Both clubs fulfil the same basic function, so you pays your money and makes you choice on either (or both), as you see their slightly different way of doing things fitting your ideals.
I belong to CAMH, mostly initially because I wanted to use one of their storage sites, but have come to like the IMHO far superior web site for club site info and booking procedure. The booking system of 'no deposit/penalty free cancel up to 72 hrs from arrival' is a double edge sword, it's a great convenience in it's self, but it does mean sometimes sites are appearing booked for months ahead and prevents you booking, but in reality people drop out at the last minute!
I find most full club sites are significantly cheaper than the private sites in regions I like to go, and the 5 pitch Certified Locations that can only be booked by members are usually my favourite sites, as many are adult only and very economically priced. I'm self contained in my van, so don't need on site toilets/showers, therefore seems pointless paying for them when not needed, plenty of CL's do have full facilities, but I can happily use all CL sites regardless.
Club sites with very few exceptions are universally to a high and common standard, so you can book an unfamiliar site with a fair degree of confidence.
The club membership fee can be recovered to a degree if you take advantage of some of the discounts offered by affiliated companies/organisations. Got a third of my fee back one year simply by buying discounted fridge winter covers that were on offer!
I'm not sure I'd like to say one club is better than the other, but there are different styles of operation and one may suit better than the other. At the end of the day, you only subscribe for a year, so if it doesn't suit, try the other club next year, if that doesn't suit either, don't renew, or go back to the other club. In the grand scheme of things, the club membership fee is a pretty minor expense in comparison to the general cost of running and using a caravan.
We joined both but after a year dumped the so called "Friendly Club" mainly due to attitudes of wardens who thought they were the RSM. You were told where to pitch and heaven forbid if you said that you did not like the pitch they were allocating you.
Another issue was on weekends you had to book a minimum of 2 nights on a site which can be inconvenient when travelling between two locations which are far apart.
Lastly we found the website terrible to navigate around especially when looking for a CS in a locality.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 26/3/2021
We joined both but after a year dumped the so called "Friendly Club" mainly due to attitudes of wardens who thought they were the RSM. You were told where to pitch and heaven forbid if you said that you did not like the pitch they were allocating you.
Another issue was on weekends you had to book a minimum of 2 nights on a site which can be inconvenient when travelling between two locations which are far apart.
Lastly we found the website terrible to navigate around especially when looking for a CS in a locality.
I don't know which sites you used but you have had a very different experience to me. I have always found the staff to be very friendly and helpful at the C&CC sites I have visited, and I have usually been offered a choice of pitches. Maybe the fact that we usually start on a Monday has something to do with that, it may not have been the same had we started on a Friday or Saturday when they are busiest. I don't know about the minimum number of nights as it has never applied to us.
I do agree about the website though, it is certainly not the easiest to use, and finding a CS is definitely not a simple matter from the website. You really need the sites book.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 26/3/2021
We joined both but after a year dumped the so called "Friendly Club" mainly due to attitudes of wardens who thought they were the RSM. You were told where to pitch and heaven forbid if you said that you did not like the pitch they were allocating you.
Another issue was on weekends you had to book a minimum of 2 nights on a site which can be inconvenient when travelling between two locations which are far apart.
Lastly we found the website terrible to navigate around especially when looking for a CS in a locality.
I don't know which sites you used but you have had a very different experience to me. I have always found the staff to be very friendly and helpful at the C&CC sites I have visited, and I have usually been offered a choice of pitches. Maybe the fact that we usually start on a Monday has something to do with that, it may not have been the same had we started on a Friday or Saturday when they are busiest. I don't know about the minimum number of nights as it has never applied to us.
I do agree about the website though, it is certainly not the easiest to use, and finding a CS is definitely not a simple matter from the website. You really need the sites book.
I would have to say our experience of the club mirrors this exactly. We have really liked all we have stayed on and found wardens really nice and helpful. Also always offered a choice of pitch.
However I do have to agree the website is far from the best and that is being polite.
The C&CC website is awful, and why don't they arrange the book by county/country like the CAMC book? much simpler to use, and as for looking for a CS on the website...needle in a haystack comes to mind. That said, we are members of both clubs for their small sites.
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 24/3/2021
Ooo, just realised I now qualify for the C&CC over 55 discount!!!
DK
I didnt know this. I have recently booked a site, and as far as i know have paid the going rate. Is there a drop-down to click when booking? Though i would have thought the 'club' would know your age, and automatically apply any discount on booking.
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 24/3/2021
Ooo, just realised I now qualify for the C&CC over 55 discount!!!
DK
I didnt know this. I have recently booked a site, and as far as i know have paid the going rate. Is there a drop-down to click when booking? Though i would have thought the 'club' would know your age, and automatically apply any discount on booking.
I don't know whether this only applies to new members, but I think the age limit is now 60 not 55.
What I do know though is that once you have booked as a "senior member" your discount is applied automatically each time you book. I don't think it is the first time though.
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 26/3/2021
The C&CC website is awful, and why don't they arrange the book by county/country like the CAMC book? much simpler to use, and as for looking for a CS on the website...needle in a haystack comes to mind. That said, we are members of both clubs for their small sites.
Both Clubs have awful web sites which means if you are going to book anything allow a whole morning have tea/coffee ready and then wade through the mire which they call websites. Caravan Club dos not use the correct county's they put the listing under what sounds good not where it really is.
Its Yorkshire not east riding that's the council and it starts with a Y but not according to caravan club.
How about the two clubs amalgamating to say 'The Camping, Caravan & Motorhome Club' and then call the CS & CL's 'Certified Site Locations'. That would give you a really great choice. If they also amalgamated the offices then perhaps the price would come down as less overheads and more members. But then again pigs may fly!!
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Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 10/4/2021
No need to amalgamate. They could simply agree to recognise each others members.
Sorry, only joking.
Many a true word spoken in jest
Now there's a thought for National Trust and English Heritage
Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 10/4/2021
No need to amalgamate. They could simply agree to recognise each others members.
Sorry, only joking.
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: clubs
via mobile 26/3/2021 at 11:33am
