Difference between C&CC sites and CC sites?

[andy72]

I read on another thread where a member stated that C&CC sites are vastly inferior to CC sites. Im a member of the C&CC and have toyed with joining the CC but the free for all booking system puts me off.

Im not intending this post to be a bun fight between members of each club (i think many are members of both anyway) but just curious as to what i am missing by being a member of only the C&CC and how the CC sites are 'vastly superior'.

Is it number of pitches, facilities, style of pitches, locations? what?

 

[Parksy]

There is absolutely no evidence to support any such statement that C&CC sites are inferior in any way Andy. Did this person who was supposed to have made this statement visit every single C&CC site to compare it with CC sites?
If not, how then could they possibly substantiate such an outrageous claim?
The best thing that you can do Andy is to have a good browse throughout this forum and any other caravan forum on the internet.
Make a note of how many moans for whatever reason appear on the message boards from C&CC members about C&CC sites.
Next, make a note of how many moans for whatever reason are posted on the same message boards from CC members about CC sites.
Never confuse someone's opinion with actual fact.
When you have ploughed through all of the moans and complaints for a comparable period of time and compared the figures you can decide for yourself what you are missing if anything.

 

[andy72]

Thats kind of what i thought, as the sites ive visited so far have all be fine, clean facilities, decent choice of pitches, freindly (all but one) staff, basically just what they promise. Sites close to me like Belligham got very good reveiws in top100 sites recently so to generalise is a little off the mark.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Is it number of pitches, facilities, style of pitches, locations? what?

Join the CC and then compare the two to make up your own mind.
As a member of both clubs, having rejoined the C&CC after having fallen out with them, I can honestly say that most C&CC sites AREN'T up to the standard of the C.C. In just about every C&CC site I've stayed on the shower blocks for those who use them are less modern. I'm not saying they are dirty because they aren't but the C&CC certainly needs to spend money on upgrading it's sites. The last C&CC site we stayed on was at Norwich. A lovely location on the edge of the city but crying out for money to be spent on it.
Some people don't like the tents mix and having experienced some low life tenters at Winchcombe I understand what they mean. Saying that I've never had any other bad experiences probably because most of the C&CC sites we used were in Scotland and the tenters were ramblers etc. and not irresponsible parents with out of control kids.
Regarding Parksy's comment regarding complaints he is right but it's always the same monotous crap about deposits and people moaning they can't get to Chatsworth.
Also this is a caravan forum so there's no doubt that most members in this forum are actually CC members rather than C&CC. The CC also has a larger membership.
Both clubs have their rally clubs also doing good deals with ferries, insurance etc.
The C&CC score over the CC in giving a discount to over 55s.
As I said, join both and then make your mind up. You might even want to stay a member of both giving you more sites to choose from.

 

[andy72]

Thats a very honest answer lord and much appriecated.

I think i am going to join the CC as you suggest for this year to see what the sites are like. If i join does any existing member get anything free if i mention them on the application? if so im happy to 'be referred' by someone if they post or pm their membership name.

 

[Cruzer]

It could be argued that some CC sites are inferior/superior to others within the same club. Likewise for C&CC. There are certainly no obvious visible differences. We are members of both because it gives us greater freedom of choice where we go and you can usually save enough in not having to pay non-member supplements to cover the membership fee (we insure through C&CC too so it save a few bob on that front too).

As has already been said the best thing would be to join both, even if it's just for one year, there's not commitment to renew after 12 months.

 

[Surfer]

Having being a member of both clubs at one time I can definitely say that the C & CC sites are inferior to CC sites and also to many commercial sites. Unfortunately we have never come across a pleasant C & CC site that we have enjoyed because if ti is nice the wardens are probably horrid to balance it out!

 

[SteveW77]

Like you, I am a member of both clubs, but I do not agree with you views at all.
I have never found any of the wardens unpleasant and I don't think there is much difference at all.

Steve W

 

[Essexeddie]

Likewise to some, we are members to both but prefer the CC sites.
But I must say to be fair the C&CC pitches do seem a bit larger at most sites.

 

[Oklahoma]

As well as giving discount to over 55's the C&CC do not charge for our adult son who has Down's Syndrome. This is because he is dependant on us for a holiday and we can't go anywhere without him. We asked the CC if they would let him stay without charging him but were told he would have to pay the full adult price.
Even though I like the CC sites we are using C&CC sites more and more because with the over 55 discount and no charge for our son it works out a lot cheaper.

