What does your membership mean to you?

To me if a club where i can book and cancel when i need to with out losing out money on(id be happy with a small deposit if it changes).

but you know that 99% of the time the sites will be well kept and  clean toilet,shower blocks all for a small fee per year.

We joined the caravan club last year after buying our first caravan. Sadly the caravan club doesnt seem to appreciate that when people go away for a break with the caravan - they actually want to enjoy themselves. The sites are all top class but are littered with signs everywhere giving instructions as to what you can and cant do - you can spend an hour in the toilet/shower block just reading the signs. We are not noisy, nor do we display  unsociable behaviour - we respect others privacy  - I just dont need all of the written reminders. God help you if you commit the unforgivable sin of turning up on site 10 minutes late. Despite calling three times to advise the Lydford site (you should be ashamed of yourself) we would be marginally late due to heavy traffic - the reception when we did turn up was extremely rude and cold. This will probably be my last post as I have cancelled both my membership and insurance contract. I enjoy a healthier respectful membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club - I wondered why they used the slogan - the friendly club - now I know. Caravan club - you have a lot to learn.

Having just read the previous post - I have to say that I do not like what I have read, but unfortunately have to agree with much of it.  I am relatively new  to caravanning and the Caravan Club - and my experiences have been similar to those expressed in that post.  We were in the Peak District without our caravan and saw a Caravan Club site.  It was pouring with rain and hardly a soul in site.  I parked near the Reception Office, and on entering was immediately told rather brusquely to move my car as that area was reserved for "New Arrivals"      I re-parked my car and returned to the office, and explained the reason for calling was just to see what facilities were on offer, as we might like to visit with our caravan - "It's pouring with rain - I just want to drive around and see what is here - please"  - "You can't do that - there is no designated childrens play area - and a child might run across and cause an accident"   My wife and I walked around the "horse-shoe" shaped site, looked at the facilities (which were very nice) and returned to the office to say "Thank-you very much"  and a lady then staterd - "Oh, by the way - you cannot stay here more than 21 days at a time."  My wife and I just looked at each other and left.  In a space totalling 10 minutes I had been given 3 reasons never to want to visit that site again !  My experiences phoning the Caravan Club have varied.  Some people are extremely pleasant and helpful, whilst others give the impression that my phone call has interrupted their day, and they are almost doing me a favour to talk to me.  That apart - what the Caravan Club provides in the way of financial savings and services for its members is "second to none" - It is a great pity that some of its staff "fall well short" when it comes to manners and social & communication skills.

not nice to read things like the above. I speak as I find and we have only come across one warden who I thought was in the wrong job, totally. My friends who have just bought a caravan asked me why I went to club sites, my reply was the standard. I like things to be nice, and mostly that's what we get from the C.C.   First impressions count. .. as someone once said  

Having just read the previous post - I have to say that I do not like what I have read, but unfortunately have to agree with much of it.  I am relatively new  to caravanning and the Caravan Club - and my experiences have been similar to those expressed in that post.  We were in the Peak District without our caravan and saw a Caravan Club site.  It was pouring with rain and hardly a soul in site.  I parked near the Reception Office, and on entering was immediately told rather brusquely to move my car as that area was reserved for "New Arrivals"      I re-parked my car and returned to the office, and explained the reason for calling was just to see what facilities were on offer, as we might like to visit with our caravan - "It's pouring with rain - I just want to drive around and see what is here - please"  - "You can't do that - there is no designated childrens play area - and a child might run across and cause an accident"   My wife and I walked around the "horse-shoe" shaped site, looked at the facilities (which were very nice) and returned to the office to say "Thank-you very much"  and a lady then staterd - "Oh, by the way - you cannot stay here more than 21 days at a time."  My wife and I just looked at each other and left.  In a space totalling 10 minutes I had been given 3 reasons never to want to visit that site again !  My experiences phoning the Caravan Club have varied.  Some people are extremely pleasant and helpful, whilst others give the impression that my phone call has interrupted their day, and they are almost doing me a favour to talk to me.  That apart - what the Caravan Club provides in the way of financial savings and services for its members is "second to none" - It is a great pity that some of its staff "fall well short" when it comes to manners and social & communication skills.

 

 

Well JD i,m a long standing member but i her what your saying.There are still members that think the CC is that nice cosy little "club" that it once might have been but i,m afraid its not.Its now a leisure business and like all other business,s it has some staff that could benefit from a spell at charm school.It disappoints me too read posts like yours and John R,s but one good thing this forum has done is highlight the clubs flaws that some still seem too be blind too.Can i say too you dont be put off by your experience to date as we have IMO the best network of sites in the UK bar none but its a business first and a club second.If like myself you can live with that then its worth being a member.

peter.

