Acsi-how to find cheap sites?

[Wh05apk]

I think we have the books, but to be honest have no interest in wading they pages and pages then negotiating, surely should be able to look in the app , find a site and go? We are traveling around so just need to find a quick stop over, starting to think acsi is not for us, and stick to Aires which I can easily search for through searchforsites etc without having to pay to join.

 

[chaser]

I think we have the books, but to be honest have no interest in wading they pages and pages then negotiating, surely should be able to look in the app , find a site and go? We are traveling around so just need to find a quick stop over, starting to think acsi is not for us, and stick to Aires which I can easily search for through searchforsites etc without having to pay to join.

Can't argue with that , just thought you needed camps.
We only use Aires or France passion which we join every two years , very rare they ask to see your card.
We have found park4night a better search thing in Europe, but also use search for sites.

 

[peterc10]

That's the one I'm trying to use but won't let me now.

As others have said there are two different "products" that ACSI offer and you need to to pay for each separately.

The first one is a card which can be used to offer the site security upon unpaid fees and costs for breakages that you may incur, instead of you handing over your passport. ACSI produce a list of sites that accept this card and which they recommend. I suspect that is the product you have bought.

The second is a card which enables you to get discounted rates for camping during off peaks periods at certain sites. This card runs for one calendar year. In order to get this card you need to buy a set of books, 2 listing the sites in detail and one showing maps of where they are. One of these books will include the card as a "tear off" insert and you then fill your details out on the card. You will only be able to get the discounted price if you show this card when booking in, although on some of these sites you may be able to get as good or better rate than the ACSI discounted rate. Each year you have to buy a new set of books with that year's card.

The books are produced in several languages. The English language version can be bought from the CMC and CCC as well as Vicarious books and ACSI direct. We have also seen them for sale at caravan and motorhome dealers. They cost about £12 for the set. We are members of CCC, so buy the books from them as they appear to be the cheapest including delivery. We find that we can recoup the cost of the books and card after about 3 or 4 nights at any listed site.

Note these rates only apply off peak. Each site defines the off peak periods covered by the card and those are clearly shown in the entry for that site in the books.

It really is very simple once you get used to it, and we find we do not need to use an app in order find the sites. The card is the easy proof for the site that you have paid for the year, and that is why it is paper based rather than app based. Otherwise anybody could just turn up and get it without contributing to the costs ACSI incurs in running the scheme.

 

[chaser]

As others have said there are two different "products" that ACSI offer and you need to to pay for each separately.

The first one is a card which can be used to offer the site security upon unpaid fees and costs for breakages that you may incur, instead of you handing over your passport. ACSI produce a list of sites that accept this card and which they recommend. I suspect that is the product you have bought.

The second is a card which enables you to get discounted rates for camping during off peaks periods at certain sites. This card runs for one calendar year. In order to get this card you need to buy a set of books, 2 listing the sites in detail and one showing maps of where they are. One of these books will include the card as a "tear off" insert and you then fill your details out on the card. You will only be able to get the discounted price if you show this card when booking in, although on some of these sites you may be able to get as good or better rate than the ACSI discounted rate. Each year you have to buy a new set of books with that year's card.

The books are produced in several languages. The English language version can be bought from the CMC and CCC as well as Vicarious books and ACSI direct. We have also seen them for sale at caravan and motorhome dealers. They cost about £12 for the set. We are members of CCC, so buy the books from them as they appear to be the cheapest including delivery. We find that we can recoup the cost of the books and card after about 3 or 4 nights at any listed site.

Note these rates only apply off peak. Each site defines the off peak periods covered by the card and those are clearly shown in the entry for that site in the books.

It really is very simple once you get used to it, and we find we do not need to use an app in order find the sites.

Pretty much what I was trying to say

 

[chaser]

One thing we have found in the odd times we have used it, you are treated as second class campers and get put in less desirable spots or have to pay for stuff that is included in full price.

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[Stonemags76]

When have bought the books for the year, you enter the number on the card into the Camping Card app, and that gives you access for one year (January to December). The advantage of the app is that you can read reviews - much more enlightening! The books are sold in many campsites in France and Spain, in English. We are usually away in January when the books come out, so look out for it as we travel.

