2016 Site Fees and Site Renovations

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  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #272

    One aspect that was raised in the "comparison stakes" was the claim that O/Seas aficianados do not take into account travelling costs to either the Channel coast or the sites. That would by implication suggest that travel to a UK site is a nil cost activity.
    If I tour Scotland, it will cost me more than travelling to a site in France or Belgium for instance. These costs are going to vary whether a member travels within the UK or abroad and is not therefore relevant to such comparisons.

    Generally people only raise points that are in favour of their preference and quietly avoid anything else.

    For us, coming south is the same as for you goung north, a major expense.  The difference is that you have more choice of direction at a lower cost.

    As we prefer to try to keep costs down, when coming south we make it a long (in time) trip and try to fit in as much as possible.

    This year we have ferries booked, out and back, but we will leave home about 8 days before and enjoy some UK sightseeing,and coming back we will take about 10 days to meander home, fitting in visits to one or two friends on the way.

    Maximum value for money.  I think many others operate in a similar manner.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited January 2016 #273

    I don't think you can compair "over there to over here " ,they are different cultures and outlooks, " here" seems to be make as much money as you can from people ,whereas "overthere" its about makeing sure people enjoy their stay and the customer comes first , no I don't go overseas ,but that's not to say I wouldn't ,it's just at this time it's not practical , and if I did go ( must get a passport) I would go to Normandy 

    Anyway if a thread drifts isn't up to the Mods to get it back on track ????

    Write your comments here...Everyone needs an income, no matter where they live but life in UK is not just about making money, it is about excellent customer service. I would be very unhappy if the only reason for going to work is to make money. Work to me is about doing my best to make customers happy.

     If only Malcolm, IMO UK still falls a long way behind  in 'giving good customer care'

    Write your comments here...Now there's a job for you, Tammygirl. You go and tell them how it should be done! As you're over here, there's no problem with communication!

    Undecided not sure Malcom if there isn't a little bit or sarcasm in your post.  But as they say "been there done that" I've had quite a few jobs in my time and working in the service industry was one of themLaughing uk is getting better but its still got room for improving.  Nice to see that you have pride in your job though.

    Write your comments here...Thank you, Tammygirl. Yes, I must admit, I do feel happy when I meet satisfied customers. The aim is to deliver pizzas on time. There have been situations where we have delivered too early! On one occasion the lady wasn't expecting delivery so quickly and so decided to have a shower. So when we rang the bell, no-one came to the door. So we had to wait a while for the door to be answered. Call it fast food but on that occasion, it seemed we were a bit too fast!

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited January 2016 #274

    We did on one occasion have one dissatisfied customer but that wasn't because of the delivery service. It was because he ordered online and thought that the order hadn't gone through. So he had ordered from another company and therefore wouldn't accept the delivery.

    Every other customer we have delivered to has been happy with our service. We don't take the pizza out of the thermal box until the customer answers the door. This keeps it piping hot right up to the moment of delivery. As soon as the customer answers the door, we open the box and the aroma of the pizza rises to their nose from the steam. Many have said on smelling it that they can't wait to sit down and eat it!

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited January 2016 #275

    You might ask what has all this got to do with site fees. The answer is that a one day 10 hour shift raises £67 at £6.70 per hour. That's enough money to pay more than three nights of site fees here in Brighton from just one day at work!

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2016 #276
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  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #277

    Yes we're back on Pizzas again....Yell

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #278

    Should this be moved to "Food and Drink"?????????

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited January 2016 #279

    Should this be moved to "Food and Drink"?????????

    Write your comments here...Shh, huskydog, don't bark so loudly, you might give them ideas!

  • Unknown
    edited January 2016 #280
    This content has been removed.
  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #281

    Getting back to site prices, I want a site in the Windsor area for QE's Birthday bash. Casting my eye around the area, here is the site night prices for two adults with electric.

    CC Henley Four Oaks £20.70p.n.

    CC Wyats Covert £24.70p.n

    C&CC Chertsey £19.50

    Commercial, Hurley Park £17p.n. (£19 for a super pitch.)

    Don't think I need to say anymore.

    peedee

    My apologies, PD - your figures are correct for May, albeit that for us, with the 2 dogs Henley wuld actually work out cheaper.

    However for June (or, heaven forbid, July and August!) the CC sites would work out considerably cheaper than Hurley for us. As I've said before, for cost conscious holiday makers, you really do need to do your homework before booking!