 

[Tony_5041742]

For the relatively low level of subs its worth being in both clubs if you're going to be doing a fair amount of stays away. We've used both CC and CCC sites for years, as others have said there are good and bad about both. Personally I'd tend to ageee that CC sites show signs of greater levels of investment, but there are some CCC sites that we really like too. Wardens - perhaps we've been lucky, but all the CC and CCC wardens I've met have been nothing other than friendly and helpful.

 

[Parksy]

Having being a member of both clubs at one time I can definitely say that the C & CC sites are inferior to CC sites and also to many commercial sites. Unfortunately we have never come across a pleasant C & CC site that we have enjoyed because if ti is nice the wardens are probably horrid to balance it out!

Every C&CC warden that I've met has been fine, most of them have gone out of their way to be friendly, helpful and professional.
Going back to my earlier point about the number of complaints, the CC has many complaints on caravan forums about their booking system which are rarely aired about the C&CC.
It's not the CC's fault but from what I see on forums CC members appear to be rather fond of complaining about a wide range of things from - children, dogs and their owners, people cutting across pitches, people speeding round CC sites to get the 'best pitch', people turning up early, wardens, windbreaks, fellow CC members in general and of course the CC's booking system

That to me is the biggest difference between the clubs based on forum posts (as a mod I read a great many).
There is an occasional moan from a C&CC member but the complaints are very rare in comparison to the almost constant stream of complaints from CC members.
Perhaps the CC has got the best toilets or showers, I will never be a member of the CC so I couldn't judge but surely there's got to be more to life than sitting inside the caravan all day watching every other CC member like a hawk just in case they sully a corner of the sacred pitch with a footprint, watching to see if sombody uses a motor mover (yes, a CC member complained in PCv magazine about CC members using motor movers!!!), watching everybody else and counting how many times they visit one of the precious toilets which some CC members seem to regard as golden shrines to be worshiped.

There are definitely some differences!
Either the C&CC has a super efficient method of dealing with complaints so that we never read about them on forums or, more likely, C&CC members are generally satisfied (apart from the odd one or two) and have no need to complain because they are out away from the site enjoying themselves instead of sitting there miserably watching everybody else and complaining about them

 

[Dustydog]

For the sake of £35.00 or thereabouts why not join both for the next 12 months.
I only belong to the CC because I like their monthly magazine and also their caravan insurance scheme and Mayday recovery. The C&CC also do similar schemes.
More to the point CC sites seem to be getting very expensive this year and a few "clicky" ones are virtually impossible to book as they get snapped up in the December Bun Fight!!
However , please remember both clubs have access to hundreds of CLs &CSs which can be very cheap with varying facilities.
Many are in brethtaking locations.
IMO you do need to look deeper than just the clubs main sites.
Go on be a star and hedge your bets

 

[Mel]

I belong to both. I agree with LB that in my (limited) experience CC toilet blocks are more modern than C&CC ones, but both are equally clean and useable. My experience of wardens has also been of all of them being helpful and friendly. We came across one on a C&CC site in scotland who was not a happy bunny; but he was helpful, albeit moaning loudly about how overworked and badly done to he was by the C&CC, whilst doing it. I will be one of the people who moan about the CC booking system; I cannot book a site I want (not just Chatsworth!) easily; I can with the C&CC because they ask for a deposit. I don't think that there is a massive difference in the caravanning clientele on each site. Wherever you go you will find nice people and oafs.
mel

 

[forestgump]

Today i got my ccrenewal but i wont be paying up to many times ive had bookings knocked back (block booking ) high prices and not mutch for kids
Iknow its a taste for every one but ive used more cc,c sites last year a lot cheaper for weekend breaks and private or comercial sites for main holidays with pools ect ect the cc seem to be price high and i know that when i book they are full but at the time there will be pitches so its no more money c/c..

 

[John_miller]

I've been a member of both clubs for years and while we don't use either club's sites on a regular basis, I have to admit that we prefer the CC sites, partly because the toilet blocks on C&CC sites tend to be old and tired, but I also dislike being escorted to a predetermined pitch (no choice) and being stood over while we site the caravan. I know there is some dislike of the CC booking system, but I infinitely prefer it to having to pay a £25 non-refundable deposit as the C&CC requires. Neither will they accept one night bookings (except on some standard, non-electric pitches) and they require minimum nights bookings on popular sites like Keswick, so forget it if you want to go for a weekend. Keswick is one of the most popular sites on the C&CC network and must generate huge income for them, but the toilets are amongst the worst we have encountered. They are clean and reasonably well-maintained, but that's about all that's good about them. However, the C&CC provide a viable alternative to the CC, and I still regard the annual fee as a worthwhile investment.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I have to admit that we prefer the CC sites, partly because the toilet blocks on C&CC sites tend to be old and tired, but I also dislike being escorted to a predetermined pitch (no choice) and being stood over while we site the caravan.
They require minimum nights bookings on popular sites like Keswick, so forget it if you want to go for a weekend. Keswick is one of the most popular sites on the C&CC network and must generate huge income for them, but the toilets are amongst the worst we have encountered.