Having just read the previous post - I have to say that I do not like what I have read, but unfortunately have to agree with much of it.  I am relatively new  to caravanning and the Caravan Club - and my experiences have been similar to those expressed in that post.  We were in the Peak District without our caravan and saw a Caravan Club site.  It was pouring with rain and hardly a soul in site.  I parked near the Reception Office, and on entering was immediately told rather brusquely to move my car as that area was reserved for "New Arrivals"      I re-parked my car and returned to the office, and explained the reason for calling was just to see what facilities were on offer, as we might like to visit with our caravan - "It's pouring with rain - I just want to drive around and see what is here - please"  - "You can't do that - there is no designated childrens play area - and a child might run across and cause an accident"   My wife and I walked around the "horse-shoe" shaped site, looked at the facilities (which were very nice) and returned to the office to say "Thank-you very much"  and a lady then staterd - "Oh, by the way - you cannot stay here more than 21 days at a time."  My wife and I just looked at each other and left.  In a space totalling 10 minutes I had been given 3 reasons never to want to visit that site again !  My experiences phoning the Caravan Club have varied.  Some people are extremely pleasant and helpful, whilst others give the impression that my phone call has interrupted their day, and they are almost doing me a favour to talk to me.  That apart - what the Caravan Club provides in the way of financial savings and services for its members is "second to none" - It is a great pity that some of its staff "fall well short" when it comes to manners and social & communication skills.

 

 

Write your comments here...Quite a contrast from our experience in March in Scotland. We had a problem with driving onto a pitch on a CL which we had booked earlier in the day and sought a pitch elsewhere.

Not seeing much on the road, we went to Stirling and consulted the handbook.

I think it must have been The Woods CC site, on the way towards Alloa, which I phoned at around 7pm and was told I could come, when I got there I should phone again for the gate code and find a pitch and the business would be concluded in the morning. A very friendly and helpful lady on the phone.

It worked like a charm, we had a good restful night and were very grateful and pleased for the excellent service.

While I appreciate that probably most of you book your "holidays", we just tend to tour and see where we end up and if we can find a pitch then great, although in the case mentioned we had planned to stop sooner.

For me it's only one thing - Access to the fantastic CL network.

The magazine generally goes straight in the bin (though I sometimes have a laugh at the indignation in the letters page).

Financial services - I seem to do much better on my own.

Booking Sevice - Last time I checked the quote was same as contacting company direct plus CC surcharge.

I do not need insurance from Frizzel, cream coloured clothing, mobilty aids or vitamin supplements. (Numerous flyers).

Rallies - er ...no thanks.

CC Sites. Will use them only if there is no alternative, usually in winter as everthing else is shut because:

-Lets face it, they don't exactly attract the adventurous type.

-Too many petty rules.

-Too manicured, prissy and samey. A bit like McDonalds restaurants.

-Have met some great wardens, but also too many despots.

But as I say, the CL network is great. Personally I prefer without electric. Tend to be more rough and ready and run by some right characters! 

For me it's only one thing - Access to the fantastic CL network.

The magazine generally goes straight in the bin (though I sometimes have a laugh at the indignation in the letters page).

Financial services - I seem to do much better on my own.

Booking Sevice - Last time I checked the quote was same as contacting company direct plus CC surcharge.

I do not need insurance from Frizzel, cream coloured clothing, mobilty aids or vitamin supplements. (Numerous flyers).

Rallies - er ...no thanks.

CC Sites. Will use them only if there is no alternative, usually in winter as everthing else is shut because:

-Lets face it, they don't exactly attract the adventurous type.

-Too many petty rules.

-Too manicured, prissy and samey. A bit like McDonalds restaurants.

-Have met some great wardens, but also too many despots.

But as I say, the CL network is great. Personally I prefer without electric. Tend to be more rough and ready and run by some right characters! 

 

Sorry but do not agree.

The magazine is as good if not better thanthe ones in the bookshops.

Services are very good particularly the caravan insurance and Mayday. If they are not the cheapest they are certainly the best.

The booking service works well although yoy appear to be talking about affiliated sites.

The sites are high quality and we have no complaints about the standards.

When i bought my caravan imy first thought was to join the Caravan Club, especially on the reccomendation of one of my workmates.

I did so and on receiving my membership pack, i have to admit that i was very wary of booking a site. All of the rules seemed very intimidating. In fact our first couple of bookings were on an independant site and then a couple of CL's.

With much apprehension, we booked our first club sites for our main holiday and have to say that we were over the moon with our experience. Ok, we fell foul to a couple of the rules on our first site but when we explained our situation to the the warden we were welcomed to the club with open arms.

To the unitiated, all of the rules and regulations around the site might appear oppressive but lets face it, when you have visited CC sites a couple of times you know what to expect!

The site notices merely confirm what the handbook says so if you read it then what's the problem?

For me, i'm proud to be a member of the club and i will sing its praises to anyone who will listen. So far, 3 of my workmates have become caravanners and have joined the club on my recommendation and are really happy with what they have got from it so far.....

Been a member for well over 40 years, and maintain membership for the bargain fares on Brittany Ferries, the wonderful "Caravan Europe" guidebook, and reliable caravan insurance..... but really nothing else.

Club sites seem neat and tidy, but formal, and for the most part not at all picturesque, rigidly tied up in rules and regulations dealing with arrival times, departure times, direction of pitching, need to book ahead, and all the rest.

CL owners are hog tied by the 5 van limit - which prevents them investing in their little businesses, and yet the Club wants to maintain the present position which gives them power to licence sites.

We tend to use other slightly larger, privately owned sites where we can in the UK, and do most of our caravanning overseas where there is so much more freedom and things are less stuffy.