Caravan & Motorhome Club site prices
I think the sites prices are getting too expensive. We have always used caravan club sites but lately we have started to choose cheaper independent sites what are a lot cheaper
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In what way, Stephen? All sites, all seasons, pitch types, per capita……
Care to quote some examples?
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Club site prices are about the median in any area. You will find more expensive and less expensive options wherever you look. Many commercial sites appear cheaper until you add on extras, for example, for an awning or dogs. CLs are a very good alternative if you find club sites too expensive.
At the end of the day, as with anything, if you think it's too expensive or not good value, look for a better alternative - there are plenty out there!
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a very common complaint on CT, Stephen....one of the hottest topics on this forum.
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A common complaint maybe, but very rarely backed up with any actual evidence, BB. Several times when this "common complaint" has been made I've asked for examples - it's very rare to get one given. As I said above, one can find both more and less expensive alternatives to club sites - the answer is in one's own hands - vote with your wheels as per your advice on another thread recently - if the price ain't right there are plenty of alternatives out there.
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Hi Stephen, if I had a Motorhome I would join Britstops, stay free at pubs, and spend the money on beer.
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A frequently discussed subject on CT by a small % of the membership. Hopefully the club provides something that you still use – maybe CL’s. Enjoy your time away.
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M, where I have noticed other sites to be cheaper is when the Club charges shoulder season rates. Most commercial sites seem to operate on only two seasons and off peak there are discounts to be had. Just been looking at September rates of some commercial sites around Woolecombe. For a seven night stay the cost of hard standing pitch with 16A electrics was coming out at £13/14 per night.
I was also comparing Polmanter near St Ives with Godrevy and costs were similar but Polmanter is definitely in a tier above Godrevy
peedee
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You may well be right there, PD. On the other hand, for us with a van, porch awning (if we use it) and dogs (sadly just 1 at the moment) club sites often work out cheaper even then. However, we're not wedded to club sites - off to a small (10 pitch) site in the Forest of Dean in a couple of weeks for £14 a night!
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ah, the price one pays for the trappings of a 'full fat' vanner
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Whilst the periodic grumble about prices appear, this year seems to have seen an intensification of the complaint level. Dissatisfaction with CAMC site prices seem to be on the increase.
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When we look for sites we try to tick 3 boxes...
1. Price 2 . Location 3. Quality.
There are many times of year when Caravan Club sites fail to tick the first box in certain locations so we look for others in that same location or indeed choose another destination, but all 3 boxes for us, need to be ticked. In the school holidays the price, for us is prohibitive and the peak period just seems to be extending so we find we use CC sites rather less than perhaps we might if the prices were a good deal lower.
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I sometimes wonder how many members actually complain directly to the club about prices or is it just a frequent forum topic.
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Hi oneput, bit of thread but if you were to travel after 1st Sptember 94 out of 97 ACSI sites are available.
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I suppose there will always be complaints about prices getting higher, regardless of whether it is Club sites or going to the Pictures. I don't think I can get a ticket at the Odeon for two bob any longer! Nobody offers any realistic solutions on how the prices can be reduced, if in fact there are any solutions that would allow that. If people can't afford the prices the Club charge the sensible option would be to look elsewhere. There is even the option to do that within the Club by using CL's. I don't know what the Club could do to reduce prices especially as the operating surplus on Club sites is not that large and a major prolonged weather incident could probably put that surplus in jeopardy. They could play around with the seasons but that risks occupancy rates either side of the summer. In 2018 the projected investment in new sites was £24 million, you could not spend the money and use that to reduce site prices but where would you end up in a couple of years time?
David
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Don’t mean to be rude A&J but if your time limited you have to travel when you can travel. My point was that high season prices on mainland Europe can be as expensive as club sites.
We stayed at Prumtal last year for €19/night and very good it was too
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...but high season prices in Europe are high for a very short time....over here any excuse is used to add a premium to a site's rate....throughout the year...
but back to club prices....DK asks what could be done...?
the thing is the club has a specific model....clean but no frills, relying on location (possibly) and 'consistency' (in the mid range) as its selling point.
staffing levels are low, wardens do an array of jobs around the site and customers fit in with the std timetable...
commercials are also clean, have fuller ranges of facilities, bar and restaurant (a pool) possibly contributing to the bottom line, enabling staff levels to be higer, offering more flexibility and perhaps offering better customer service yet being 'club competitive' on price.
the club can't keep charging more for their never changing offering where the competition is grasping the nettle and giving customers a more rounded offering for the same money...
the club can't really cut costs, staff is already as low as possible but it could diverse a little more and get a few more bars adding to the take.
i know the club doesn't do change but today's retail market is harsh in the extreme.....90% M&S discount anyone?
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As far as I am concerned Jill, no I have not complained to the club, why would I ? I don't think a favourable reduction would result.
No, I really couldn't care less who's sites I am on so if this clubs sites are more than I am prepared to pay I find an alternative which is cheaper. It is up to the club to reduce the prices if they find occupancy rates falling and empty pitches appearing. I will reconsider Caravan Club sites again next year when booking. If they are still high when and where we look at I will avoid them once again.
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Good point, JO. Many complaints (or words of "advice" to the club) seem to come from folk who go on to imply they wouldn't touch club sites with a bargepole.
I guess the acid test is - would they use sites if prices were cut by, say 10% or even 20%? Since it seems to be lack of ambiance/facilities/flexibility that many mention as the reason for not using sites the answer, logically, would seem to be "no".
So surely the sensible thing is to do what we, and many others do - use club sites if and when they're in the location we want appear to offer better value than alternatives, and use those alternatives at other times.
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the thing is the club has a specific model....clean but no frills, relying on location (possibly) and 'consistency' (in the mid range) as its selling point.
From my observations this year it is a formula that works well in as much as that is what CC site users presumably want as, if not, they would go elsewhere. I tour mainly during the period from mid April to End of July and again in September. I have no idea what the take up is like in August but the CC sites that I have used during my tours have been well used by campers.
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I'm not sure about the "location" of club sites. Apart from a few notable exceptions, they seem to me generally at some distance from pubs/towns/public transport or anything that might be interesting. Less of an issue for caravaners but motorhomers, particularly those with larger ones and consequent parking issues, find the locations less than attractive.
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