Exorbitant Site Pitch Fees
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I agree, if you do prefer to book ahead, and your choice is known to be popular, then you just have to accept whatever T&Cs apply. I know you sadly lost quite a bit on one tour, so I can understand why Club T&Cs might be a good option for some. It also might depend on just how willing you might be to mix choices up as well, but if you can be very flexible, it isn’t hard to almost dispense with deposits and the rigmarole of insurance.
We have taken to touring almost with a days notice, and booking as we roll, otherwise given current circumstances, we would be losing deposits left right and centre, but in truth, we haven’t found it any problem. It’s a balancing act, do we pay up front and lose possibly, or do we happily go with the spontaneity and choose wisely where we do go. Club has realised its deposits were rather harsh at the outset, hence they are now lower, hopefully having achieved whatever it was the Club were hoping for (it hasn’t stopped weekend bookings, but they are not as far ahead, granted). Mind, sites aren’t as busy anyway, so it’s easy to roll in on the day.
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We do tend to book months ahead, and as we have decided on our tour route like to secure our stops based on location. Whilst it might be possible to book closer to the time, our recent tour included 7 weekends which would likely have been an issue, particularly the bank holiday ones. Our tour included 10 CAMC sites and 4 C&CC sites with very good T&C’s as well as 2 independent, one of which only wanted a £10 non returnable deposit, the other payment in full on booking of £150 non refundable.
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"One thing I have noticed in recent years as I'm sure so many obviously must have is the huge cross over from caravans to motor homes and with it the attitude that once the motorhome is paid for the owner has the right to park it overnight wherever they choose. They are certainly not prepared to pay expensive site fees."
What!! I find that comment insulting as I certainly don’t have that attitude. You’re basing your wild assumption on what you see out and about, DW, and your very limited experience of club sites gives you no true insight into motorhomers' ways on camc sites. How can you, or anyone, know what the thinking and attitude of others is?
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I agree with what you say about prices. The Club have put up their prices quite a bit but it is still far cheaper than staying in a hotel or B&B. Whether they have put up their prices more than other caravan sites, is debateable. I do find that CLs do seem to have put up their prices, but that is most probably due to fuel going up so much, none of them seem to have put their prices down since fuel prices came down though.
In late June and early July I travelled down to Hampshire and back over 12 days, 11 of them staying on CMHC sites, the most expensive being Tewkesbury on Saturday 6th July which was £29.10. If I had stayed at a B&B or hotel, it would have been far more expensive even without breakfast. Tewkesbury site is a few miles from the motorway, situated just across from the Abbey and around 2 minutes walking distance into town so it is little wonder than it is so popular and was full when I stayed there. Of course you have to initially invest in a caravan or motorhome but you can recoup some of your money when you sell and some people even make money on the sale of their van.
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Nothing wrong with doing what you do, if it suits you. That £150 is a steep commitment, but if you have no health worries, nothing else to hopefully give cause for concern, then go for it.
I was saying to OH yesterday, when we are able to get out again, we will fulfill our idea of touring round British coast, but could he put up with my bartering skills at getting a very cheap B&B if we fancied one? I actually enjoy politely seeing if I can get a very late room deal (knowing of course we do have alternative sleeping if needed). He doesn’t get involved, but is happy to see what I come up with😁 I barter and haggle over a few things, particularly if we are trading in a car. 🫣
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I always fully intend to honour a booking but the risks are from things beyond my control such as sudden illness or mechanical breakdown (the car that is not me, although...) so those risks won't be less nearer the time
There's a greater risk of not getting the length of stay I want, which does happen in the club sites I use .
Did you get your club booking sorted out btw?
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Cannot understand why you compare the cost of Club sites with B&Bs or hotels, rather pointless. Do you use these in preference to your own outfit? For a real comparison look at the independent sites.
I've just left a C&MC site, I paid just over £28p.n. for a non electric economy pitch, the local CL with hardstanding and EHU which I have used before was £20p.n. Is it any wonder the C&MC site had loads of empty pitches. Of the 8 serviced picthes, only 2 were in use by caravan owners, the rest were empty..
peedee
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Just paid £151.90 for three nights at Tewkesbury, I did think high prices would keep the Rif Raf away but I was mistaken, still got pitch short cutters , dogs being walked on site with 6 mtr leads plus the no flush brigade in the toilets, too many members now who do not follow rules or site etiquette.
