CC vs C&CC - a different experience!

[angel3]

Hi,

We've just returned from our first stay on a C&CC site (having previously only stayed at CC sites - we are relatively new to this game) and I felt a real difference in culture between the 2 groups - campers (under canvas) and caravanners. I don't know if this was due to it being bank hol, but I haven't experienced similar on CC sites so far. There was lots more noise (raucous laughter all evening -that was the adults!) ;football games played by a tribe of older kids despite ball games being banned at busy times (they had full size footballs using our outfit as goalpost!) and loud music. I have to say it did all stop just after 10 o'clock but it was certainly rockin' until then!

I have to add here before anyone replies that:

a. I have kids of my own and have no problem with kids enjoying themselves - just prefer them supervised with regards to ball games etc and think parents should intervene when the kids have been told not to use the footy by me (twice) and the wardens (twice). Also my kids are v young and need to get to sleep earlier than bigger ones.

b. I'm not massively overse to a fun atmosphere either. Live and let live I say, but loud music is unfair to others I think.

I'd just like to know if this is a typical distinction between CC and C&CC sites so that I can choose and book according to whether we want peace and quiet or a more fun site.

Thanks for your views (but no wish to cause arguments re kids or campers etc!)

Angel

 

[Surfer]

We are not renewing our C & CC membership when ti expires next month. I guess that says it all!

 

[RogerP]

I only keep my C&CC going because of a couple of sites I really like going to and the CC dont have an alternative in the given areas.

That said we're trying a Caravan Club CL for the first time next month and that may swing us towards that type of site. So far its where we want it and the conversations I have with the owners have all been very pleasant and friendly. If our stay is as good as our booking experience we'll be back. Fingers crossed

 

[RogerP]

sorry forgot to say...

I've found that the less onsite activities there are for kids the better.

I've got a 3 1/2 year old so used to look for play grounds for him to keep him happy. However I found , probably like you , that the more there was the less a parent took control of their charges and the more issues arose.

Less places for the parents to off load the kids too means those that dont want to spend ther holiday with the kids and keeping them entertained wont chose those site.

you have to think why the large 'parks' attract so many people every year. So many opertunities to get rid of the kids.

I'm of the opinion that its my responsibility to look after my child so I will , I dont get much chance in the week being at work so holidays are mine and juniors time to be together (and for me to be a big kid again!!!!!)

 

[Dieter_374419338]

I have just bought a van and joned the camping and caravan club. What a load of rubbish, no info or pictures on the local sites I wanna use, that wold be Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Total waste of money, have sent them a stinky email but still waiting for a reply

 

[raccoon]

Hi Angel,

My wife and I have just come back from a CC site in the centre of York. We would not normally stay there as we like to be out of the town but this weekend was our 34th wedding anivrsary. This prompted us to stay there as we could just walk into the city in 10 minutes.

Anyway, the site, although it was clean and very tidy the noise leval during the day, especially on a morning was really not acceptable. It started at a few minutes after 8am and went on till nearly dinner time. The reason for the noise........the site wardens. I know they need to do housekeeping but I dont think it needs to start that early. So a lie in was up the swanny. I think we might try a CL site and stick to out of town sites in future.

 

[chrissie2]

I can only say that I am amazed at your experience. In 22 years of membership of the C&CC, we have never had any experience remotely like that. Technically the 'quiet' rule does not apply until, I think 10.30, but most sites we have stayed on are very peaceful long before that. As for the ball games, the HSM should not just have complained, but taken action. That was a clear breach of Club policies and should not have been tolerated. You have every right to make a formal complaint about this failure.

It is such a shame that your first outing on a C&CC site should have been so unsatisfactory, but I really would advise giving them at least one more chance - I cannot believe that you would be so unlucky again.

 

[cava55]

I have been a family member of the camping and caravan club for 10 years, but wont re join this year ! i feel being a member should have benifits, how ever some sites you pay a little more and hey presto your on a site with out joining ! whats going on ?. 3 of us go to a site 15 mins early 2 were charged

 

[chrissie2]

I have been a family member of the camping and caravan club for 10 years, but wont re join this year ! i feel being a member should have benifits, how ever some sites you pay a little more and hey presto your on a site with out joining ! whats going on ?. 3 of us go to a site 15 mins early 2 were charged

 

[ProfJohnL]

The phrase horses for courses comes to mind here, and I don't think it reflect unfairly on either club, after all its what you want that will determine how you perceive a site and its facilities.

If you are looking for peace and quite then it is hardly a sensible thing to go to a large park, but for some families need to cater for a wide age range of children, so a larger park with a wider range of facilities may be the better choice.

That doesn't give carte blanche to behave totally selfishly, everyone should respect their neighbour's wishes and property, but it has to be a two-way thing and some compromises may have to be made.

Campsites are not our homes, and by their very nature it is highly probable that you will be living closer to another van, than you do to your neighbours back home. Coupled to the fact that caravan walls and awnings do not block out sound as effectively as bricks and mortar, noise is always travel further and have a greater potential to disturb, but not only should the noise makers be aware of that, the ones who may be offended should also be a little more forgiving.

