Caravan and Motorhome Club price hikes.

NoName said:
Difficult to understand why prices are so high in the UK, I am in Portugal having spent a month travelling through France and Spain. On average the price per night has been 8 euros without emu. The site I’m on now, in Tavira, in the Algarve, is 8.5 euros or 11.5 with emu. Until July they have a promotion :pay for 3 nights and the fourth night is free. This is a site just a short distance from a large shopping mall complete with supermarket and a further short walk to the town centre.
The site has toilets for which you use tokens at .50cents to use and hot showers for which you use 1 euro. There are washing and drying machines and you can order bread and cakes the night before collection.
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I think clubs such as CMC and CCC could reassure/assuage wavering members by explaining the reason behind their relatively high prices. Everywhere in Europe has seen price rises for basics like energy; it's not unique to us here in the UK.
The impact on me is that while previously, I would have used club sites for at least half of my UK tour stops, sometimes all of them, I'm now looking at (and booking) alternatives. Sadly, CL and CS prices are creeping up as far as I can see, possibly encouraged by site price hikes. However, they are often far better value, more relaxing and better situated than club or larger commercial sites. Still need to pay membership subs to access them however.
 
Essgeebee said:
I think clubs such as CMC and CCC could reassure/assuage wavering members by explaining the reason behind their relatively high prices. Everywhere in Europe has seen price rises for basics like energy; it's not unique to us here in the UK.
The impact on me is that while previously, I would have used club sites for at least half of my UK tour stops, sometimes all of them, I'm now looking at (and booking) alternatives. Sadly, CL and CS prices are creeping up as far as I can see, possibly encouraged by site price hikes. However, they are often far better value, more relaxing and better situated than club or larger commercial sites. Still need to pay membership subs to access them however.
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Difference between here and Europe (esp France) is the energy companies were allowed to pass on all the price rises to customers whereas in France they were only allowed to pass some on.

Minimum wages gone up, rates, cleaning products etc.
 
They have clearly moved away from being a club for the benefits of members and moved more into a money making business. Why else would they introduce Glamping Pods and Chalets etc.? When I joined the C&MC 39 years ago it was because I couldn’t afford fancy holidays with my three children and we had some wonderful holidays both here and abroad.
Now I am retired and it’s just my wife and I, using the club sites in the summer months is just poor economics and poor value for money.

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MichaelT said:
Difference between here and Europe (esp France) is the energy companies were allowed to pass on all the price rises to customers whereas in France they were only allowed to pass some on.

Minimum wages gone up, rates, cleaning products etc.
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I can’t see how those don’t apply in other European countries too. Energy price rises have been put up ON TOP of increases in pitch fees and fees per person staying on club sites. Maybe the management are setting prices in line with comparable commercial sites but that is not compatible with being a club which is stated to be for the benefit of its members and which charges a membership fee.
Of course all this is speculative and my earlier point about clubs explaining their prices is what is needed. If the prices are justifiable that would put the issue to bed… for most.
 
I own a house in France and I can assure you prices there are rising just as fast as ours.
 
matamoros said:
Please explain where the money goes then!
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Wild guess...

Over inflated wages, Company Cars, Expense Accounts, expensive office furniture, replacing IT equipment before required, Premium Office Space, Business Trips/Entertaining, Over inflated claims for working from home.... etc, etc.

There are charities out there that end up spending very little on charity work compared to their income, so asking where the money goes because they are non profit doesn't really fly.

Cheers
Red.
 
Ivory55 said:
That’s where we are fortunate in this country. It’s not compulsory to give to charity or belong to a caravan or motorhome club
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It doesn’t stop both urging us to donate and use their sites. The CMC have recently said they’d actually appreciate it if we DIDN’T use their facilities while on their sites. So, pay more in pitch fees, pay more per person (for facilities usage presumably, but don’t use the facilities) and pay more for electricity. It all feels a bit one way and especially to those who paid membership fees while not able to tour during various lockdowns.
Still, you are right, we can vote with our wheels.

