Caravan and camping club

[larrylamb]

Thank you all for feedback recieved. Do the Cali's have difficulty, more so than other vans re:levelling?

I'm steering towards CMC at the moment....

No different to any other van re levelling. CMC site pitches are usually pretty good.

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you all for feedback recieved. Do the Cali's have difficulty, more so than other vans re:levelling?

I'm steering towards CMC at the moment....

Less so. Some larger vehicles have to be really level to function properly. I have ramps but rarely have to use them.

 

[LowMan]

Hi all,

As per the post title, I'm looking at joining the CCC or, possibly the Campervan and Motorhome Club. Which is best from your experiences?
I have a 4.5 year old but am not into the 'Haven' type family scene so wondering which would be best for him too.

TIA

Hi There

We were members of both up until last year. We stared to find we were getting better value from the Caravan & Motorhome Club than the CCC. It was marginal though. I reckon, if you can afford it, it's worth joining both initially. You only need to stay at the sites a few times to have got your value for money. Then take a view from there. Both offer good quality sites in well placed locations, and between them you've pretty much got the UK covered.

 

[Gary&Heather]

We have been members of both clubs for many years now, but I must say if you are taking children with you camping the camping and Caravan club is a more suitable club for children. We have had many enjoyable holiday's on the camping and Caravan club site's and not so many good ones with the C&CC which it is called now just my opinion though.

 

[WelshGas]

We have been members of both clubs for many years now, but I must say if you are taking children with you camping the camping and Caravan club is a more suitable club for children. We have had many enjoyable holiday's on the camping and Caravan club site's and not so many good ones with the C&CC which it is called now just my opinion though.

I think you mean the Caravan & Motorhome Club?

Having said that the C & MC do have the advantage of No Prepayment, easy cancellation unto 72 hrs before hand and some very good sites eg: Crystal Palace in London ( although due to close has been given a stay of execution ) and Bristol, very central on the waterfront ( although this is due to close sometime in the future if the lease cannot be removed ).

 

[Gary&Heather]

I think you mean the Caravan & Motorhome Club?

Having said that the C & MC do have the advantage of No Prepayment, easy cancellation unto 72 hrs before hand and some very good sites eg: Crystal Palace in London ( although due to close has been given a stay of execution ) and Bristol, very central on the waterfront ( although this is due to close sometime in the future if the lease cannot be removed ).

Yes sorry I did mean the caravan and motorhome club

I must admit I cannot argue with some of the sites in the caravan and motorhome club we have been on many ourselves, but what I'm trying to say is in our experience if you're taking kids with you the camping and Caravan club seem to be a bit more friendly, we've had some good holidays on the camping and Caravan club site's and it all boils down to how the wardens manage the sites but as with all things it's never easy with kids anyway

 

[Tandt]

Hi all,

As per the post title, I'm looking at joining the CCC or, possibly the Campervan and Motorhome Club. Which is best from your experiences?
I have a 4.5 year old but am not into the 'Haven' type family scene so wondering which would be best for him too.

TIA

We have been with the ccc for over 30 years. When our children were young we did a lot of rallies and ths meets where they made a lot of friends and there were often child activities. Try a weekend meet in your local area beforehand

 

[Barbara]

At peak times it is not always possible to stay only one night with the Camping and caravan club.

I use both Camping and caravan club and The Caravan and Motorhome club as I prefer some sites to other. For example I prefer C and CC Cambridge site to C and M C Cambridge site.

 

[Leigh-R]

We are members of both but for us we do really like the CMC Club sites as it’s great to be in charge of the temperature of your own shower! We will Continue membership of both though.

 

[John Slater]

We're members of both. The facilities range between good and excellent with both. Mostly in Scotland (where we tend to alternate between wilding and sites) and a few very close to home in the Lakes for a weekend away.

 

[Coral65]

We joined the CMC last June. We have just returned from 6 nights in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, staying at 4 different sites, only one being a club site. Although we find the facilities reliable, we have paid less at other sites for facilities just as good and very often better and we haven’t had to pay for WiFi at non-club sites. When researching sites and finding one we like, we then discover there are no toilets. Whilst the club sites welcome Campervan, we don’t think they are all quite geared up for them yet. We are still contemplating whether or not to rejoin this year, for us certainly it hasn’t really been worth it so perhaps not.

 

[kp64zl]

I'm a member of neither club -- nor have any intention of joining.

There are loads of independent campsites around that don't require membership and as mentioned above, are often cheaper than the advertised members rates of the aforementioned clubs.

 

[rod_vw]

Since we have been just two of us in the camper we have never had any liking for 'organised' camp sites of any description so neither clubs are of interest to us. We live 70% of the year on a 1960s housing estate with superb neighbours all around us. However when we get in the camper we search out remote overnight stops well away from regimented parking, many of which are no more than a few pound per night and often free.

I realise that there are many folks that don't like being in remote unserviced places that they cannot book ahead to be sure of a plot and secure within a fence but that's not for us.

