Is it time for low cost “huts”
After staying on 7 sites in France this summer all had low cost “huts” which had sleeping accommodation, kitchen diner, some a shower/toilet, others where one used the site facilities. Guests brought their own bed linen and towels, and did their own cleaning (these could be hired at extra cost). Is it time the club trialled these on sites which perhaps are open all year but have lower occupancy outside the school holidays?
It appears that our membership is getting older (so the forum contributors suggest) and sites are not attracting young families. With the current surge pricing it should be possible to start out of season prices at about £50 a night, rising to something like £120 for a family cabin for 4 in high season. Electricity could be metered ( no need for gas) and an outside contractor could be used for any cleaning.
Caravans and /or Motorhomes are no longer cheap holidays and families generally don’t have that sort of money, or at home storage for these vehicles. We are all getting older and the club need to recognise an opportunity
Note, I’m not talking about mobile homes- more a 4 metre x 3 metre “environmentally friendly “shed” which would fit on an existing serviced pitch. The club could order a thousand which would give a huge cost saving.
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The club already has these in terms of pods and cabins. The prices aren't far away from what you talk about for a family of 4 to 6 they are:
Pods are currently about £139 per night or £125 with club membership discount. Cabins at currently £169 per night or £152 with club discount.
Off peak the prices look £100 per cabin (£90 with discount) and £79 (£71 with discount) for late September and early October. Prices from troutbeck Head and rounded.
And these include all electricity as well.
Hasn't the club already recognised an opportunity? I've stayed in one and yes they are great. But while it may be a good deal to buy a 1000, it will still cost a fair amount for something the club already has in place?
Service pitches are actually generally in great demand so why would the club use these pitches and take away a valuable income stream?
Also where does sites are not attracting young families come from. I've done two sites this year in school holidays and it was mostly young families.
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Yes - I’ve seen them but if a trial is to encourage new members it needs to be rolled out widely- a couple of hundred sets - Lidl didn’t are inroads into the UK market opening 2 or 3 shops, nor did Aldi. You need a substantial presence to make an impact.
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Lidl and Aldi certainly did start with just a few shops to test the market and CAMC is moving forward with alternative accommodation in a similar way but it would not make sense to place pods on existing pitches and thereby reduce the traditional offering. Planning permission could also come into play.
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Out of interest I've just a quick google search on the cost of these.
The ones used at TH are made by swift and it's POA, so 'if you have to ask...'
Other searches come in from anywhere from £3000 to £25000 or more. Ebay have a few from very basic ones for £8000 but for one with water, heating, toilet of the dimensions the OP describes there's one for under £22,000.
So buying 1000 of these as the OP suggests comes in at between £3 million to £25m. Then there is transport and fitting. For something the club already has? Not for me Perosnally.
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So how many members actually told the Club to add lots of “pods” on to the site network?
I realise that the membership may well be aging (and that includes me), and the club may be trying to future proof themselves from declining traditional bookings, but how far do they go?
The sites we have been on this year have been mostly full, next week we go to Chatsworth, it’s just about full all week.
I suppose the question is, for long is a caravan/motorhome sustainable as a holiday choice? Will the move to all electric vehicles (cars and motorhomes), determine the way we get about and then how we go away?
This question may have been voiced on other discussions, so sorry for any crossover.
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"I suppose the question is, for long is a caravan/motorhome sustainable as a holiday choice? Will the move to all electric vehicles (cars and motorhomes), determine the way we get about and then how we go away?"
I suspect that is exactly the thinking which has prompted CAMC to look ahead and attempt to future proof the club. I think they should be praised for that forward thinking attitude.
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Some good points there.
I think, and this has been discussed just recently, that some form of research would have been done, although the club doesn't really in effect have to ask anyone on how they run their sites. The pods and cabins have/are proving popular so I assume the club will get its 'cut' to make up for any lost pitches, although the relationship between EF and the club has never been explained.
How far do they go, not that far up to now - eight sites is it? And the club has said they were put in place on parts of the site that were not suitable for pitches. Or as at Troutbeck Head the took seven from service pitches where there were already 46 already so still leaving plenty on a site that has 150 pitches.
