Quote: Originally posted by bridgeywidge on 28/8/2012
And speaking of facilities..
...why can small French municipals charge only €6 a night, for a tent, car, EHU and two people with, decent loos, showers, wash-up facilities and laundry, plus flowerbeds and even a small library when it costs almost double that per person for a CS site? (And with only one loo, one shower you pay for, and no washing-up area at all.)
Possibly because they are municipals and the local council consider it worthwhile to subsidise them to encourage visitors who hopefully will spend money with local businesses?
For "seniors" - the C&CC is even better value as we get age concessions as well. I have found that since my hubby died and I am travelling alone the C&CC wardens are unfailingly helpful if I run into difficulties pitching up. Not known as THE FRIENDLY CLUB for nothing. Also feel a sense of security at night. Their insurance and ferry offers are usually good value too. If you have internet access they are good source of info as they will always respond to your questions. FOr caravanners, the free "Try a Tow" at the show each year is worth the membership fee alone. Then if you do go ahead and buy a van, booking on their towing course is money well spent. Hope you enjoy your hols where-ever you go.
Quote: Originally posted by 4311486Sheila on 29/8/2012
I have found that since my hubby died and I am travelling alone the C&CC wardens are unfailingly helpful if I run into difficulties pitching up. Not known as THE FRIENDLY CLUB for nothing.
Wish I'd had that experience a couple of years ago ! The warden refused to help me pitch my tent when I arrived on a really windy day in September . He then ignored me for the week I was staying at the very underpopulated site ; although I did say hello when I saw him ( and the other wardens )
I'm off to the same site again in a couple of weeks ; different wardens this time ; and am prepared to put the tent up alone again
Ive been a member for several years now and recently starting going solo cos my son ,now a teenager wont be seen dead in a tent! I don't feel lonely on site because fellow campers in my experience are a friendly bunch and you don't seem to get idiots and yobos on the CC&C sites ruining your too few holidays ,so for this alone its worth joining.
WELL WORTH JOINING..in my opinion....you can recoup the cost -£40 per couple-if you use a ccc site for a few weekends and a bank holiday against what a non-menber would pay.You will receive a monthly magazine which would probably cost £3 to buy and often qualify for discounts on shows-ferry crossings etc due to you being a member. I have always found the sites and facilities to be first class ..and in some excellent locations where there isnt camping available for other campers.I have introduced quite a few friends to membership and none have been disappointed! ..and have received a £5 voucher off my next stay for each introduction. Have you joined yet?!!!!! Have fun
Glad I found this! We are thinking of joining, as a family, and reading all your tips has encouraged me to join! We get discount and extra benefits on our insurance as well! Thanks all!
We have been members since 2008 but have never used anything but certificated sites as we like small no facilities type places generally.
I am not sure how it works but some of the smaller sites insist on you being a member (suspect that they all should from this but that doesn't happen).
Just the discount I get on my tent and trailer insurance makes it almost worthwhile.
We are members and enjoy the certified sites. We like them due to they tend to be very quiet. They don't attract yobs or groups of people who think camping is about staying up till 3 am drinking beer and shouting. They tend to attract people who like the outdoor and peace loving folk.
My advice is have a look at their site and the campsites they offer and if any take your fancy and they are only open to members then go for it. It's not a massive amount of money and if you don't like/use it then don't rejoin next year.
We love it though. Good luck
Similar to matt-lucie,it is a question of if it works for you and you get the site you want at lower cost, then go for it.
We joined last year (July) after seeing a site that would work for a couple of night's stopover on our way up to Scotland, and saved money even taking the membership price into account, not least because at the time they happened to have a 20% discount on all their grass pitches for the dates we wanted.
The intention was to try to get the odd weekend away when we could and save more, but like many plans, work got in the way and we haven't used it again, so have cancelled the membership for this year.
I think it is probably more useful for people who are retired or those whose work commitments allow them to plan ahead so that they can book.
I would possibly consider rejoining in the same circumstances again, but doubt if we would get the use of the membership.
Obviously we have just been to the one C&CC site, but have to say that found it rather regimented and a bit stuffy, and the pitch was extremely muddy, tents were shoved at the back of the site away from the facilities, we had to walk through rows of caravans to use the toilets and showers and it felt that the priority customers were caravans and motorhomes.
Ditto the magazine (minus the muddy bit!) to be honest, I took to just recycling it without reading.
I realise of course that one site does not necessarily reflect the club, of course not, but that was our first impression, so just sharing that.
------------- Enjoying life beyond kids, new love, living on a boat and a new lease of life in my mid 50s! Never too old to reinvent yourself.....
Mum to five - 4 girls, 31,28,25 and 22 and one boy, 20
Engaged! Wedding June 2020!
We used to be members, but cancelled last year. With a bit of shopping around, you can find sites comparable to club sites in terms of price and quality. Previous posts have mentioned the monthly magazine, but one reason we cancelled was the lack of camping info in it. The vast majority of information in the magazines relates to tin tents. Also, a massive irritation was on the sites where campers are always restricted to the furthest point from any facilities whilst the caravans and motor homes (with their own facilities) get pitches near the facilities.
Saying that, the facilities on sites are always in excellent condition.
This is our second year of membership and have to say Mrs ratherbeinapplecross and i have really enjoyed our membership so far. We have stayed on four club sites Bellingham in Northumberland, aberlour in Aberdeenshire, veryan in Cornwall, and Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. All sites have been very clean and tidy with spotless roomy showers and toilets.
We have not yet tried a certified site but have one booked for the middle of the month.
While I have no doubts about what the other posters have put about tents being looked down on I can say in all honesty we have not experienced this in any way.
Every time we have been to a site we have been shown available pitches and allowed to choose and have never been far from amenities block.
Would say we have had more than our money's worth of fun from it.
Another advantage is if you want or have to go somewhere you just look up the book and find a site.
My cousin is getting married in 2017 and the hotel is £150 per night and me and my brother have to go for 3 nights as we are ushers. Check the website club site next door to hotel £60 for 3 nights.
So for us it's saved a fortune
its worth it if you use it. i`m a member but i use it!
does bug me that theres sandringham 10 mins drive from my house: and in high season i can`t do a 1 nighter there when i want a solo nights camping!! or cromer..... grrrrr.
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 camping club-should we join?
