Campsite costs
139 replies
Rocky 2 buckets replied on 21/06/2022 08:44
Posted on 21/06/2022 07:24 by cyberyachtI would concede that an off-grid setup will cost but even that will vary depending on the amount of sophistication/duration that is required. My setup permits indefinite off grid with full use of kettle/toaster/microwave. TV is 12v anyway. Initial outlay was around £1300 although I have recently added another lithium battery for greater resilience, although not strictly necessary. Have just completed 30 days in France, of which 13 were off-grid. Nightly costs averaged under £11. Thirty days on club sites will set you back somewhere in the order of £900, possibly a bit more. So that month could be said to have saved me £600. It doesn't take long to recoup the capital cost and you get to pick where you want to go rather than be constrained by the regimentation of sites.
Takethedogalong replied on 21/06/2022 10:01
Posted on 21/06/2022 07:24 by cyberyachtI would concede that an off-grid setup will cost but even that will vary depending on the amount of sophistication/duration that is required. My setup permits indefinite off grid with full use of kettle/toaster/microwave. TV is 12v anyway. Initial outlay was around £1300 although I have recently added another lithium battery for greater resilience, although not strictly necessary. Have just completed 30 days in France, of which 13 were off-grid. Nightly costs averaged under £11. Thirty days on club sites will set you back somewhere in the order of £900, possibly a bit more. So that month could be said to have saved me £600. It doesn't take long to recoup the capital cost and you get to pick where you want to go rather than be constrained by the regimentation of sites.
Posted on 21/06/2022 10:01
Good summary CY👍 Couple more trips and your costs are recouped, and you are travelling/living how you want.
We are off to a lovely CL this week, been before but not for a while. The owner apologised to us as the price has gone up slightly. Individual landscaped pitches amongst colourful shrubs, EHU, free wifi, grass but underpinned with plastic grid. Brilliant location that is on edge of Woodland Trust wood, lovely walks, cycle rides, pubs, places to visit. £17 per night. We might have to walk 5 metres to dump grey waste and to CDP point. These gems are still out there👍
1 person likes this
SteveL replied on 21/06/2022 11:50
Posted on 21/06/2022 07:24 by cyberyachtI would concede that an off-grid setup will cost but even that will vary depending on the amount of sophistication/duration that is required. My setup permits indefinite off grid with full use of kettle/toaster/microwave. TV is 12v anyway. Initial outlay was around £1300 although I have recently added another lithium battery for greater resilience, although not strictly necessary. Have just completed 30 days in France, of which 13 were off-grid. Nightly costs averaged under £11. Thirty days on club sites will set you back somewhere in the order of £900, possibly a bit more. So that month could be said to have saved me £600. It doesn't take long to recoup the capital cost and you get to pick where you want to go rather than be constrained by the regimentation of sites.
Posted on 21/06/2022 11:50
I don’t think that is really a realistic comparison CY. You would have to compare against CL type sites with EHU, rather than the more expensive club offerings. As we all know sites of all types are much cheaper in France out of season. We have completed 26 nights so far, only 3 off which were off grid. Two of the sites have had pools and even so our nightly average is only £12.88. However, I’m not about to compare that to CAMC sites at home.
2 people like this
peedee replied on 21/06/2022 12:23
moulesy replied on 21/06/2022 13:00
Posted on 21/06/2022 12:23 by peedeeI think it is a fair comparison Steve because one of the only ways to go off grid is to use certified locations. Obviously if you only use these with EHU then the savings are not so great but certainly in the region of £10 p.n
peedee
Posted on 21/06/2022 13:00
I don't understand that, PD. Isn't that exactly what Steve was saying - to make a fair comparison CY would need to compare the sites he uses "over there" with the sites he'd use "over here" - i e CLs or THS etc.
Otherwise one could compare with the likes of Concierge Camping and claim to recoup the whole outlay in a month or so! 
5 people like this
replied on 21/06/2022 13:07
Posted on 21/06/2022 12:23 by peedeeI think it is a fair comparison Steve because one of the only ways to go off grid is to use certified locations. Obviously if you only use these with EHU then the savings are not so great but certainly in the region of £10 p.n
peedee
Cornersteady replied on 21/06/2022 13:07
Posted on 21/06/2022 12:23 by peedeeI think it is a fair comparison Steve because one of the only ways to go off grid is to use certified locations. Obviously if you only use these with EHU then the savings are not so great but certainly in the region of £10 p.n
peedee
Posted on 21/06/2022 13:07
one of the only ways to go off grid is to use certified locations
Apart from one of the only ways... doesn't make sense, what Steve is saying is that CY shouldn't compare the savings against club site prices, if one has off grid capability then one wouldn't use a club site in the first place for any occasional one night stop? They might and can but why? A bit of luxury?
1 person likes this
Cornersteady replied on 21/06/2022 13:11
Posted on 21/06/2022 13:07 byI too think cy is making a fair comparison and if anything one that is generous to the club site model. Straight "like for like" equivilants are difficult as the CAMC model is rarely found elsewhere and if I were to draw a comparison it would have to be Hillhead and CLs dont exist outside the UK.
Cornersteady replied on 21/06/2022 13:15
Posted on 21/06/2022 07:24 by cyberyachtI would concede that an off-grid setup will cost but even that will vary depending on the amount of sophistication/duration that is required. My setup permits indefinite off grid with full use of kettle/toaster/microwave. TV is 12v anyway. Initial outlay was around £1300 although I have recently added another lithium battery for greater resilience, although not strictly necessary. Have just completed 30 days in France, of which 13 were off-grid. Nightly costs averaged under £11. Thirty days on club sites will set you back somewhere in the order of £900, possibly a bit more. So that month could be said to have saved me £600. It doesn't take long to recoup the capital cost and you get to pick where you want to go rather than be constrained by the regimentation of sites.
Posted on 21/06/2022 13:15
For some reason you're bringing in abroad prices again which is pointless (as well as this being a thread in the CL section) for comparing them with UK club sites?
...So that month could be said to have saved me £600...
You're using site prices in France and compare that to a club sites, how can that be justified in any meaning full way?
So your comparison is invalid in my view, perhaps do the same comparison with UK sites and/or on a UK based off grid tour?
Btw what is the cost of that extra lithium battery?
4 people like this
SteveL replied on 21/06/2022 13:29
Posted on 21/06/2022 13:07 byI too think cy is making a fair comparison and if anything one that is generous to the club site model. Straight "like for like" equivilants are difficult as the CAMC model is rarely found elsewhere and if I were to draw a comparison it would have to be Hillhead and CLs dont exist outside the UK.
Posted on 21/06/2022 13:29
and CLs dont exist outside the UK.
I would say an Aire, of which there are many, is very similar. Typically we have been using Camping Car Park ones, which have all had EHU and cost about €12. The non EHU ones were free. Really as he was in France CY’s best comparison would be between the non EHU Aires and the CCP type, rather than try and compare with the price of CAMC sites in the UK.
On the proper sites we’ve stopped on Non EHU was an option but would have only have saved typically €4 a night.
3 people like this
tonker
Motorhomer