Which camping club to join??

[GillymckB]

Any preference between joining The Caravan and Motorhome Club or Camping Caravanning Club ? Many thanks

 

[Up10]

Any preference between joining The Caravan and Motorhome Club or Camping Caravanning Club ? Many thanks

We joined both.

CAMC will give discounts on various products and you can also get insurance and breakdown through them although I haven't yet found them competitive.

To be fair, we have only just joined CCC so don't know do much about them. I believe they are, part of the same group as Go Outdoors and Cotswold Clothing.

CAMC and CCC clubs back on to each other at Sandringham and both sites look to be of a similar standard.

Which club gives the best range of sites in the locations you want to visit? Perhaps join that first and see how it goes?

 

[pjm-84]

I now belong to both. I think CAMC has a lot better offering. Did a great deal on insurance for my motorhome and breakdown cover for >3.5tonnes at £80. You can also have a single night booking which is impossible on a lot of the CCC sites.

That said CCC have a great site at Keswick

 

[stoobthealien]

Depends on what you want from the club. We are member of both as we have a caravan (and this week) a cali - we are massive fans of their certified locations - that's the main benefit really, you get to stay on small 5 van sites on farms, etc which use the clubs as they have to be "members only" to get around planning restrictions.

The difference there is that the CCC versions of those sites nearly always have toilets etc as they are aimed at campers as well as campervans / motorhomes whereas the CAMC versions quite often are just hardstandings with power, water and drainage (which may suit you fine!)

The CAMC travel service is good and we've saved quite a bit over the years although this year the ferry was cheaper direct - the service is very good though.

We find as a family both sets of club sites very expensive compared to similar standard commercial offerings so very rarely use them - the CAMC will normally throw a "free night" voucher to use very early and very late in the year your way which brings the costs down a little.

 

[GillymckB]

Thanks everyone for your help xx

 

[Meoncoast]

Have been in both. Last 2 year a non member. Preference was for CMHC.

 

[KevH]

I have found that many European sites can be booked much cheaper and earlier through the CMC rather than direct.
As a member of both CCC and CMC I prefer CMC sites but find them a bit more expensive than CCC sites.
CCC site managers can be a bit anal about how you pitch, in my experience. Not all, just some.

 

[stoobthealien]

I have found that many European sites can be booked much cheaper and earlier through the CMC rather than direct.
As a member of both CCC and CMC I prefer CMC sites but find them a bit more expensive than CCC sites.
CCC site managers can be a bit anal about how you pitch, in my experience. Not all, just some.

Agreed re European sites - if they have negotiated a good deal then you save quite a bit

 

[Hawthorn37]

We’ve been members of both clubs for 4 years, and used both around equally, plus a few independent sites. In terms of the standard hard stand pitch, and the facilities, there’s not much difference. Also both offer European and Irish ferry discounts.

Differences we’ve noticed:
Pitch bookings - CAMC is strictly first come first served, and if you have the temerity of trying to ‘sit’ on a pitch to wait for friends expect to be told off, by staff and other campers waiting to select a pitch. CCC - if you’re travelling with friends you can note it in your booking ( or calling the site), and equally if you know the site you can give a preference for your location. It also means there’s less pressure to be first in the queue at 1pm!!!

Price - CAMC are nearly always a bit pricier than CCC. Also CCC give discounts to members over 60 (outside of high season), and regular other discounts.

Pitch types - CCC tend to offer more variety with grass pitches of different sizes and with / without EHU. So if you don’t need electric you don’t have to pay. CAMC sites rarely offer this, and the parks are more regimented rows of hard stands.

Friendliness - not just staff, but other campers. CCC gets a broader demographic and as such generally a friendlier feel. But we’ve never had an issue with either clubs staff. We have experienced anti social behaviour of fellow campers on both clubs sites.

Our choice of which site is down to location. Being either CAMC or CCC wouldn’t have a big influence on our choice. As we are camping quite often we find it pays to be in both.

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

CAMC allow you to secure a booking for a £5 deposit which is fantastic if you think there's a chance your plans might change. For that reason alone they are our go to club. It also means sites at weekends get booked up early and then become available a few days prior. CCC often don't allow 1 night stays though sometimes this can be overridden by the call centre.

CCC systems are archaic and lacking functionality. Whilst some would argue the CAMC have implemented an old system, functionality is high and I virtually never have to phone up the call centre. On occasions when I do the service is spot on. Ahead of CCC.

The CAMC sites are also a bit more regimented and have a more formal feel to them. CCC sites tend to be more laid back and allow more of a party atmosphere, but we certainly aren't talking "Ibiza" here!!

Both offer good access to small CL (CAMC) and CS sites.

I don't find the European travel services nor site bookings at all competitive and over 2 decades always deal directly with the ferry operators / tunnel / foreign sites. In particular, with Brittany Ferries through CAMC, out of hours modifications are troublesome whereas the BF website is really easy and bookings are very flexible.

CAMC used to offer Red Pennant which was absolutely first class. Not convinced it will get replaced.

Both clubs are probably more expensive than independent sites with the CAMC sites more pricey than CCC.

But I'm the scheme of things, where both charge often £50+ a night might as well join both like we did. And we are still members of both and I can't remember when we last used CCC!!

 

[thehoggmeister]

Members of both mainly to use Certified Locations and Certified Sites. We always found CAMC sites a bit identikit but well kept. CACC sites offer more choice in pitches and usually have non electric pitches which suits most campervan needs for a night or two. They also have more grass pitches which are better for putting pegs in as hard standing pitches can be like rock.

Have used both for booking ferries and sites in the Netherlands for many years with our caravan and found the prices much cheaper than booking direct.

 

[pieman]

I've been trying to make the same choice and struggling to decide! I think I will probably go with CCC initially. From what I've read it seems like they might be better with children. Annoyingly one site I want to stay at new Brighton is CAMH so might end up with both, which seems common from the replies here!

 

[dspuk]

Just join both. They are peanuts and we save the entry fee on discounted Chunnel tickets easily.

 

[stoobthealien]

Members of both mainly to use Certified Locations and Certified Sites. We always found CAMC sites a bit identikit but well kept. CACC sites offer more choice in pitches and usually have non electric pitches which suits most campervan needs for a night or two. They also have more grass pitches which are better for putting pegs in as hard standing pitches can be like rock.

Have used both for booking ferries and sites in the Netherlands for many years with our caravan and found the prices much cheaper than booking direct.

I agree with all the above, although rock pegs and a decent hammer make light work of hard standings. I've found in the past year or so the discounts on the ferries have been less good than direct - especially DFDS with their deposit scheme

 

[pjm-84]

Lol, first CAMC site this weekend....I was asked to go away and come back at 1pm ....the campsite was 30% full, the parking empty, and I was sitting there waiting to check in at 12.39pm.....I responded "really" and left, it took me a few minutes to drive around the one way and for him to open the gate to let me out. Went to the garden centre down the road and had a coffee and cake, prepared to take up battle on my return, but they were so nice, I couldn't......