Camping pitches prices? Is it me or are they expensive?

[MarkVw2017]

Dear Cali Gurus,

Had the Cali 2 weeks now and love it but still not actually gone any where as a mini holiday (damn you whoever invented work).

I priced up a site in Betws Y Coed, and it was £45 a night (for 2 adults, 2 children) so i was a bit shocked as not been on site for many a year and thought this was expensive, but maybe its not.

What is a fair price these days. There will be 2 adults, 2 kids and I wil be using an awning as well sometimes.

I also appreciate it will vary massively between locations and sites, but i'm just trying to get a good idea in my head to work out my summer holidays budget.

Thank you in advance for your wisdom and any advice you share

 

[GrannyJen]

The big question as well as what facilities and where is when.

School holiday times means that sadly full facility sites in the prime locations are expensive.

 

[Jabberwocky]

You could try Brit Stop - they are free but facilities vary dramatically. Not always suitable for Children and usually you have to make your own entertainment. Local walks, historical visits, theme parks, museums etc.
Might be worth a look.
http://www.britstops.com/
You should also price up your break in Betws Y Coed in an "off season". This will give you an idea of the premium for school holidays.
We have had our Cali for just two years and generally find the UK more expensive than the rest of Europe. (That includes Holland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Austria).

 

[Amarillo]

ACSI off season gives you pitch + 2 adults + hookup + showers + dog for 12 or 14 or 16 or 18 or 20 Euros. Sometimes up to three children under 6 years are included too.

The bad news is that the number of ACSI sites in the UK is limited.

In Scandinavia and Finland in the peak season we paid between 45 and 60 Euros for cabins with 4 beds, kitchen area and dining area. Only once did we stay at a campsite charging the sort of rates you paid: Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle - but the family sauna was good value.

 

[Taff7996]

We use Camping and Caravanning club sites, high season is about £30 per night for two adults on grass pitch with ehu.

 

[ArunAlec]

You could try Brit Stop - they are free but facilities vary dramatically. Not always suitable for Children and usually you have to make your own entertainment. Local walks, historical visits, theme parks, museums etc.
Might be worth a look.
http://www.britstops.com/
You should also price up your break in Betws Y Coed in an "off season". This will give you an idea of the premium for school holidays.
We have had our Cali for just two years and generally find the UK more expensive than the rest of Europe. (That includes Holland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Austria).

I used Britstops for a year and used a few really good sites but was disappointed that the majority of sites on offer were pub car parks. The best I experienced was a winery, that had shower and toilet facilities that were better than mine at home! I did feel obliged to buy a bottle of white.

 

[BerndRos]

I travel & explore.

Simply don’t see the point of campsites, a static view of sitting looking at other campers.

Free is best, then live like a King & Queen on the money you have saved while free camping.

An example. Years ago parked for the night in a central street in central Cadiz. Next morn sat on the step by the side door with my PJs on with a cup of tea, watching the city types hurrying along the pavement.

And I have done the same in most European cites.

As for the French Aires, bliss.

 

[Bellcrew]

I travel & explore.

Simply don’t see the point of campsites, a static view of sitting looking at other campers.

Free is best, then live like a King & Queen on the money you have saved while free camping.

An example. Years ago parked for the night in a central street in central Cadiz. Next morn sat on the step by the side door with my PJs on with a cup of tea, watching the city types hurrying along the pavement.

And I have done the same in most European cites.

As for the French Aires, bliss.

Showers for me are a necessity, if they are available on the side of the road I would be happy, until then my ACSI card is my friend, never more than 21 euro a night often with pools and lovely settings. Unfortunately these prices are only available outside the school hols so not so useful to the OP.

 

[Kevthegas]

Camping is no longer a case of pulling up on a farmers field and setting up a tent/caravan with water from
a standpipe.
The majority of campers now require fancy showers( cleaned every 15 minutes).
Perfectly maintained hard standings so Tarquin will not trip over in his wellies.
Public Liability insurance for the above.
Health and Safety notices everywhere telling Tarquin not to run around the pool when his mum is pi..ed on cheap Prosseco and cant focus on him.
Super fast wifi in the furthest field that most at home dream about if more than 6 mtrs away from the hub. Beautiful looking reception staff that will accept and laugh with your stupid pathetic questions.
Not to mention the website ( Seo) parasites constantly pecking at you saying pay more for more clicks.
Shocking fees to accept credit card payments as everyone pays on a card but the business has to absorb the bank charges.
I can go on !!
Unfortunately these things cost money, and as a small business owner myself the day to day costs of running a business are starting to get out of hand.

