Which Club

[cobbers]

My wife and I are newcomers to the caravan scene. We bought a s/h Bailey last July had a week in West Wales and then went away every weekend we could spare until October. Fantastic fun and a great way of keeping her indoors happy whilst I slope of for a few hours salmon fishing.

We are busy planning a full intinerary for the coming season. We prefer small rural sites, with hook up facilities but don't need anything fancy like clubs, swimming pools, kids play areas etc. We intend to join either the Caravan Club or the Camping and Caravan club but don't know which one would suit us best.

Any suggestions?

 

[BecknRob]

Afternoon Cobbers,

Me and the Family, (wife and 2 kids) belong to the Caravan Club, with that we have joined our local Centre as we live in Essex, we joined the North Essex Centre.

With that you get a Rally book detailing all of the weekends away, and the events for the weekend. There is nearly a rally every weekend!

The majority of the weekends are on private land, unfortunately with that you get no electric hookup, although some weekends we do actually have rally's at normal campsites with Electric hook at a subsidise rate, they also do Fishing Rally's as well!!!

You get to make so many friends and have such great weekends for such a cheap price.

If you joined the caravan club you can tick if you wish to be sent the centre book?

Hope this helps?

Cheers

Rob.

 

[JD6620]

We joined the Caravan Club when we started caravanning 9 years ago and have been totally happy with them. You know the sites are going to be excellent and clean. The CC also have a large selection on CL sites to choose from which are small 5 van sites, but facilities vary. I have no experience of the C&CC, I was going to join some time ago but some of the postings on this forum put me off. My advise is, if you can afford it, join both clubs. See which one you prefer over the course of the year and go from there. Personally its the Caravan Club for me.

 

[DianneT]

We joined the Caravan Club 39 years ago and have been very satisfied with their services. They have kept up with the times with lovely and reasonable priced sites to visit. We only use CL's as we do not like big sites these days. We also find their European services second to none.

 

[Parksy]

Just to balance things out,

We are members of the Camping and Caravanning Club. Their sites are clean and well run and the C&CC don't appear to have the problems that the Caravan Club members mention on forums where there are problems booking the pitches due to advance block booking.

The Camping & Caravan Club in line with modern business practice asks for a deposit when a pitch is booked and there is no evidence of members booking multiple weekends in advance and then deciding which one to go for. Caravan Club members report that in their opinion this advance block booking happens with the CC and it's the main cause of discontent within the CC if forum topics are to be believed.

The Camping and Caravanning Club gives a discount for over 55's and it also has many 5 caravan certified sites available.

The main difference between the clubs is that the C&CC have many tent based members as well as caravan and motorhome users.

All Camping and Caravanning Club sites can be booked online and in my own experience their Club Secure caravan insurance is more competitively priced than the Caravan Club insurance although I must stress that both insurers are honest and trustworthy.

The C&CC also offers car loans, continental travel and RAC recovery which includes the caravan amongst it's many services.

Why not try both clubs? Only you can decide what suits you best.

 

[Ray R]

Hi, We are in both clubs but I don't think that we will be renewing the C & CC membership this time as we very rarely use them and tend to stick to CC sites.

Whilst you do need to book CC sites well in advance for peak times such as school holidays and Bank holidays we have almost always managed to get a pitch at our chosen site. Some popular sites do get booked up for weekends but there are others that are always available.

 

[g_374369443]

Members of both,and although not users of any of their sites on a regular bases,we use the C.C. more so and also tend to use their insurance and ferry booking facilities too.

Found their monthly mag more to our suiting,but would say try both for a year and then decide yourself.

 

[LMH]

Hi

We are members of both. I've stayed in more CC sites than CCC sites. However, when we take the caravan, we tend to use cl's either CC ones or private. Thinking about it, the last time we used a CC site was March 2006.

As for the CCC, I only tend to use them when it's just me and the dog with a tent.

It depends what you like really, some people slate the CCC because it's a bit more laid back, and some people slate the CC because its too regimental.

I probably haven't been any help but good luck anyway.

