Difference between C&CC sites and CC sites?

[anotherDavid]

Like John we do our caravanning on the continent and it is almost unknown in our experiance to be told where to pitch. Some sites will give you a print out showing the free pitches to choose from or mark up a map.When we have been allocated pitches I dont recall having any trouble changing them, why should we put up with it here ?
Regarding deposits whilst I am not the greatest fan of the CC, I think it would be a retrogade step to introduce a system like the C&CC just because some of the members cant get on to Chatsworth, its always been the case that popular sites get booked up and was the same years ago when the CC had a deposit scheme, what happened then was wealthier members just booked multiple sites and lost the deposits on the ones they didnt take up.
Its just a pity one dare not leave home in the UK without booking, we never book anything on the continent and (low season) never have any problem.
David

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

An interesting point of view, especially coming from a woman, since in my experience, it tends to be women who are fussiest about toilet arrangements - my wife certainly is more demanding than me. My impression is that people are usually fairly demanding about toilet standards in domestic situations (just see the prices that are paid to have bathrooms refurbished!), so it isn't surprising that toilets on sites arouse people's passions.
John M

You're quite correct - I am very fussy about my toilet arrangements, and that's why I don't use site facilities. I prefer to know who's backside has been on the seat before me!!

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

.When we have been allocated pitches I dont recall having any trouble changing them, why should we put up with it here ?
David

You don't have to put up with anything, if the pitch you are allocated isn't suitable then just ask to be moved - what's the problem?
In 99% of cases the warden always asks if the pitch is OK for you, it's up to you to say yes or no!

 

[Oklahoma]

We have been escorted to our pitch but have never been made to take one we didn't want. They usually tell you which pitches are available and let you choose which one you prefer. If the site is very empty we have been able to say where we want to go and then escorted to the pitch and helped if we want it. We've always found the wardens helpful and friendly.

 

[gdadbill]

I dont know what all this fuss is about,just join either clubs and go on their meets (C & CC) or rallies (CC) and enjoy the freedom caravanning gives all of us . I am willing to bet that all of you complaing about the state of the showers and toilets have paid a lot of money for caravans with perfectly good facilities on board. We are C&CC members and I cant remember the last time we used a club site ,we always use the weekend meets or the THS meets and have a cracking time, most of these do not require any booking and you get a very warm welcome on arrival . Use your van as it is intended to be used and ENJOY YOURSELF life is to short to moan.Have a great season gdad bill

 

[snowdrop]

When we first bought a caravan we joined both clubs.We tried a few C&CC sites and some commercial ones which were fine but we felt there was something missing.The following year we discovered the joys of rallying.We began to camp mainly with our own DA and haven't looked back since! Who needs sites when you can just pull up in a field somewhere and enjoy a weekend with friends.There are also some wonderfull sites for Holidays.This year we will be using a THS with direct access to a private beach,a variety of events such as crab racing and beach barbeques all for £6 a night!

 

[Parksy]

Its just a pity one dare not leave home in the UK without booking, we never book anything on the continent and (low season) never have any problem.
David

The continent is a much bigger place with many more pitches than would ever be available here in the UK no matter which club you belong to.
We've turned up at C&CC certified sites without booking but it would make sense to book for either clubs mainstream sites to avoid the disappointment of a wasted journey.
In line with standard business practice throughout the tourist industry including commercial sites and hotels the C&CC ask for a small deposit to secure a booking which is refundable under most unforeseeable circumstances without the need to buy cancellation insurance.
This system obviously works very well for the C&CC as evidenced by the lack of complaints about the system from the members unlike the CC where the booking system appears to be a major source of contention.
It's correct that the site operatives escort the unit to the pitch, a common courtesy I would have thought and this prevents speeding on site to reach 'the best pitch' which is something that we read about CC sites. The pitch allocation allows grassed sections of the site to recover and ensures that a correct distance is maintained between units to ensure privacy and safety besides maximising site /pitch usage and requests are treated fairly and courteously in my experience.
We rarely use main club sites these days because like the previous two C&CC members who posted we thoroughly enjoy the total freedom of our weekend da rallies amongst friends and acquaintances and hope that no matter which club you prefer you enjoy using your caravan as much as we do.