It has been a hard week sorry for the rant, sorry but not a rant at MarkVw2017 original post.

My new Cali has yet to be on a trip since getting it in September, need to make time

Kev

 

[Cali Ali]

Most I have paid is £35 per night for EHU and a stunning sea view at 3 Cliffs on the Gower coast, with the best camp site toilet and shower I have ever seen.

Best value I have found was camping in the forest at Bracelands, huge site plenty to do and see and for less that £20 per night for a Bank holiday weekend.

It all comes down to what facilities you want and need, the "Club" sites can be expensive as there is an expectation of the level of the facilities, rather than the main club sites look at some of the CL sites, you may be surprised at what is available, also look at the National trust they have a number of sites that are surprisingly good value and in good locations ( you don't need to be a NT member to use them either)

 

[MarkVw2017]

I travel & explore.

Simply don’t see the point of campsites, a static view of sitting looking at other campers.

Free is best, then live like a King & Queen on the money you have saved while free camping.

An example. Years ago parked for the night in a central street in central Cadiz. Next morn sat on the step by the side door with my PJs on with a cup of tea, watching the city types hurrying along the pavement.

And I have done the same in most European cites.

As for the French Aires, bliss.

Sounds lovely, but i am assuming thats not with two little kiddies?

 

[MarkVw2017]

Showers for me are a necessity, if they are available on the side of the road I would be happy, until then my ACSI card is my friend, never more than 21 euro a night often with pools and lovely settings. Unfortunately these prices are only available outside the school hols so not so useful to the OP.

What's an asci card?

 

[motacyclist]

I think £45 a night is too expensive. I think I know the site you mean, is it the Riverside? Used to be £10 a night until it was sold to the current owners. The facilities were upgraded but they were ok’ish before.

When we had kids we often used to stay at Glyn’s in Trefriw, not too far from B-y-C, reasonable price and choice of pubs for the evening. I think his daughter runs it now, hopefully still reasonable price.

You can stay in a hotel for not much more if you look for deals. I just had a mail shot from the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells offering a gourmet getaway for £99:-

Our gourmet getaway...
Dine the night away with our overnight indulgent escape from only £99 per room.

Settle down for the evening in our award winning restaurant and enjoy a gourmet six-course taster menu and complimentary glass of champagne. With dietary alternatives available, tuck in to the dining delights of pan-fried sea bass with laverbread cake, fillet of beef with a red wine jus and mouth-watering Amaretto and vanilla panna cotta.​

Wake up refreshed, after a relaxing night's sleep, and start your day right with a hearty welsh breakfast and full use of our spa facilities.
​

Well worth the £44 extra! We often stay in hotels on deals, but still go in the Cali; best of both worlds. Not so easy when you have kids though, unfortunately.

 

[BerndRos]

Showers for me are a necessity, if they are available on the side of the road I would be happy, until then my ACSI card is my friend, never more than 21 euro a night often with pools and lovely settings. Unfortunately these prices are only available outside the school hols so not so useful to the OP.

You can get a shower easily if you persist, Marinas, Campsites will charge you a couple of euros to use them, Motorway services, beach showers, portable ones that plug into your Cali 12v supply.....as for washing cloths, intermarche throughout Europe now have washers/dryers to use....

The trouble with campsites and there high charges is that in order to get your values for money, you tend to arrive early & leave late, hence missing out on the interests of true travel.

 

[MarkVw2017]

Camping is no longer a case of pulling up on a farmers field and setting up a tent/caravan with water from
a standpipe.
The majority of campers now require fancy showers( cleaned every 15 minutes).
Perfectly maintained hard standings so Tarquin will not trip over in his wellies.
Public Liability insurance for the above.
Health and Safety notices everywhere telling Tarquin not to run around the pool when his mum is pi..ed on cheap Prosseco and cant focus on him.
Super fast wifi in the furthest field that most at home dream about if more than 6 mtrs away from the hub. Beautiful looking reception staff that will accept and laugh with your stupid pathetic questions.
Not to mention the website ( Seo) parasites constantly pecking at you saying pay more for more clicks.
Shocking fees to accept credit card payments as everyone pays on a card but the business has to absorb the bank charges.
I can go on !!
Unfortunately these things cost money, and as a small business owner myself the day to day costs of running a business are starting to get out of hand.

It has been a hard week sorry for the rant, sorry but not a rant at MarkVw2017 original post.

My new Cali has yet to be on a trip since getting it in September, need to make time

Kev

Haha, brilliant @Kevthegas i also run a business and feel your pain. Feel the time i actually get round to a holiday, electric campers will be gettig replaced.

