I have confined myself to France for the moment but there are 232 sites accepting tourers and 135 accepting rentals. However, it appears that 52 of those sites accept rentals only!! Most of those rental only sites are Tohapi who have 68 sites in the directory index under 'T'. This makes looking for sites difficult. I am trying to look for the ones that are marked CC & CCA on Archies and so far, halfway through France, I am up to 32 CCs that I can't find in the directory. We rely very much on Archies for planning, thanks everyone who is involved, especially Val.
Page layout is different to say the least! Information is lacking, except for the prices which are in two boxes on each page, green for pitches and red for rentals. There are no useful directions so not caravan and motorhome friendly.
I think the new owners, Camping Travel Club, are only interested in rentals. Years ago we went to Bonne Anse Plage the year that Siblu had just taken over. There were plenty of camping pitches but they were reorganising the site and installing mobile homes all over. It has been rentals only ever since.
Just did a bit of digging when I discovered that Le Roussillonnais (municipal) Argeles-sur-Mer is suddenly in the CC directory as ‘Tohapi Le Roussillonnais’ and rentals only. CC was bought by the Vacalians Group and in 2015 Vacalians Group, a major European campsite and mobile-home company operating under the Tohapi brand, which in 2015 was acquired by Permira a European private equity firm, founded in 1985 and based in London.
Is this going to make a big impact on other campsites? I cannot really believe that the French will abandon traditional camping to stay in mobile home rentals but you never know!
How will it affect the Caravan Club ferry offers in the future?
Thank goodness my gold card has only one year left to run. We will use our few remaining nights this year and definitely not renew. I agree with others who have found that over the years it has become more difficult to find good sites with CC.
Here's hoping our planning will be useful this year we need a massive fix of sun and exercise!!!
Snowing here today!!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The conclusion I draw from all of this is that we cannot rely on the 2017 Camping Cheque guide (whenever, or if, it is published)to confirm whether or not a site is available for tourers. You certainly couldn't in 2016.
This is a big failing making me (and I suspect others) very wary of buying and/or using cheques.
Ben Nevis raises a very good point, above about how this situation, which is fast approaching a fiasco, will affect the Caravan Club ferry offers in the future.
I have noticed that some sites, listed as rentals only on Camping Cheques (the red roundels), do in fact offer touring pitches according to the specific website.
So it would seem the CC is only valid against part of the camp site
Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 01/1/2017
I have noticed that some sites, listed as rentals only on Camping Cheques (the red roundels), do in fact offer touring pitches according to the specific website.
So it would seem the CC is only valid against part of the camp site
I've found the same thing - that sites which are 'Rental only' as far as 'The Camping Travel Club' are concerned, actually do have camping pitches available and are not just mobile home sites. Obviously, however, you can't use your 'Camping Cheques' (old or new) there.
As we found out last year, it may even be that sites which say they will accept Camping Cheques are very unhappy to accept them when you turn up and offer them.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Camping cheques
