Benefits of caravan club membership?

[DrTinkle]

Anyone a member? Going to buy a folding camper so would like to join. Are the sites and facilities special? I hate club houses and the like but need a pretty site, EHU and plenty of clean showers.

[millimat]

Sites are all very well kept, but have lots of rules. I don't mind this, but dh dislikes being told exactly how to park the car in relation to the caravan and awning. Toilets and showers always clean, and sites usually have decent play areas for children.
Sites aren't the cheapest, but you can book ahead if you're unsure of plans for holidays etc. You just need to cancel ahead, think it's 72 hours.
They claim to get discounts on other things such as caravan insurance, haven sites and ferries to name a few.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

I like the rules.

You don't have to worry about rowdy types. I don't reckon its that expensive. I'm off for 6 nights tomorrow and it's £77 for those six nights.

Showers and loos are spotless. I like being able to book months in advance but not having to pay until I get there and been able to cancel if I have to. Sites have ehu, most have wifi so can Mumsnet!

You get access to the whole network of CLs so the small 5 pitch sites.

[Milliways]

Discounted ferries
Discounted RAC cover
Depends if you like the certificated sites. We belong to both main clubs. The CC gave us vouchers for 2 free nights when we joined, so we stayed at the Crytal Palace site and basically saved the cost of membership.
Sites are all well kept, never had a problem with wardens but the do have a lot of rules.

[millimat]

We use CLs a lot. It's worth joining caravan club just for them.

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

We joined this year. The rules are fine, nothing too stupid or difficult to keep to. The showers / loo blocks are spotless. The sites themselves are clean and quiet. No clubhouse, bar etc.??We've only stayed at ones that are extra family friendly as we have a 3 yo and a baby and both sites we've stayed at have had toddler bathrooms with a half size bath (with a raised seat bit and a shower over) and low level toilet and sink. Ds loved having a special room just for him! ??We borrow PIL's caravan and they are members so DH has experience of them. We joined because we wanted to stay at a caravan club site but the £10 per night extra for non-members made the £36 membership cost worth while and it allowed us a choice of more sites.

[poocatcherchampion]

What sort of rules are there?

[DrTinkle]

Thanks everyone. If the rules mean no shouting in the middle of the night am happy to be part of them.

Received my membership, am very excited to have been baptised into a new advertising world of glucosamine supplements and high waisted drawstring slacks.

[lavendersun]

We are Camping and Caravanning Club members so maybe the other one? We have never used a club site, just not my sort of thing. But we do like a few of the smaller certified sites.

The only reason I keep it going is because I get a discount on insuring my tents and trailer which exceeds the price of membership!

And a monthly magazine full of drawstring slack ads that I don't even bother opening, DH does if he is here when it arrives .

[SignoraStronza]

We're Caravan and Camping Club members too. Scrupulously clean loos and showers, well kept and conveniently located sites. Discount on the caravan insurance as well. We don't get involved with any of the social meet ups or anything though.

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

The rules are things like how to position your car, caravan and awning on your pitch (to meet fire reg distances) and 5mph speeds. Sensible things really. Although FIL flouts the parking one by insisting on parking his car on the wrong side (caravan is still in the right place though) and no one's said anything in over 30 years.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Dogs must be on leads

Car, caravan, awning on pitch and some wardens will go crazy about this rule. Ive heard of them refusing to allow people with a caravan where the door is on the wrong side to be awning, caravan, car on pitch.

5mph

They have a forum which is hilarious. People moaning about others daring to have two or more dogs, think dogs should be banned. Someone was furious once as they spotted someone filling a dog water bowl up from a public tap. Cutting across people's pitches is another cause for frothing.

I showered my muddy dog under a tap once and was expecting someone to go crazy!

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

I need to check the forums out!!

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

I'm actually close to reporting my next door pitch neighbours to the warden. They went on a bike ride today and left their dog in the van.

Totally against the rules.

I got back a minute before they did so no idea if the dog had been barking or not but I wouldn't be happy if I'm in my caravan and their dog is left to bark all day!