I don't know about value for money as I've never heard of this club.
I think your title is mixed up with either the 'Camping & Caravanning Club' or the 'Caravan and Motorhome Club'.
This is a common question.
4 overnight stays on a CAMC Club site will pay for the membership because there’s a huge surcharge if you’re not a member. CAMC also has a network of small inexpensive CLs (Certificated Locations) that you’re supposed to be a member to use (though not all owners check).
We only just about break even, because there are so many excellent independent sites, and so few CAMC Club sites or CLs where we prefer to go. The Site Search on UKCS lets you filter for “only” club sites, so you can check for yourself.
Agree it depends what you are after - we are currently on a CAMC CL electric, loos and showers for £18 - we tried an independent site not far away and for same facilities they wanted £29,so maybe we saved £11 but there are so many sites I am sure the next independent site may have been just as cheap as this one.
Not sure I would say it's value for money, it's just access to a network of sites (as is C&CC).
We use club sites and independent sites too - so it's value for choice if not for money if that makes sense.
With the CAMC you can usually be sure of a well run site with good quality facilities. You also know the price you will pay for any stay. However there are plenty of good commercial sites at comparable prices.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
The most appropriate answer really is it all depends how much a year you use their club sites or CL's. Remember that you have to pay an annual membership fee before you say GO so if you only intend using the sites once or twice a year then it's not very good value for money. If on the other hand you use them frequently then you would probably recuperate the membership fee so you have to work it out whether it's worth it or not. We have been with the Camping & Caravanning Club for the last few years but thinking of dropping out this year because we are only using their club sites maybe once or twice a year. However, there is more to consider than just the cost involved as the last two club sites we have stayed at we couldn't get a TV signal to watch telly in the evening and the wi-fi was absolutely appalling to say the least. With this in mind plus the extortionate cost of their pitch fees per night it's no longer financially viable for us.
We have belonged to the C&CC for many years. It is now very rare that we stay at a club site, although we do visit the Walton on Thames site at least once a year.
However, we do value the CS's they list and spend most of our breaks at what are some really lovely sites. That alone makes the membership good value.
Sometimes going to a camp site is like visiting Jodrell Bank - you can hardly move for satellite dishes, but we go to get away from these things.
It does annoy me though that the CAMC charges for internet use, while many other sites provide it free.
In the absence of free WiFi, I'd like to be sure of a decent mobile signal for the rare occasion that I want to look up something.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Being members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club works well for us because we use a lot of their services as well as their sites. We have our caravan insurance with them and get a really good discount on ferry crossings by booking through the club. For example, I have 2 crossings to Ireland booked for this year so far and have saved over £50 on each of them by booking through the club rather than booking directly on the Stena website. So, even without using the CMC sites, we have still got our membership cost back plus more!
However, I also use quite a few CMC sites and like the flexibility of them where there is no minimum number of nights like on other sites. They also have some sites that we really love and return to year after year. However, we also use independent sites too, it just depends on what area we want to go to and which sites appeal to us in the area.
We are also members of the Camping and Caravanning Club but use their sites less often. We just about break even on our membership fee with them because they have 1 site that is really convenient for an event which we go to every year and the 8 nights we spend on that site recoups our membership fee, however, we get more benefits from the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
The CMC also has a network of small sites which only take 5 Vans. These range from very basic, really just a field with a tap and chemical disposal point, which cost very little right up to much more expensive fully serviced pitches with toilets and showers, so there is something for every budget!
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 13/3/2022
Dot P, what site are you at, if you don't mind me asking? Sounds like our kind of place. Of course we may have gone there.
Yes of course its
Bryn Hyfryd CL just outside Llangefni. Have just done a review. Was very quiet, just us and one other van. Very good access and i forgot to mention on review there was excellent TV reception.
It's just over an hour from us so we will be using it again soon.
I think as the general consensus has already pointed out, it all depends on how much you use the Club sites and/or offers etc.
For me, my membership is more than covered by the use of the cheap(ish) CL's and very reasonable main club sites, some of which are less than half the cost of nearby commercial sites in areas I like, the discount on insurance, and some of the members offers. The Club does mid-week half-price pitch fee deals on some sites which can be an unbeatable bargain. The online site booking/modification/cancellation/payment process is unbeatable in speed and ease in my experience (generally acknowledged as far superior to the 'other' club!), and any telephone contact is equally good.
One perhaps less than obvious benefit of the Club which I'm not sure how you put a price on, is the high standard and consistency of their sites, you can be pretty confident that the sites will not hold any nasty surprises, and maintenance standards are pretty high, if you do find a problem, the wardens are pretty quick to deal with it where possible.
The wardens tend to be very helpful and pleasant too - last booking I made in Nov 21, I got seriously held up on the journey and was going to arrive well after dark around 8pm, the warden on duty reserved a very convenient pitch (just for overnight, or I could stay there if I wanted) just inside the barrier that saved me needing to negotiate a generally pitch black and meandering site to find another vacant pitch for myself (site policy of pick your own pitch), he certainly didn't have to do it, also had my document pack (site maps and rules etc.), made up ready without having to formally book in ("just come in to office in morning when you are settled to do the booking in!"), it's just the level of consideration and service that is typical in my experience with the club.
There is also the 'Regional Group' rally events which may appeal if you like organised and often themed events.
Word of warning, the members offers are not always the bargains they could be, and commercially available prices can undercut them, that said I got my fridge vent covers on Club offer far cheaper than I've ever seen them elsewhere, so bargains to be had if you're selective.
Overall, my membership has never actually cost me anything, I've always recouped it one way or another.
Quote: Originally posted by clbewi on 13/3/2022
The problem we are having is that if you tow a caravan to get the breakdown cover you have to be a member of one of them to get cover!
We have breakdown cover with Green Flag which includes recovering the caravan if we have a problem while towing. Some companies do state a maximum length for the van though.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Caravan and motor home club
via mobile 12/3/2022 at 4:20pm
