Booking problems & Bad site closure planning
We joined the caravan club 2 years ago to help us enjoy our retirement with our caravan. My sister & her partner also became members to join us. One problem we discovered was it was very difficult to get pitches close together, & were on tenterhooks whenever we set off to reach booked sites. This became so difficult at times that we tended to avoid Club sites, & booked onto private caravan sites where the reception was much more welcoming, & guaranteed adjacent pitches for to us, always at lower rates than Cub sites ! We've noted that the Club is claiming that there's been no price increase at 20% of club sites, does this mean 80% are dearer thus season ?
Recently we've been trying to book onto club sites in the Yorkshire Dales, but even this early in the season it's proving almost impossible. The Hawes site is undergoing improvements until the end of June. Wharfedale is closed till the end of July, & Knaresborough is closed till August !!!
It's impossible to book a full week at the other sites, Bolton Abbey & Lower Wensleydale, because every weekend up to the end of June has at least one of the weekend nights, if not all of them, fully occupied !
Surely so many closures in one area is irresponsible, & very bad planning !
I might add that when we reviewed out 2016 caravanning, most of the sites we stayed at were non Club sites, & at this rate our 2017 holidays will follow the same theme, especially as all the private site fees were substantially lower. I'm afraid this is often the topic of conversation with other campers.
I'm wondering if other members are having the same problems ?
I've just received a letter from the club inviting renewal of membership, at JUST £49 ! Not sure it's worth it ???
Comments
-
Hmm, I don't think the club is ideal for you, Ravenscar.
1 -
If you don't consider club sites of value then don't rejoin is my advice for what it is worth. It is free advice and so I will let you be the judge of it's value.
I think that the upgrades in Yorkshire are badly timed as well. Certainly if you wish to be certain of adjoining pitches then the CC may not be providing what you want at a busy weekend when pitching. When I and friends or family have been away in the past we were happy not to site side by side but we are all different.
0 -
The CC sites are only a small proportion of camp sites in the UK!
I believe the normal procedure in this organisation is to queue up on the internet, on the day and time (Dec/Jan?) that booking opens for the year....then book up for the next 12 months.
0 -
The club doesn't allow booking of specific pitches or indeed reserving them ,it's first come first served, which is fair to all. Why should someone who arrives before you be deprived of a pitch, or two in your case just because you wanted it? As said above if you don't like the way in which the club runs its sites or the particular rules there are plenty of sites that would suit you better.
I know its is important to you that you have adjacent pitches, others have posted the same and I respect that, but I've never really understood it. Is being apart a few pitches such a difficulty?
Yes booking for some sites is an issue, but it's the same for all of us, club sites are too popular so book early
1 -
You say recently you were trying to book. In that statement lies your problem. Even with all the sites open weekends will tend to be booked up by a month before. As you say Lower Wensleydale has weekends booked in June, but only one booked in July. However in a few more weeks they will be gone in July as well. CAMC sites are popular, particularly at weekends. I am afraid a bit of advanced planning is required. We are retired so book the sites in December. However, even when working we tried to sort them out at least 3 months before.
1 -
We just keep checking late availability on phone wanted to go to Bolton abbey site first weekend in June showing full but just kept checking you would be surprised how many cancel got a pitch after a couple of days agree with you on the closure of the Yorkshire sites we live near Leeds so for a weekend try to stay local so only left with beechwood and Bolton abbey bad planning I think
0 -
I think everyone knows how the club operates and, like it or loathe it, it suits thousands upon thousands of members who organise themselves and book when and where they want to be. If sites are full there are plenty of alternatives. If being able to book adjacent pitches is really that important then, unfortunately, you have to look elsewhere as we do if we're meeting friends.
So maybe best to save that £49 and use it to book somewhere more to your liking!
3 -
Gone are the days that you could tour at will in the UK at this time of year,as our way of life/hobby is so popular now, and its not like mainland europe that has the space to accomodate far more sites, so a lot more planning is required in the UK, the cc late availability is a good guide and we also find , if wanting more than a w/end a call to the site can be very productive but does it really matter if you not next door to each other? ,if it is that imperitive then i think you can save yourself the membership fee
1 -
I have to agree that I don't see why anyone would be 'on tenterhooks' wondering whether they can get a pitch adjacent to their relatives. Surely being in the same field is sufficient?
That said, the ability to book specific pitches would resolve your problem. This is something that I have supported for some time now. Unfortunately, at the moment it isn't available, but I'm quite sure it will come soon (assuming that the CAMC are running sites).
The CAMC are desparately trying to catch up with commercial sites and booking pitches is quite common practice there. But unfortunately the CAMC IT department are not up to the job at the moment. But It will happen.
1 -
I think that non club sites would love to have their sites as full (as in full in some cases) as club sites.
2 -
We need to remember that Ian is the one who insists that parking nose in on CC pitches is not allowed.
You seem to have a different experience of CC sites than many Ian. I certainly did not see a shortage of takers for pitches in the North East nor at Barnard Castle or Southport during the previous 5 weeks.
3 -
The last non club site I was on, at a non holiday period, was full from the Sunday we arrived to the Friday we left. The site had exellent toi!et and showers, peaceful, friends could pitch next to each other and you could reserve your pitch.
Nobody had a bad word to say about the owners.
Oh, the price? All in for 2 adukts with 16amp EHU etc, £12 per night.
Some people just can't believe life outside of CC sites exist. I'm not knocking CC sites but they don't really deliver for me.
Ravenscar, try CLs. Some of them will fit your remit and allow friends to pitch next to each other.
3 -
Some people just can't believe life outside of CC sites exist. I'm not knocking CC sites but they don't really deliver for me.
Yet you pay your membership fee and come on the CC forum....??
2 -
Yes, I do and have done for 27 years! Will continue to do so because sites are not the only thing this club does.
Did you not read my recommendation to the Op about CLs? We use them a lot. Have used the insurance.
Any reason why I shouldn't have an opinion and voice it on this forum?
1 -
So is the "non club site" a CL or do you mean a "commercial" site...??
Just intrigued where there is a site with facilities that would remotely match a club site for £12.....?
People come on here suggesting there is a wonderful world of sites comparitive to club sites at lower prices but it rarely stands up to close inspection.....
I don't like paying CC prices, but I havent found anything as good cheaper, and I have been looking for longer than 27 years.....
2 -
Not too bothered if you can't believe these sites exist.
I don't basically.......
1 -
I think we quite believe that there are a few sites that have got a good reputation among their regular clientel,and the need to not "advertise" it to others
but as thousands of others, we find that the facilities that the major two clubs offer,without needing to have to return to the same area
0