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No can’t say I feel the urge to donate, not even the sperm bank. Haha
 
Essgeebee said:
It doesn’t stop both urging us to donate and use their sites. The CMC have recently said they’d actually appreciate it if we DIDN’T use their facilities while on their sites. So, pay more in pitch fees, pay more per person (for facilities usage presumably, but don’t use the facilities) and pay more for electricity. It all feels a bit one way and especially to those who paid membership fees while not able to tour during various lockdowns.
Still, you are right, we can vote with our wheels.
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this bugged me during Covid, most sites charging their usual site fee, but closing the facilities such as the toilets and showers (and basically making more profit by not paying cleaners to maintain them and just making more profit).
I refused to use any site that tried that scam.
 
Jim said:
In the US there are not enough pitches to go around. The rise of van living and the general rise in RV ownership compound the problem. One thing that has come about from this is more sites every week are jumping on to the 10-year-rule. This means, your van must be under ten years old or you can't book a pitch! This keeps out what they see as riff-raff and makes their sites more attractive. What a shitty rule! Let's hope our two big clubs don't look across the pond for inspiration. 😲
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When we had a 25 year old RV, now sold, we were never once asked for its age when booking campsites. This was 2 years ago.
Phil
 
Sue and Rick wrote:
If you decide to visit, pop in for a brew
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Ta. For more than ten years I've been visiting a lady friend who lives at Slaithwaite, nr Huddersfield (285 miles from me) and thoroughly enjoy touring the gorgeous countryside up there and the Dales but I wouldn't live up there purely because my family, friends and several interests are all down here in West Sussex and my house is only a 20 miles drive from France (i.e. Newhaven ferry port ;) ) and I do 90% of my motorhoming 'over there'.

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Supply and demand. Prices geared to fill pitches. Take it or leave it.

I’m sat on a lovely CS. £15, or £18 including 10kwh of electrons. After that, it’s metered. You choose.
 
We are just back in France after visiting the UK to see family. We stayed 3 nights on the Carnon Downs site at Truro Which calls itself the Caravan and Motorhome Site. As non-Members (they don’t accept affiliated clubs) we expected to pay more but on top of £58.80 in pitch charges and £39 non-member charges they added £75 in booking charges. £172.80 for 3 nights! We were committed to being in the area so swallowed it but will not return. Sad because it is really nice and very convenient but there are limits!
 
varaizian said:
We are just back in France after visiting the UK to see family. We stayed 3 nights on the Carnon Downs site at Truro Which calls itself the Caravan and Motorhome Site. As non-Members (they don’t accept affiliated clubs) we expected to pay more but on top of £58.80 in pitch charges and £39 non-member charges they added £75 in booking charges. £172.80 for 3 nights! We were committed to being in the area so swallowed it but will not return. Sad because it is really nice and very convenient but there are limits!
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Are you sure its a C&MC site as they do not charge booking charges only about £13 a night extra as a non member?
 
Spriddler said:
Sue and Rick wrote:

Ta. For more than ten years I've been visiting a lady friend who lives at Slaithwaite, nr Huddersfield (285 miles from me) and thoroughly enjoy touring the gorgeous countryside up there and the Dales but I wouldn't live up there purely because my family, friends and several interests are all down here in West Sussex and my house is only a 20 miles drive from France (i.e. Newhaven ferry port ;) ) and I do 90% of my motorhoming 'over there'.
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The challenge herein of course is how to pronounce Slaithwaite? Even the locals have two versions - phonetically slathwait and sloughwit, although the latter is considered the correct version generally. It’s never “slaythwait”.
As in nearby Golcar which is goka……:
 
varaizian said:
We are just back in France after visiting the UK to see family. We stayed 3 nights on the Carnon Downs site at Truro Which calls itself the Caravan and Motorhome Site. As non-Members (they don’t accept affiliated clubs) we expected to pay more but on top of £58.80 in pitch charges and £39 non-member charges they added £75 in booking charges. £172.80 for 3 nights! We were committed to being in the area so swallowed it but will not return. Sad because it is really nice and very convenient but there are limits!
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If something is to expensive don’t buy it , unless someone is holding a gun to my head of course. At those prices we would of stayed in a travel lodge etc , it easy to fall in to the I have a motorhome I must use it .

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varaizian said:
We are just back in France after visiting the UK to see family. We stayed 3 nights on the Carnon Downs site at Truro Which calls itself the Caravan and Motorhome Site. As non-Members (they don’t accept affiliated clubs) we expected to pay more but on top of £58.80 in pitch charges and £39 non-member charges they added £75 in booking charges. £172.80 for 3 nights! We were committed to being in the area so swallowed it but will not return. Sad because it is really nice and very convenient but there are limits!
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Strange.

