New Site Booking System
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You can book pods on the new & old system-isn’t that on topic🤷🏻♂️
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Depends what you man by pod? A pod on a club site is not the same as a pod elsewhere. On club sites pod are wooden cabins with heating and lighting and I think power outlet, cabins are better equipped and have large lounge area, toilets, showers, large tv (with separate inputs for playstations), power and USB sockets, fridge, and best of all for us a diswasher!
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+1, we used one when they were booked for family but they couldn't make it. Had all mod-cons as I've said above and a veranda with chairs, a picnic bench, an outside box to storeboots and things and brick BBQ and parasol. They even supplied a mini self light bbq thing.
All the other ones were in full use too, this was at Troutbeck Head. I must admit it was far easier that towing and setting up and would certainly use them again in winter rather than tow.
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The ones at the club site I was on was cleaned by the wardens. And they one we had was very clean.
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Yes and if you've got a caravan or MH it is no contest is it?
Or it is? I have a caravan and have used one, and it might mean a lot to someone for various reasons to stay at that location and/or site and/or not have to tow?
Of course if you haven't got a caravan/MH then that cost of getting one, hiring one, has to be factored in?
But as always one isn't forced to buy the use of a cabin there, but at the times I've been there they always seem to be well used?
btw the price you've quoted is 2 adults and one child in a 'universally accessible' cabin. The price for four adults and two children is £953. Again high or not is for the person paying to decide?
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Sorry Kj, there are camping pods as described above and there are glamping pods which have toilets and showers, heating and lighting, tvs... but not so much kitchen equipment as a cabin - still a fridge but just enough to make 'light meals' and snacks.
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I would think a membership club called The Caravan and Motorhome Club main purpose was to cater for caravan and motorhome users, how many more pitches would be made available without pods etc the availability of pitches being the main reason for this discussion.
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arch
It looks by your post you have not really used the majority of sites that have had pods and other types of Experience Freedom accommodation installed ,as you would then have noticed they are normally in areas that would not be suitable for pitches to be installed because of access or ground conditions unsuitable for LVs,
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the availability of pitches being the main reason for this discussion
I don't see that at all, I though it this thread was about was about the new booking system and T&C?
No matter, to answer you question at TH about eight SP pitches (not standard pitches so unless one is keen on SP one wouldn't be affected) were converted to these cabins.
And yes it does cater for the club members in my view, I can take my family away with me and of course it generates more income throughout the year? At your own figures each cabin will generate an extra £500 per week per pitch and that money can be used to make more refurbishments, new sites.... Extra money is always welcome?
I think if they were on every site you might have a point but the are not, but they are certainly proving their worth.
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Vegan food a fad eurot?🤣🤣, the fad of Veganism has been around since the 1940’s(that’s the last century btw👍🏻)
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I thought the lack of pitch availability was the main driver for the new booking system and TCs, by your reasoning that pods etc generate so much more income how long will it be before pods etc turn up at most site's, I'm not against glamping, cabins or any other sort of accommodation but there are a great number of other outlets that provide them, why use our club.
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Well I don't see this thread is about that, it's a done deal, the cause is immaterial, so I viewed this thread was about what the T&C will be.
I have no idea, I suppose enjoy it while you can? In my view it's not harming 'normal' club pitching, or if it is in a very small way, and generating more income, win win!
Personally I'd rather the money came to the club than another provider, they are proving popular and the club should cash in on that, and not everyone has a LV or can tow, and it might be the future.
But as the club only as about 10% of caravan sites plenty more sites left for anyone to choose from. Some I'm told are better anyway.
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Glamping pods, yurts, innovative caravans of lots of different styles have been around for quite a while, in fact the Club have come to see their value and popularity quite late to be honest.
People are all different, and what suits one person, is another person’s don’t go there! Doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong in a persons choice, and it’s rather closed minded to dismiss anything without at least finding out what is involved, let alone actually trying things out. Classic example for me was a coach tour I found myself booking. Never in a million years did I ever see myself on a coach tour, but it turned out to be a lovely, relaxed and brilliant week, totally focussed on lovely gardens and historic places. And shared with open minded, informed others as well, so a very friendly week.
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Given the limited number of pods/cabins/lodges available across the network, they will get booked up very early in the year I suspect. The suggestion that they are merely the "new style" touring is, IMHO, ludicrous. Whilst pitches may, sometimes, not be available there will always be somewhere that you can pitch up. If anyone thinks putting a tour together for a caravan/motorhome is difficult, you try it with pods.
