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i dont know what it is really i have had a look at the website and dont really understand what you pay for , am i thick lol is it just better sites ?

and whats the difference between caravan club and caravan and camping club and which would you join

many thanks

One of the benefits of the C&CC are that you get discounted rates on all their sites.  We joined when we got our tent, but then asked for our money back a few weeks later when we found out a lot of sites won't take the size of our tent or charge a lot more for it.  We have a Hartford XL which is a family 3 pod tent which sleeps 6.  Contacted them at the time and didn't get a satisfactory response so unfortunately they're not held in high esteem in our house!  Saying that, when we can we do try and use the C&CC sites (if they take our tent!) as they do seem to have good facilities  and have heard they are trying to be more accommodating to larger tents.

Not sure about the difference between the two clubs but I'm sure somebody will be able to tell you!

Being a member of the Caravan Club entitles you to visit a whole range of sites, some of them very small (called CL's) which are otherwise not available.  CC sites are generally a little cheaper than commercial sites of an equivalent standard.  As a member of the CC you get a monthly magazine, the opportunity to go on CC courses and rally's and a host of insurance deals.  We have our car insured through the CC and the premium is very competative.  The CC insurance for caravans is not necessarily the cheapest around, but I think the cover you get is excellent.  As far as I am aware they are the only caravan insurers where you can insure your caravan new-for-old until the van is 10 years old.  They are very fair in dealing with claims (I can speak from personal experience).  The CC Breakdown Recovery Service (Mayday, under the Green Flag umberella) will offer double journey cover if you are booked into a caravan park and break down on the way, and will recover your van without restriction to size (some companies add restrictions). 

The Caravan and Camping Club is a similar organisation but is open to tenters as well.  Again they offer very similar things in terms of insurance, magazines etc., and they also have their own network of sites, similar to the CC.

Generally speaking, I find CC sites a little more reliable interms of standard, but there is probably not a lot in it.  We are members of both but, because of the insurances etc, we probably get more from the CC.

Both clubs will offer a comprehensive continental travel insurance - in the past we have used the CC Red Pennant.  Clubs will aso be able to book car ferries to europe and will often be able to get a cheaper price for crossings.

That will give you some idea.  I'm sure I have missed out things, but no doubt there will be someone along soon to remind me, or put me straight.

Hope this helps,

Best wishes

We have been members of the caravan club now for over 20years, and can thoughly recommend them, as above you really do get a good standard of site, and the rally oputunity is a good way to make friends with like minded people who happen to live within your area as well as a few from further afield.

We have had some wonderful oputunities via these, such as being able to stay on the carpark of a Zoo, at the trackside of a steam Railway line out at Quorn, and watched horses give birth to their foals whilst staying on a stud farm and livery near Bakewell. Likewise the CLs are often something special and always reasonably priced.

For us as caravanners, having in the past been members of both clubs, we find that the C&CC club magazine is often more geared to tent campers and advertisements aimed towards that section of camping than it is to Caravan and Motorhome owners, and being disabled myself, and sometimes not upto travel on the day a planned trip arrives, i find that the CC's booking system helps us greatly in being able to cancel a pitch under such circumstances without penalty, were as perviously stated this simply is not true of the C&CC club, with their deposit and no refund scheme.

Its worth mentioning also that you get a very nice welcome pack with maps, site directory and useful telephone numbers on Joining, as well as the use of the technical and legal department services which come as part of being a member.

Julia    

oh thankyou i think i might join the cc club then as its much nicer to book and pay when you get there much more like what we thought caravanning was going to be instead of booking and paying silly deposits all the time . ( i do understand why campsites have to do this to protect themselves) . Also next yr when were not such novices then we may go abroad and it will help wi advice on that too

thankyou all 

I cannot see any benefit from club membership and did not renew this year. I think they are expensive and have caravanned on good sites for much less outside of the clubs.

I think all of the "special offers" are pretty expensive too.

Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 08/6/2010

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I cannot see any benefit from club membership and did not renew this year. I think they are expensive and have caravanned on good sites for much less outside of the clubs.

I think all of the "special offers" are pretty expensive too.

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Quote: Originally posted by D S B on 08/6/2010

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Just one little thing more.  When you book a CC site, you do not need to make a deposit, so, in theory, you are allowed to cancel without it costing you.  For C&CC sites, non-refundable deposits are taken.

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For us, CC sites loo/shower facilities are usually a good standard (although a few sites dont have any) pitches are a  good size and often well thought out (if you pick your site).  We love staying on CLs though and would pay annual membership for that alone. For a longer stay with son in tow, we use a site.

Personally, we dont want pubs/clubs/pools/entertainment etc,  and I have an aversion to sites set out like car parks or dealerships (just row upon row).  We want a nice setting and good loo block on a site and so far CC have delivered.  Stayed at New England Bay last week (in all that good weather), site was gorgeous.

Quote: Originally posted by rjgukc on 08/6/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by D S B on 08/6/2010

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Just one little thing more.  When you book a CC site, you do not need to make a deposit, so, in theory, you are allowed to cancel without it costing you.  For C&CC sites, non-refundable deposits are taken.

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The C&CC *do* refund your deposit if you cancel more than 7 days before your start date.

From their Cancellation Policy:

"If you cancel the booking more than seven days before it is due to start, we will refund your deposit in full. You can cancel your booking through our Contact Centre or with the site direct.
If you cancel your booking, for any reason, seven days or less before it starts, we will not refund your deposit."

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I'm really sorry for misleading people, Richard.  My mistake!

Best wishes

We were members of the cc&c for 2 years and were pleased with the site facilities but didn't actually get our money's worth out of being members due to not ever being able to book sites during school holidays and there not being a late availability section we decided to try the CC.  I don't think that we will get our money's worth this year either as we have spent a week in the isle of wight and stayed on a non cc site that had a swimming pool and then we are going to a non cc site in wales for tow weeks in July that has a swimming pool and we'd easily be able to find non cc sites for weekends away.  We stayed on a cc site in April and it was lovely, spacious pitches etc but unless we use more this year then it will have been another waste of money!

hth

Caravan Club (CC) has about 220 of it's own sites with about half open to members only and over 2500Cl's ( small 5 five van independant sites of variable standard licensed by the club for members only ) , the standard of it's sites is consistently high over the whole network, it provides every service that a caravanner could need and all the services are comparable with the best of service that you can find anywhere. When you arrive at a club site you book in and pay your fees, no deposits are taken so the whole fee is paid at this time, you are then given information about the site and are told to go go and have a look at the pitches available ( all empty pitches are available ) choose one, set up and then let the wardens know where you have gone. Should you decide for whtever reason that you need to leave before the date that you  have paid till, you can inform the wardens that you are leaving and will receive a refund of all fees for the days that you have paid for but will not be staying for.

Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC) has about 110 sites of it's own about half of which are members only  and a network of about 1000 CS's ( like CL's ), the standard of the sites over the whole network is of a more variable standard with the best sites comparing favourably with the CC sites. It also provides a full range of high quality services for the caravanner that are just as good as those provided by the CC. When you arrive at a club site you book in and pay the remainder of your fees ( a deposit will be taken when you book which if you have to cancel for any reason should be available for you to use at some later time in the same year), the warden will decide where you are to pitch and will escort you to it and ensure that you have pitched precisely as he requires. Should you need to leave for any reason the fees that you have paid will be forfeit ( though in some circumstances by special request to head office giving circumstances and doctors notes be placed on account for you to use in the rest of the year )

I have been a member of the CC for 17 years and have never regretted it, I have been a member of the CCC on two occasion in the last four years and have on both occasions resigned it just did not suit me. I know of a lot of people who like and use the CCC so I would suggest that it is worthwhile joining both clubs and seeing which one suits your purpose best