£11 per night to take my wife. wow
Hi,
I am so sorry my first post is negative but I am in shock, I was looking to book into Hurn lane nr Weston super mare, the price was £23 for me with a caravan per night, but if I want my wife to come with me (who is also a member) its £34 per night, would anyone care to pacify me and explain how that works please,
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Prices are per pitch plus a sum per person. The headline 'from' price on each site's webpage is for the pitch plus one person. Obviously, the more people you add, the more the price increases.
£34 per night for pitch + 2 isn’t bad these days.
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There's a pitch price, around £12, and then a price per each adult, around £11.
That's the price if you want to stay, £34 per night on a club site will be low to some and high for others but it's your choice to stay or not.
I always just divide the price by two actually.
btw - you appear to quoting the grass pitch price there? Is that what you wanted?
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Just checked the first four caravan sites that came up in the area and three were about £35 and one £50. Watch the booking conditions though.
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Can I ask how long you have been a member? I have been a member for around 40 years and the method of charging has always been the same, pitch plus the number of people in the unit. Surely if you were only being charged £23 you would think that a bit odd?
David
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To "theyoungoldcodger",
The above comment about booking conditions is a valid point.
On some commercial sites the whole amount has to be paid before arriving and there is no refund if you are unable to go.
Others charge a non-refundable deposit.
Some charge a set amount for a pitch including 2 adults with no reduction for a single traveller.
With both clubs their fees don't penalise the single traveller. Would you think it fair if you were on a site as a couple and someone staying alone. was paying the same price as you? Did you think that your wife would/should be allowed to stay free of charge?
The conditions and prices are clear when you book.
Obviously, we all choose sites and prices/terms and conditions to suit us (or at least what we are willing to accept).
With both clubs cancellation before a certain date means that your deposit is refunded. If cancellation is necessary within 3/4 weeks of arrival date all you lose is the deposit. Earlier this year we had to curtail a tour through unforeseen circumstances. With all sites booked we only lost our deposit on a Club site but on two of the commercial sites we knew that we would not be refunded any of the full amount paid a week before arriving. Another commercial site refunded our deposit even though we had to cancel the day before we were due to arrive. (Fortunately, the monies we had paid were for stays of 2 nights.)
There are thing about both clubs' pricing that we may not like but the choice is ours as to whether we use them or commercial sites or CL/CS sites.
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Hi,
I struggle to find a reason as to how long I have been a member is relevant, you may have been a member for 40 years, and in this 40 years you have become accustomed to paying in this crazy way, I dont want to argue with anyone, I am brand spanking new to caravaning at the age of 65, but struggle to see past the fact that I am paying for a pitch that holds my caravan, if I want to put up an awning thats extra and I get that, but the fact that I have to pay extra for my wife got me laughed out of the office at work today. its only you guys who have been doing this for a long time have got used to the idea, to the newbies or non caravaners its ridiculous.
And by the way David surely your quote of "Pitch plus the number of visitors in the unit" is wrong, it should be "Pitch plus the number of people in the unit if there is more than one" and thats what makes it ridiculous, as the vast number of caravans (school holiday aside) have couples in them.
Kind regards and thanks for the comments, nothing here is meant to offend.
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I can’t describe the charging system as anything other than fair, tbh.
And surely your wife is worth every penny of £11 😀
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The point is was trying to make was that the way the Club charge for pitch plus member/s hasn't changed for years. I agree that my use of the term visitor was wrong and should have been per person. Obviously if you are a new member you might not be aware of that. The presentation has changed slightly with the new booking system which is more like what you would find in booking a hotel or other sort of holiday. Some commercial sites have a standard charge for two persons included in the cost of a pitch. The Club uses a slight different method which is of particular benefit to the solo camper. At the end of the day you have to compare what the Club charge and compare that to what you would be charged elsewhere. My own experience of using commercial sites is that broadly speaking they are very similar to what the Club charge.
David
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Oh I think it's very relevant, but whether you're new to caravanning, and new to the club or not I don't understand a few things from your post?
This per person price isn't uncommon in the leisure industry. When you have booked any other accommodation or trip did you not pay extra for your wife or extra people sometimes?
Also David did actually post: pitch plus the number of people in the unit. He didn't mention visitors.
Also there is no charge for an awning.
The club clearly states it's pricing policy:
Unlike other campsites we don’t charge an all inclusive set price for a pitch + maximum number of guests. Instead, with us prices are payable per night for a pitch, plus prices per adult and / or children aged 5-17 years. This allows us to offer the fairest and lowest fees reflective of the size of your party. It's here in case you have not got it.
Now if you missed that before joining then with the greatest respect is perhaps you should have noticed that before joining?
Actually there are quite a few posts from single travellers on here that do state it is cheaper for them and like it.
But the good news is that if this crazy way of booking is not to your liking then use your membership for CLs?
