Glad you took no notice about the club being "very snobby".
We have never found that, there are obviously one or two out there like you would find anywhere and I think you will find the tales of "jobsworth" wardens a thing of the past.
We have always "worked on the premis" that it does not cost you a penny to say hello to anyone and indeed we have found the majority of members to be like minded and although not members of the C AND C CLUB we would consider the CC to be equally called the friendly club.
The standard of the sites, toilets, pitches etc are top class, indeed several we have visited have had grass pitches that were like bowling greens. The hardstanding pitches we have found to be far superior and bigger than any of the commercial sites we have visited.
There is so much more to the club than just the sites. Join your local centre and join up with them on a rally. They have loads of them through the year, most will have some kind of theme, eg christmas, new year, easter, childrens treat etc and there is something for everyone. Best of all, they are cheap too. As for people being snobby, that is utter nonsense. We have made no end of friends through the caravan club and find them to be a wonderful crowd of people. In 7 years, I have only used one CC site and am last year had excellent value from the rallies, just one rally is worth the membership alone. Then you get the magazine which is far superior to that of the C+CC in my opinion and on a par with those you pay £3-4 each month. Then you can get a discount on your insurance, breakdown insurance, the CL network which gives you access to very cheap and quiet sites. OK, not the best equiped sites, but that is changeing quite quickly and they are great for a weekend or even a night's stopover en route.
With the Caravan Club you get a guaranteed good quality campsite well laid out with good sized pitches. Theres always more grass than mud (a good sign). Everything about the club sites are clean and tidy but there isn't the over authority you sometimes get at good quality sites. Campsites have excellent wash and shower facilities. Generally you get respectful, polite and well behaved clientele and the wardens are very rarely miserable old devils, quite the opposite infact.
Downside, its not as cheap as it used to be and occassionally you get the faint whiff of the Club becoming too much of a business less of a Club.
I'd say it's worth joining especially when you go abroad.
Hi - we are Caravan Club members and have been for the past 4 years. The only downside is that they open the booking line at the beginning of December to book for next year's holidays and Bank Holidays. I work during the day and so does my husband. By the time I get home most of the Bank Holidays are booked up, well those local to me like Clumber Park, Chatsworth, etc. When I rang to complain, she said there was nothing she could do and this year I should book a day's leave from work then I too would be able to book my holidays.
Because of this, we are not booked in anywhere at Easter.
I agree that the sites are very well maintained, clean and the staff are polite. Despite my niggles, we still join every year.
The annual membership fee is worth it (I reckon) for the magazine alone. The sites are excellent and in fact we rarely stay on non-club sites.
If you look at the availability, only each site's open dates are shown as 'available' and only for the current booking year - so you definitely can't book into any years ahead!!!
The annual opening of the bookings in December is a bit fraught, especially if you want to book the most popular sites for BH/School Holidays and therefore need to take part in the booking frenzy on opening day. Next in popularity are all the weekends through the Summer. However, you can book all your annual trips in one go - without parting with any money. If you can't keep to your plans you can cancel with a clear conscience and no cost - provided of course, that you give reasonable cancellation notice and don't just fail to turn up, which is a cardinal sin.
It is only as 'snobby' as members make it. So if you're not a snob, you're helping to prevent the club moving in that direction. Also, never assume that just because someone has invested a lot of dosh in their caravan or motorhome, that they are a snob by default.
I thought it was better this year than last getting onto the website to book. I booked it in the evening and managed to book all bank holidays inc Clumber , Knaresborough and Grin Low at Easter. I like the fact that I can book several in advance and I always cancel if we cannot make it ( thankfully rare ). This for me, is one of the best aspects of the CC, but their spotless facilities come a close 2nd, hate a grubby shower block.
We have been members of the CC for a while, but recently joined the CCC since they do the discount for over 55's. The CC dont yet do that [unless I missed the memo]. Also it gives us an amazing choice of sites and places to visit. Total is £68 for the year, and we'll get that back in no time.
We are members of both, found the C&CC foreign travel easy to book, didn,t have to use their ferry deals- although its a lesson learned, could have saved £35 as they give you 5% discount on quoted fares.
------------- Keep smiling, its later than you think !
We found CC very good for the last two years for travel (ferry) bookings. Cheapest by far. Last year we used, but didn't pre-book, all CC sites in France and all were excellent. Also have used their Caravan Insurance, Red Pennant and Travel Insurance. This year joined the CCC primarily to insure our new Hobby caravan which CC wouldn't cover. As yet we can't comment on the other benefits of CCC.
------------- Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly
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: How benefical is the Caravan Club?
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