Over here.

trellis
trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
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edited August 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Living as I do ,only a couple of minutes drive from the Eurotunnel terminal, I have noticed a steady increase in European registered M\Hs and C\vans this summer. I was wondering if you had noticed an increase on sites club or other?.

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  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited August 2017 #2

    Probably the strength of the Euro. Must seem much cheaper over here.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #3

    We've recently been to Scotland for a fortnight, not on club sites, but on 3 commercial sites.  We noticed a fair number of German and Dutch caravans/motorhomes and the odd French one,

    Agree with hg above, it's probably due to the strong euro.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,152 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #4

    So did we, Ina, but I can't honestly say it was a noticeable increase as there always seem to be a lot in Scotland.

  • Alex Cassells
    Alex Cassells Forum Participant Posts: 159
    edited August 2017 #5

    +1

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #6

    Recently at Morvich I would think it was 50/50 between continental and UK registered vans.  The volume of Dutch and German wild camping MH was staggering.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #7

    Certainly not noticed many anywhere along the English/Welsh borders these last few weeks.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,435 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #8

    yes when we had friends from Italy come touring in their MH to see us in Scotland, they thought it was the norm to just park up where they wished for the night. In fact only with us did they stay on a site in the whole of the UK

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #9

    continentals have a refreshing view of their MH....they like to use them for 'motoring' and 'homing'......seems logical.

    i remember being at South Lychett Manor and we were parked next to German family of 4 who had a huge 5 tonne, 8.5m overcab Burstner Argos (a real family touring machine) who took it out into Bournemouth and the New Forest area every day...

    i asked them if they felt it was more difficult here, but they werent particularly worried.....they had a MH, it had an engine and accommodated the whole family, so why would they not drive it to the places they wanted to visit?

    ...and alternatives to sites are readily available where they come from. 

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited August 2017 #10

    Yes noticeable increase around this part of Wales.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #11

    whilst there might be a few more vans touring here, especially with the favourable exchange rate, i dont see that there would be a huge increase on (either) Club sites as non members pay a hefty increase, but commercials might be seeing a bit of an uplift.....?

    however, seems like there might be a bit more room for us 'over there' when we dock on Monday lunchtimesmile

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2017 #12

    I see quite a number of 'continentals' on CC sites. I imagine that quite a number join CC to have easy access to a site network. 

  • trellis
    trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
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    edited August 2017 #13

    Nice reply BB , I do like someone who can always find a positive.😁😁

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,395 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #14

    I came across a German campervan on a THS last week, thought that unusual.

    peedee

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #15

    It's just the same here in Cornwall and Devon - Dutch and German visitors who are the most common. But with 18 sites down here in the ACSI Camping Card discount scheme - off peak prices 15, 17, 19 euros - that's where many of them go because that's what they are used to at home. 

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2017 #16
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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,068 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #17

    I think you are wrong there AD, we started spending significant amounts of time down in SW in mid 80's, usually staying on a small private site. We always had Dutch, German and French families and couples alongside us, lovely atmosphere, very friendly, shared a lot of ideas and stories. They came back year after year, and even now when we go down to SW there are always a lot of European visitors doing what you do, touring around to see lots of lovely places. They were without fail very complimentary about the UK, and loved seeing our country. Still see a lot of Euro visitors on sites up here in Yorkshire. I am not sure, but doesn't Club do a temp membership for visitors from overseas?

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,672 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #19

    Anyone can join, just pay the £49.

    However the Club does have reciprocal agreements with some overseas clubs so their members can use our sites.

    One that I know about is the Dutch Caravan Club, we have used a couple of their sites when over there.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,152 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #20

    I can't say I've noticed more this year, Euro, but it's the time of year when I try not to go out unless it's absolutely necessary. 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #21

    On our recent trip to Scotland we saw vans from as far apart as Norway and Spain and all points between.  Lot of Irish vans as well.  Saw a German plated van being towed by a French plated car, which I've never seen before.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,152 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #22

    There were a lot in the Northern Isles this year, even a few on Yell, from numerous countries but I can't say if there were more than usual as we've not been before.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited August 2017 #23

    When we were returning from France in late July we notice a lot more foreign registered cars/vans coming over and put it down to the good (for them) exchange rate, now at nearly 1-1 it must be even better.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #24

    ACSI membership €15.95 with site fees (incl electric, 2 people, van, dog and showers) from €11 - €19 and 2026 sites in Vol 2 alone (portugal, spain, france, italy) .....there are two volumes....

    the main difference with ACSI sites in the UK is the poor range of available dates compared to the continental market.....seems like most weeks (and weekends) count as peak over here....undecided

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2017 #25
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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #26

    Yes, definitely - for example  Woodovis Park near Tavistock on the Devon / Cornwall border is a bargain with an ACSI card in September - a top quality site with a heated indoor swimming pool and spa facilities for €19 or £18. There will certainly be continental visitors there then. 

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,672 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #27

    Not necessarily......

    I was just looking at ACSI sites in the SW today, for our upcoming trip, for many  the exclusions seem to be mainly school holidays and bank holiday long weekends, pretty similar to Holland and Germany......many sites there have plenty of excluded dates.

    Not all uk sites have lots  of excluded dates.

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