 

[xtrailman]

We found the noisy sites were always on the coast, haven't stayed on a coastal site for over ten years.

Most of our sites now are adult only.

However we like CL's one off our favourites was a CCC site, now private, but we have used it now for 15 years, since the day it started to take caravans.

This site near nottingham takes families, and some times we drop unlucky, a noisy family with ball games, loose dogs, the usual bad luck story.

What we do is always avoid bank holidays, and 9 out of 10 times we have a quite pleasant stay.

Whemore often than not all was well.n you work and have children, your chances of a poor neighbour are increased. But we found avoid the coast, and the large sites, sites with a club house, and

 

[angel3]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have to say I am very forgiving and we still had a really lovely weekend despite the lively nature of the site. It was beautiful (and I have to add, small - not a large park at all). I am very much live and let live as I said in the original posting and will not complain unless I think things are way too far wrong (ie the football). The site was excellent in every other way and the wardens were fantastic. Really friendly and very helpful too. I certainly won't write off the C&CC club just yet! I suppose I just wondered if there was generally more noise etc on a site including tents where the culture of what's acceptable may be different (and that's fine, it's just good to know!)

Thanks for your thoughts

Angel

 

[yvonne6]

Shall i share what really annoys me? its not the kids having fun, after all thats why we've come away for the weekend in the first place, its not the dads having a beer discussing the footie (thank goodness it almost over!)nor the dog walkers its the people who at 7.30-8.00am are up and out with their ruddy aquarolls and wastemasters trundling them accross the gravel to fill up and empty WHY SO BLOOMING EARLY???????????? Take a chill pill, relax, chill out a while! and before anyone starts yes it is done on the c & c sites, i have stayed at several and they are all the same. As for kids why cant they have fun? the first May holiday we organised a mini sports event for the kids , 2 legged race etc one chap came bounding over telling us to keep quiet! at 7.00pm? i dont think so. my kids are behaved and respect others but i will not have anyone telling them to shut up. We must be the only nation who hates the sight and sound of kids which is very sad indeed. there are thousands of kids who would love to away for the weekend in a caravan but sadly are not as fortunate as some of us.

Yvonne

 

[602]

Hi,

Visulise this. Caravan site on outskirts of Dinan, virtually empty. There's us. And there's an elderly Brit couple in the adjacent pitch. Hubby has a few vinos, then gets his kareoke system out, and starts to seranade US, continuing to partake of the vino.

We didn't want to go off camp that afternoon, but it was embarassing to stay. His wife did try to quieten him down, but without success.

602

 

[DianneT]

Some caravanners (like us) like to be up early and get the jobs done so they can relax and get the most out of the day and retire to bed early. We have had the days when we took our children with us, who were kept under strict control,not to annoy anyone. Perhaps large Caravan sites should have seperate areas for families.

 

[Parksy]

It doesn't matter which site you are on or which club you belong to, the chances of sharing a site with those who don't consider others are about the same.

On large commercial sites with bars, clubhouses etc there will always be noise from tipsy and often rowdy people returning to their caravans late at night. Not a good choice to get away from it all.

Caravanning is family friendly and club sites of either club reflect this, small certified sites are often quiet but usually dogs are allowed to roam free so there is always going to be some form of compromise needed.

Personally the only thing that I object to is the playing of ball or bicycle games around caravans, my own sons are adults now but I'd much rather hear and see a slightly muddy or grubby child making some noise than for them to be lying clean pale and still in a sickbed.

The next time out might be completely different but if a site is too noisy or the warden doesn't intervene when rules such as no ball games are ignored then vote with your wallet and go somewhere else until they get the massage.

 

[Hamer_5041128]

angel,

You complained quite rightly about football being played close to your caravan. You stated that the warden told them twice but it had no effect.How then can they possibly be fantastic wardens? They have a job to do and should do it.

I am affraid just a few ,and i emphasize, just a few do not do their job. If they do not discipline caravanners who break the rules, they should not be wardens.

It gives the totally wrong message to well behaved children enjoying themselves within the rules.

Years ago caravanners behaving like this would have been warned, and if they carried on breaking the rules told to leave the site.

Anyone in their right mind before joining any club reads the rules. If they don't like the rules they should go elsewhwere.

In my long experience of caravanning, mainly on Caravan Club sites and one commercial site. the vast majority of children and grandchildren know how to behave and really enjoy themselves.

BUT if their parents do not know right from wrong how can we expect the children to know.

One last point, have you complained to head office about the football games? If more people complain to head office they just might get the message.

Hamer

 

[kenneth_374315528]

We used to belong to both clubs but gave up the C&CC. Reason being there is just no comparrison between the two clubs :- ie cleanliness. Not only the toilets but the water taps and waste water points and also the toilet emptying facility. Also the roads on the C&CC sites tend to be just gravel or something like that. Most CC sites have proper tarmac roads. Ken

 

[SteveG1]

I originally joined the camping and caravan club because I was a camper, in a tent. My wife and I were given an ancient 1969 vintage Colt 1000 caravan back in 2000, we've up graded twice and now consider ourselves to be seasoned caravaners.

