.
Doubt it’s any one particular thing that’s hitting the bookings, but it must be worrying. The Club has running costs for each Site that have to be met regardless of the numbers using the Site, so it’s either up the cost for those willing to pay, or seriously discount to lure back those it has lost. Anything you sell dependent upon time (a pitch for a given night) is gone after that date.
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£36.50 does seem rather steep for a low season November booking.
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I've said it before but I think the club won't take that much if any notice of what is posted here. Why should it?
It's far too small a sample to be representative and the 'evidence' is mostly from people who claim prices are too high and won't, in fact don't, use club sites.
What the club will look at is membership figures and rejoining rates (both the highest ever the club says) and actual site occupancy. Again only from my perspective, and others posting, on the sites I've actually used this year it's no worse than any other year and on some sites better. Full sites most of the time. A snapshot certainly for me and others but at least from actual club site users.
But if the club has got it wrong then we'll know at the end of the year and prices will fall. I don't think they will?
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I have also said it before.... I will be very surprised if site occupancy figures are not down for the year. I came past a Club site on Monday, it certainly did not look anywhere near full. Judging by the number of CL reviews appearing it looks like many members are turning to these rather than Club sites?
peedee
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I would be surprised if the occupancy figures are not down at all sites, both club and commercial. Apart from the current financial pressures, unlike the last few years folk are free to take different sorts of holidays in many different places.
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Well you often say you see more MHs on the road than caravans so maybe that's why it appeared less full ? Also of course a snapshot just like my examples although mine were taken over a week or so being on site.
But if course no one ever said club sites were full all the time. Additionally it what the occupancy levels are like from last year and the surrounding sites (club and non club) as well as Steve alluded to.
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There’s a thread HERE, John.
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The commercial site I was on for 5 nights was full on the Saturday night although some pitches were seasonal and had no one in residence. On other nights there was a very good turn over of motorhomes staying one or two nights and perhaps no more than 4 pitches unoccupied.
peedee
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As CS mentioned, snap shots of individual sites don’t really mean a lot. Some of the CAMC sites we stopped on were well occupied, others less so. Sites being full on a Saturday is not unusual. In general I think the club sites we used on our tour were less busy than the last few years. However, as I put above I don’t find that particularly surprising.
I suppose we will find out at the end of the year. Although ultimately it will come down to profitability. Perhaps some of the sites that have not raise prices as much, might find they should have.0 -
With ref to occupancy of sites. I can only comment on the three Club sites and one Club affiliated I used in June. Skegness Sands was about 75% full? That was during the week so perhaps weekends are different. Our next site was Cayton Village. The main site was pretty full but there was plenty of space in the upper site. Lower Wensleydale again was probably 70% occupied during our stay. Our final site was Clumber Park and at the weekend it was almost full. One of the site staff told me that on the Saturday 165 of the 169 pitches were occupied. Some sites will always be busy as weekends but less so during the week. Some sites will be full during the school holidays, less so at other times. Some site will be busy all the time.
David
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Lots of varying opinions. I think one of the elements about the pricing is that it comes across as greed. But hey ho as with most big organisations they have to keep the shareholders happy. Well the ain't doing it out of my pocket.
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There are no shareholders, Sthame. CAMC is not a plc quoted on the stock exchange. It is a private limited company only for reasons of financial protection which means members are only liable to fund any shortfall to the sum of £1 each in the event of an insolvency issue. Any operating surplus is ploughed back in towards refurbishments or purchase of new sites. There is nobody collecting big payouts/bonuses/dividends from CAMC.
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Membership figures and rejoining rates won't be much good if site occupancy is down...
a bit of a mixed bag on CT, with some reporting full(ish) sites while others are suggesting something much lower.
TTDA has looked across a range of 'popular' sites and reported things might be nearer the latter on her sample.
...and, for what it's worth, I also reckon £36.50 at Chatsworth is a pretty hefty price for a club site in November....I'd be as unlikely to pay that as to cough up £55 in August, let alone over £61 for a 'Super Pitch'...💷💷💷
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O Dear O dear !! Mine is a long story, but will keep it short, club member for many years, sold our caravan just after end of Covid, last used at Broadway site. 2021. Thought we would retire now in late 70's but missed touring.
Second thoughts so buying another soon and just renewed membership, Having not checked any sites for booking and costs as there was no need have been looking at various sites to book, and had the shock of my life seeing the increase in site fees, what has caused the hype. There ar many members commenting on this topic and I would agree with the majority that the rise is too much. Looking for a decent used van now but have got to drop in price a lot if we are to continue using Club sites
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Oh dear what a shock for you. Is it too late to cancel and get a refund. I am going to join camping and caravan club. Not only cheaper in every way over 60's get 25% discount low and mid season.
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