The Camping Forum

[johnson]

hi all just a quick 1 , im thinking of joining the caravan and camping club but not really sure on wot the benifits are could you please point me in the right direction ,and is it worth its while thanks

[Rob-merlin1973]

Hi
Personally I have never seen the need... I think they are expensive and the pitches are generally too small for us and there are plenty non c&c sites out there :grin:

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[Donnelly69]

We are members, but personally I can't see any reasons to join......

The only reason we are, is my wife wanted to meet up with some friends in Scarborough last year for a weekend and it worked out cheaper if we joined. But their sites are too expensive, compared to what we usually pay. As Rob says, there's plenty of choice out there.

Not for me I'm afraid.

[CrazyCamper]

Begs the question - have they got their marketing wrong over the years then?

I know I've read elsewhere that this sort of opinion is not uncommon at all.... Makes you wonder when an organisation such as this doesn't seem able to get it right when trying to encourage people to join.

As has been said - there are so many other choices for sites etc, there just doesn't seem to be a GOOD reason to join them at all nowadays?

I've seen it first hand too - when a colleague joined them PURELY to get a caravan pitch at the NEC show (that was) then never used them again, as they had nothing else to offer above many good sites around the country.

[Gav]

We're not members but we've stayed at some c&c certified sites with no problems - a couple of gems.
One, Meredith Farm in Herefordshire, was the cheapest we've stayed in and tent size didn't matter. Campfires allowed as well.

Agree - the benefits of joining c&c aren't clear, but I wouldn't put all c&c sites down. I suspect their owners were just looking for another source of campers. They're plenty of non c&c sites that are very expensive, restrictive on tent size, tent position, tent awnings, trailers, camp fires, bbqs, kids, adults, speaking, arrival and departure time, campers, etc.... Sorry, rant over. But sometimes you wonder why some site owners are in the business.

[Donnelly69]

They are definitely getting something right, for a lot of people, as they have a massive membership and I know of people who have been members forever, including my mother for 40+ years. Its horses for courses I guess.

The sites are usually immaculate and are generally very well laid out, but for me, it's a bit like using a five star hotel, as in, I don't go to a site to sit around enjoying the cut grass and regimental pitches, I use it as a base to explore the local area. I wouldn't use a hotel then sit in it all day.

I can pitch my tent on any reasonably flat piece of ground, anything else after that is a bonus, so I don't need to pay too much for a nights sleep.


And as Gav says, some of the CL's/CS's are little crackers.

[pjmerrell]

I Always thought that back in the Day C&C memebrs received bonus's such as Either cheep insurance or free cover for the trailor/Caravan when travelling and covered the trailor/caravan when travelling in Europe with AA5* cover

I dont think its as much an attraction to be a member for member sites, but the additional benifits you get as a member, Legal cover, RAC Accident cover etc, although non of these are out of the norm that you cant buy individually. And I believe they still do their Rallies, so i assume Like minded campers can get together and moan about all us non members

Could be totally wrong, just going on what i heard as a kid when my Parents used to be with them, i know my Dad convinced me to join when we first went camping, although i never quite understood why i was a member i thought it was more of a "van" membership, caravan, campervan, err trailor tent (its still got wheels )

[johnson]

thanks all for your comments , i could never see the point but my father-in-law was on about it and i just wonted to make sure i was not missing anything

[The Three Bears]

I'm glad that I stumbled upon your post. I was thinking the same! The reason my friend joined, was because you can book through their website for some sites. I believe the per night pitch price is discounted., I suppose it depends how often you may be staying at them in order to make a saving, taking into account the original membership fee.
My friend will benefit from a voucher of come sort? when I mention her on joining. For now, we are holding off.

[Rob-merlin1973]

HI welcome to the forum

Yes i beleive you do det a discount but really would need to use their sites a lot to make it worth it.

[subaqua]

for the annual cost it makes it worthwhile for us when we go for weekends away in the tent with the family. we also got a cheaper deal on tent insurance , insurance for the trailer and tickets for various camping related shows.

we use the club sites like others do a. purely a base to explore the area.Thetford forest is huge and I have only just scratched the surface of rideable trails there. what i do like is the kids play areas are generally on park so we can send the kids to play while we pitch the tent. its safe and usually within view , and certainly earshot.

[nutgone]

I wanted to join for one particular site (it's one I used to get taken to as a kid), but it would only cost me an extra few quid per night if I went as a non member, so I doubt I'll bother.

You also get a monthly magazine & I think you get a big sites guide book (which is quite handy, but is also available on sale to non-members).

You do get special deals on various types of insurance & breakdown cover, but all these are generally available elsewhere (BTW: Tent insurance??? That';s new to me. Is ANYTHING actually covered??? I'll bet there's a mile of small print on that particular document )

So, the clubs, in general. The caravan club is generally for stuffed shirts, I mean sUKCS is practically a caravan club appreciation society, which is why it's such an infuriating forum, most of the time (they're an anal lot). & the caravan club members generally look upon C&CC members as a load of hippies & their sites as disorganised! (I know, I know. All us non-members think they're all the same anyway, God knows what they think of us! )

I think if you have a few particularly favourite sites which happen to be C&CC sites, then you can make it pay, as some of them charge up to £6 per pitch, per night, if you're not a member. But I generally go along with the rest on here, there are plenty of other sites about, & most will be cheaper, or just as much. You can get all the deals elsewhere & as for a sites guide? Well you can do that online anyway, or just shell out the £15 for your own.

[thetwowalkers]

We've been members of the caravan and camping club for years. Most of the sites are very nice, some of the franchised ones are better.

In recent years, we've hardly been to the club sites at all and have opted for the private independent sites. We have also been to a number of the Best of British sites - all have exceptional quality and are considerably cheaper than club sites. If you're a member of Best of British (free to join) you are able to take advantage of offers and one of the sites we go to gives you free WiFi.

[Guin74]

We joined last year cos we love the site at norwich. It was cheaper to join and book the site than it was to pay as non members. And why say no to a magazine every month for free. But if we dont go to norwich this year we'll probably let it lapse cos we don't really go to any other sites. The Norwich site made us really welcome as tent dwellers.

[nutgone]

There you go then, horses for courses really.