    Happy. Use left and right arrows to navigate.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #282

    Thank you Moulesy apologies accepted, I also have a dog so suspect any of the Club sites would be cheaper once Hurley moves into mid and high season. I have stayed at all but Chertsey before so I booked Chertsey. It is also more convenient for Kew Gardens
    and Hampton Court and only 10 miles from Windsor.

    peedee

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,663 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #283

    so , discussing the comparative differences between here and overseas is a taboo, Sad

    It looks that way. Sad

    No it doesn't, It should just not be in this specific section in this post!! Sorry if I've repeated others post but haver just got up to pg 26 so far!Tongue Out

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #284

    Yes we're back on Pizzas again....Yell

    I find too many pizzas are bad both physically and mentally!

  • vivien
    vivien Forum Participant Posts: 449
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    edited January 2016 #285

    Well I am stumped!

    i have just wasted an hour reading through the posts here, the comments range from constructive to absolutely boring!

    i agree, site fee's have increased for 2016, they are disproportionate to the cost of living increase that some may get in either wages or pensions.  I am only elligable for a 1% rise this year, same as the last 3 years! So much for a good ex police pension! Anyway, regardless, the sites are well worth every penny when you consider how much a days car parking would cost in many towns!  At least with a caravan site you would have some kind if not all facilities!

    compare site fee's with a BB or a hotel?  Average per night for a CC site is £15 for just me, but to stay at a BB or hotel??  More like £50 + and that's not knowing what the bed is like!

     

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited January 2016 #286

    Yes, I agree that Caravan Club sites are still good value for money and we will be continuing to use them throughout 2016. If others on here do the same, we will get the opportunity to meet the rest of the people who chat on here, in real life!

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #287

     compare site fee's with a BB or a hotel?  Average per night for a CC site is £15 for just me, but to stay at a BB or hotel??  More like £50 + and that's not knowing what the bed is like!

    True but you don't have to buy the BB in the first placeLaughing its like comparing apples and pears. We don't like staying in BB's or
    hotels, which is one of the reasons we resumed our caravanning hobby after a few years break 23 years ago.   We've only had a 1% rise in our works pensions too, so we are both looking forward to getting a payrise (government pension) this yearSmile it
    will help us to offset the rises from the CC this yearWink

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #288

    It is totally unrealistic to compare pitch prices with B&Bs, you are after all bringing your own bed and making your own breakfast!

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #289

    Not totally unrealistic, if B&B/hotels for the family were to cost me the same as a caravan site for all of us per night then its hotels all the way.

    I caravan to get myself away on holiday (and every time away in the van is a holiday) as often as possible. I'm not exactly poor but the money is finite, so its either lots of trips away with the caravan or fewer trips using B&Bs.

    And to add my carvan is lot nicer and more like home than many the hotels I stay in (on expenses)

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #290

    Yes, I agree that Caravan Club sites are still good value for money and we will be continuing to use them throughout 2016. If others on here do the same, we will get the opportunity to meet the rest of the people who chat on here, in real life!

    +1

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,312 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #291

    It is totally unrealistic to compare pitch prices with B&Bs, you are after all bringing your own bed and making your own breakfast!

    Certainly not a direct comparison, but as a value for money exercise it is justified. It is one of the reasons we caravan, the second being that we like the  camping style of holiday. However, even if you take into account the cost of buying and running the van, there is no way we could afford the number of days we have away, if we took holidays at more conventional venues.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #292

    Not totally unrealistic, if B&B/hotels for the family were to cost me the same as a caravan site for all of us per night then its hotels all the way.

     

    Not for me corners, i enjoy the freedom that vanning gives too much.

    peedee.

  • IamtheGaitor
    IamtheGaitor Forum Participant Posts: 529
    edited January 2016 #293

    You can often get a Premier Inn room for £19.99 which is less than many sites cost for two people.  They are pretty much the same as CC in a lot of ways - pretty consistently adequate accomodation, clean but very samey. 

    We do use hotels at this time of year as we sometimes go away for just a night and its not worth getting the van out, de-winterising it and towing it to a site.

    Having said that I would much rather spend a night in the caravan than any hotel - including posh ones like the Dorchester.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,663 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #294

    You can often get a Premier Inn room for £19.99 which is less than many sites cost for two people.  They are pretty much the same as CC in a lot of ways - pretty consistently adequate accomodation, clean but very samey. 

