Sites & Clubs

[jamieww]

Hi all,
As a romahome owner who is new to the whole aspect of motorhoming (and camping!) I was wondering what are the best clubs to join.
Is it worth joining more than one? What benefits are there?
I've so far only been a couple of places to stay overnight and noticed that nearby was a caravan club site for members only, which looked half decent, but not being members I had to settle for Wareham forest campsite... which I must say was very good.. except for the lack of a pub! But the toilets & shower area were clean and very usable... Kids & dog were accepted too.... (pity i was hoping that the kids wouldn't be able to come and i could just take the dog! ;D )
Also,
What is actually a good price for an overnight stay??

Any info would be appreciated..including web links if possible!!

Many thanks

Jamie

[Graham]

Hi Jamie

We are members of both clubs Camping and Caravan Club and Caravan Club we are very happy with the sites, the toilets are immaculate and the same standard is kept on every club site you visit.

We've had some bad experiences on commercial sites with rowdy youngsters, vans crammed into small spaces so your neighbours are a couple of feet away, etc. The club sites are very well managed and you always get a good sized pitch that is the required space for fire hazards.

They aren't the cheapest sites around expect to pay around £14-15 in summer for two adults including electric hook up on a site with all facilities and perhaps £10 for a site with no toilets or showers. The Camping and Caravan Club also have an age concession when you are 55 if you fall into that bracket (which I do this year).

There are also smaller sites which are licenced by the clubs called CL's and CS's these may be on a farm or a small orchard and only allow five units to camp but are usually very cheap depending on what facilities they have.

I think the membership is around £35 a year for each club and you get a magazine every month. You can also book sites on line.

As I say the main reason we like them is that we always know we are going to a good site no matter where it is as the standards are always the same.

Hope that helps, happy Roming.

Graham

[viv]

We have managed with just membership of the Camping and Caravan club and that along with the small CS's and some private ones has been fine for us.

We would always belong to one of them though as they do the age concession. The Forestry Commission sites have also linked up with them and this is useful for New Forest and Forest of Dean and some others.

[jana]

Hi Jamie
We too are members of both.
We prefer the Caravan CLub as
1) They have more sites open during the winter
2) You can book online, with no deposit
3) You can book for 1 night in peak season
4) They have some sites that are £6 per night all year (even Bank Holidays)

Haven't found the C&CC so useful yet but plan on trying some of their temporary holiday sites over the Summmer as they seem to be really cheap. As we like to tour and mainly only manage 1 night stays dislike their rules on bookings in peak season. I am keeping an open mind but may let the membership lapse when due in October and rejoin next Spring.
Our favourite sites tend to be independent ones that we have discovered by various means.
Re your pricing query we paid £6 at Easter CC volunteer site and £12.50 (inc electric) at May Day BH. We hate paying more than £15 really.

[Pauline]

jamieww said:

noticed that nearby was a caravan club site for members only, which looked half decent, but not being members I had to settle for Wareham forest campsite...

Hi Jamie

You can just drive in and join there and then, and they will let you stay if they have the room.