Leaving the Club - finally had enough
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Club sites are perfect for us, My idea of hell would be a site with a swimming pool, club house etc. lots of people, no thanks.
We like nothing more than a nice quite pitch somewhere, a bit of warm sunshine a glass of beer or wine over a long lunch out in the open. Then a nice stroll somewhere on or local to the site with the dogs.
We all like different things. I have also never had a problem booking on line and always got the dates I wanted. Most of my trips involve a weekend as well.
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when in the uk, we like quiet sites, too, hence our penchant for the CL/CS/THS type of site.
however, i seriously couldnt include an average club site (except, perhaps, out of season/in winter) as quiet.
too many people (definitely, compared to the average site Eurortraveller describes), too many dogs, too many kids, too many vans, site roads busy with traffic (too fast) and kids who cant be bothered to find a proper place to skateboard/cycle/play football....
they serve a purpose, if we cant find anything else at the location we seek, but we wouldnt go to one for 'peace and quiet'.
OTOH, we will be visiting a site in the Dordogne, nr Sarlat, in a few weeks time. which has all the facilites that would make your life 'hell'...
bar, restaurant, showers/toilets that CC members can only dream of, canoe/kayak access directly onto the river....but in September, it will be 'quiet'.
Heaven, definitely not Hell
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despite the view that the club is an 'equal oppotunities' organisation, when it comes to the booking system opening day, it most certainly is not.
for those who work 'normal hours' and (despite changing times/practices this is still a very significant group of people/familes) sitting at a computer on the morning the bookings open just isnt possible. by the time they get go e and have access to the system, much of the 'prime stock' has gone....certainly most weekends at the popular sites.
there are many ways in which this 'bias' could be changed, but as it suits the club's core demographic to a 'T', there is no driver to change it.
although we could join in, we dont.
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and a +1 for me too on all your three paragraphs. Even on sites in high summer club sites during the day sites are quiet with most off site. Evenings are usually quiet too. Never noticed much noise in the evening either unless you park right next to the play areas.
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too many people (definitely, compared to the average site Eurortraveller describes), too many dogs, too many kids, too many vans, site roads busy with traffic (too fast) and kids who cant be bothered to find a proper place to skateboard/cycle/play football....
Hi BB,I would patent this as it could be a standard comment on many threads!!
We had a lovely time at Domaine Soleil Plage this June...........
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Strewth! £32! We have never paid that for a site, and would not! Our aim is £20 max, but we would go to £25 if nearing achool holidays.
I think the Club is realising that the Scottish schools are on holiday from late June, and now upping the prices on many sites from then.
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...that's where we are heading, prior to moving down south to 'another site i cant mention by name'
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We remain members for the caravan insurance, the Red Pennant, the Mayday, and the ferry booking.
We also like the possibility to book ahead in UK and alter or cancel if something goes wrong in life.
Note, we do not book without meaning to travel, but at age almost 75, things can go wrong!
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I remain solely for the CL's as do quite a few others. I don't use any other of the so-called Club services or take the banal magazine/advertising brochure.
It's a real shame that CL's aren't better supported by the website, and I gather anecdotally that their numbers are dwindling.
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We stay members for Mayday, Red Pennant and the CL network. The rest is waste of time and space as the main sites are well over priced as many commercial sites offer better facilities and the same or lower prices. Still not sure why the CC wasted all that money with a new logo which has served no purpose except to boost someone's ego and line someone else's pocket!