    We do use hotels at this time of year as we sometimes go away for just a night and its not worth getting the van out, de-winterising it and towing it to a site.

    Having said that I would much rather spend a night in the caravan than any hotel - including posh ones like the Dorchester.

    Name dropper!!Wink

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #295

    Not totally unrealistic, if B&B/hotels for the family were to cost me the same as a caravan site for all of us per night then its hotels all the way.

     

    Not for me corners, i enjoy the freedom that vanning gives too much.

    peedee.

    yes, on balance you're right.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #296

    However, if you are staying in an hotel, you are pretty much reliant on restaurants for all your meals, this bumps up the daily cost significantly.

    8 years back, after I retired, we decided to buy a new, larger, fixed bed van.  Our son, who grew up caravanning but now would not consider it, questioned our decision, stating that we should forget the caravan and just stay in hotels.

    OH decided to research his idea.  Costing everything out she discovered that after spending 12 months on holiday, say over 4 years, we would have spent the cost of the new caravan (£20k at that time) and have nothing to show for it.

    Whereas, buying the caravan, after 4 years,  we would still have an asset worth, at that time, about £13k.

    Plus we would have slept in our own bed, done our own thing, even though we did have to put in a little work to achieve it.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2016 #297
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  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited January 2016 #298

    If you want a true comparison, it may be worthwhile to compare the cost of self-catering holidays to staying in your own caravan, bearing in mind that using your own outfit is similar to a self-catering holiday rather than a hotel or B&B.

  • where the wind blows
    where the wind blows Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited January 2016 #299

    Hi everyone,

    Thank you for your comments and feedback which I have been forwarding on to the relevant departments and are valued by The Club. 

    In response to your comments and OP regarding Club site pitch fees for 2016, this rise is largely due to increased operational costs including government levied increases of the national living wage and unavoidable inflationary increases on utilities. In
    real terms, this has resulted in site fee increases from 25p up to £1.25 per person per night. 

    As a Club we really value our members and do all we can to provide you with the highest quality sites. Your site fees go towards maintaining the wonderful network of 200 sites, managed by 800 comprehensively trained staff, dedicated to providing you safe
    and happy holidays. In addition to this, we are continuously striving to deliver a programme of redevelopment works to ensure that sites are maintained to the highest standards. This winter alone, we will be upgrading 10 sites across the network at a cost
    of £4.5 million, ranging from exciting full scale redesigns to road resurfacing. To read more information regarding this, please visit the

    site redevelopments page
    of The Club website. There are many more already in the pipeline for 2016 and beyond on our continuous improvement plan.

    With regards to Scotland, there are no major works going on in Scotland currently, but we do minor works across the network all the time which enhance and improve sites. Scotland has been a major focus of The Club over the last 5 or so years with The Club
    investing millions of pounds in 3 fabulous new sites – Lochside, Stonehaven and Strathclyde. We have an ongoing development programme that is prioritised each year based on need and planning approvals, at this time other regions and sites have a greater need
    but this is constantly reviewed and there are developments in Scotland on the plan for future years.

    Please be assured we are working hard to continue to provide competitive prices and value for money by offering midweek discounts at selected sites, extended family offers, and reduced pitch fees at Southland on the Isle of Wight as well as a number of sites
    where prices have been flattened to offer great value all season long.

    We strive to provide quality sites and as such £9.7m was reinvested into the sites network in 2014; an increase of £2.4m compared with 2013 bringing the total investment in sites over the past five years to £46m (an average of £9.2m per year). 

    I hope this hekps provide further information and thank you again for your contributions. 

    Write your comments here...Not sure I see the logic there when Slinfold was a £12.50 site run by volunteers and is now £14 - £1.50 pitch raise yet no wages to pay? OR does the new government rules mean you are having to pay volunteers?

  • where the wind blows
    where the wind blows Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited January 2016 #300

    I dont see a problem with pitch fee increases just that when inflation is at an all time low how can CC substaniate rises of  over 10% in some instances?

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #301

    Not sure I see the logic there when Slinfold was a £12.50 site run by volunteers and is now £14 - £1.50 pitch raise yet no wages to pay? OR does the new government rules mean you are having to pay volunteers?

    They probably claim expenses which used to be pretty generous. Wink

    peedee