I would imagine that my touring days will be over by the end of the decade or fairly soon thereafter so this development is unlikely to impact on me. As for affordability, leaving aside the capital investment in an LV, some of which is recoverable upon sale, I can't see the younger generation finding "podding" more cost effective.
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With regards to the Club, using the term “touring” is a bit of a grey area anyway. The majority of caravans, and quite a high number of larger MH’s, simply plonk down on one Site for the duration. Aside from being hauled from a home address, and then hauled back again, the only touring element is simply using a different base Club Site. So pods of all kinds, and other forms of accommodation the Club puts on its Club Sites fit this scenario. Personally, I think offering alternative accommodation is a good move, and it’s making good use of some Club Site areas that aren’t suitable for pitches for one reason or another. Out of season, prices are discounted, and with luck and flexibility of travel dates, there are some absolute bargain stays to be had. I am certainly considering using one to give Mum a break, at 93, she can’t cope with the MH anymore, but the accessible glamping pods look ideal.
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Modern housing estates that is being thrown together to meet government targets , ,and our ever expanding population, are crammed in to make as much profit, for the builder in the smallest areas, and also many new builds are in this area are apartments ,
If noticed the properties, if they are houses, have minimal space to park any vehicles without thinking of any LV above a vw camper type
One of the reasons it seems the growth in tent camping as the kit is easier to store,
Otherwise on top of the purchase price of a caravan and larger tow vehicle? or a motorcaravan, both of which will require storage away from your property at considerable cost, £745 here
So IMHO the growth of alternatives will just get more popular ,as it seems many camping, site providers are realising
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‘Cost effective’ compared to £50/60k camper/Moho CY🤷🏻♂️. Folk can Glamp using an EV. Glamping can be used anytime. Not many Moho’s are folks daily drives. TDA has it right-open minded approach is the future & it’s a really good fit👍🏻
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Everywhere we have visited (properly touring around🤣) these last two years, from Scotland down to West Penwith, from Wales across to Norfolk, we have seen lots of alternative, and innovative holiday accommodation either in place, or in the process of being built. Some are just a couple of Shepherd’s Huts alongside an existing CL pitching area, some are private Sites offering Cabin based stays in places like Kelso. Some, like the quirky little place we used last month are upcycled and innovatively rethought existing buildings made comfortable and cosy and offered for a great price in a superb location.
I realise that this isn’t quite what this thread is about, but does illustrate just how on the ball the Club actually is in branching out into other areas of interest. Like the pitch fees though, the accommodation prices of what the Club offers are at times pricey compared with similar.Folks need to look beyond the “Club” moniker nowadays. There’s little “Club” left now unless you choose to embrace the rallies, Centres and their events calendars, where it is still thriving. Everything else tends to be very much business centred, and businesses have to evolve and embrace change to survive in some shape or form. Members either go with the flow, having the odd grumble, or cut their perceived losses and walk away🤷♀️
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Good point, not only that the trailer camping would be cheaper too👍🏻. It will probably drive a lot of the big beast Moho’s either mainly overseas or off our roads🤷🏻♂️
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Farmers are looking to diversify & pods/huts/yurts & other forms within the glamping genre is another good fit. Evolve or die-we are witnesses to a spurt in the evolution of LV’ing👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Modern housing estates that is (sic) being thrown together to meet government targets , ,and our ever expanding population, are crammed in to make as much profit, for the builder in the smallest areas, and also many new builds are in this area are apartments ,
That comment from JVB led me to think that the later generations live their daily lives in different circumstances to those before that lived in houses, with gardens, garages, and reasonable space. They are also used to high wages and prices. Altogether, they must have a different perspective on leisure time and what is an enjoyable holiday.
Correlates to a recent comment about novice motor caravanners thinking The Caravan Club was good value for money even with the non-member nightly supplement.
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"Ludicrous", why? Have you actually tried to put a tour together using pod type accommodation, CY? I suspect you're assuming rather than quoting from experience.
As for leaving aside capital investment in a LV, how can you? Any meaningful affordability comparison of costs must include it and younger folk are buying campervans like nobody's business which is pushing their price up. Even if someone 'only' pays £10k for a camper, that's the equivalent of a lot of padding breaks.
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