Lisa

 

[Jane_374368479]

Hi -What Parksy failed to mention was the the number of people who dislike the C&CC system of allocating you the pitch the wardens think you should have, and not the one you would like.The C.C you choose.

 

[Parksy]

Ah yes I forgot that on main C&CC sites the warden directs you to the pitch.

This system may not suit some in the same way that reckless drivers speeding round camp sites to get to the pitch of their choice may not suit others, again if recent forum posts are anything to go by.

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

I rarely stay on mainstream club sites because in the countryside we prefer certified sites of 5 caravans or less.

 

[Zafiral]

With the Camping and Caravanning Club, unless it has changed recently, you cannot book an electric pitch for a one night Saturday stay. If you work in the week, this can be a problem.

 

[swpostie]

Hi Cobbers,

We have just completed our first year as caravanners.

We have been away a dozen times over the past year, and are members of both clubs.

We joined both so that we would have the best possible choice of places to stay, and don't regret our decision.

Though, saying that, we haven't actually used any C&CC sites yet, we've only stayed on CC and commercial sites!

The Caravan Club is a much larger organisation that the C&CC with a lot more sites - but if you want to stay in a particular place that only has a C&CC site nearby, then your Caravan Club membership won't be much help!

So, my advice would be to try both for a year and see how you get on.

 

[cobbers]

Hi Cobbers,

We have just completed our first year as caravanners.

We have been away a dozen times over the past year, and are members of both clubs.

We joined both so that we would have the best possible choice of places to stay, and don't regret our decision.

Though, saying that, we haven't actually used any C&CC sites yet, we've only stayed on CC and commercial sites!

The Caravan Club is a much larger organisation that the C&CC with a lot more sites - but if you want to stay in a particular place that only has a C&CC site nearby, then your Caravan Club membership won't be much help!

So, my advice would be to try both for a year and see how you get on.

Thanks to all above for advice. On balance, it would seem the CC has it but I think we'll probably take up the suggestion to join both and see which we prefer.

 

[TD42]

Hi cobbers,I belong to both clubs & my personal preference is for the C&CC I have never yet managed to get onto a CC site as they are usually fully booked due to their non deposit system.

I prefer the C&cc type sites as they are well kept but with a more rural feel (the forestry commision sites are under their umbrella)

Where as the CC sites are much more regimented lawns immaculatly cliped ect like being in a holliday camp

The C&CC require a deposit Min

 

[Thorpedo]

Cobbers

If you've decided to join the CC don't be put off by the suggestion of availability problems. Even if the web site says full you phone up the site (not central booking) and ask sometime they release grass pitches at the last minute when they know the weather and state of the ground. Last year I got everything I wanted at the last minute including some of the most popular sites and at bank hols.

No guarantees of course this year could be different if people take more hols in the UK.

 

[Tony-Porthcawl]

We have been caravanning for 25yrs and are members of both C&CC and CC clubs and we rally with both clubs it gives us a wider choice of where we can go as we caravan all the year round.Both clubs have good sites and good offers.

 

[DavidKlyne]

We have been members of the Caravan Club for about 27 years now. It suits us down to the ground. They have superb sites, many with all weather pitches which allows all year use. I tend not to have problems booking sites because I am always prepared to look at an alternative if the first choice is fully booked. I appreciate not having to pay a deposit which does allow you to cancel if you have a problem without loss. I have rarely had to cancel but last year due to a leg injury I did have to cancel some booking as it was impossible for me to go away. I like the way the CC allow you to select your own pitch. The Club have a range of pitch prices starting at

 

[AlanJ]

I am a member of the C&CC and as of this week also a member of the CC. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed last year with the C&CC quality of sites particularly the lack of sufficient hard standings over a particularly wet summer season.

Excellent video & photos on the CC site which do look of high quality and pleanty of hard standings.

Must say I have to eat some humble pie here - for all the posts on the need to book a year ahead (almost) I have checked the CC on-line booking for lots of their sites I would like to go to and have to my amazement found availability on all of them!!!!

Obviously those sites in popular locations are fully booked - but there are an awful lot that are not.

Both clubs have their plus points and therefore worth being a member of both for the savings on other items apart from the sites themselves.