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353 replies
Cornersteady replied on 28/11/2018 09:56
Posted on 28/11/2018 04:23 by ElimaWe haven't received the e-mail yet but have just received the magazine showing the increase in membership. The Caravan Club is now just a money making concern and they don't care about members any more. Caravaning is now an expensive hobby. I feel sorry for families, it must cost a fortune when you have to pay for a couple of children or more plus the cost of buying the caravan in the first place, especially as they have to pay for peak periods due to school holidays.
Why are we paying a membership fee when the site fees are no cheaper then commercial sites?
Posted on 28/11/2018 09:56
As a 'former' family member, the club (and caravaning) was the cheapest way of holidaying. All other holiday companies put their prices up in peak and the club with its kids for a £1 (or even 1p when I did it) is certainly cheaper than most other forms of taking your family away. £30 per night for all the family (and dog and awning) away is pretty good compared to B&B or hotels? Or the £1000 for a holiday abroad?
dunelm replied on 28/11/2018 10:15
Posted on 27/11/2018 15:48 by TinwheelerIf ever there was a deliberate attempt at a wind up, this was it.
Tinwheeler replied on 28/11/2018 10:17
Posted on 28/11/2018 10:17
Elima, club fees very often are cheaper than commercial sites in peak season for families. It’s off peak when the commercials do their special offers that they become cheaper. There will always be exceptions to this so no need for anyone to point that out.😗
No one actually forces any of us to pay membership fees so we can all walk away if it no longer suits.
replied on 28/11/2018 10:27
Posted on 28/11/2018 09:56 by CornersteadyAs a 'former' family member, the club (and caravaning) was the cheapest way of holidaying. All other holiday companies put their prices up in peak and the club with its kids for a £1 (or even 1p when I did it) is certainly cheaper than most other forms of taking your family away. £30 per night for all the family (and dog and awning) away is pretty good compared to B&B or hotels? Or the £1000 for a holiday abroad?
dunelm replied on 28/11/2018 10:29
Posted on 26/11/2018 20:05 by brueJVB. All site details have a price "from" as a lead in for each adult and a pitch. The club indicates that this will help those seeking to compare prices, no doubt there will be the usual "fixed" prices too. It also says that members without internet access can ask for a paper price list. So in some ways this saves on the problems of prices going out of date but still shows a range of potential prices.
Posted on 28/11/2018 10:29
I would have thought that most who use the sites do not go as individuals. Perhaps the price for "one plus pitch" is used because any other (eg for 2 adults) may have been considered as potentially showing that Club sites are expensive!
Regarding the "paper price list", I phoned the number on Monday and the person I spoke to was very vague. After taking my details, he put me on hold so he could find out more. I was on hold so long that I gave up.
I then sent an e-mail to the Club asking to be put on the list for a paper copy. The reply stated that they didn't keep such lists and could I get back to them in mid January.
So anyone wanting a paper copy - don't contact the Club yet!
Cornersteady replied on 28/11/2018 10:38
Posted on 28/11/2018 10:27 byI have been caravanning since the late 70s and with children for the first 10 years and I never for one moment thought it was a cheap way of holidaying, better yes, more of yes but never cheap. Booking a package does not require a big investment in caravans and large enough cars to tow with. Caravans also come with Insurance servicing and for some storage costs to too plus depreciation. If anyone ever told me they were having cheap caravan holidays my though (kept to myself though) has been you are not doing it right and what corners are you cutting.
eurortraveller replied on 28/11/2018 11:01
Posted on 28/11/2018 09:56 by CornersteadyAs a 'former' family member, the club (and caravaning) was the cheapest way of holidaying. All other holiday companies put their prices up in peak and the club with its kids for a £1 (or even 1p when I did it) is certainly cheaper than most other forms of taking your family away. £30 per night for all the family (and dog and awning) away is pretty good compared to B&B or hotels? Or the £1000 for a holiday abroad?
Posted on 28/11/2018 11:01
You may have thought it was the cheapest way of holidaying in your younger days, but my own grown up children look at the current cost of purchasing caravans, storage, servicing, insurance, tow cars, fuel consumption and site fees - and shake their heads. They have lots of cheaper options without that capital outlay - tents, hostels, Airbnb, and renting static vans.
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young thomas replied on 28/11/2018 11:32
Posted on 28/11/2018 11:01 by eurortravellerYou may have thought it was the cheapest way of holidaying in your younger days, but my own grown up children look at the current cost of purchasing caravans, storage, servicing, insurance, tow cars, fuel consumption and site fees - and shake their heads. They have lots of cheaper options without that capital outlay - tents, hostels, Airbnb, and renting static vans.
Posted on 28/11/2018 11:32
know what you mean, ET...son and partner (apparently skint) going to Sri Lanka tomorrow, while next week we are heading to Broadway
of course, we will be doing plenty of other stuff throughout the next year that they won't, but your point is valid....they wouldn't want to even think of buying (and running) a caravan and decent suitable tow car etc.....
they have a car and a tent for 'camping breaks'.....in good weather only
viatorem replied on 28/11/2018 11:46
Posted on 28/11/2018 11:46
Costs and value mean different things to different people, some like wild camping some like Necker Island. Each would argue the value.
I view van costs as being amortised over the the ownership period. So with a damp finger here goes.
IMO I would have to run a car anyway, so the cost of the van over its onwership of say 7 - 10 years minus resale value is about £1k a year plus service insurance and other sundries say totals £2k/yr to run and own. holidays average 100 nights site fees = £1.5k then there is the additional cost of being away fuel, food etc in excess of "normal" costs approx £1.5k. so that's £5k= so approx £50/night all inclusive 2-4 people and dog (UK travel) which I view as good value.
Cornersteady replied on 28/11/2018 13:28
Posted on 28/11/2018 11:46 by viatoremCosts and value mean different things to different people, some like wild camping some like Necker Island. Each would argue the value.
I view van costs as being amortised over the the ownership period. So with a damp finger here goes.
IMO I would have to run a car anyway, so the cost of the van over its onwership of say 7 - 10 years minus resale value is about £1k a year plus service insurance and other sundries say totals £2k/yr to run and own. holidays average 100 nights site fees = £1.5k then there is the additional cost of being away fuel, food etc in excess of "normal" costs approx £1.5k. so that's £5k= so approx £50/night all inclusive 2-4 people and dog (UK travel) which I view as good value.
Posted on 28/11/2018 13:28
Yes agree, and in answer to ET and BB, you should look at the cost over time.
when we looked at caravaning we did some homework. A family holiday at that time (we had four children) was about £1500/£2000 for one two week holiday in the sun. That was affordable but that would have been it, For about £8000 (this was nearly 20 years ago) we could get a new van and use it all year round. In three/four years the van's initial cost would have paid for itself and then yearly holiday costs would decrease. It was by far a much cheaper option.
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