One last point, as I posted the other sites in the area appear to be charging the same so what does it matter?
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I'm sure that your wife is worth every penny of £11. Whether or not the extra cost to CAMC of another adult sharing your unit and using the site facilities, etc. for one night is anywhere near that is a very different matter.
Incidentally, you say your wife is also a member. Do you mean that she has also paid the annual fee?
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David you didn't use the term visitor.
Posted on 14/07/2024 20:48
Can I ask how long you have been a member? I have been a member for around 40 years and the method of charging has always been the same, pitch plus the number of people in the unit. Surely if you were only being charged £23 you would think that a bit odd?0 -
The Club does it one way - but all over Europe with a Camping Card you pay an all inclusive flat rate for pitch, one or two people, car, caravan or motorhome, awning, EHU and a dog - and all that may be as little as 13 euros (about £11) And the new range of CampingCar parking sites have a payment package not far different - so you could say that it’s the Club with its £73 membership fee on top of add it all up nightly fees. which is looking out of step . Again.
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Doesn’t matter how old you are, how long you have been a Member, or even if you are a non Member. It’s all about reading and understanding the pricing policy and terms and conditions, which goes for anything you purchase in terms of holidays. It’s best done before you join a Membership Club, then you won’t have paid out for something that may or may not suit your needs and wants. Club Site prices are what they are, organised how they are, I’m afraid. The Membership fee does cover you and your wife though in the one price, but only the “lead” Member can do certain things via the website. On the plus side, most CLs (Certificated Locations) offer an all in pitch price for two persons, but, it can vary, so always best to check.
If you haven’t already done it, it might be very informative to read some of the web pages about how the Club operates, what kind of different sites it runs, so you don’t get any more unpleasant surprises. Best of luck🙂
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Unfortunately that's the way it works with campsites I'm afraid. Its a shame you have only just found that out.
Don't worry though you only have a year of membership then you can brake free and find lots of other campsites that are cheaper than the club.
I would look at CLs if I were you much better pricing wise and only 5 vans on the site. Some do have facilities while others don't but if you have a modern van you don't need them anyway as everything is on board.
Frowned upon on here but we chose to do our main touring overseas, where things are done a whole lot different to the Club way of doing things but don't worry it will only take another 20 or 30 years and they will catch on.
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Why does having membership tie one down to using only club sites during that membership? Surly one can break free at any time to find and use other cheaper sites? Why carry on using club sites just because one has bought a year's membership? Might even 'save' or claw back the membership fee that way?
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Of course you are so right one can just walk away at anytime.
What a waste though of his membership, when he could use the CL network like I suggested.
At least that would give him an idea if its full sites they like or more basic sites. Maybe it would make his fee more palatable.
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Lost me again there TG, his membership is valid for one year isn't it? It cannot be cancelled (I think) or walked away from as you appear to suggest, where does a waste of his membership comes from?
All the OP can do is not use club sites as I suggested while being a member? I said nothing about walking away from his membership, in fact I even said why carry on using club sites just because he has bought a year's membership?
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I too would suggest to the OP that he and his wife try a few CLs, for which of course he needs to be a member, most are reasonably priced and some are a positive bargain.
This year we have used one in Wales that has serviced hardstandings, and a toilet and shower available, all for £18, and one near York where a huge serviced hardstanding was £22, for all of us (3 adults and 2 children), but no toilet or shower available.
However, to expect to get a full facility site for £23 per night for 2 adults is pretty much unrealistic in UK in 2024. Last year we used a full facility small commercial near York where a serviced hardstanding was £28 for the 2 of us, this year it is now £34. It was, and still is, however less expensive than the comparable Beechwood Grange CAMC site.
Not to at least use his membership to try CLs, would be a shame, and could also be called “a waste of his membership”
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AcsiCamping Card gives an inclusive package price for two adults, car, caravan or motorhome, awning, EHU, awning and dog.
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And with automated entry and exit at CampingCar Parking sites there is no one there to count the number of people in the vehicle.
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I think it was common in France for campsites to have menu pricing but ACSI, as mentioned by ET, changed that a bit. I suspect sites still have menu pricing for those that turn up without the ACSI card.
David
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£11 per night for what? The use of a loo and shower, perhaps a marginal increase in the amount of electricity used or maybe just more profit for the "club"
I never have seen a legitimate reason for this.
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CAMC does not make a profit to pay shareholders. Any operating surplus is ploughed back into the sites budget for refurbishment etc.
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As been posted the final price compares well with other sites for a couple so it really doesn't matter?
Also there doesn't have to be a legitimate reason, the club asks the price and you accept or not. Staying on club sites isn't some necessity that one has to have.
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I think your wife or second adult was already factored into the price when the club quoted a standard price before introducing a "From 1" price. You just notice it now.
Personally I think it's more inclusive as charging for 2 ias the base price is unfair on the single traveller.
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