Is it a rip off?

That is so unkind Corners, what a stupid remark. 

Apologies for my reply, but I don't think anyone has suggested the club sells pitches at give away prices but a few more inducements might help.

I did post....

"with perhaps the next step being a review of the value of touring at all.." meaning even these tiny rises might result in real change for some.

a bit different to "they should sell their outfit and just stay at home"

some folk on CT are in a fairly privileged position income wise and some of those don't hesitate to let others know....

as Brue posts above, no one is suggesting the club should be a charity, merely that the consistent over inflation rises (and extension of peak/shoulder seasons) will hurt those who don't get 'de rigeur' rises in their income, and some of these (who are probably 'cutting their cloth') are long standing members who see their club visits slipping away from them.

yes, it's a fact of life, but that doesn't make it right

This reminds me a bit of a story I saw on TV in Norway not so long ago.

Costs there are high, as are wages, but many pensioners are being left way behind.  In Norway, local tax has always been based on income, unlike here, but in the last few years the government has given local authorities the right to levy a property tax.  This started out modest, but has increased hugely.

In Oslo, house prices are very high and a situation has developed where there are elderly but perfectly fit widows, living in the homes they love and have lived in for maybe 50+ years, but who only have modest pensions, who are getting property tax demands that they cannot pay.

There are no reductions even if your income is low, so they have been told to pay up or sell up.

( These are not huge mansions they are living in but early 1900s pretty average 3 bed type properties, the difference is that unlike the newer houses, they have fairly large gardens so have a high value. )

Steve, might surprise you, but this SY based couple used to do weekends in Cornwall, although we did cheat by leaving our van down there! Two drivers, one fast car, a lot less traffic admittedly, but we have done it  in around 5 hours, that’s with the dogs crossing their legs!

It’s very possible that to some extent, the Club has got its peak charges just where they want them. Highly likely to be newer members, younger folks, with children using Club Sites during school holidays. If the commitment has been made towards a touring outfit, then unlikely to balk at paying what a lot of older members, with a good few years of membership behind them, consider expensive. Pull up, pitch up, all facilities there if you want them, usually in a nice place, job done. Cheaper than most holidays once the van is bought.

I think the Club is cheating a little by having what seems like ever widening peak charging periods, and it could be good if it could heavily discount unsold pitches on the day to keep other folks touring around. Most holiday providers do the first, but then offer the second as well, at least to those of us canny enough to barter. Private holiday lets are very good at this, but perhaps here the big Club decision making ethos doesn’t filter down to Site level, so onsite staff have no remit to discount that unsold pitch until it does sell.😀

We've just had 3 weeks away in Devon and Cornwall using a mixture of CLs and Club sites. The sites were very quiet and good value in early - mid April. 

We love Cornwall at all times of the year, but the place is just too popular July and August nowadays, getting around got to be a nightmare, so we much prefer June, early July or September to see the best of the county. April and May are stunning for wild flowers and camellias. We do miss going to some of the really great local events that happen in the busy Summer months though. 

The past couple of weeks were of course the Easter period. Brue was commenting on the availability figures as the break comes to an end.

It does of course depend on your starting point. However for Cornwall with its just over half a million population, any influx can only come from one direction and has to come from further away. Making it more of a full holiday destination rather than a weekend. Plus of course you have a lot of camp sites to fill.

Here in the East Midlands folk can travel quite short distances from many directions and of course we have fewer CAMC sites. Hence the weekends tend to get more or less fully booked most of the year, even in the depths of winter.

When useing sites on the cc network as often as we do it is very noticeable just how many families use sites during the peak periods when it seems as said by some posters, they do not venture out,,we were among the,, what seemed very few "older" generation ,on the very popular and full  of families, Black Knowl site,and as we (not like some it seems)are still able to carry out conversations (no need for interviews?) with other younger members,and why would younger families come on here when they have. they think, better methods of comunication

I must agree that Caravan club sites are grossly overpriced I( have been with the club since 1978 and used a lot of rallies which was great for my children and a fair price. Now just the 2 of us i find that i cannot afford the club fees. The only thing that we benefit from are the Cl's.

Would have expected better after paying £50 membership fees