Glamping? Really?
I thought the CAMC was a TOURING club; for TOURING caravans and motorhomes!
The very fact we hear one of our well visited sites is joining the 'Let's see where we can make even more money' bandwagon by now developing Sandringham Site to offer glamping pods!
What impact will it have on club members who are tourers? fewer pitches? 'glampers' who are not of the caravanning and motorhoming community? Why not just install a load of static homes and run the site like a Haven Holiday Park?
That would suit the money grabbing LIMITED COMPANY this 'CLUB' has become!!! We have been members since 2001 and wish to thank you clever people for gradually destroying true touring.
I see more use for CLs and private sites coming! 🤬🤬🤬
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Can you not see CAMC is actually being proactive here by providing static accommodation in view of the possible difficulty of obtaining decent tow cars in future, the ageing membership which may find LVs too much hassle as physicality lessens, and those members who would like friends/family without an LV to accompany them on their holiday? Both clubs have done this for some years now. If I recall correctly, the stated raison d'etre of CAMC is to promote leisure activities which, in my book, is all forms of holidaying, including the few on site cottages the club rents out.
The Caravan Club Ltd has existed in that form for as long as I can remember. Why shouldn’t it be a limited company? By being such, liability is limited and no one can ask you as a member to cough up more than £1 as your liability in the event of insolvency. Many clubs and charities form limited companies for those reasons. Perhaps you are thinking of plc's which are quoted on the stock exchange and have shareholders needing to be paid dividends?Btw, what is "true touring"?
Don't forget you will need to remain a member to make use of CLs and, incidentally, a lot of CLs and other private sites also have static accommodation for hire.Enjoy your travels.
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@Toppo That is a somewhat negative view of things and I wonder if you have really thought it through? Experience Freedom is still only on a relatively small number of sites. My understanding about Sandringham (I could be wrong) is that any Glamping pods are not taking any touring pitches out of circulation. The same is true of Morton in Marsh and I think Lady Margaret's Park. I think if they were taking up dozens of touring pitches people would have some sympathy with that. Think for a moment whom might be using this type of accommodation. Friends and family who don't have there own caravan or motorhome but want to stay with members that do. People like Margaret and I who have had to give up touring because of age and mobility problems but who still might like to keep in touch with our old lifestyle. The world of campsites is changing and I think the Club are trying to change with it. It is of no benefit the the Club or its members for the management to stand still just because that is the way it has always been. I can't see how having a few camping pods on some sites takes away any enjoyment from those that still tour?
David
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We have been regular users of the Sandringham site for a number of years and earlier this year, the proposed development plans were published by the Club. The site is to be extended to accommodate both Glamping Pods and a few tent pitches. Plus - they are putting in a number of fully serviced pitches which Sandringham sadly lacks at the moment. Bearing in mind that the C&CC site - a mere few hundred yards away, through the woods already has most of those facilities, it seems to be an eminently sensible move. There is no threat to the existing motorhome/caravan pitches.
My only slight reservation was the environmental impact of the extension, but bearing in mind who owns the land, I really don't think that's anything to worry about.
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Personally, I think the pods are a good thing. On two occasions it meant that we could have the daughter and grandchildren stay on site with us. I really don’t see what the fuss is about.
The sites are already getting fully booked and oversubscribed with carvanners and motorhomers…
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What on earth have hotels got to do with your argument about, in your view, CAMC’s move away from being a touring club? That’s a complete red herring.
I can see from your previous posts that you’re not a person who likes change but I think you have to accept that the need to evolve is there and it’s happening.
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Toppo, you removed your post as l was replying which has made this thread hard to follow. Fortunately, I quoted your removed post so people can see what we were talking about. I see no point in continuing in view of the inconsistency.
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I think it depends on where and why they are adding these. If the area is not easily accessible for caravans and motorhomes or there is no reasonable chance of these pitches being used enough by caravans and motorhomes then I am happy for the pitches to e used. If it means that we cannot get a touring pitch then that is wrong.
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We recently stayed on an Independent site with about 24 Hardstanding pitches, adult only. Great. On another field, part of the same farm, were 6 very smart Glamping Pods. You couldn't even see them from the main site. So what will you do Toppo? Not use that site? You'd be cutting off your nose to spite your face. The farmer/owner was only doing what the CAMC are doing and moving with the times and supplying a demand. Good luck to him.
The Pods at Sandringham, if they're installed according to the plan, will NOT be taking up any pitches. Besides which if you use the pitches at the top of the site I believe you won't even see them.
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I'm another who thinks they are great. It enables friends, and more importantly for me, family to stay on site with us. Also I've actually used one and for times when towing becomes difficult for whatever reasons it's certainly quicker and easier.
But also they are very popular and a good source of income for the club which benefits all members in my view.
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@Toppo I find it difficult to understand how you can claim the club is gradually destroying touring when you are able to book any length of stay, starting on any day and even book a single night if required. That is often not possible at the private sites you mentioned using in their place. As to your comment “glampers' who are not of the caravanning and motorhoming community”. That sounds slightly insulting. perhaps you would like to elaborate.
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@Toppo I think you might need to get a bit more background as to why the Club have decided to offer different types of accommodation on Sites. The Club has in fact welcomed tent campers on certain sites for decades, and there are a few holiday cottages as well dotted around. As Glamping goes, the Club were rather late to the party, but have seen a successful provision and take up of this kind of alternative accommodation. Members were reassured years ago when the pods were first introduced that there would be no loss of van pitches, as the sites providing Glamping Pods were utilising unused areas of land on the sites, not always suitable for pitches. That’s partly why only selective sites offer them. The Club are also like any other business in that they have Membership take up and income revenue to protect. Hence every so often, decisions are made to future proof the Club and cater for different generations and their differing requirements. Many, many CLs and private sites offer alternative accommodation, so if you do venture that way, (retaining your Membership of course for the CLs) you will see just how popular Glamping units actually are.
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