This particular topic always seems to polarise the contributors yet only recently there was good debate over this topic on this forum.

I must have been very lucky in the last few years because my wife and I have never experienced the problems other have had on C&CC sites. We are always made welcome and probably to CC members disgust we enjoy being shown personally to a pitch. We also enjhoy the variety of units on a C&CC site, from small back packers tents to large motorhomes. The facilities have varied from new to requiring refurbishment - but all have been immaculately clean.

For christmas 2007 I was given membership of the Caravan Club, this was with a view to booking a week in August at the Edinburgh site to visit the fringe and festival. I could not get booked. This appears to be a common problem with the CC. The C&CC requires that you pay a deposit, if you can't make it you can rebook at a later date, so far I've never lost a deposit.

We finally visited the CC Edinburgh site at the first May bank holiday this year. Great site facilities on a par with the best of the C&CC sites.

Now, picking your own pitch, not a bad idea, took some getting used to. It would have helped that in the midddle of a one way system someone had not abandoned their outfit and started looking for the ideal pitch on foot!

Missed the variety of outfits and was quite surprised that other visitors did not greet each other with a cheery good morning / afternoon or hello - sorry to anyone I may have offended.

Having now tried both clubs - which one would I recommend, personallly I prefer the C&CC, I think it deserves the nickname the friendly club. However if you can afford it join both - they have different things to offer.

Angel, the wardens were at fault for not stopping the ball games. The eleven o clock (pm) rule is usually maintained to allow campers a peaceful nights sleep. Thats also when the gates are locked.

Hope you are not detered by your experience and enjoy both CC and C&CC sites.

Steve

PS - great wardens at the C&CC site at Barnard Castle this year, we were there last weekend.

Oh yes, and this is a terrible admission - when it rains on a C&CC site you can always look out of the caravan windows and be really glad you are not camping!!!!

 

[trucker]

We stayed at the cc site longleat over this b/h had a fantastic w/e but noisy nabours did anoy us a bit. Sat night they were up till gone 1am in the awning next to my bed. If I had my way i would have been out there telling them what I thought. My other half stopped me from doing that. we are early risers and early to bed (10pm ish) i understand people dont go to bed as early but 1 am laughing and loud talking not on in my book.

it did only happen 1 night but that was enough for me.

our other nabours 2 adults and 4 teanage kids were fantastic, friendly and you didnt know they had the kids with them.

why cant people be a bit more conciderate

Kevin

 

[JON2515]

In my view, the wardens in both clubs just dont do their job properly anymore - whether its complacency or they dont want to offend their members I dont know but it bugs me that on many sites, you rarely see them apart from when they are emptying the bins once or twice daily - idiots exceeding the speed limit on site never get a ticking off nor do noisy members at night - the rest of us have to put up with it or move - and they dont set an example themselves in many cases hurtling around on their tractors often ignoring their own one way systems - or is it just a sign of the times?

 

[SootyandBaldrick]

Shall i share what really annoys me? its not the kids having fun, after all thats why we've come away for the weekend in the first place, its not the dads having a beer discussing the footie (thank goodness it almost over!)nor the dog walkers its the people who at 7.30-8.00am are up and out with their ruddy aquarolls and wastemasters trundling them accross the gravel to fill up and empty WHY SO BLOOMING EARLY???????????? Take a chill pill, relax, chill out a while! and before anyone starts yes it is done on the c & c sites, i have stayed at several and they are all the same. As for kids why cant they have fun? the first May holiday we organised a mini sports event for the kids , 2 legged race etc one chap came bounding over telling us to keep quiet! at 7.00pm? i dont think so. my kids are behaved and respect others but i will not have anyone telling them to shut up. We must be the only nation who hates the sight and sound of kids which is very sad indeed. there are thousands of kids who would love to away for the weekend in a caravan but sadly are not as fortunate as some of us.

Yvonne

And I thought it was just me who couldn't stand the sound of an aquaroll at 7am in the morning so pleased to know that I am not alone.

 

[Jon_374418977]

We are now in year 5 with the C&CClub & cant enthuse enough about the cleanliness of the amenaties etc. As to noise we give school hols. a big miss. got 5 weeks booked again this year. 2 in Northumberland & 3 touring between Wales Devon Cornwall South coast & back up through Norfolk Lincolnshire & over the Humber Bridge back home to Teesside

 

[Powderblue]

We were enjoying a relaxing holiday on a quiet site last year when four men (not young lads I might add) turned up for the weekend for a golfing holiday. The noise started after they got back from the pub around 11 pm. Drunk as lords they were laughing loud, shouting, swearing, etc. and it was still going on a 1 am. It came to an abrupt end when someone knocked the table over sending all the bottles, glasses or whatever flying. Next morning we were just on our way to complain when the warden, already having had several complaints, knocked on our door to ask if we had heard anything the previous night! They were giving their marching orders there and then, but they couldn't understand why! So it's not just annoying kids kicking balls near the van that can spoil your holiday - its' drunken grown men too!!!