Just having another clear-out of all the nooks and crannies and came across my receipt for our 14 night stay at the C&MC site at Trewethett Farm in Cornwall exactly 5 years ago. Really can`t believe it was 5 years, though it may have been 3 but the pages are dropping off the calendar as soon as I touch them nowadays.
Anyway, I just did a like for comparison (like many, I no longer use `club` sites as they just aren`t value for money anymore in my opinion, CL`s and CS`s nowadays) to see how much the site fees have increased. Wait for it.......53%. Yes, 53% over % years.
Can`t comment further, the number just says it all.
Sore point with many of us! I'm a pensioner, comfortably OK, but not inclined to be reckless with limited funds by indulging greedy sites! It's not too difficult to spend the same on two nights at a reasonably priced site (even 3 on a really cheap site) as one night on one of the 'robber' sites! Value for money is important to me.
We are told that annual inflation typically runs at about 3-4%, yet we can all find plenty of things where cost has risen 50-60% in a few years! Doesn't add up!
I think one of the most damming things with camping was the 'Covid camper' massive rise in demand. Case of demand far outstripping supply and many sites (and clubs!) taking advantage of the situation by hiking prices. Covid brigade also seemed to have no sense of value, with money to burn, and more than willing to pay the new extortionate pitch prices!
That bubble seems to have burst now, the caravan industry, both manufacturers and dealers, seem to be struggling this year. But MH demand seems to remain high. Last year (haven't been away yet this year) sites I went to didn't seem busy even in the peak of the season!
The cost of electricity (EHU plus usage in facilities and site wide) was cited by many sites for causing price hikes, but that's now fallen way back from the silly near £1/unit days to less than half of that! But has that been reflected in pricing?
CAMC for sure have of late been reducing prices in a roundabout sort of way via offers and limited discounts, due it would seem to a statistical noticeable fall in bookings!
No business likes reducing prices, but they may have to, to continue to attract customers, unless they follow a trend of ditching touring pitches in favour of 'glamping' statics and cabins etc.!
I find the opposite is true in that sites are ditching glamping/ready-tent in favour traditional hardstanding pitches as the latter get booked more often than the former.
Personally, the prices for glamping/ready-tent make my eyes water!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
No longer use Club sites as are overpriced considering you are also paying a membership fee. Away on a site 3 weeks ago and whilst away received an Email offer for a site that was on our way home,so booked it. Full service pitch,we had three nights unmetered electric at a total of £55. The offer was up until the 11 July so just got it in.
i found last year that camping and caravanning club had removed their pre erected tents at Mablethorpe club site, warden says they just wern't viable,
says it all
Quote: Originally posted by G#Winger on 15/7/2025
i found last year that camping and caravanning club had removed their pre erected tents at Mablethorpe club site, warden says they just wern't viable,
says it all
Same with Devizes C&CC.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by G#Winger on 15/7/2025
i found last year that camping and caravanning club had removed their pre erected tents at Mablethorpe club site, warden says they just wern't viable,
says it all
Same with Devizes C&CC.
DK
Same with Derwentwater C&CC. They have made some nice new hardstandings where the pre erected tents used to be.
We don't really care who owns what site, we go where we get the best deal in the area we want to visit. We are C&CC members but we don't always use their sites. Commercial sites can often be cheaper, even with our seniors discount at C&CC. We are always careful to look at overall cost rather than simply site fees, as some sites have all sorts of "extras" that they charge for. EHU being a typical example. A cheap site with ridiculous charges for electricity can work out to be very expensive in total.
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: Site fees (again!)
via mobile 13/7/2025 at 8:31am
