cc versus c+cc?

[crazyguider]

We're currently members of the latter club, and have used affiliated sites and their own sites. While facilities on both have been fine, those on affiliated sites seem to be of a higher standard. The staff also seem to be totally different. Affiliated site staff seem very relaxed, open and freindly, but wardens on c+cc sites seem to be totla 'jobsworths'. We're thinking of 'changing sides' and wonder if those of you in the CC have had the same experiences?

 

[crazyguider]

apolagies for the spelling - it's been a long day!!

 

[Parksy]

Hi Crazyguider, I'm not really sure what you mean by C&CC 'afilliated sites', the quieter 5 van sites are certified sites, and affiliated sites could just be privately or commercially owned sites which are advertised on C&CC site finder perhaps?

No matter which club you choose it would appear that there are 'jobsworth' employees here and there, click here to rerad a complaint involving the removal of a site review where the author had cause to complain about a CC 'warden'.

We rarely use mainstream club sites, we prefer the more relaxed atmosphere of certified sites when using the C&CC but having said that, we have met some really friendly and helpful C&CC site employees so don't let the odd grumpy old git put you off.

 

[Martin24]

We use mainly CL's with CC and occasionally for location reasons use CS's with CCC. We haven't used CCC sites ever and only use CC sites for a specific area when we have a build up of vouchers (usually C'mas/B'day presents). The main reason for using CL's over CS's is a lack of tents.

 

[Dustydog]

There's good and bad in both.
It's not like membership of either is expensive, factoring in all the benefits and monthly magazine.

Try both. See where you like to go and then decide. They are all well spread and have advantages depending where you want to go.

CC is usually no tents if that helps you.

 

[Rita1]

Think Crazyguider mean't "Franchise" C&CC Sites

We popped in to the "Hereford" C&CC site last week thats a Franchise one The toilets and showers where lovely Individual proper shower units But we where told being revamped this winter to bring them up to standard It looks like more money gets spent on Franchise site

 

[carper2]

We are members of both Clubs that way we get a bigger choice of Club sites and CLs and CSs. The site Wardens of both Clubs we have used have mainly be excellent. If we find a bad one we look at the other Club in the area.
The best Wardens we found were at the C&CC Leek site a couple of years ago. We had a pitch near the Toilets and couldn't get a signal for the TV, one of the Wardens asked what was wrong. I told him I couldn't get a signal because of the trees, he got a bow saw and took off 2 branches, then we had a perfect picture.

Les

 

[Raywood]

We are members of both clubs and in general find the wardens excellent. Given the numbers of wardens employed there will always be the odd one who is a problem but I doubt that they stick the job for long.
As far as the sites themselves are concerned we feel the CC ones are maintained to a slightly higher standard and they are usually our first choice but if both clubs have sites where we want to go we also check the prices and if there is a significant differance this could swing it.
The CC does have a fair number of sites without toilet blocks which we have found suit us and there is a fair saving in using these. The C&CC does let you choose the type of pitch you want but not which one but with the CC you choose from what is available when you arrive.

 

[twindaddy]

CC CL CS - What is the difference?

I have read and re-read the definitions and I still struggle to understand which sites are private owned, owned by C&CC, small 5 pitch sites etc etc.

 

[awoods915]

Hi regarding the cc sites
Well on the whole they are all of high standard and 95% of the wardens are very friendly and helpful, the other 5% are probably people who have been employed all there life, and suddenly they are in charge and try to be to be someone important (they are easy to recognise as soon as you book in.)

 

[Parksy]

CC CL CS - What is the difference?

I have read and re-read the definitions and I still struggle to understand which sites are private owned, owned by C&CC, small 5 pitch sites etc etc.

CC = Caravan Club
C&CC = Camping & Caravanning Club

CS = Certified site, usually quet sites, often on farmland, licenced by the local authority for five units ( could be caravans, motorhomes or tents) and although certified sites are run according to the rules of the C&CC the sites themselves are privately owned.

CL = Certified Location , the same as above, privately owned but run according to the rules of the CC, the main difference being that the CC don't normally acommodate tent campers.

