Site Pricing

Although it's an  'over there' post and some people don't like it, I did a little research yesterday, comparing prices at Hillhead, with Champs Blancs, for the same weeks.  I used a family of four, with two teenagers, car and caravan, awning, and electricity.  I used the last two weeks of August, going into early September which (just) gives a family time to get back home before the children go back to school in early September (something we always used to do).  So I used 20th August as an arrival day.

The quote for the Caravan Club site at Hillhead was £672.00.  At Champs Blancs, I used the model we used to do - booking a few days at full price, and then using a discount scheme (in this case the ACSI Card) and the quote there was £379.42 - almost £300 cheaper..  

Of course there are all the additional costs of 'getting there' - but is just intended to be a costing of site fees.  

I was interested in this, because to be perfectly honest the cost of British sites in high season was what sent us 'over there' in the first place.

If anyone wants details then I suggest we carry on this discussion in the 'Overseas' section.

Hillhead is not for us at any season - we looked around when we were staying at Ramslade, which for us is a nicer site. Getting back to site pricing, just bear in mind that "commercial" companies can and do offer fantastic deals in low season and can afford to because they charge much higher prices (than even the CC!) in the main school summer holiday period. Great if you can use them, but you have to accept that they can only offer such bargains becuse famlies that pay those high peak season prices subsidise them. Personally I prefer the CC pricing model in that respect (but would not either type of site in peak season - there are loads of CLs out there at great prices even in August.)

CC sites which are  full price and half empty mid week, doesn't show a demand  

‘tis very difficult to tell what the right level should be for overall pricing, apart from when a site is completely full. If it’s over-subscribed that strongly suggests that they could have sold at a higher price but, when it’s only part full, you cannot
be so sure that there is any remaining demand. 

There is always a demand if it is cheap enough! - just look at everyone at the New Years days sales buying stuff they do not need just because it is "cheap" 

M,...the clue is in the word 'Commercial' 

CC sites which are  full price and half empty mid week, doesn't show a demand  

‘tis very difficult to tell what the right level should be for overall pricing, apart from when a site is completely full. If it’s over-subscribed that strongly suggests that they could have sold at a higher price but, when it’s only part full, you cannot
be so sure that there is any remaining demand. 

Is it more profitable to be full at £10 per night or half full at £20 per night?

As moulesy says, there is nothing bad about commercial sites. Some, particularly the affiliated ones are very similar to CC sites. However, there are a lot of commercial sites that are very big, brash and noisy. Clearly a lot of people want that, and that is fine, they have the choice. However, if some of those on this thread are suggesting the CC go down this route, so it can directly compete, I think it would be a big mistake. People use the CC sites because they offer what they want, a high quality site without all the ancillary frills. The customers of the two types of site want different things, by trying to broaden your appeal to attract them you could well alienate those that you have.

Quite agree.There is no need whatsoever for the CC too go down that route its doing fine as it is.

peter.

M,    the clue is in the word 'Commercial' 

No, you've lost me there!

I don't think I've ever claimed that everything about commercial sites is bad and everything about the CC is good, although there appear to be some who are happy to do just the opposite!

You must admit some do!

I think that is a very valid point ET. We use quite a few different type of sites, Club, CL, Private. The none Club sites we choose to use I always call private. This term to me represents small, 20-30 pitch sites, with good quality facilities. The facilities
may vary, could be Shower/loo block, small laundry, little quality farm produce shop, and are sometimes, not always, either ex CLs or part of Premier Parks type network.

If I use the term commercial, I will be thinking of much larger sites, 50 to hundreds of pitches, may also have statics, cabins, bar, pool, site shop, more of a total venue in itself. I have no experience of these in the last 30 years, but suppose like all
other types they will vary in quality and price.

M,    the clue is in the word 'Commercial' 

No, you've lost me there!

I don't think I've ever claimed that everything about commercial sites is bad and
everything about the CC is good, although there appear to be some who are happy to do just the opposite!

You must admit some do!

You do seem very anti-CC, WG. Have you tried some of the commercial sites in my area? I believe some are very good.

TW,..No,TBH we like the quiet CLs but have used 4 CC sites in the last year, We can't honestly see any pleasure in paying over the odds to be situated on any site where all we can see is lots of other units

We have not ventured to Cornwall for many years but will no doubt in future. We like touring places we have not been to either before or for many years, so this Easter we are off to the borders in Scotland ( actually booked the CLs this morning) and probably
Mid - south Wales later. May/June will be on Commercial sites but in France/Spain. As you have probably heard many times they may be large but are quiet off peak

In additon we will take a couple of foreign package holidays - off to the Canaries in 10 days for hopefully some sun!

I wondered if you'd been this way, WG, but if seems not recently. Do you take your dog caravanning with you? It's a plus point for CC being dog friendly, along with the majority of CLs.

TW, my avatar is actually a picture of me with my sister's dog, the largest daftest pedigree Westie you have ever seen!

TW, my avatar is actually a picture of me with my sister's dog, the largest daftest pedigree Westie you have ever seen!

That's nice, WG. So your sister is really the Westie Girl and you don't take your canine friend caravanning. That saves you having to find a dog minder when you go on your package holidays.