So what did the Club ever do for Motorcaravanners?
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see above
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Not that unusual BB particularly at weekends. We certain did on our local site when both working. OH didn't finish until 10pm, myself at 5pm, so I set the van up, she joined me later. I would have happily paid the £2 for an extra car on pitch, however most sites don't want you to do this, despite there being room if no awning is erected.
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We have done the two car thing as well. Some of us have to commute between caring duties. It’s not that uncommon.
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interesting. But within the last few days you posted that you were sure there are many users of club sites that only used them because they were too timid to go elsewhere because they could not be assured of getting the same quality as club sites? If club sites, in your opinion, are so ordinary why are people so timid to not try other sites?
Also if they are so ordinary why are they so full? Apart from the above of course which I think is just a big insult to club users. It could be that they are good better and better than most?
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Same here - when we were working I'd tow up on a Thursday evening to get set up for the weekend. And, of course, because I'd be leaving very early the following morning I'd park in the car park to avoid any annoyance to neighbouring vans. I don'the think mine was ever the only car in the car park.
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"i (along with about 30 other MHs) am looking out in the setting sun onto millions of pounds worth of yachts, in one of Europe's most exclusive marinas"
Well, maybe while you're there you could get together and compose that email to Lidl/Aldi asking them about the use of their UK car parks!
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Got back to reading through odd pages here. This drew my attention. Not sure what to make of it. Is this post based on knowledge or is it just a speculation. May be interesting if someone from HO could comment/clarify on any part of BoleroBoy's post. Or better still if BoleroBoy could comment/confirm which points (if any).are to come to fruition if indeed he has such information.
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BoleroBoy tells us ... we are having a one nighter in Gibraltar (after a three nighter at Cadiz) and don't require any facilities at all (we have power, water and grey/black emptied this morning) so just a parking place.
i (along with about 30 other MHs) am looking out in the setting sun onto millions of pounds worth of yachts, in one of Europe's most exclusive marinas...to park tonight €12...
now I'd happily pay that to park, no leccy, transit pitch etc, on a club site in a place I wish to be....
That sounds very exotic: Gib, Cadiz, sunset, yachts, exclusive marina, all for €12. Back in Scotland we have sunsets, yachts, exclusive marinas too. Not so exotic perhaps, but you can legally park in a convenient spot nearby for free if you need to economise.
Personally, I am happy to pay to stay on a C&MC site. Having lashed out on the 'van, what matter a few extra pounds for a nice pitch, a chat with fellow members and perhaps a mountain sunset, or even a howling gale. Everyone to their own, eh?
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Is a marina not just the marine equivalent of a car-park?
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David, Just caught up with your web site. It's really good and very helpful to those who have not ventured so far, like me. Well done. Having travelled a great deal in my working life I rather favour short trips around Scotland. Cities in winter, west coast and highland in spring, east coast and Grampian summer & autumn. We occasionally venture to foreign places to the south - Berwick!. As you say each to their own. Have fun.
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not me second hand caravan £10k, second hand car £18k, never bought either new in my life and never will, great believer in letting someone else do the snagging. Not adverse to a MH in fact have viewed a few, but the ones i fancy are £30-40k second hand and then i still have to run at least 1 additional car, my pension will not run to that, and certainly not to towing with a Range Rover, have had Discoveries when living in Scotland, now tried and tested Kia Sorento for me.
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I wrote to the Club quite a few years ago about the topic of "low amenity motorhome pitches" which would increase capacity and thus revenue and also the Club promoting and supporting third parties to create aires in places where that was not at odds with the Clubs network
I received a detailed and sympathetic reply from the then recently appointed Nick Lomas which demonstrated an understanding of the points I had made. However the bottom line was that he felt that there was no appetite within the Club Executive for what I proposed.
Despite the passing of time and the increase in Motorhome Members I see no evidence of change. I suspect the prevailing view is "if it aint broke don't fix it". But there is another relevant adage which is that if you stand still (in business) you go backwards.
There are major forces at work in the marketplace and change will come but not soon I fear. When they do will the Club be agile enough to remain at the top of the pile ?
