Where is everybody?

nelliethehooker
nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,657 ✭✭✭
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edited July 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We're are now at our second CC site on this tour and it would appear that both are lacking in visitors. The wardens at both sites have said that numbers are down on last year, one in particular. Could it be that members are starting to feel the pinch, or
that the site's prices are too high, and cutting down the number of nights that they are away?

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Comments

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited July 2016 #2

    When we were at Stamford the wardens there said they had been much quieter than normal too. There also seems to be more availability this year too. 

    Could be like us, people are using cls more. Undecided

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #3

    We came back from 30 nights on 6 club sites 10 days ago and all the sites were very busy.

  • DEBSC
    DEBSC Forum Participant Posts: 1,364 ✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #4

    We were at Moreton in Marsh the week after the May half term kids holiday and it was so quiet that the wardens locked two toilets and two showers cubicles. Unheard of at Moreton! Probably a lot busier now though.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #5

    some threads/posters say sites are busy, some say not. I suppose it must varies by site, site type, and location. You have to compare what non club sites are doing as well but it is more difficult to get any sort of picture for them

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #6

    Exactly so, Nellie.

    As I've said before, the CC seem to take the very naive view that the way to increase income and profits is simply to increase prices. It just doesn't work like that, as so many retailers have found to their doom.

    Unfortunately, in an organisation that fails to see the obvious (that they are overpriced for what they offer) they will obstinately refuse to lower prices. I fear that the next stage will be selling off sites.

    The long term view is that the sites will be taken over by a commercial organisation, leaving the CC to sell travel and insurance etc.

    Very sad, but there you go.....

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #7

    I'm at Cae Mawr and can see nine empty pitches just on the section of the site that I am on.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #8

    Fully booked Friday

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited July 2016 #9

    Went toTywyn yesterday. The Cl at Hendy was empty.Looking over a wall I could see the commercial site at Vaenol. It was also half empty. Is everyone queuying at Dover?

  • Dickdastardly1
    Dickdastardly1 Forum Participant Posts: 153
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    edited July 2016 #10

    What days of the week are we talking about Sunday to Wednesday? Thursday to Sat most sites would be full....

  • mjh2014
    mjh2014 Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited July 2016 #11

    We're currently at sunny Bridligton CC site. Was chock full sat, sun, mon, a couple of pitches available yesterday and today. Some pitches that look empty from here have motor home cones on them, though.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,155 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #12

    We didn't have a good summer last year and not good again this year. That, also, could have some bearing on people's choices of destination.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #13

    bout two thirds full here ,but is full again this w/end ,although it is school holidays it is the children on holiday not the parents ,we have noticed  that there are numerous children on here but with "older"adults ,is it more and more that both parents are working,in the past it was not unknown, as we did ,to take the van away then I used to go to work each day  

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #14

    When you look at the availability of a few of the popular sites, there does seem to be a greater lack of orange, booked dates, than other years. However, these only show that there is a pitch free not how many, so are hardly definitive. They also give no indication of how commercials are fairing in the same area. Possibly there is a sector wide down turn in the market. We will only know in the fullness of time, when all the figures can be analysed.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #15

    Most of the sites around Perranporth had free pitches at peak last year and again so far this year. 5 or 6 years ago you wouldn't have got a look in around that area!

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #16

    Could the price rises this year be linked to the demographics of the Club. I imgaine the majority of membership leans towards those who do not have to holiday in the peak season but prefer the cheaper shoulder season i.e. May June and September October.

    They haven't all crossed the channel either. I have just had 6 weeks touring and hardly saw any Brits on my route until I got north of Rouen on the way home.

    peedee

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #17

    Could the price rises this year be linked to the demographics of the Club. I imgaine the majority of membership leans towards those who do not have to holiday in the peak season but prefer the cheaper shoulder season i.e. May June and September October.

     

    I don't follow the logic between demographics and price rises Peedee.

     

    As an aside I avoid the main part of August principally to avoid loadsa kids Winking

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #18

    ET Well in previous years those who don't have to holiday in peak season might have decided the price for peak pitches was fair and taken a break in peak. With the latest price increase, that may not be the case now?

    peedee

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2016 #19

    ET Well in previous years those who don't have to holiday in peak season might have decided the price for peak pitches was fair and taken a break in peak. With the latest price increase, that may not be the case now?

    peedee

    Not sure what the extent of the increases are in peak peedee. I had supposed that avoiding main school summer holidays was a self preservation motive rather than necessarily a financial decision.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #20

    Our friends and the wardens were havig a coversation just this mornig about how quiet it is,and so far this month they are up from last year ,one thing they are noticing is that for w/ends they now getting an increase in people arriving  on thursdays

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,078 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #21

    Prices are the big factor for us, other than the no facility sites, and places like Exeter Racecourse, that are cheaper than CLs. We won't be going anywhere near Club Sites until the low season. The Catch 22 there of course, is that a lot will close for
    the Winter! Even with the meagre mid week discount, they don't give us the value for money we want. But in the Winter, providing you choose carefully, some bargains to be had. My OH spends some time solo with me having to commute home, and Exeter Racecourse
    worked out under £10 per night for some nights!

  • Unknown
    edited July 2016 #22
    This content has been removed.
  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #23

    Our friends and the wardens were havig a coversation just this mornig about how quiet it is,and so far this month they are up from last year ,one thing they are noticing is that for w/ends they now getting an increase in people arriving  on thursdays

    Why not just stay later on a Sunday for nothing....Wink

    Write your comments here...Undecided

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
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    edited July 2016 #24

    Just got back from Wirral C Park and we only had a choice of half a dozen pitches and that is midweek so bookings were good.

    v9

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #25

    Currently on a CL had it to ourselves as usual for a couple of days, now have another van on, owner says she is full at the weekend, busier than last year.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,078 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #26

    We found ourselves the only ones on a lovely CS in North Norfolk in middle of last August TG! Weather was great as well, couldn't believe our luck, not even owners around, as they don't live on site! Madness and mayhem on the busy roads and places elsewhere,
    but a tranquil heaven for us!Happy

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #27

    So it's not just club sites that look empty to some,has anyone ventured on to any winter cheapie sites to see if they are full at £70 a night at this time of yearWink

  • Unknown
    edited July 2016 #28
    This content has been removed.
  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited July 2016 #29

    Greenacres and Hafan y Mor for 2 adults, no dogs for 1 night on 3rd August is £73 but that is a Euro pitch

    Presthaven Sands is £64 for an electric hardstanding pitch for the same group

    That's without discounts applied obviously

    A lot of people on one of the Facebook groups I follow are complaining about the price this year

     

  • Alex Cassells
    Alex Cassells Forum Participant Posts: 159
    edited July 2016 #30

    £14 per night for a family of 4 with electric at Altnaharra. Most hook ups taken. Similarly Dunnet Bay all but full,  dearer, but very busy.

     

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #31

    £14 per night for a family of 4 with electric at Altnaharra. Most hook ups taken. Similarly Dunnet Bay all but full,  dearer, but very busy.

     

    Free Fyshing too. (In the Loch anyway, the river can cost as much as some caravans)