Midweek Discounts
Though this scheme has now ended does anyone know if anything similar is likely to be introduced again any time soon
Or do I just continue to stay away from CAMC main sites & stick with CL's
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Or do I just continue to stay away from CAMC main sites & stick with CL's
That's our plan going forward moonchip. I believe prices are only going to increase still further and discounts will be rare unless sites have too many spaces unfilled.
We go away in a while on our first outing of the year which includes 3 nights on a club site at £35 a night ! We reluctantly booked it as there is absolutely nothing else in that area, but at £35 a night even in March we have no plans to use club sites for the remainder of the year, its not even worth looking anymore.
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Moonchip, Those are not your only options. There ‘s a far greater choice of sites than that - all sorts and all sizes, right across the price range.
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On certain sites it was a useful booking incentive eg we used Hillhead out of the main season for just that reason and because we like where Hillhead is situated (and it's near to home for a short break.)
Because there are no offers I've booked part of an early season trip with an alternative company, decided on serviced pitches which were £10 less per night than nearby CAMC offerings.
Also the spectre of CAMC (as stated elsewhere) actually raising prices on last minute bookings has put me off.
We use CLs and often C&Cc discounts too.
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Yes, despite being prolific CL users, we are missing the midweek discounts as well. We usually had a couple of Monday to Friday breaks, somewhere like FM this time of year, but no way will we pay what the Club wants now. We found a very nice alternative CL near Grantham last Spring at less than half the price of an FM stay. Nice cycling as well, which was the main point of our trip.
I have to agree with ET as well, certainly if you look around there as some great alternatives, particularly for MH’s and campervans.
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Or two extra nights away on selected CLs😁 That’s how we look at things.
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It has to be remembered that midweek discounts did not apply to all club sites and at all times of the year, from the last time time this was discussed it was about 24 sites out of 200+ and in June and August it was only two, so if one wanted to go to one of those it was a good saving on the pitch fee (not everything) as Steve mentioned above, and it did not apply to SPs so taking all of that into account it could be said not to be a great loss as it only affected 12% of sites in my view.
I suppose it was introduced not as a perk for club members but to get people to come to those less popular, or less popular midweek, sites when they were emptier mid week? So either that didn't happen in some way or wasn't needed as the club would only offer a discount when its to their advantage?
Perhaps dynamic pricing will replace it but until then to answer the OP - yes.
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and it did not apply to SPs
Only the service pitch element. ( no extra £2.50 saving) We were always given the standard pitch discount when we booked a service pitch. Therefore still a decent saving. Looking at how the prices have increased since we booked, it more or less equates to the mid week discount but applies to all sites. Currently the only way to save, if using CAMC sites, seems to be by booking early.
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It was an incentive as you say Corners, and for those like us, it worked.
Now, following COVID and the explosion into van and MH ownership, and the Club having enjoyed bumper Membership take up this last couple of years, the Club don’t need to offer such incentives as in the past. They know at the moment things are rosy, and whilst there may be some grumbles about prices, it will remain that for many, and they can still get pitch take up at whatever they choose to charge.
Short term it’s good business management. The coffers are swelling, there’s lots of work being done to future proofing the brand by putting in more and more alternative accommodation and buying up of more holiday park type sites. Those not happy can go elsewhere, look for better value for money.
I’m sort of interested in what’s going to happen when times get a bit harder, and things reach a tipping point. Many like us, somewhat disillusioned by some of the decisions made, the lack of honest open communications this last couple of years, will have moved on one way or another.
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Ah right ok thanks. Apart from Edinburgh a few years ago now, none of the sites I have used offered it and as you know by now I choose location first.
Yes it was book early before deposits and now it could be said do the same but for a different reason?
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Yes all true but if it does come to that point then prices will go down perhaps? And there will be newer people who either won't remember what went on or those that just look at the price?
Vote with their wheels but this time into the club?
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Yes, very possible. They might do some discounts again at some point. They already are on the Glampers at certain times of the year. Mind, having one of those empty is a bit different to having a pitch empty. Need to ensure targets hit more to recoup expenditure on provision. I can’t remember if Members get a slightly cheaper price on those.
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We get 'Concession' prices in the CCC which makes it much more attractive on CCC sites compared to CAMC. I have just booked three nights in May at Barcaldine near Oban -Hardstanding with hookup £64.5 - a nice modern site in a walled garden. I could not believe the price at Bunree for the same nights - £126.70 - yes it has loch views etc. but I will forgo those for the difference in price .
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Nice midges in that walled garden too - a real bonus🤣.
Try North Ledaig, YA, as it’s got better views than Bunree and rarely gets the midges of Barcaldine.
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May is a bit early for the "wee beasties", even in the walled garden. They like it to have warmed up a little before heading out to feast on unsuspecting!!😄
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They’re unpredictable, Nellie, and can appear from May onwards. They love a sheltered walled area set in a forest 🦟🙂
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We've been there a couple of times in May without any problems from them,and might just give it another visit around then this year, so fingers crossed that they haven't read your post and they stay in hibernation till later in the year, as OH attracts them if they are about!!
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We had a terrible experience on that site and would never risk going there again. In my opinion it’s a horrible shut in place☹️. The area is glorious but that site deprives folk of views and open space. There are far better sites nearby and I don’t mean just CAMC offerings.
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Can I ask which ones in that area you would recommend then? Have tried, without success, to get onto Dallachulish CL, and have stopped on commercial site at Duror, Achindarroch Touring park.
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My personal recommendation would always be North Ledaig, Nellie. Failing that, I would try one of these which come recommended by other folk I chat to. Hope it helps.
https://www.highfieldholidays.co.uk
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Not only has the mid-week discount disappeared, there is the unspoken threat of "book early so we can get our mitts on your deposit money or we'll charge you even more". CAMC would seem to have embodied the spirit of Eric Geddes, a former First Lord of the Admiralty.
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https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/scotland/argyll--bute/oban/bioran-dubh-croft/
Tried to add this but lost the link.
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We are big fans of North Ledaig as well Nellie, fabulous Site, particularly if you can get a loch front pitch. We haven’t been for a while, but it’s somewhere we would pay a bit extra for the location. Much prefer it to Bunree. It’s where we joined the Club many many years ago.😁
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