 

[Shrimp]

Over the years we’ve had ACSI twice, first time was our first visit to France in a MH.
Second time a campsite owner gave us a book/card so we could use the discount on his site!
Now we don’t bother, we just use the Aires, more convenient, you can arrive & leave when you fancy and if you don’t like the area you just move to the next, and there’s no booking involved!

 

[peterc10]

When have bought the books for the year, you enter the number on the card into the Camping Card app, and that gives you access for one year (January to December). The advantage of the app is that you can read reviews - much more enlightening! The books are sold in many campsites in France and Spain, in English. We are usually away in January when the books come out, so look out for it as we travel.

I agree. But I think it is important for people to understand that just getting the app won't get you any discount. You only get the discounted price when you present the card and you can only get the card when you buy the books.

 

[Griffithii]

We took ACSI app and Camper contact plus smartphone Google.Another vote for the French municipal sites.We did use Aires sometimes but don't get the sit indoors ethos.Its worth €20 to me to have my table and chairs out. O.K. if they're near a nice town centre are for eating out.
In the end Google was the most useful and also good for finding the designated daytime parking on town hall type websites

 

[Stonemags76]

I agree. But I think it is important for people to understand that just getting the app won't get you any discount. You only get the discounted price when you present the card and you can only get the card when you buy the books.

And the app only works when you buy the books! ?

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[chaser]

We took ACSI app and Camper contact plus smartphone Google.Another vote for the French municipal sites.We did use Aires sometimes but don't get the sit indoors ethos.Its worth €20 to me to have my table and chairs out. O.K. if they're near a nice town centre are for eating out.
In the end Google was the most useful and also good for finding the designated daytime parking on town hall type websites

Never been on an Aire yet in nine years where we couldn't have table and chairs out

 

[EMS]

We use the books and also the ID card that has your details such as passport number, this is can sometimes be held instead of the passport at certain sites. We found it was good to use the ACSI DVD data (sites,maps,photos,site request proforma and route planner) on our laptop but sadly they have stopped issuing them.
A couple of days ago we were on a site in Belgium that I had booked via the internet as it was the start of our trip and when we went to book in we met a couple of ACSI reviewers who had arrived unannounced to check the site. The site was full so they had to park at the entrance to the site, the reviwers were friendly and gave my wife a crossword/puzzle book and an ACSI biro so she was pleased.

 

[busby]

Thanks, but still no indication of discounted price, for example, one near us now is showing as €44, I then have to search on acsi to check the discounted price?

I find the book so easy..BUSBY.

 

[chaser]

I find the book so easy..BUSBY.

True, don't see the aversion to using the books, find your site in the app, go to it in the book where you will find the discounted price plus other sites around it with their price

 

[Wh05apk]

I have paid for the app and the discount card, but for some reason it is saying I can't access it. It was working a few months ago, before I changed my phone.

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[Wh05apk]

True, don't see the aversion to using the books, find your site in the app, go to it in the book where you will find the discounted price plus other sites around it with their price

Surely the whole idea of the discount app is to find a site and know the price? Not find a site then have to wade through books which may be out of date since being printed last year?

 

[chaser]

I have paid for the app and the discount card, but for some reason it is saying I can't access it. It was working a few months ago, before I changed my phone.

Daft question, but it's not run out , think it runs from march to march and it runs out then even if you bought it in december

 

[chaser]

Surely the whole idea of the discount app is to find a site and know the price? Not find a site then have to wade through books which may be out of date since being printed last year?

No it's the other way round , you are purchasing the books the app is only an add on.

 

[peterc10]

Surely the whole idea of the discount app is to find a site and know the price? Not find a site then have to wade through books which may be out of date since being printed last year?

It is NOT a discount app as such. You need the card to get the discount. And to get the card you need to buy the books. The app is just an add on. The books and card come out every year and you have to have this year's book to have this year's card. And the discount rate for each site stays the same for the whole year.

But no point worrying about it now. It is or will soon be high season just about everywhere, so I doubt you will be able to get the discount rates now until the end of August.

 

[Speve]

One thing we have found in the odd times we have used it, you are treated as second class campers and get put in less desirable spots or have to pay for stuff that is included in full price.

We’ve been using ACSI for the last six or seven winters and never been treated like that always found sites very accommodating.

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[Wh05apk]

Not for me then, when I find an area I like, I like to look on a map/app and find somewhere.

 

[chaser]

Not for me then, when I find an area I like, I like to look on a map/app and find somewhere.