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now M, you know I like all types of sites...the actual reply you quoted was to address the misguided perception that cub sites are near the top of the camping quality tree...
I'm afraid that anyone who has been on a decent quality site will know they're pretty much basic but clean and consistent in what they offer.
The club sites are, for me, at or near the top of the 'camping tree' it's simply that I choose a different branch of that tree than you appear to laud! I really do not want a site with all the extras for the simple reason that I shall not be staying on site to use them.
I suppose that it is similar to my preference in other accommodation. We used to meet as a group of about 15 friends about twice a year, if we were available, and would stay a few nights in a hotel. One year I really did not fancy the choice of hotel it had full gym facilities, swimming pool and sauna with towels provided etc. Totally wasted on us as after a sociable leisurely breakfast we would be off out around 9am to walk, talk, see the sites. Return about 4.30pm, rest, shower and change for dinner. Meet in the bar for a drink and a natter about 6pm onwards. Meal about 7pm accompanied by and followed by more nattering.
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I think (guess really) that this example must be the logic.
"I want to stay at Fortrose. The Caravan Club site is in Culloden. Therefore - it is not in the right place. It is wrong."
The fact that there is a lovely Camping and Caravan Club site 1/2 mile away in Rosmarkie, and two commercial sites within the same distance is not considered. The Caravan Club is just wrong.
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Yep, bit like saying Dunnet Bay is wrong if you wish to visit Penzance.
However the author suggested many and most sites were wrong for motorhomers which suggests that they are fine only for caravaners. What is it about motorhomers that makes them wrong?
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What about a system similar to that in Denmark i.e.
Basic facilities of a motorhome spot.
You can arrive at a motorhome site at any time of the day or night. The basic facility offered by a motorhome site is an even, stable pitch on which to park the motorhome. You then have the option of paying for electricity, access to a toilet and shower, filling your water tank with clean water and emptying your waste tank.The cost of staying at one of the many motorhome sites varies from site to site. Some motorhome sites, for example, charge an hourly rate of DKK 8 (90p) for the basic pitch, while others charge DKK 100 (£12) for the period from 8 pm to 10 am for the basic pitch.
Similar to a lot of 'Late Arrivals' areas or site car parks.
The essence being late arrival and early departure!
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The essence being late arrival and early departure!
I have used the Danish system and found it makes for far too long a day. Not too keen on the idea myself but it would still be an improvement on what is offered today for short stays.
peedee
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I don't see a big problem using the LNA area on sites that have one, provided it is vacated before 8pm.
The space is, after all, there for LATE ARRIVALS.
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The Danish system sounds fine if councils, supermarkets etc choose to do it but, again, it’s not an inclusive concept for a caravan and motorhome club.
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The Danish model suggested will still have to circumvent the main sticking point. Namely, who will pay for it to be built. Maybe just ask for donations from the Motorhome members? If Caravanners are asked to contribute then there will be serious objections. Unless, of course, all Motorhomes are asked to only use these new fangled rest stops and not use CAMC sites at all, thus freeing up all those pitches that people can't seem to get on. Can't see that happening either. Nope. Not a starter I'm afraid, but good try.
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That is not a point I have expressed although at a few sites it should be possible to use the LNA, e.g. Moreton in Marsh. I believe at one time the Club did in fact permit the use of the LNA, whether that is still the case I do not know, I have never tried to use it but understand you pay the same rate as if using a pitch so hardly worth it. I have stayed on a commercial site car park in the past (site was full) with the permission of the site manager and all I was asked to do was put some money in the site's charity box so it can be done on some sites!
peedee
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No, indeed, but BB has argued for that. So there's the dilemma for the club really. You and BB both want basic quick turn around pitches but of different kinds, DD wants similar but has asked for less basic facilities.
What the club does pretty well, IMHO, is to provide facilities equally suitable for the vast majority of members, be they vanners or MHers. What it cannot be expected to do is to cater (at knock down prices) for all the different requirements of individuals and, dare I suggest it, small minorities.
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