For the people who have been raising concerns over the high level of site fees you may be interested to know that from the clubs annual accounts to the end of Feb. '23 the club had a cash balance of £22.9million.
Some FTSE 100 firms would love to have that level of cash sloshing about.
Of course every organisation needs cash however ......
I have also noticed that their designated seasons seem to be changed. Everything from 15 March to 22 Sep (which is practically the full season for a lot of sites and most caravanners) is now either Mid or High season, ie expensive. There are no longer a few Low season weeks you go to in April for instance.
At Delamont, our (only) local C&CC site, 2 adults and no awning comes to £44.15 pn for non members and £34.85 pn for members in mid Apr and a whopping £50.90 pn for non members and £39.85 pn for members in mid Aug. Obscene indeed. Delamont is a nice enough site, but £35 pn is the norm here for sites that are nicer.
People who claim its 'obscene', must be members (as am i). Theres no obligation to renew memberships. Just saying.
22m quid will not be a huge amount of money in relation to number sites owned, and having to be maintained. I dont like paying silly pitch prices either, but i understand how business works. Hence i only use my membership for CS's. I wouldn't mind betting its more affluent 'cousin' club has an even bigger balance sheet.
Easter being early this year at the end of March and beginning of April 2024?
DK
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I have certainly noticed that the number of commercial sites offering cheaper rates than C&CC sites is growing. Although I am a C&CC member, the number of their sites I am visiting has reduced because of this. I go for the best value in the area I want to visit, whether it be a club site or not, and set a maximum rate I will pay. If a site is too expensive, I go somewhere else.
One of the things I have always said that makes C&CC sites expensive is that they tend to have three rate-periods rather than the two that most commercial sites have. A lot of commercial sites that we have used are still on "low" season rates until mid-July, and they go back to them at the beginning of September. C&CC sites are on mid-season rates at those times, which are not much less than peak-season rates. To get low-season rates on a C&CC site you have to go in what I would term "winter".
We have found that over the past few years that the small private sites are alot better than CL sites and a hell of alot cheaper. We won't be renewing our caravan club membership this year. We only use small sites. Toilets ect are not required. Saves us a few bob.
last year i took advantage of the member offers the C&CC were running alongside the age concession rate ,they were quite reasonable out of high season, havent seen any extra offers displayed this year yet, maybe they were taking too much of a hit with them
Quote: Originally posted by G#Winger on 15/1/2024
last year i took advantage of the member offers the C&CC were running alongside the age concession rate ,they were quite reasonable out of high season, havent seen any extra offers displayed this year yet, maybe they were taking too much of a hit with them
I’ve just had an email with details of the 2024 offers.
For us, the age concession rate makes using the sites in low season acceptable - especially with the current cost of many CS/CL sites.
However, we tend to use whichever type of site suits us best in a particular area at a certain time of year. Just now, for example, we are on the CCC site at Bowness - easy access site with hard-standing pitches and 16 amp electric, which are our requirements at this time of year (or at least 10 amp electric). Lovely here at the moment, but we wouldn’t consider coming from Easter onwards as Bowness and the area are far too busy for us then anyway, let alone the cost of the site.
One other benefit of the CCC is that we get half-price membership for being members for over 25 years, I think it is (or it may be 30).
I assume that surplus was for 2022? Don't forget the whole world and his wife started camping after COVID so its not surprising. You also have to counter balance that against any losses due to COVID. The C&CC seem to have been on a bit of a spending spree in the last couple of years on new sites, surely this is of benefit to members as it gives them more choice. Personally I don't find C&CC prices too bad especially with the age concession.
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I’ve just had an email with details of the 2024 offers.
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just looked at my emails and yes i got the same one, now thats more like it, some offers in high season as well
The times when we tend to go are always in mid-season with C&CC, but tend to be low-season for commercial sites. We never go away in high season (school holidays) on the C&CC low season (too cold for us). Consequently C&CC sites tend to be uncompetitive for us, even with the age concession rates. One exception to that was the one we went to last September on the South Downs. I did think that may be because some people wouldn't care for it as it was right in the middle of a forest, but it was completely full over our middle weekend.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 15/1/2024
The times when we tend to go are always in mid-season with C&CC, but tend to be low-season for commercial sites. We never go away in high season (school holidays) on the C&CC low season (too cold for us). Consequently C&CC sites tend to be uncompetitive for us, even with the age concession rates. One exception to that was the one we went to last September on the South Downs. I did think that may be because some people wouldn't care for it as it was right in the middle of a forest, but it was completely full over our middle weekend.
You are presumably talking about the Graffam site, Colin. Years ago ,that used to be a fegular weekender for us as it is literally “just around the corner”. Excellent walking paths from there. Sometimes we took our great nieces, even they enjoyed it. Have not been there since we retired as we no longer look for quick weekend breaks and I am no longer to walk the distances.
If you have not yet tried it, may I recommend the walton on thames site, actually in Hersham. 10 minute walk to the bus stop for half hourly service to Kingston and then change for a trip to the london museums, or perhaps a stroll along the thames path. I think last year we managed a non high season trip for about £19 pn.
As far as costs are concerned, some of the ccc sites can be quite reasonable using the age reduction and often one of the other discounts available.
Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 15/1/2024
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 15/1/2024
The times when we tend to go are always in mid-season with C&CC, but tend to be low-season for commercial sites. We never go away in high season (school holidays) on the C&CC low season (too cold for us). Consequently C&CC sites tend to be uncompetitive for us, even with the age concession rates. One exception to that was the one we went to last September on the South Downs. I did think that may be because some people wouldn't care for it as it was right in the middle of a forest, but it was completely full over our middle weekend.
You are presumably talking about the Graffam site, Colin. Years ago ,that used to be a fegular weekender for us as it is literally “just around the corner”. Excellent walking paths from there. Sometimes we took our great nieces, even they enjoyed it. Have not been there since we retired as we no longer look for quick weekend breaks and I am no longer to walk the distances.
If you have not yet tried it, may I recommend the walton on thames site, actually in Hersham. 10 minute walk to the bus stop for half hourly service to Kingston and then change for a trip to the london museums, or perhaps a stroll along the thames path. I think last year we managed a non high season trip for about £19 pn.
As far as costs are concerned, some of the ccc sites can be quite reasonable using the age reduction and often one of the other discounts available.
Yes it was the Graffham site. We had never been there before, and we loved it. Walton on Thames is quite low on our list to visit as we are able to visit London very easily from home. 10 minutes walk to our local station, then 45 minutes later we are in London. We can even use our BR retired-staff passes to travel free on the train, and our pensioners' passes on the buses in London. Cheap day out! Must admit it's not something we do often though.
We haven’t used a C&CC site for a few years now as being an Octogenarian look for the easy life,Full Service pitches of which are very few on the Club. We find many full service sites are charging no more than a Club site with just Electric hook up. Remain in club now only to access Arrival breakdown should it arise, as better cover than standard RAC.
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: C&CC Site fees
via mobile 15/1/2024 at 11:24am