Well that's exactly what you do with the acsi book and map, I don't think you have actually used the books because they are the simplest way of finding a site, can do it without any WiFi or data just open the book at where you are and bingo a load of sites all on the same page .
I am not saying it's for everyone, we don't use it as we don't use sites but for anyone who does, it's brilliant at just finding sites whether you use the discount or not .

 

[Deneb]

I don't understand the problem. My Camping card ACSI app shows me the discount rate for any site I select. It's in the summary box which appears at the bottom of the map when you click on the site location, and on the full site page that opens when you click on the summary description, e.g 16 in a yellow box for 16 euros nightly rate and 18 in a red box for 18 euros etc, just like the book.

 

[peterc10]

Well that's exactly what you do with the acsi book and map, I don't think you have actually used the books because they are the simplest way of finding a site, can do it without any WiFi or data just open the book at where you are and bingo a load of sites all on the same page .
I am not saying it's for everyone, we don't use it as we don't use sites but for anyone who does, it's brilliant at just finding sites whether you use the discount or not .

I'me not sure he is listening .................

 

[Deneb]

One thing we have found in the odd times we have used it, you are treated as second class campers and get put in less desirable spots or have to pay for stuff that is included in full price.

You're paying a discounted rate and what you get for it is explained quite clearly in the details for each site in both the app and book. Many sites on the continent provide basic and larger comfort pitches at different prices, the theory being that if you're touring day to day a smaller pitch, lower rated EHU and lower price is quite attractive. As the book and app explain, you can often upgrade to a higher rated EHU, comfort pitch or other extras not included in the discount rate, but you have to pay extra for them. Seems quite reasonable to me. It seems to be a British thing that many motorhomers want to take everything including the kitchen sink away with them, park on a football field sized pitch so that they can erect a gazebo and garden fence with comprehensive outdoor illuminations, and have a nuclear power station next door to supply their electrical needs

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[chaser]

You're paying a discounted rate and what you get for it is explained quite clearly in the details for each site in both the app and book. Many sites on the continent provide basic and larger comfort pitches at different prices, the theory being that if you're touring day to day a smaller pitch, lower rated EHU and lower price is quite attractive. As the book and app explain, you can often upgrade to a higher rated EHU, comfort pitch or other extras not included in the discount rate, but you have to pay extra for them. Seems quite reasonable to me. It seems to be a British thing that many motorhomers want to take everything including the kitchen sink away with them, park on a football field sized pitch so that they can erect a gazebo and garden fence with comprehensive outdoor illuminations, and have a nuclear power station next door to supply their electrical needs

Wasn't complaining, just saying what we found

 

[Jaws]

Have more or less given up with ACSI nowadays..
The prices have gone up and up and we can usually find somewhere close by cheaper !
On top of that, a few places we went to last year said 'yes, we do take the ACSI card, but our off season fees are lower !'
We still find the books useful for general area information though

 

[Beltie]

I can't believe how difficult the OP is making this.

In simple terms:

1 Buy the books and card
2 Select an area you're interested in.
3 Open the book on that page
4 Choose a site
5 Turn up, book in and enjoy your holiday

Buy the app as well for the reviews if you want. We don't bother.

Rocket science it ain't!

 

[Wh05apk]

I can't believe how difficult the OP is making this.

In simple terms:

1 Buy the books and card
2 Select an area you're interested in.
3 Open the book on that page
4 Choose a site
5 Turn up, book in and enjoy your holiday

Buy the app as well for the reviews if you want. We don't bother.

Rocket science it ain't!

1.i have bought the book and the card
2. This is 2019 I don't want to be carting out of date books around the app should work (as it was previously)

Thanks for your help.

 

[peterc10]

1.i have bought the book and the card
2. This is 2019 I don't want to be carting out of date books around the app should work (as it was previously)

Thanks for your help.

When did you buy the books (not "book") and card? If you can answer that question we may be able to help you.

You need to buy the books and card for each calendar year, because the system is funded on a subscription type basis, like this website. If you are trying to use last year's card you will not get the discount this year and the app will no longer work. If you are not willing to pay the £12 or so for the books and cards each year then you won't get the discount and can't use the app.

That way the books do not go "out of date". All of the information in them, including the discounted rates, apply to the calendar year they were produced for.

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