Thanks for confirming what I said about the shower blocks John. I did forget about the C&CC allocating you a pitch and likewise, something I dislike.
I didn't realise that they had a minimum nights policy because we usually go for weeks at a time but looking at this I think it could be a good policy for the CC to take up. If they did just watch the number of complaints about the CC fall in forums like this because there would be no more whingeing posts about not being able to get on Rowntree, Chatsworth, Clumber etc. for the weekend

 

[Surfer]

CC does more investment in their sites than the C &CC however I agree that C & CC booking system is a fairer way fo dealing with bookings and one can book for a week at a ttime at a site plus get a discount for ove 55s. However they use RAC who will not cut you any slack if you have a new car with RAC cover as you still have to pay the full whack in order to be covered and it is a lot higher than CC Green Flag. We don't have many C & CC CS's in our area but the two we visited we would never go back to again as both shoudl never have been a CS or even a rally field. We have come across similar with CLs, but because the CC seem to have more CLs than the C & CC have CS, you don't come across it very often.

 

[andy72]

So Generally there are differences ( i hate generalising as there will be some good/ bad in both ).

• The CC booking system is flawed as it limits genunine use of the sites and is taken up by the december bun fight.

I can understand this as if you dont have to commit financally, of course you are going to grab what you can. Its greedy human nature. Ive had a look on the CC site and availability at the sites i would visit and most are full nearly every weekend up to end of september. To me this dictates there is literally no point in joining if i cant get on the number of sites i would like to visit.

• The CC shower / toilet facilities are more modern than C&CC facilities

This is a valid point and no doubt some will take more heed of it than others. We need to use the site facilities as our van is limited in terms of onboard facilities etc. Maybe its becuase we have come from tent camping but we generally appriacte any facility provided if its clean and tidy. On teh C&CC sites ive been too, there seems to be always someone cleaning them!. I dont recall ever seeing brand new facilities but then i suppose everything gets old eventually even brand new CC ones.

• Allocated pitches

I dont mind being allocated a pitch. I cant imagine booking in a hotel abroad and being given the option to runa round the hotel picking the best room. Maybe its a caravan thing? ive asked for different pitches before at C&CC sites and if they have room they have been accomdating. Sometimes they couldnt and we had to stay put. I dont see what the deal is with being shown to the picth either. The times its happened to me, the warden on his bike or tractor thing has given me tips on how to get it positioned. With a young baby and a 6 year old, its worth its weight in gold as my wife jumps out with the kids, off to the play area and leaves me and warden to position the van.

• Just join both

already paid for C&CC and CC appears to be £40 to join. I am very tempted, but the fact above about the sites i want being booked up i cant see the point, and will have to look at commercial sites in the same areas. (im still new to towing so will be using thsi year to gain confidence in the whole vanning thing before we invest in a newer van and go further afield.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi all.
over the years we have been members of both at different times and can honestly say we have not really noticed much difference with the two clubs both have nice sites in stategic places and the wardens of both have been second to none,
the main difference between to two is that with the C&CC vans share the site with tenters which is not a problem in itself as you do on any commercial site (allthough some commercials use different fields) and the camping club allocate pitches "which can be booked in advance" they do charge a small booking fee something the CC does not (and the reason for most of the complaints) on some of the most popular sites.
years ago we joined the C&CC as this club seemed to suit the mobility of the motorhome better as having a prescribed pitches meant no-one nicked your pitch while you were out for the day plus quite a few of their sites were near town centres and you could leave the van in situ and walk, are favorite call in site was at moffat that we used about 6 times a year on our way to and from the highlands and it had the trout farm at the back of the site. the membership fee was more than covered out of the clubs non members suppliment also our daughter was a tenter at the time so we could meet up on site for the odd weekend, we did however fall out with the club after a particular bad journey down from ullapool in storm lashed conditions and got turned away from the site at luss at 9pm because they did not take hardtops even though the site was deserted and we were members. We had to spent the night in a layby on the side of loch lomond we made several complaints but these fell on deaf ears so we cancelled our subscription.

right upto last year we managed quite well using just small commercial sites most of which were exellent easy to book and most would take you if you just turned up at reception to be honest you dont need to be a member of any club to enjoy our hobby just plan ahead.

