Camping and caravan club booking nightmare

[Todayissunny]

We are a family of 5. We are camping in the summer with a VW T6 with lift-up roof, a largish tent and small tent. Booking with CandCC has been a nightmare and I think very expensive. I have had to book 3 separate pitches and must have an adult for each tent and the VW (I.e. each pitch). Luckily DS1 has just turned 18.
I couldnt work out how to book online so did the booking on the phone., I waited on the phone for about 15 minutes before I could talk to someone. I was on the phone for a long time before the booking was completed - it seemed to be so complicated and unusual. We are booked on 3 different pitches - no guarantee we are going to be close to each other - and for 4 nights it is costing nearly £400 (mid july). Does this sound normal?

I asked what would happen if I was travelling alone with 3 kids under 18 and 2 tents (which I have often done, not in UK)... she said it would not be possible to book....

It would have been much easier to talk directly to the campsite, but phone numbers don't seem to be available. I don't think the person I spoke to had ever seen a tent.

I'd have been tempted to book van, awning and toilet tent because that's an eye-watering amount of money!

I think I'm going to find somewhere else and cancel.. ☹. The campsite is by the sea though and I don't get to see the sea very often.
She said the car needs to be on a hard pitch, because roof lifts up, but the pictures of the campsite show huge camper vans on grass.

Good idea @MidgeHardcastle . We want to park right up to the big tent and use it as an awning anyway.

Is that member prices? Might be able to save if not.
There might be other ways to reduce costs like having a pup tent can be free on some sites or maybe even a jumbo pitch.
Tbh although it's one family the setup you have does equate to three different pitches, an awning as opposed to the tent may work too but will mean splashing out.

£30-35 per night per pitch high season, yes, really normal, hard standing more so.
How much of a faff/ wether pitches can be booked together depends on the site.

Whereabouts are you wanting to go? Let’s see whether we can find you a more accommodating site!

Camping and caravan club seem more rigid than independent sites. Both in terms of booking process and then on the sites.. neat little pitches side by side. I’d be tempted to book outwith CCC - have a look on cool camping or similar for a more relaxed set up. Maybe post the area and you may get recommendations - good luck!

That's lovely @MissingMoominMamma .
We are arriving in dover on 16th july and would like to stay in kent until 20th. I've booked the campsite in folkestone. Then we are going on to see family.

@ollybob no, I wasn't asked about membership and forgot to ask in the whole confusing conversation.

Try pitchup - lots of easy to book sites on there. There's a map so you can get something in a location that suits. I would book for van and awning plus a small tent but get a bigger sized pitch if you can.

Booking with CCC is quite a bit dearer if you are not member, but it might not be worth becoming a member for a one off stay. I think in your case, I would definitely look around for independent sites and see what you would lose by cancelling CCC. We are members and found them reasonably priced and helpful, but we have fairly "usual" requirements.

Another one saying pitchup website. Easy to use and most sites have Facebook so you can message any questions.

We use their “ready camp” sites. Always been really good.

I wouldn't use CCC then. Most campsites I have been to will allow at the very least a van and awning on a pitch, and nearly all will allow a pup tent (small one/two person tent) as well.

As others have said, pitchup is great for finding campsites. And just tell a white lie and say you'll be using an 'awning' rather than a 'large tent'.

@Todayissunny why don't you give the Little Switzerland site a call and describe your outfit? It's located near the CCC site and good views apparently. Friends stay there after crossing back from France and love it.

@Todayissunny try Heron's Park, it's run by my friends 😍

If you don't mind going the other side of Dover Kingsdown Camping is near Deal and has sea views. Lovely pub (The Zetland Arms) down on the beach too.Kingsdown Camping

Thank you all.
I've booked kingsdown camping..
Very helpful, quick replies and just what we want (I hope..).
The best thing about c&cc booking system is that you can cancel and get your deposit back.
Heron park looks lovely, but not quite the area we want to go. Maybe another time.

Was just about to suggest Kingsdown.

C&CC would never have allowed you to put your van with awning right by the tent anyway, they insist on distance between units. And You can’t pitch in a little circle, or whatever. V rigid.

It's because you are booking 3 units. Getting a proper awning and only using that is the long term answer. You'll need a lot more space for your set up hence higher cost. For comparison I'm paying £14 a night for 2 adults, one small tent and a motorcycle, camping isn't cheap by the sea often but there's some decent deals

The cost of camping has risen massively over the past couple of years! Honestly it’s cheaper to get a cheap
hotel sometimes! The issue is that some places have insurance restrictions that mean that only one type of thing for sleeping in can be put on each pitch. It’s far cheaper to find campsites that charge per person. I know this as since our kids have grown older, they prefer their own little 2 man tent, and we also have the family tent plus arrive in a campervan. Some sites are £££ for this setup!
Sounds as if you have it all sorted. Have a great time!

Problem is that they are very strict on rules regarding distances between different units on the next pitch because of fire regulations. So you will have to put your van with one corner against the white post……and that white post is not on the edge of the pitch, it’s nearer the middle. It’s hard to explain but it’s so your van is in in the middle of the pitch. The idea being if you had a caravan your pitch would go car, caravan, awning.

so if your van is in the middle of the pitch you will not be allowed a tent in the space where a car will normally go. It has to be on the awning side. Depending how big your tent is it may not fit on the awning side.

I caravan with them a lot and go on my own so sometimes my reversing onto the pitch is not really in line with the post. I got a right telling off but the warden last year who came and paced my pitch out to see if he was going to make me hook up and reposition my van.

getting a proper awning and not using a third small tent would help. Have they said you can have three pitches together because they won’t always do that?

If you actually join the club you can use the small CL sites which are cheaper and less fussy about pitching rules.