I have used one and it was certainly better than towing and setting up and would use one again in the wintertime rather than towing.
Good to know that club sites you've used has been mostly full, same experience as for myself. Chatsworth is on my go back to list.
Post edit, All the cabins/pods are full over the BH weekend part from one free night on Sunday at TH. Equally the whole site is full over the BH weekend, it wasn't a week ago must have been a rush of late bookings?
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So will the future be that caravan pitches reduce, but that “pods” and other static options become more numerous?
I for one will be very sorry to see the decline in touring pitches, but perhaps we have to accept that the world is changing. Travelling in an electric car for several hundred miles anyone?
However, on a more positive note, we are off to Chatsworth, next week. Enjoy it while it you can, whatever the future may hold.
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Oh for a crystal ball!
At present we can only speculate but it’s wise to be prepared for a big change. While some people do drive long distances and tow with EVs, they are still in the minority but who knows what the situation will be in a few years time?
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As someone who has recently given up touring I welcome the Club offering different forms of static accommodation (without meaning statics if you see what I mean!) The Club clearly see a market as they plan to add such accommodation to at least two more sites. Don't forget that on some sites they might not get Planning Permission. It doesn't mean that touring pitches are sacrificed as they often take up new or under used areas of a site. Clearly the club have to offer a range of options. However I think I would like them to go a little more upmarket. Perhaps not quite as far as the C&CC has done but it would be nice if they chalet/villa with a separate double bedroom. Our intention is to give one of these Glamping Pods a try for a couple of days with the thought to use them for slightly longer stays if we like it.
David
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Btw the way it might be the drink but do you mean Cayton Village? Cayton bay isn't a club site with glamping?
Well it's academic as you wouldn't be able to book a full week at the club site huts, so while you might not want to use one, many others do want to keep their hut. And it's £875 per week with your club discount.
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So far the comments appear to come from people, like us, who are retired , club members, who are happy to tour in our MH or van.we are not going to be about in 20 years time. The club has to reach young people through the internet and social networks. Having a few sites offering various styles of accommodation is not, in my opinion, developing the concept fast enough.
looking at housing built in the C20 there was room to park a MH or van on the drive - this is impossible with C21 housing. If the club is to survive change needs to be speeded up.
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I am currently staying in a basic 2 person max pod where I have to bring my own bedding. There is a separate kitchen area away from the pod, near the separate showers / toilets Other pods on site do have twin burners, but have to wash up near the kitchen area. So my pod is costing me £50 / night. Tomorrow I move onto a so called shepherds hut - similar setup - £55 / night. So more luxurious places will obviously cost considerably more. There are loads of fairly basic thru to luxurious pods / cabins around, not on CCC or CMC sites. A major query for me, being highly allergic to animal hair and feathers is - would there be animal free pods? Major costs of these places includes cleaning and maintenance of them - you are having to pay someone to clean (and regularly maintain) them thoroughly between visitors so no wonder the costs are up near those of B&Bs / hotels.
Sorry, but I don't see them as a viable major addition to the club offering.
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I can’t see the correlation between space to park an LV on the drive and the need (in your opinion, TL) for CAMC to speed up some sort of change. Things are moving forward and I’m not sure what more can be done without seriously disadvantaging today's membership.
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David try a cabin, we did and it had a separate lounge and separate bedroom, also a dishwasher!
This is the one we had, there an extra double above the double (if that makes sense) and the lounge can be a double too, but we just used for two.
https://swiftmedia.swiftgroup.co.uk/s-pods/product/1295/s-pod-6-escape/
For the pods see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc_8zhkav7I
Post edit, there's also USB and video/audio in sockets by the settee if you want to plug your x box in!
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What do you mean by young people? If you mean as in able to drive then I can certainly say the times I stayed on and been near these cabins (many a time) then it's mostly used by them, people without a caravan or LV. I've no idea how they found out about them I assume the same way they find out about anything and that means the internet and social media?
Yes - not sure about the MH parking analogy at all.
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To be fair, the pods can come in handy. We were able to have a regular pitch and have our daughter/grandchildren stay with us in a pod, both at Abbey Wood and Moreton-In-Marsh. I know some members are resistant but to me, it’s just another facility that comes in handy.
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