CaliGem if you,like us, own a camper to escape the rat race and enjoy the countryside don't bother with membership of any club. When need does arise, if it ever does, you can always drop into almost any campsite in the UK and certainly in mainland Europe without having paid a subscription to do it.

As for savings beyond the campsite fees I think with a bit of searching you will find you can get as good a deal or even better interdependently. If you need it all done for you then join the clubs and make your subscription work for you.

 

[ArunAlec]

When considering whether its worth joining either of the clubs, don't forget that membership gives you access to a large number of small CL & CS sites which are far from regimented and often just fields with basic facilities.

 

[Doorbundle]

CCC 'Club Sites' sites are generally very good and well appointed none are the 'Haven' type. the club also has small 'Hideaway' sites all over the UK, they generally have all the basic facilities and are ideal for short breaks, many in scenic location, sea views etc. Also see thread: Curtain Twitchers

 

[kp64zl]

Please educate me -- what is a "Haven" in the context of campsites? sorry for my ignorance

 

[Doorbundle]

Please educate me -- what is a "Haven" in the context of campsites? sorry for my ignorance

Haven is a national company that runs larger camping sites with Clubs, bars, entertainment shows etc. their clients are both residential and tourers. Hope this helps Db.

 

[Chris Greaves]

My opinion, if you want to stay on a site which is part of either club, join at that point. They do offer good discounts and generally good sites and membership isn’t expensive. We have CCC membership primarily because we use a site just North of London a few times in the year. With discounts costs £13 per night to visit London. When we go anywhere else, I look at all available options and chose the best option, we look for good facilities and minimal rules/ organisation. I would also join the other club if I wanted to stay on one of their sites, York or Chatsworth for example.

 

[Victor_Tango_]

As others have mentioned, both organisations give you access to a ton of "certificated locations," small sites of only 5 or so pitches that are often off the beaten track and give you a feeling of being away from it all but with basic facilities.

I'm a C&CC member and have only stayed a few times at the "full buuna" C&CC sites, mainly because they've been in handy locations. Most of the time we seek out the little certificated locations, which feel much more suited to the Cali.

 

[GrannyJen]

Whether it's worth it or not depends entirely what you want from your membership.

I'm just starting to plan a 450 mile walk from Englands most easterly point to Wales most westerly point and I'm basically using their sites all the way. Why? I know with total reliability I am going to find generous pitch size, clean warm sanitary blocks, nice showers, laundry's that work, 16A EHU and spotless surroundings.

I don't care that the sites appear to have a lot of rules and that they look regimented. I know the reliable product that I am getting.

That's just the camping side. Both clubs also get some cracking offers together.

If I wanted 18+ then not for me. If I wanted to be very private, not for me. If I wanted to pay less than a fiver, find a car park instead. If I wanted bars, swimming pools and pizza ovens, not for me.

 

[VW Badger]

Im a member of the C&CC and it’s worth it for the discount on insurance alone. Anything else is a bonus.

 

[Christine Kirk]

We have joined the CCC but so far have had little benefit. We booked our ferry ourselves Newhaven -Dieppe and it cost us £120; On contacting the CCCoffice to equire as to a stopover site on our running in trip down to Spain they didn't seem to offer much for us, we used the municipal sites instead as we only needed to say dusk to the following morning , costs were 5 euros! the insurance was taken care of by NFU local office .
So have yet to feel any benefit.

 

[ArunAlec]

We have joined the CCC but so far have had little benefit. We booked our ferry ourselves Newhaven -Dieppe and it cost us £120; On contacting the CCCoffice to equire as to a stopover site on our running in trip down to Spain they didn't seem to offer much for us, we used the municipal sites instead as we only needed to say dusk to the following morning , costs were 5 euros! the insurance was taken care of by NFU local office .
So have yet to feel any benefit.

Were you asking CCC for a stopover site in the UK or over the channel?

 

[SimonB]

We tend not to book sites in advance, and go to an area and then look for a nice site. The C&CC have a Big Sites book in which they list all the sites that they have inspected filed by area. Now that our children are grown up we don't need to look for sites that have entertainment for them, so we just check for a loo, shower & washing up area.
These also tend to be the quietest sites. A bar or shop on site generally means extra noise and people walking or driving around.
If you are a member of the C&CC this book is free if you are a print member at £46 or if a digital member you can only see it online and save £6. If you happen to be somewhere remote you might not have a signal at vital times though. The sites are listed with the facilities they offer and we have rarely been disappointed.
We also have a solar panel which means that we don't need an EHU. The EHU points also tend to be nearest to the facilities so if you want some piece and quiet you can find an empty piece of the site to camp in.

 

[Mr & Mrs B]

We're members of both and have used not only their sites, but member benefits too. Yes, there are rules and regulations on their sites but we've also found lots of rules and regulations on private sites we've visited. We tend to decide on an area we want to visit and then find a suitable site.