Caravan Club prices question

Perhaps I'm getting old, but even at those admittedly bargain prices, 580 miles from Calais plus another 200 this side, towing a caravan, is a long way for two weeks. I think if I only had that long I would be looking further north.

I think some who post on here do not tow to France,as they keep their c/vans "over there"

if i was to only have two weeks in the south of france, id fly there...

however. two months (or more) and ill take full advantage of the prices quoted...

Even better St Pancras to Paris ,then on to Nice on Le Tren Bleufabulous journey,in luxury all the way   

yep, train's good...

another thing thats cheaper over there

I think some who post on here do not tow to France,as they keep their c/vans "over there"

We still have to drive down to our storage depot in Chateauroux, from here in North Yorkshire, unpack the car, pack the van, hitch up and set off.  The fact that we haven't got a caravan on the back for the first part of the journey would possibly speed up the journey if we used the autoroutes, but we don't, so our driving speed is just the same.  We also have a hotel overnight en-route because we don't have our own accommodation with us.  I'm not sure how many others store over there - I rather doubt it is many, certainly from amongst contributors to this forum.

The cost of the ferry is less, yes, but offset by the extra expense of hotels and having to eat in a restaurant, and the cost of the fuel for part of the journey is less, but we can, and do, tow down to the Mediterranean.  Whether or not others think it's worth it for two weeks, we certainly did.  Only in the last few years have we stored in France. We no longer go for two weeks, but when we did it was in the days before we stored in France and we have taken the caravan down to the Mediterranean, Spain, or equally as far, every single year since 1993 (23 years) and twice a year for the last ten years or so before we both retired.  Your post implies that our experience counts for nought just because we now store in France!

Yes, it is a long way, but it doesn't seem it - it's an adventure, and I can only say to those who are thinking about it - 'try it yourselves and then make your own judgements'.

Comparing Club sites with average French sites is not really like for like. Just look at what the Club spend to create new sites with gravel, hard standings, proper roads, heated toilet blocks, dog walks, play areas, all to proper Health and Safety standards.  Most French sites are nothing like that standard but when it's warm and foreign it just seems a lot better! Also, commercial sites in France and UK often have alternative income streams and owners who live on site 24/7.

Also French municipal sites were not run for profit although many are now franchises.

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Perhaps I'm getting old, but even at those admittedly bargain prices, 580 miles from Calais plus another 200 this side, towing a caravan, is a long way for two weeks. I think if I only had that long I would be looking further north.

Not all routes to France start at Calais, we don't use that crossing as for us its not economically worth it. We use Hull - Zeebrugge, or Portsmouth to Caen. Having only 2 weeks shouldn't put people off, we used to go to Germany and back for a week using the Hull - Rotterdam ferry, it didn't feel like a week it felt much longer. We have a 315 mile drive to reach Hull but if you leave on a Saturday morning and get the teatime ferry you land in Zeebrugge at 9.00 on Sunday morning, with no lorries on the roads on Sundays you can be at Tours/Saumur by teatime easy. Spend the next 12 days in that area drive back up to Zeebrugge on the Saturday, overnight ferry, back home to Scotland Sunday night, no problem and a dam good holiday into the bargain. Sorry can't post photos on here.

I am fortunate in that I live fifteen minutes from Portsmouth ferry terminal.  When working I was mostly constrained to two weeks which was sufficent time to travel down to Aquitaine for a fortnights bucket and spade therapy. The driven distance would only get me as far as the southern lakes in the UK. If I want to visit Scotland, it's further than the Med. I know there is the ferry cost but the only way to compare like with like is to calculate the door to door cost, of which pitch prices are but a part. Some things such as warmth and sunshine are difficult to quantify in cash terms.