last year we joined the CC mainly to take advantage of the insurance and may day deals offered by the club the membership fee was saved many times over doing this and so far have been happy with what we have seen, we did use a couple of CL's on last years trip to cornwall recommended by LB "thanks elbee" these were exellent and far cheaper than comparable commercials sites in the area, having said that some of the big club sites do seem very expensive so we have not used any yet.
we would have used CL's this year for our jaunt down to the peak district except we could not find any that could take us for the whole 3 weeks " same old CC booking nugget" so this year is back to a commercial site for us.
colin

 

[Parksy]

I know that you need to have on site facilities Andy and if you look at the online C&CC booking website the tick boxes allow you to find certified sites with ehu, toilets and showers and these can represent a significant saving over the prices charged by the main sites and many are near to the popular club locations anyway.
Commercial sites are a good viable alternative to club sites, if you search the internet there are definitely bargains to be had on some excellent sites with first class facilities.
With the age discount at less busy times we can afford to use C&CC sites because the price differential isn't that much but we have our own list of favourite commercial sites which are less expensive at more popular times. Many commercial sites are much more child friendly than any of the club sites, you would expect to pay a deposit like on C&CC sites (I can never understand the CC hang up about deposits which are standard practice) but often you get much more for your money. Not all commercial sites are populated by boozy yobbish noisy chavs, many have strict admission and noise policies and are as well run and maintained as any club site.
The Practical Caravan Readers Rally is being held on Stowford Farm Meadows and this site is a good example of what is available to familes at a very good price. (£45 for the rally and £5 per pitch including hook up for up to six nights which means that you could have 10 nights on an excellent site for £75 including ehu)
If you visit a site which doesn't come up to standard the answer is simple - don't go back but with the internet it's possible to gain some insight into commercial sites before you book.

 

[anotherDavid]

Does the £25 booking fee mean that there are no pitches less than that or do the give you the difference back?
David

 

[mullsy1]

I've been a member of both clubs for years and while we don't use either club's sites on a regular basis, I have to admit that we prefer the CC sites, partly because the toilet blocks on C&CC sites tend to be old and tired, but I also dislike being escorted to a predetermined pitch (no choice) and being stood over while we site the caravan. I know there is some dislike of the CC booking system, but I infinitely prefer it to having to pay a £25 non-refundable deposit as the C&CC requires. Neither will they accept one night bookings (except on some standard, non-electric pitches) and they require minimum nights bookings on popular sites like Keswick, so forget it if you want to go for a weekend. Keswick is one of the most popular sites on the C&CC network and must generate huge income for them, but the toilets are amongst the worst we have encountered. They are clean and reasonably well-maintained, but that's about all that's good about them. However, the C&CC provide a viable alternative to the CC, and I still regard the annual fee as a worthwhile investment.

Have to say,was at Keswick a couple of weeks back and was our first stay on a C&CC site and to be honest if theyre the worst toilets on the network then I dont think I have too much to worry about - spotless ,with new seats and a new coat of paint.Also,we were shown to our pitch but we could of chosen a different pitch if we wanted to- the site wasnt full .The wardens were also the friendliest we've met. Would certainly return.

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Why are people so predominately obscessed with toilet blocks - as long as they are clean and functionable, who cares how old they are?

If you book a pitch online with the C&CC, it asks you if you have any special requirements - that includes pitch allocation. We always ask for a pitch around the perimeter of the site, and it's never been a problem - if you don't ask, you don't get!

The deposit is refundable if you cancel your booking within 7 days - it is retained in a "holding" account, where it can be used for future bookings. I don't consider it to be unreasonable to retain a deposit, if deliberatly not honouring the booking, if it's for situations beyond control, then it's a different matter!

 

[John_miller]

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. As I said earlier, we don't use club sites much, but in my limited experience, a request to use anything other than the allocated pitch does not go down well with C&CC officials. It is very difficult to know what particular pitches look like in advance of arriving at a site if you haven't been there before. We caravan abroad extensively in the summer and almost all foreign sites have good to excellent toilet blocks (some of the German and Austrian ones are better than mine at home!) and the vast majority tell you to pitch where you like and allow you to walk around to choose a pitch. Perhaps we are spoiled. Retaining a deposit in a holding account is not a refund. People have to cancel for many different reasons, especially when you book a long way ahead. Providing this is not done at very short notice, allowing time for the pitch to be rebooked, I can see no justification in retaining deposits in this way. It is simply bureaucracy.
I did forget to say in my initial post, that I like the over-55 discounts that C&CC offer - another good reason why I continue to be a member.

John M