 

[brian_c]

We joined the CC rather than the C&CC purely because we were told that "Usually" when arriving at site you can choose from any free pitch they have, but on C&CC sites you are taken to a pitch of the wardens choice.
I am not sure if this is always the case but our friends who are members of both organisations told us that they had sometimes been escorted past pitches they would have chosen and allocated ones they would not. They did say that on a couple of occasions they had requested pitches they fancied and were given them but not often.
I presume there will be a valid reason for this system but I don't see it myself. I am sure the C&CC have some wonderfull sites and locations and we may take the plunge sometime where they have a location we would like to visit.
Our friends did mention what they would call a Jobsworth on one site but as a generalisation they find most of the wardens very obliging and friendly. Similar to our experience of CC sites.
Regards Brian

 

[Parksy]

We joined the CC rather than the C&CC purely because we were told that "Usually" when arriving at site you can choose from any free pitch they have, but on C&CC sites you are taken to a pitch of the wardens choice.
I am not sure if this is always the case but our friends who are members of both organisations told us that they had sometimes been escorted past pitches they would have chosen and allocated ones they would not. They did say that on a couple of occasions they had requested pitches they fancied and were given them but not often.....

There are a couple of reasons why C&CC members are 'escorted' to their pitch and apparently CC members are not.
The C&CC clubs try to allow well used pitches to recover from constant usage so that the grass will continue to grow when a popular pitch lies fallow for a while.
The second reason is to prevent selfish unescorted idiots who are towing caravans from putting others at risk by speeding around a site to claim a choice popular pitch.

 

[Raywood]

You may be prevented from using some CC pitches where a site has some shorter pitches and they have longer caravans booked in so need to be sure they have a pitch or a disabled member needs a pitch near the toilet block. You can never be sure of a greatchoice however and got a choice of one at Durham when we were second last booking to arrive and the other had a disabled pitch reserved for them. There are no bad pitches there so it was not a problem.
The C&CC will generally accomodate you with regard to pitch allocation if you do not like the one they give you and sometimes will discuss what you want and allocate one as near your requirements as they can, it does depend on the wardens a bit though. The wardens at Culzean Castle spent a good five minutes finding out what we wanted before we were pitched in July.

 

[lgvdriver]

I am a member of the cc and recently joined the c&cc at Moffat, on arrival my good lady and myself were asked if we had
any special needs and on replying no we were shown all the vacant sites and advised which were better than others,
if we did not like our chosen pitch we could change,we were then led by 2 gentlemen on bicycles to our pitch the 2 wardens
then unhitched our van and guided it onto our pitch which we were happy with,on thanking the wardens i just happened to mention
that we were also members of the cc, to which one replied 'ah so you have come over from the dark side my friend, welcome'.
My wife and i had a good laugh about this and we had a few pleasant days on site.Wardens on both clubs are generally pleasant
but its not easy to smile all day as its somtimes a thankless job.

 

[Admiral]

We are members of both and regularly use both, but if any of the Clubs have a site in the same area we would go for the CCC site to benefit from the Age Concession of 30% reduction. The facilities at both sites are on a par, the benefit of CC sites is that you are not shown to your pitch by the Warden on his bike, who then tells you left hand down a bit which realy gets on my pip

 

[Paul_5041263]

We are also members of both clubs but must confess we usually use the cc sites partly because we find the cc&c site booking and search process a bit of a pain compared with cc. We also like to visit the forest sites which are catered for on cc&c. I also have to say that cc seem to have more sites positioned where we want to tour.
We also prefer to choose our own pitch and not be assisted to pitch as we have expereince damage through this previously.
Couple of other points, it is not true to say cc sites do not have tents (not that we think this is a drawback) Seacroft at Cromer and Houghton Mill to name but two allow tents (but in a defined separate area) and there may be more particularly if there is caviate in the lease. Also wardens on cc remove or re-position pegs when they have to "rest" a pitch so there is no reason to escort arrivals because of this.

 

[otherclive]

We are members of both but over the last 3-4 years have tended to use C&CC sites more as we like the less formal layout and the greater areas of grass between and around vans. Whereas some of the CC sites are now so regimented in layout and seem to have minimal grass between units and resemble gravel pits.