I've been browsing what seems like thousands of camp websites recently, trying to find a few 'gems' for our first year of camping. It seems the prices vary hugely and not always according to facilities! We're very much looking to have 'cheap' holidays with our tent, we saw it as a lifestyle decision, but now I'm not so sure it's working out that way. We have a couple of short trips planned with friends/family (one family has a caravan, one need EHU, another have a ton of money so will pay anything and another (my parents) just end up saying "we'll help with costs" but that's the point!) and the average cost of those sites is about £23 per night.
So, there are four of us - 2 adults, 2 kids (2 and 5). We have an Outwell Vermont L which I gather is classed as needing a larger pitch in some places. We do not require EHU. All we really need is loos and showers although a small play area would be ideal. My hubby (and me to a certain extent) are a bit iffy about really small sites (the CSs and such) just because we're newbies and a bit nervous but we're willing to try it! We need to go during w/e or school holidays.
.....How much would you say we should/could be looking to pay?!
I know that's like saying "how long is a piece of string" but roughly, from all you experienced campers?!?!
Thanks in advance.
Tracy
------------- Very green at camping but full of enthusiasm!!!! :OP
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Well it depends when you go - presumably with kids in high season. Even in high season with caravan & ehu we have never paid more than £20/night on ordinary commercial sites .
I have found, like most things, site fees increase year by year. Not good when you are on a fixed or low income because sooner or later those who need a cheap holiday will be priced out of camping altogether.
This year I am astonished at some of the prices...and I just can't afford those that have put their prices up too high. Unfortunately, as I always say when this subject arises...while there are people willing and able to pay there will be campsites willing and able to take their money.
I think I started off thinking that £5 was the average price. Then it progressed to £10 with anything under that being good. Then £12, and now I think £15 is about as expensive as I want to go. However, I still search for campsites charging a lot less than that, and there are quite a few of them (not CS's or CL's)
However, when comparing campsite prices you need to compare like for like i.e. the usual tariff covers 2 adults, unit, and car. You have to work out the price of each campsite based on the basic tariff first of all, which should give you a comparison on basic tariffs, then add on any charges for kids and for extras like gazebos. It's not easy because some sites seem to enjoy making it difficult to work out what the overall cost is before they slap you with the bill...bit like buying an insurance policy really
You should be able to find sites out of high season for sub £20 a night. i have a couple of sites I don't mind paying £25 a night for as I know how good they are and we like them. I have paid the best part of £40 a night at some all singing and dancing sites but we limit those to once, maybe twice a year
------------- Chris
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
£12 a night for tent, 2 adults, 2 children non-ehu (£16 with)
Not too far from you and a great site
Better still come with us lot in September for the weekend.
I won't pay meor than £20 max for us (tent 2+2 but with ehu). Sometimes take a bit of searchign but there are quite a fewbelow that price. If you don't want electric then you should find plenty £15 and under
We started camping (in a tent) last year, went to 4 sites in total and paid, on average, £25 a night. Most expensive was Red Shoot in the New Forest (they're all expensive there, not sure why) at £32, cheapest was about £22 (I always do reviews of sites I go to, so look under my profile for exact sites). Been away about 3 or 4 times with the caravan (bought last Sept) and still paying about the same...
These were all reasonably basic sites; EHU, decent toilet blocks, little shop and kids playground. We also always have to go in school holidays, so we're always paying the highest prices...still works out a LOT less than any other type of holiday
Hmmm, I'm sure a couple of my site reviews have disappeared - best site we've been to yet (Inside Park) isn't there...strange...
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
To directly answer your "how much" question: typically £15 - £25 for me.
I agree with you that prices vary wildly, as do the sites themselves. Given, the prices are clearly displayed and we decide to accept or decline them in advance, it is the unexpected nature of individual sites that make for a small 'adventure' for me. This is where UKCS reviews are invaluable.
It is the experience that it is about, so I think you were right when you said "lifestyle decision" as you can't very well comapare camping with many other types of accommodation.
With great respect, I think you might be inhibiting your pleasure by asking yourself, ".....How much would you say we should/could be looking to pay?!...", looking for an "average" price and judging a site as to how close to your "average" it is. Decide whether you want to pay the asking price, then you can always check out after the first night if you really hate it that much! (or if it pees down with rain that much!) Other times you will wish you could stay longer.
Post last edited on 25/05/2010 16:29:07
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Going without EHU is a smart move, it will give you a much better choice of sites.
If you can build up go going "own san" and taking a portaloo then you'll open up the world of cheap CS's and C&CC temporary holiday sites.
We go to small CS's with no facilities, OK that would mean no children's play area, but will usually mean a nice big open field where your children can play safely with you being able to watch them and for this privilege you are likely to pay £5-£8 per night - perhaps a tenner if you push the boat out! CS's don't usually regulated tent pitches so there is no issue about big tents, you'll usually be able to be further away from your neighbours so if you're worried about kiddie noise morning and night then that might be a bonus.
I'd seriously think about the Temp Holiday sites, lots of families and usually very cheap.
If you go to sites with facilities, pools etc, don't forget to calculate in the cost of this when working out the cost. If your kids are going to spend all day in the pool without you having to go offsite then that's worth quite a lot....
I understand you cannot be entirely casual with two infants to care for; but you might be in danger of thinking about it too much!
Having invested in all your equipment; just a suggestion, but how about throwing caution to the wind as much as possible, and with the help of UKCS reviews, make a few Fri / Sat night trips very near home and you will soon discover your own personal needs and wants.
When you have discovered your own needs and wants, then you will have a better frame of reference as to how much you personally want to pay.
I've done 3 meets actually...a solo meet, a new years meet, and the Greenhill meet and still haven't put any faces to names...well, maybe a couple
M40 and M42 I think, to the east of Birmingham (2 hours 30 mins trip), but just looked at the tariff and it is £16.00 a night just for a solo camper with electric. That is a pound above what I consider to be my maximum and if I pay all that, it sets a precedent for other campsites to charge everyone that amount of money.
There is only one way for camping to remain cheap and that is for campers to refuse to pay large site fees and object with their feet. All the time people are prepared to pay it affects all of us.
This is a UKCS meet as well...one would have thought the site would do a special rate for us...or is that their special rate for bulk bookings?
Now if they were to do a concession for single occupancy I might reconsider
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: How much is `average` cost?!
ask Jo!!)?
via mobile 24/5/2022 at 10:32pm
