CAMC - can I moan please?

[ceejayt]

Just to get this off my chest having just got off the phone with their complaints department...

We booked two weeks in Villanova - we didn't feel it was 'as advertised' and left a week early - we were not the only ones with dogs who complained.

Not expecting a refund of the £125 for that week but thought the club might make a gestuire and maybe give me a voucher for a night at a site. Been a member 20 years, DD due to go out in 6 days time and have told them that I am likely to cancel if they simply refuse to do anything at all. Have tried to explain to them it is a CLUB, for members, not a business and do they really want to lose £63 a year and a member.

Clearly, they couldn't give a s**t and as a matter on principle I will now cancel - unbelievable.

 

[ceejayt]

Did the others that complained leave or say on at the site?

As has been said if you had a caravan you would have had a car to take the dogs to the beach. After all it is the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

A bit of research on Google Maps/Earth would have highlighted the issues raised. I know quite a few people who have been and continue to go to Villanova and none have mentioned your issues. As for the 3.5 km walk to the beach, that's what dog walkers do. Walk. Here at Alannia there are a couple of walks of about 5 km a week.

Yes, others complained and left early.

I walk our dogs 3 miles a day at home regularly. To that beach was not a walk you would take your dog

 

[WillH]

Inadequate research perhaps. I can't comment anymore than that as we always travel independently when abroad though use both clubs sites in the UK.

 

[Just smiffy]

Although they changed their name to CAMC to accommodate motorhomes I wonder if it would have been a different outcome if you were in a caravan…

 

[Neil S]

Taken from the CAMC website , the map quite clearly shows the distance from the coast
I suggest you didn’t do your research properly

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[Funnymunny]

When are people going to realise that the CMHC is not a club but a poorly run business.
I had complained several times about their prices etc online and when it came to renewal time the letter I received was not very inviting and to me seemed more like them saying we invite you to leave rather than we sincerely hope you will rejoin.

They certainly need some training in dealing with customers ( customers not members its a business ) they fail badly in that department.

 

[cruiser]

They are a club run by a few for a few. I left some time ago .

 

[Whitebirdyman]

I concentrated on my walk to the beach and town in my previous reply, but as someone else pointed out in this thread, if you want walks you need to turn right out of the site onto the Cami which then links into the Parc Garraf, then you can pick up plenty of footpaths up to the lake and join the GR92. Before my first visit there I emailed reception as I was a bit worried about cycling and walking and got a helpful reply. In the end I didn't do any cycling as the routes didn't look great for a road bike, but there was plenty of walking, though with a dog I suppose it depends on how far they can walk. In the town you can get a map showing walking routes but a walking app would be useful.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

As CAMC members, there are so many club sites we can't use because neither of us (or our elderly dog) can walk any great distance. The description of many of their sites mentions that it's not far from this or that which is fine if you're a tugger and can park your caravan on a site for a week and drive wherever you want to go.
I have no idea how many of their members have motorhomes or campers but in so many ways much of their offers, emails and even their club magazine articles is aimed at caravaners, tell that the nearest club site from the subject matter is XXXX, no mention that it's 15 miles or more away. It's almost as though they don't realise that caravans and motorhomes are different animals, each with their own needs.
We always do some meticulous homework when planning our trips, it's getting too costly to find ourselves stuck on a campsite in the middle of nowhere unless we're using it as a stopping off point on our way to somewhere else.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Club or business has no relevance... in this case they were acting as booking agent.

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[ceejayt]

Club or business has no relevance... in this case they were acting as booking agent.

And therefore made money on the transaction

 

[seasideBill]

Inadequate research perhaps. I can't comment anymore than that as we always travel independently when abroad though use both clubs sites in the UK.

Yep, frankly I don’t understand why anybody would book an overseas site with CMC. What value can they add to the process?

 

[ceejayt]

Yep, frankly I don’t understand why anybody would book an overseas site with CMC.

Done it the once, thought we would give it a try, never again

 

[Langtoftlad]

And therefore made money on the transaction

And...?

Would you blame Expedia.com if your Hilton hotel room didn't meet your personal expectations?

 

[EuroTrotters]

another reason, we don't join on

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[cyberyacht]

CAMC changed the name but nothing else.

 

[ceejayt]

And...?

Would you blame Expedia.com if your Hilton hotel room didn't meet your personal expectations?

Yes, if my contract was with them - all depends upon who you buy from.