 

[madatter]

Just my 10 pence worth, we're new to caravaning only bought our abbey gts 215 about 8 weeks ago, we we're warned about the CC being a bit high brow but don't really care so we joined, I must point out we live right in the middle of notts, only about 3 miles from Teversal and less than 15 to Chatsworth and Clumber
Booking
My first experience of the CC was booking system, what a nightmare, everywhere we wanted to go, Clumber ,Chatsworth, Rowntree all book every weekend till Christmas, thought well that was a waste off £35. Soon worked out you have to keep looking, the page updates all the time, we've been to Chatsworth, Rowntree and Cambridge for the weekend and are booked into Grin Low next weekend, but it is expensive, averaging £25 for 1 night for the two of us.
Shower/Wc
The Toilet blocks are fantastic, we had a night at Shardlow and we had better toilets in Morroco... on the down side we have 2 teenage daughters, we bought the van a 2 birth to escape from them but they came with us for the first time to Cambridge, both went for a shower and came back shocked that a lady had had a go at them for not cleaning the showers after they had used them, I did the same at York because nobody told us to read all the notices before using anything.
Reception
Rowntree booking in was fine, drive round, find a pitch, call into reception and let them know your pitch number, job done.. Cambridge not so good, leave your van blocking the road and entrance along with the other half doz caravans and motorhomes, walk round the site looking for a pitch, find one run back as fast as you can and fetch your daughter to stand on the pitch till you get there, go back to reception and get back into the booking in queue, get looks and remarks about somebody with a abbey blocking road, tell them the pitch number, run back to caravan which my wife moved over to let others through who are now blocking me in. You get the idea?
I like the CC but their not very child friendly and I'm a young active 50 year old who felt like a teenage yob at times, going to a CC site reminds me of going to the library or doctors if you know what mean.
Thanks for the rant.

 

[sallybw]

I can only speak from my very limited experience with cc sites and can only say that I the couple that I have been to have been great. The booking system has worked well for us and the not having to pay until the day we arrive is great. I know that everyone goes on about the showers and toilets, but as we use these instead of our caravan facilities these are important to us and the ones that I have visited have been really clean. I like the fact that they are well maintained and child friendly. I like the fact that the people I have encountered have always been respectful of our pitches and no one has cut across them. I only have good things to say about the cc. I know that once I have become more experienced then i may look at visiting Cl sites and other sites. The wardens/staff have always been friendly and helpful and the magazine is great.

 

[wattie]

Hi Andy72.
I am a member of both clubs the c+.c.c.for 9 years the c.c. for 2 years
I find the C+CC has a better system with bookings (deposits, web site etc.).
The CC sites are open earlier in the year
The toilets and showers are better/ cleaner at CC sites, cleaner because tent campers bring in more grass and mud?
As I do not spend the whole of my holiday in a Toilet Block that doesn`t bother me
But the general unfreindliness at CC sites do .( last spring went to Moreton on Marsh was glad we went onto Oswestry).
What a diference.
Wattie

 

[Terryjenk]

We have been members of both clubs for a number of years , usually managing 16 - 18 trips a year using mainly club sites.
There are good and there are mediocre sites in both clubs -
e.g C & CC Windermere ( Ashes Lane ) is excellent , good facilities , friendly wardens etc .
We have just had 2 trips to Park Coppice ( C.C. ) and Keswick (C & CC ) and found that the wardens at both sites were excellent.
We do tend to gravitate to CC sites as the pitches are generally a bit bigger and ( dare I say it ? ) the toilet blocks are probably newer and the shower cubicles usually larger.

In years of caravanning I can only remember 4 instances where the wardens were less than friendly -

One was a CC site in the Cotswolds and someone had written 'Happy pills for the warden ? in the suggestions book .
The warden had put a large question mark next to the comment so obviously he didn't think he had a problem !
The other 3 were C & CC sites though these were generally the warden's partner , long suffering wardens !
To be fair two of these instances were the same couple who had been moved from a large flagship site in Scotland to a smaller site in the Lake District ( I met them at both ) . They spent most of the time moaning about being moved and not being happy about it.
I could only wonder why ?
So I personally think there are good and bad ( both sites and wardens ) in both clubs and couldn't say that one is definitely better than the other .

 

[Terryjenk]

Duplicate Post

 

[ProfJohnL]

This debate arises quite often, and frankly no-one on this forum can give a definitive answer as to which club is best overall.

I am certain that each club has sites that could be categorised a “the good, the bad and the ugly” and those assessments may change depending on local factors on a daily basis. It also depends on your own personal preferences.

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

We were away for eleven nights over the Easter/Wedding weekend, where we stayed at two C&CC sites - neither of which I shall name. The first one (which we had used before) IMO is the most immaculately maintained site, admittedly we didn't use the facilites, but the wardens (franchisees) are the friendliest of couples you could wish to meet, and couldn't do enough!

The second site, which we had used lots of times before, had really gone downhill in our estimation, and we have decided that we will not visiting this site in future (new policies of the wardens, seems to be unique to this site, and didn't suit us personally!), and for that reason we shall use the CC for visits to this area.

It's all horses for courses!