 

[BerndRos]

Sounds lovely, but i am assuming thats not with two little kiddies?

Years ago I used to sail a lot with 5 kids on board, if you can keep clean & fettled on a boat, adapting to Cali life is easy......

 

[Wobble’s Mum]

Dear Cali Gurus,

Had the Cali 2 weeks now and love it but still not actually gone any where as a mini holiday (damn you whoever invented work).

I priced up a site in Betws Y Coed, and it was £45 a night (for 2 adults, 2 children) so i was a bit shocked as not been on site for many a year and thought this was expensive, but maybe its not.

What is a fair price these days. There will be 2 adults, 2 kids and I wil be using an awning as well sometimes.

I also appreciate it will vary massively between locations and sites, but i'm just trying to get a good idea in my head to work out my summer holidays budget.

Thank you in advance for your wisdom and any advice you share

I’ll DM you the details of a site we use in Betws Y Coed. You pull up, choose your spot, and pay in the morning. I’m pretty sure it’s £6 each for adults. I’ll check. No hook up but do you need it?

 

[BerndRos]

I’ll DM you the details of a site we use in Betws Y Coed. You pull up, choose your spot, and pay in the morning. I’m pretty sure it’s £6 each for adults. I’ll check. No hook up but do you need it?

Have had my Cali for 9 years, very rarely been on hook up, you simply don’t need it. Exploring will charge your batteries, plus get Rogers Solar panel. You can get by in the UK with 5 days parked up....Southern Europe more so, and warm enough to use a portable shower with ease.

 

[Bellcrew]

What's an asci card?

You can camp at bargain rates during the low season with CampingCard ACSI at more than 3,400 campsites in Europe.
It is a Dutch companies scheme to access camp sites at fixed prices out of the peak season, there is a book/app that gives full information on the sites/reviews etc. Google it, many on this site use it all over Europe.

 

[tuono001]

Prices are a bit obscene at times for pitching on a bit of ground, despite what facilities they have. And some wardens, well lets leave that alone.
Just this week we stayed in a travel lodge, 2 adults 2 kids and baby, £40! Yes it was a monday night by the A1 but it has all the facilities you need. Doubt I'd get a main site for that price for us.

 

[BerndRos]

Prices are a bit obscene at times for pitching on a bit of ground, despite what facilities they have. And some wardens, well lets leave that alone.
Just this week we stayed in a travel lodge, 2 adults 2 kids and baby, £40! Yes it was a monday night by the A1 but it has all the facilities you need. Doubt I'd get a main site for that price for us.

And, as we are paying for the rental of that bit of ground, most of us arrive as early as is permissible & leave as late as possible, we are paying to sit looking at other campers, far better to be out exploring in our Calis.

Then, on the money saved, eating in effect becomes ‘free’

Same as the wine you bought and laid down years ago.

 

[Jay586]

There is a £15 or less camping FB group.

 

[Tandt]

We use Camping and Caravanning club sites, high season is about £30 per night for two adults on grass pitch with ehu.

We use the ccc temporary holiday sites or weekend meets. Our children were brought up on them. Some have facilities on main field and you are in a separate field. Our kids soon made friends and made their own entertainment but most of the time we were off site exploring

 

[MarkVw2017]

Some great advice, thank you all very much!! So the poll is suggesting £25 seems a average good price. I don't mind that. Thay Asci card seems great.

 

[GreggB]

Dear Cali Gurus,

Had the Cali 2 weeks now and love it but still not actually gone any where as a mini holiday (damn you whoever invented work).

I priced up a site in Betws Y Coed, and it was £45 a night (for 2 adults, 2 children) so i was a bit shocked as not been on site for many a year and thought this was expensive, but maybe its not.

What is a fair price these days. There will be 2 adults, 2 kids and I wil be using an awning as well sometimes.

I also appreciate it will vary massively between locations and sites, but i'm just trying to get a good idea in my head to work out my summer holidays budget.

Thank you in advance for your wisdom and any advice you share

£45 is quite steep but not shocking, especially in peak season. Does it offer much more than the pitch and showers/toilets? We paid somewhere close to that at a Haven site near Scarborough. Last minute booking but we got access to most facilities like soft play, swimming pool and arcade, well worth it with small children.

Not everyone is comfortable roughing it without decent facilities for more than a couple of nights, more so in a Beach, and children definitely make it harder. We’ve tended to go for sites with bus routes close by or attractions within walking distance.

Can recommend Conwy Holiday Park, good base for exploring North Wales, walkable to Conwy and a bus back, nice setting, reasonable facilities and the all important club house with indoor and outdoor play area for children!