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With regards to your last paragraph in my view I think you have that the wrong way round? The club doesn't have to justify anything, it is you who has to justify paying the price. And if you can't then go to another provider where you can justify paying?
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Was is you who writes the adverts for Basil Fawty?
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It's difficult to wonder as you haven't named the club site PD. Could be due to other factors but without the name it's very difficult.
I find the named sites I use are well used and often full. Perhaps location makes a difference.
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We never book anything we don’t intend to honour, however sometimes things happen. Like a cancellation option on a hospital appointment you thought months in the future. That one was 2 days before. Or more recently the Motorhome door lock failing and issues with getting it fixed in time. Fortunately sorted. I don’t mind accepting the potential loss if the site is where we want to be. The £150 upfront was for Portmeirion. However, I much prefer the CAMC’s T&C’s which allow us to plan ahead without the prospect of incurring significant losses if we should have to cancel.
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I think that’s fair enough. However, the CC’s T’s & C’s don’t always work in ones favour. I had cause to shift a 4 nights stay 1 day to the right, for which I was charged £20. Conversely, on a couple of occasions I have booked a stay on commercial sites whereby I needed to change dates and have been obliged with no penalty. Of course, it depends on circumstances and a willingness to be flexible on their part.
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Tewkesbury
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Because it wasn't expensive (relatively speaking) when I started.
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Knowedge of location is irrelevant, the fact is, occupancy was very very low which indicates the pricing strategy is wrong for its location and time of year.
Sorry PD but you have appeared to contradict yourself there in my view.
You're assuming it's the price rather than something else? I'm in the Knaresborough area, though not in a club site. I'm looking to return but can't get a full week.
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PD, I'm confused, you posted:
Posted on 15/08/2024 12:57 by peedee
I've just left a C&MC site, I paid just over £28p.n. for a non electric economy pitch, the local CL with hardstanding and EHU which I have used before was £20p.n. Is it any wonder the C&MC site had loads of empty pitches. Of the 8 serviced picthes, only 2 were in use by caravan owners, the rest were empty..
peedee
Then when I asked which site it was you said Tewkesbury and then you posted:
the fact is, occupancy was very very low which indicates the pricing strategy is wrong for its location and time of year.
Now Tewkesbury has 18 pitches, perhaps you meant that? but even then the SP are well used indeed for the remainder of the month with 12 day full out of 16, perhaps you may have missed the MHs who either did not out out pitch taken signs or more were coming in, or maybe it was a low day.
Also Multi-surface pitches are full for 6 days from now, without awning are full 5 days from now. In fact the whole site occupancy looks pretty good to me with multi surface pitches full 6 days, and HS without awning full 5 days (I didn't count the lows)
Again for September SP are full for 9 days and apart from 1 day are all low, multi-surface pitches full 7 with 11 lows, and without awning 9 days full and 10 lows.
So I cannot see how you can post occupancy was very very low and the pricing strategy is wrong?
Maybe it was on your visit and then you were very lucky but as you can see for the rest of August and into September ther eis no way you can support what you posted about very very low occupancy.
In my view the pricing strategy is very right indeed.
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Sorry, why are you answering a post for PD?
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Ah yes I am confused I asked you yet PTC answered, Fell for that hook line and sinker.
But again what is is this club site you are talking about?
I've just left a C&MC site, I paid just over £28p.n. for a non electric economy pitch, the local CL with hardstanding and EHU which I have used before was £20p.n. Is it any wonder the C&MC site had loads of empty pitches. Of the 8 serviced picthes, only 2 were in use by caravan owners, the rest were empty.
Is it a club site, or as in the past you've made the understandable error of classing an AS as a club site?
But of course location and facilities is important, look at Nunnykirk.
I'm just wondering why you won't name it. Then we can stop wondering?
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There seems to be a problem for me accessing Pg 6 of this post, have others had a similar problem?
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Prompted by the lead in from PTC, I thought I would look at the prices of some of the other sites offering non electric economy pitches. I am absolutely staggered at the costs. I don't think I have ever acused the Club of rip off prices before but many of them definitely fit that description.
peedee
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With the split between "Bargain" and "Tad on the pricey side" site fees among members of the forum I declare that I categorize club site prices into the latter. I would use a club site as a last resort if the location dictated no other choice or if meeting family members at site.
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Believe it or not but I am still having a problem access the previous page, are anyone else experiencing the same problem?
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