Having just received the new caravan club sites book I had a quick thumb through and discovered that this "club" seems to have a never ending increase in prices. Some sites seem to be asking over £30 for a night and most are asking north of £20. For two persons and a hook up I think this is getting a bit pricey. I appreciate there is a large CL network to consider but out of the main holiday season I would have thought they might have preferred to fill their sites with lower prices?
The caravan club
- Thread starter Willo8660
- Start date
Wrong assumption Pete - they want to rake in as much as they can off everyone!
They're only a "club" in the same sense that a nightclub is - they're a business, but part of their business model is to have a list of "members," to whom they try to sell even more stuff.
Both the major "clubs" IMHO are also far more geared to caravans than to motorhomes.
By the way, welcome to the forums - good to have you along!
They're only a "club" in the same sense that a nightclub is - they're a business, but part of their business model is to have a list of "members," to whom they try to sell even more stuff.
Both the major "clubs" IMHO are also far more geared to caravans than to motorhomes.
By the way, welcome to the forums - good to have you along!
We are members of both the CC and C&CC. We stay in the CC purely because of the CL network. C&CC also has the meets and THSs that need no booking (which CC rallies do not have).
Gearing towards caravans is, I think, mainly historical in that many site locations reflect the fact that when they were first established the demand was mainly to cater towards caravans. Locations friendlier to motorhomes tend to be where land is expensive so less commercially viable.
Graham
Gearing towards caravans is, I think, mainly historical in that many site locations reflect the fact that when they were first established the demand was mainly to cater towards caravans. Locations friendlier to motorhomes tend to be where land is expensive so less commercially viable.
Graham
The CC publishes its financial accounts and holds AGMs plus local group meetings so it is accountable to members. It has also an active approach to consulting members.
Members want investment in sites to bring them all up to a certain standard. For example, motorhomers are pressing for better service points. That means the CC has to generate the income to do this work, recognising affordability is a growing issue for members.
There are bargains to be had if you stay away from the main sites and the CL network remains good although there is again a drift upwards in fees. I stayed at Ferry Meadows in October for under £10 per night, we did three nights in Ludlow for the price of two nights. The CC does basic sites [no toilet block] for £12.50 which are great for motorhomers, offers for kids, and mid week deals.
That said, I think the fees are getting too high and the investment in sites is creating 'gin palaces'.
Members want investment in sites to bring them all up to a certain standard. For example, motorhomers are pressing for better service points. That means the CC has to generate the income to do this work, recognising affordability is a growing issue for members.
There are bargains to be had if you stay away from the main sites and the CL network remains good although there is again a drift upwards in fees. I stayed at Ferry Meadows in October for under £10 per night, we did three nights in Ludlow for the price of two nights. The CC does basic sites [no toilet block] for £12.50 which are great for motorhomers, offers for kids, and mid week deals.
That said, I think the fees are getting too high and the investment in sites is creating 'gin palaces'.
I am not sure how an organisation that ploughs all surplus money (profit) back into providing better member services can be considered a business in the strictest sense of the word. Putting that aside it was not many years ago that the site network made a loss and of course site occupancy is very weather dependant. The Club could keep prices down but then they wouldn't have any money to invest in new sites and facilities. As a caravanner for 30 odd years and now a motorhomer for coming up to two years I am not sure why both should not be perfectly happy with what the Club provides. OK I accept that motorhome service points do need a general redesign to make them more user friendly but there are signs that the Club are looking to do this as they open new sites or upgrade existing ones so this process will take some time. We might not need such large pitches as a car/caravan/awning but to start building pitches specific to motorhomes reduces flexibility, far better all pitches can be used by a variety of different units.
David
David
The CC has gone up in my estimation as this Christmas another CL has opened within walking distance of my mum's. That makes two with a CS from the C&CC just over 2 miles away.
I'm looking forward to getting out and about on CC sites this year as we're both not working and can spend a few days on midweek rates and the CLs for weekends.
I'm looking forward to getting out and about on CC sites this year as we're both not working and can spend a few days on midweek rates and the CLs for weekends.
Facebook
Twitter