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I have some sympathy with Geordie. I have also have been a member of the Club for a considerable number of years and while in the past I have enjoyed the benefits I find myself using the facilities less and less each year either because they do not offer the facilities I now look for or because the services are too expensive. I do not like the booking system even though I have only had occasionally problems with it. Most times, if I want to use a particular site, I am able to book far enough in advance to meet the dates I require otherwise it is a case of going elsewhere. I will generally look at the alternatives anyway unless I am particularly fond of a site. I used to use Red Pennant but with a larger van it is much more expensive for nearly the same cover I can get elsewhere. I also now rarely travel in peak times and as a result I have no need of the booking services for travel abroad and Tesco’s vouchers largely pay for my Channel crossings. Membership of both Clubs along with commercial offerings does give choice but if I really had to watch the pennies I would definitely not renew my membership.
peedee
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I haven't left the Club, but the Club has certainly left me. The sort of sites the Club has chosen to set up and develop and their formal style are simply not for me. The Club sites have changed over the years far more than I have. I remain casual and informal. Club sites these days aren't.
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The "corperate image" of club sites is in some eyes good, as you know to expect a decent standard,then others think they do not want a standard "image" but the "standard" image must help when a refurbishment or hopefully? new sites come onto the network
it must be "cheaper" to follow a set pattern of plans than to have to start with a new set each time as equipment/buildings will be cheaper to install,as is the case with most large hotel chains/holiday camps,etc0 -
Cornersteady said:-
yes of course you are and that was not my point or indeed my question. Nor did I mention anything about affordability.
My point, or question is this, you have stated the site is expensive (and now not giving value), now as you have been around a few sites in your time so you know what to expect on a club site. You also would have known the price before you arrived. My question is why did you book and go a site, knowing what to expect and the price if you thought it offered not good enough value or was expensive.
I stayed at the Bridlington site because I wanted to be close to Bridlington. As a motorhomer I need reasonable access to public transport or places I can get to on foot or as a last resort a taxi. By and large the Bridlington site fulfilled my criterion. I did look at using other sites but found none that appealed so I had the bite the bullet and pay £32 a night. Now Bridlington is a perfectly nice site although no different from many other modern Club sites. For the last three nights we have been at Poolsbrook Country Park a site which very similar to Bridlington although I doubt many would suggest the surroundings are as nice. The interesting thing was that the site was equally as busy, same quality of facilities but £9 cheaper a night. I don't know how the Club decide on their pricing but that £9 gap seems a bit difficult to justify in my book.
David
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People said the same when most "Complete refurbishments"were carried out on cc sites,ie Ferry meadows "(years ago)then the new centenery site in the New Forest,and they are both now much matured since the planting has grown,Hunters Moon,was a site we did not like when first it was "upgraded"but we think it is good now,as said before one size hopefully does not "suit" all
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Never stayed on a CL am I missing something ?.
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most definitely
give one a try and see how different (to 'soulless rows' of white vans on a typical club site) and relaxing camping can be.....and generally cheaper too.
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Love The Deposit side of Booking, because even if you don't go the site wins out, £5 per night deposit is the way forward for the C & MH club now.
7 Nights =£35 Non Refundable deposit, Will deter the arm chair 08:00am, book every day, and site they can, on booking opening day, Then pick and choose when ya go deterring the work all week, 3 weeks holiday fixed guys like myself from ever getting on Chatsworth, York etc, etc.
I like other end up using more CL's as they are courteous often £10 -£12 per night, and usually refuse your deposit as they are not inundated by the "book everything" crowd.
PLEASE,PLEASE , PLEASE C & MH Club bring in the NONE REFUNDABLE £5 A NIGHT Deposit then every caravanner who really want to go to a site can get on................
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and no incentive to let the club/site know.
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Agree with peedee and others - site so slow it wouldn't pull a " dead mouse out of bed !!!
I' m outa here.
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Just to add to the general discussion on deposits and site fees, last week we were on the commercial campsite at Stratford upon Avon, Monday to Friday. The deal was 4 nights for the price of three and a further discount for being a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club. In effect we paid about £16 per night; however, when we booked we had to pay a non-refundable £25 deposit. The site was busy with more campers turning up ( some before 12) on the day we left.
Reluctant to go home, we booked a last-minute pitch for Friday night at Warwick Race Course, one of our favourite sites, which cost us £26! The pitch, the hook-up, and the sanfacs all of similar quality.
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