So we have bought a caravan and had our first week away - and we love it!
So we were thinking about joining one of the clubs - either CC or C&CC - to go on a rally and meet other people. Is either one better for meeting people and for kids?
Never been on a CC Rally or a C&CC Meet, but I can recommend the Camping and Caravanning Club's Temporary Holiday Sites. Some are basic "own san ess" sites (with water and CDP available of course), some have access to the facilities of a host commercial site, and all the ones I've used have been very good value for money.
Many are held during school holidays so are ideal for children and grandchildren.
It's likely to purely depend on your local CC&C DA and CC Centre. We found one more friendly than the other based on a survey of one rally with each, so not a big sample nor would it be helpful for me to say which.
I suggest googling to find out about both local groups for each club and have a look at their rally lists. ONce you have joined either of the clubs you are free to camp with any of the local centres of that organisation. CC run holiday rallies but from the ones I've looked at are less flexible than the CC&C THS where you can stay for as few or as many nights as you like.
Might be worth joining both for a year and deciding which is best for you, though it know many people who are members of both on an ongoing basis.
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
As "greenhill" said, it all very much depends on the makeup of the groups in your locality.
Sadly, in both children are not as common place as they were, it seems an aging thing, but there are good exceptions.
We are with both clubs, but nowadays confine our rallying to the C&CC mainly because of its greater flexibility; no requirement to book or commit generally, and not required to park to a peg somebody else has chosen as yours.
The style of the meets can be organised or do your own thing and enjoy the company; needs a bit of researching.
Best give both a try and not just one group within either, they can differ a lot. Can be addictive, we started over 30 years ago and are still keen.
THS, are the C&CC's "Temporary Holiday Sites".
A location used as a site during a holiday period; it could be quite basic with no facilities or be on or adjacent to a full facility site.
These happen via official clubs where the location used is agreed with the local authority, but only as a temporary camping site.
With children they can be an excellent solution, as typically in school holiday periods there will be many children.
They offer exceptional "value" but as said in many cases you will have to use your inbuilt loo, and washing facilities.
The main sites of each Club are generally to a high standard, but it varies. If the site lease is not assured, neither club refurbishes the amenity block in the final years etc.
I find generally the CC's sites are a bit better than the C&CC's but there are exceptions. The C&CC take tents and during school holidays these can "strain" the facilities.
In both clubs there are sites that have to allow non members. We tend to avoid these in high season, but they offer tasters to each club without a commitment.
There's a general feeling that the cc has on average cleaner toilet blocks though my personal experience puts both clubs on a par (2 CC&C and 3 CC club sites so far). I understand for chatting to someone last weekend that CC has more sites in Scotland, so may depend on where you'd like to visit.
CC sites are, in my experience, very well groomed so could be perceived as "nicer" however they tend to lack the more natural feel of a CC&C site. CC tend to have more equipped playgrounds but less general space to play. Really comes down to what you like and where you want to go. We prefer to be around a variety of caravans and tents rather than on a row of perfectly aligned caravans.
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
We have rallied with C&CC for 4 years and would say they have all been friendly.Its pleasant to chat with others in passing and at the water point.Sometimes they organise a social activity which you can take part in or just watch and then its easy to get chatting with others. We tend to choose a location we'd like to go to rather than stick with one DA (District Association) because of various other things going on in lives which mean we need to stay mostly. Their policy of no booking for most meets fits in with this too. We really like the welcome and chat with the stewards on arrival.
We've only been on 2 CC rallies, one was friendly, the other was not but we will try again with a different centre.
As has been mentioned, not too many children attend (in the South anyway) and lately those that do tend to stick with their own group. Our 13 year old made some friends in the early days when the DA we camped with had youth leaders but since that stopped she hasn't made any new friends.She enjoys coming out in the caravan but lately she would rather stay home with friends (she has a busy social life!)
As previously suggested it depends on who's organising the rally and where it is.
Not a member of the CC so I stand to be corrected, but I believe that their rallies normally have to be book a year in advance and the sites are very regimented in their layout. Not good if you want a quick last minute weekend away.
The C&CC however run almost all no booking required DA meets so you can pretty much just turn up at any meet anywhere in the country and pay per night. You do however need to be a member before you go. You cannot join on site, but you can join on a THS. Each DA runs it's own website for meets etc, my local one is West Essex. Have a look and it should give you an idea of what goes on.
Quote: Originally posted by BadBoyBushy on 04/11/2014
... Not a member of the CC so I stand to be corrected, but I believe that their rallies normally have to be book a year in advance and the sites are very regimented in their layout. Not good if you want a quick last minute weekend away
I've not heard of a centre that requires you to book a year in advance, however I'm happy to stand corrected. Each centre (there are 70 odd in the CC), is pretty much run to it's own remit by it's own voluntary comittee and there will undoubtedly be a difference between centre's/DA's of either club.
Certainly my CC group, Worcestershire Centre doesn't dictate when you can book, nor are they 'regimented' like many other's.
As with all things, folk will have found pro's and con's of both groups. I think you could do with either trying to get on a rally with one of the clubs, or if the group are welcoming enough then I'm sure you could drop in and visit during a rally for a few hours, to see how you felt.
Of course you don't have to book a year in advance.
If there is space there is no reason why you can't call up the organiser the night before or even on the day and turn up. On the other hand some rally's are very popular and numbers are restricted so you might need to book up in advance to get a space. But that's the same with any popular event.
I have rallied with both clubs and find them both excellent and very welcoming. You are free to join in as much or as little as you want and no judgement is made!
You don't have to book a year in advance! I have been known to ring the organisers the night before a rally and have been accepted.
As I caravan alone, I find rallies a lovely way to meet like minded people.
I have found standards on both Club sites to be excellent with no real difference between them.
Years ago we used to rally with the C&CC and made many lifelong friends.Our children had the time of their lives travelling abroad on Youth rallies and meeting up every weekend with all their friends. They took a test when they were teenagers to ensure they were capable of camping on their own. They are now in their 50s and the whole concept of rallies seem to have changed. So few tents now. Can I just say as well that the THSs are all run by voluntary stewards from the DAs which keeps the price down. Although we are CC members as well, we have never been on any of their rallies so cannot comment on them. I do know that many of the DAs are struggling to get people out at the weekend which is a great shame.
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Topic: Which club for rallies?