We're booked into the C&MC Carnon Downs site next week and as members it's costing us £131 for 2 adults + 1 dog for 4 nights. That's just under £33 \ night, not cheap but .........

Never heard of any booking fee levied by C&MC, even for non-members.

MichaelT said:
Are you sure its a C&MC site as they do not charge booking charges only about £13 a night extra as a non member?
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Guess that's what the £39 non-member charge will have been (£13 \ night).
 
MichaelT said:
Are you sure its a C&MC site as they do not charge booking charges only about £13 a night extra as a non member?
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Hello Michael, It says “Caravan and Motorhome Club” on the heading of the bill and “Caravan Club Ltd” on the footer. We have been there several times before and not been charged for booking but they also gave us a discount for being members of the FFCC in France. Perhaps they have floated this site off separately.
 
varaizian said:
Hello Michael, It says “Caravan and Motorhome Club” on the heading of the bill and “Caravan Club Ltd” on the footer. We have been there several times before and not been charged for booking but they also gave us a discount for being members of the FFCC in France. Perhaps they have floated this site off separately.
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Guess your previous visits were when the site was independently owned as C&MC only bought it last year?

Wonder if you booked it when it was pre-C&MC owned and there's been some kind of hiccup during the sale \ purchase process as, I think prior to C&MC ownership, bookings were being honoured \ transferred over?

Might be worth a call to C&MC headquarters as it's the first time ever I've heard of C&MC charging a booking fee.
 
varaizian said:
Hello Michael, It says “Caravan and Motorhome Club” on the heading of the bill and “Caravan Club Ltd” on the footer. We have been there several times before and not been charged for booking but they also gave us a discount for being members of the FFCC in France. Perhaps they have floated this site off separately.
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Just tried booking that. It is a Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Begining of June for a 7.5 metre motorhome

Serviced Pitch £19.50 per night
Non member charge £13 per night
£12.50 per adult per night.

So 3 nights 2 people would be £172.80

So all correct,
 
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Gellyneck said:
Strange.

We're booked into the C&MC Carnon Downs site next week and as members it's costing us £131 for 2 adults + 1 dog for 4 nights. That's just under £33 \ night, not cheap but .........

Never heard of any booking fee levied by C&MC, even for non-members.


Guess that's what the £39 non-member charge will have been (£13 \ night).
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Different pitch prices? £172.80 is for a fully serviced pitch.

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varaizian said:
We are just back in France after visiting the UK to see family. We stayed 3 nights on the Carnon Downs site at Truro Which calls itself the Caravan and Motorhome Site. As non-Members (they don’t accept affiliated clubs) we expected to pay more but on top of £58.80 in pitch charges and £39 non-member charges they added £75 in booking charges. £172.80 for 3 nights! We were committed to being in the area so swallowed it but will not return. Sad because it is really nice and very convenient but there are limits!
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The £75 is the 'per person' charge. £12.50 per adult per night.
 
Marty Gilly and Pup said:
The challenge herein of course is how to pronounce Slaithwaite? Even the locals have two versions - phonetically slathwait and sloughwit, although the latter is considered the correct version generally. It’s never “slaythwait”.
As in nearby Golcar which is goka……:
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I was ribbed many times by my Yorkshire born and bred lady friend about my 'posh' Southern accent but quickly learned to pronounce Slaithwaite as 'Slowitt'.
 
VXman

Well worked out Inspector Clouseau!:giggle: Your calculations seem spot on.(y)

Wonder if the FFCC discount is no longer offered as now C&MC owned since last year?:unsure:
 
VXman said:
The £75 is the 'per person' charge. £12.50 per adult per night.
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OK thanks. Might have got there myself if it wasn’t called a “Booking Charge”. Can’t argue with the quality of the place but it still seems steep.
 
Essgeebee said:
said they’d actually appreciate it if we DIDN’T use their facilities while on their sites.
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Whilst charging you more for them?
VXman said:
The £75 is the 'per person' charge. £12.50 per adult per night.
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Why? What if you just park the van & no one stays ?

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