CL Price Rises

and fortunately so, otherwise, we'd all be at the same campsite! Well type of campsite.

A polite reminder to please keep this discussion on track and within our community guidelines. Many thanks. 

 ... and none of us would want that! 🙄

+1 ED

For us it's not all about the "Price" and it's not always about the spending power of the stayer either.

CLs offer a more relaxing, varied way of caravanning and in general I tend to find that my fellow stayers are more genial than those I come across on Club Sites. Not only that but owners tend to have more time to stop and have a chat as well. This all builds into what Ttda was on about, namely value. It's hard to quantify but in some cases it doesn't even matter that the facilities aren't top notch (but acceptable).

Quite often on club sites we'll find our immediate neighbours are pleasant if a bit reserved and the only time their reticence goes away is when you are packing up and trying to hitch up.😂 I'm struggling to think of the last time I had a really long or extended friendly chat with a neighbour on a  club site whereas I can remember having one on every CL we've been on this year. Not a great deal wrong with reticence but the atmosphere on CLs tend to be more relaxed whether it's a £12 per night one or a £20+ one. Plus quite often pitching "Rules" are a bit more relaxed as well which certainly helps.

We do tend to find staying on a CL a totally different experience to staying on a Club Site, as you say WN. It’s often where the “added value” bonus provides a great deal more than the price charged. What was nice was that we found things similar on the little Aires and Forestry pull in’s up in D&G last month. 

Totally agree WN.  We do use Club sites, but only during late autumn/winter and very early spring.  I'm afraid that for me, at any other time they no longer offer what I consider to be value for money; to be on a (probably full) big Club site at the height of summer would not be my idea of a relaxing time and I certainly wouldn't want pay the fees charged at those times.

We have used CLs much more during the last few years, including in July and August, and have experienced the same as you: people are willing to spend the time of day with you much more.  Added to that the fact that there are only a maximum of 5 units, in addition to charging much less than a Club site, to me offers better value.

Yes, we've been here before WN. I don't disagree with most of what you say although I do not use CLs; it does not surprise me at all that folk are more genial, approachable and sociable on CLs. I wrote the following in response to your post (and that of others) on a previous thread sometime back:   

On the question of sociability of members I suspect that it is true, albeit a bit of a generalisation, that those who visit CLs are more likely to be sociable types. The very nature of CLs is such that one is less anonymous, one of a small number and almost a part of the farm or household or establishment that runs the CL. This gives it more of a rally type atmosphere. Maybe this is more for the outgoing sociable types. A person who is shy or unsociable on a club site is not likely to suddenly come out of their shell on a CL [and they are probably less likely to use one in the first place]. It is not the CL that makes people sociable, it is that sociable types are more likely to go to CLs.

I, too, find that a lot of campers are reluctant to engage on club sites. I get quite dismayed when people avoid eye contact and go out of their way not to chat. I suspect that has changed over the years. I have theories about why that is, but that can get into socio-economic and quasi-political areas so I won't go there. But I do have chats with other campers - neighbours mostly or at the service point - on club sites, but it is a long time since I had enough interaction to get into first names or maybe sit together for a chat over a cup of tea or some such. Once I became friendly enough with a couple, at Morvich, many years ago, that we visited one another subsequently. It does happen, but I suspect that is rare nowadays. 

I have thought about using CLs but finding a CL with public transport nearby and with hard standing (these being more or less essentials for me), as well as in the chosen area for the trip in question, is quite a challenge I find. I have used CLs but very rarely. I, too, do not like very busy sites and most of my nights away are out of season.

I had a close friend who ran a CL in St Asaph, North Wales, sadly now passed away. For him it wasn't about money at all provided he covered his costs, which were pretty slight. He loved the interaction with customers and some became friends. One couple from France became lifelong friends and he (the CL owner) and his wife ended up buying a house in Béarn to be close to them. Anecdotal, I know, but it illustrates the particular personal, convivial nature of CLs.  

Regarding pricing, the actual thread topic, it's called supply and demand. 

We love using CL’s.  Like InaD we don’t find Club sites are value for money these days although we do use the ‘no facility’ sites like North Yorkshire Moors.  We don’t need shower blocks as we don’t use them. We have noticed that CL’s with hardstanding, which we prefer, seem to be getting a bit more available.  Prices this year have increased a little £16/£18 a night seems about average this year although we have booked one for September that is £25 but we wanted the location and still cheaper than a Club site.  

isn't there a north south divide when it comes to talking to your neighbour? 🙄😉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT0ay9u1gg4&t=2s