 

[Dolmen]

What did CAMC say when you rang them to confirm you would be leaving early, did they offer a token gesture at that point and then withdrew it or was there never an offer on the table? How much notice did you give them before you left, was it a reasonable time for them to get another booking for the pitch? I am sure there is more to it, however, at the moment it looks like you tramped all the way down there, no research, decided you didn’t like it and now are looking for someone to blame

 

[David and Sally]

We used the CMC to book our 8 weeks away this winter. They did the ferries and bookings at Alannia, La Manga and Vilanova. In my view the cost was acceptable but the main benefit was their ability to move dates to suit our agenda. That took a lot of organising away from us.
Having nearly come to the end of our trip and knowing what I know now I think we could maybe do our own spadework next year but would we really save much money? I don’t know but will take a look.

Alannia - CMC rally for 17 nights. Very well organised and plenty to do or not do as we see fit. Used the gym a few times as free twice a week. Great site with great facilities but we did have to hire a car ( very cost-effective from a lovely English couple ) to explore. Lovely area. We will probably go back

La Manga - a Marmite site we were told and I can see why but we really liked it. Lovely beach walks and bus communications. We will go back. We could not get onto the CMC rally so can’t comment on that aspect.

Vilanova - a bit early to say for sure but might give it a miss next year unless we have transport. Car hire is expensive. Excellent bus services to Vilanova and Barcelona.
We are on the CMC rally and will join in a few things I’m sure.

Our CMC runs out in August and we only renewed due to this trip. Next August?, let’s see but they do need a lot of help with their PR and customer relations.

 

[ceejayt]

What did CAMC say when you rang them to confirm you would be leaving early, did they offer a token gesture at that point and then withdrew it or was there never an offer on the table? How much notice did you give them before you left, was it a reasonable time for them to get another booking for the pitch? I am sure there is more to it, however, at the moment it looks like you tramped all the way down there, no research, decided you didn’t like it and now are looking for someone to blame

Bit harsh

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[chaser]

Do many people book foreign holidays through the clubs? Not a member of either but looking from the outside I would have just put them down as a UK thing.
The amount of sites and Aires in France and Spain to choose from I wouldn't have ever thought of going through a middle firm just taking a cut for nothing.

 

[David and Sally]

Do many people book foreign holidays through the clubs? Not a member of either but looking from the outside I would have just put them down as a UK thing.
The amount of sites and Aires in France and Spain to choose from I wouldn't have ever thought of going through a middle firm just taking a cut for nothing.

I don’t know but maybe their cut is a discount from the ferry companies and sites that we can’t get. They have a lot of buying power.

 

[scotjimland]

we didn't feel it was 'as advertised'

"as advertised "

can you point out where the CAMC listing misrepresented the site ..?

Vilanova Park Winter Holiday

Vilanova Park Winter Holiday is a campsite in Spain. Cruise around Spain in your caravan or motorhome and experience lively cities, lovely beaches and luscious food.

www.caravanclub.co.uk

 

[Langtoftlad]

and it's a bit of security.
If you book several elements of a holiday together, you have protection if one part goes wrong.

 

[chaser]

and it's a bit of security.
If you book several elements of a holiday together, you have protection if one part goes wrong.

Never booked anything yet and never gone wrong, you can see what you are going to be on when you get there, if you don't like it ,move to the next.

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[gus-lopez]

On a trip to France by car recently we booked into an Ibis Budget hotel .

There are two types of 'Ibis' hotel ,budget & posh .Posh comes with a restaurant usually. Also in many cases ,Poitiers for instance, the budget is behind the posh one.

 

[scotjimland]

There are two types of 'Ibis' hotel ,budget & posh .Posh comes with a restaurant usually. Also in many cases ,Poitiers for instance, the budget is behind the posh one.

yes.. we learned the hard way..

to be fair, it was just about 'ok' for a couple of nights.. the room was basic but clean.. no bedside table, wardrobe or chest of drawers. just a couple of hooks on the wall.. a shelf and a chair. . . no other facilities , kettle or fridge .. oh yes, and a bunk bed above our double bed.. !


my biggest gripe was the smell of cigarette smoke in the hallways ..

Ibis Budget Room .. €65 per night

 

[gus-lopez]

Also in many cases ,Poitiers for instance, the budget is behind the posh one.

& behind the budget was a homeless hostel

 

[Live Life Now]

Just to get this off my chest having just got off the phone with their complaints department...

We booked two weeks in Villanova - we didn't feel it was 'as advertised' and left a week early - we were not the only ones with dogs who complained.

Not expecting a refund of the £125 for that week but thought the club might make a gestuire and maybe give me a voucher for a night at a site. Been a member 20 years, DD due to go out in 6 days time and have told them that I am likely to cancel if they simply refuse to do anything at all. Have tried to explain to them it is a CLUB, for members, not a business and do they really want to lose £63 a year and a member.

Clearly, they couldn't give a s**t and as a matter on principle I will now cancel - unbelievable.

Well done my friend, I have always been an advocate for naming and shaming, best way of warning others.