Campsite Fees Killing caravans?

[@les.6343]

The problem with the caravan club prices is its being run by accountants for profit first and foremost and not by the members.😊

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes I think so. Profit from members not for members.

[@terranceprice7006]

The reason we dropped out of the club, cheaper on some commercial sites

[@brucebell1809]

@@les.6343 no profit=no site improvements, decrepit facilities, tatty, unkept surroundings. Total electric bill for one national club last year was £12,000,000😱. Other overheads, council rates, site improvements, etc £??

[@barrybarry6592]

It's a commercial business not a club. How can people be so gullible

[@bindatek8801]

C&MH Club are actually a "Not For Profit" registered COMPANY, not an actual CLUB!! There lies a story I think.

[@TicketyBoo.]

Sorry for the cliché folks but “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” is very apt here. Keep booking overpriced sites and they'll gladly keep charging you. Stop using them and they'll either change or go out of business. Simply moaning about it will change nothing. There are some really lovely and well priced CL/CS/Private sites out there. Give some of the a try, even for a weekend.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I agree but it never seems to happen. People are buying less vans and I think using their caravans as much. We shall see what happens next.

[@petersmith7908]

I agree with you.

[@howyjones6797]

I reckon COVID, staycation campsites put prices up and kept them up,I know cost of energy has gone up ,but there are sites out there who have kept prices down

[@rbnhd1144]

I'm not a caravaner yet but its on my radar for when I'm retired, with that said what is CL and CS sites Thanks.

[@NitroNoriFan]

@@rbnhd1144these are members only Certificated Locations/Sites, privately owned and only allowed up to 5 caravans or motorhomes at a time. Often on farms or in large gardens. All must have q fresh water tap and chemical/black waste disposal point as a bare minimum. Some have electric hook up as an option, others are off grid. Some have showers and toilets but most camping units these days have these on board so aren’t a necessity

[@andrewwelsh4968]

You need a large car to comfortably tow a caravan. Road tax and the price of fuel is also turning people away. Rip off Britain!

[@NiallWardrop]

There are other options; roof tents, small caravans, trailer tents, modular MPV camping kits etc. It's another failing of the "clubs" that they tend to a "big outfit" mindset. They talk about matching car to caravan when they really mean "what is the biggest caravan I can legally tow" and any of the above outfits will often find that site staff are less than enthusiastic about allowing them on site. C&CC recently had to clarify in their magazine that roof tents are allowed on their sites.

[@essanjay8604]

We camped in the good old days of the 80s and 90s first with a tent and then with a folding Dandy camper. The whole point of camping then was to allow families who didn't have much cash to splash to enjoy a cheap holiday. There was no feeling of competing to have the biggest and best rig! The last straw for us was not only the rise in site fees but also being unable to go anywhere on spec and having to book up months in advance. It took away all the fun.

[@barryjeffrey8757]

Caravaning was invented to be a cheaper alternative hoilday solution and now is just so expensive it is cheaper to do bed and breakfast

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Totally agree. It doesn't work as well for us B and B due to two rooms but for most it does.No payments, no maintentance.

[@Wildnwelsh]

I Airbnb for £31 a night with a £37.00cleam fee,electric TV showers site had everything Cornwall they really are overpriced.

[@peternelson6167]

I fully agree - site fees have got too expensive. We have booked a night at Baltic Wharf, Bristol £59 per night. I am paying this, as a Bristolian traveling south but needing overnight stopovers as I am just coming to the end of radio therapy for cancer. But, why are fees so expensive, so I asked the CAMC why they were sponsoring a surfing competition in Cornwall. Evidently this is done to attract new members!!!! Next I asked how much they had donated to this surfing extravaganza - they would not tell me, commercial sensitivity was the excuse. Pardon me but it is my fees they are giving away. CLs rule as far as we are concerned.

[@brucebell1809]

Looking at early UK caravan history it certainly wasn't a cheap option. Discounting travelling people ie. Romanies, owning a car and building a bespoke caravan would have been the preserve of the rich. Post WW 2 saw the comparatively cheaper development. Even then car ownership was not universal.

[@Stigman101]

I'm in Italy been through France high season most sites around 40 euro Aires found some fantastic ones around 16 euro..I don't think I'll ever bother with UK plus weather crap .

[@CarolHopewell]

Prices never come down unless people refuse to pay them

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That is true. I suppose for most people though having 10 to 30K invested in a van, that still costs for storage, insurance, servicing. It's then hard to not want to use it. They can't sell it as vans aren't really selling.

[@hallaboard8154]

It’ll self implode on the greedy site owners. A lot of sites, in order to look cheaper, start with the pitch price and 2 adults (sometimes only 1 adult). Extra adults, children, dogs, awnings, car, gravel pitch and EHU etc all charged as extras. This escalates the price considerably. You should just pay for the pitch type. Full stop. If you’re in a self contained unit why should you pay more? And don’t get me started on paying extra for a dog!! 😤

[@G-ra-ha-m]

'Greedy site owners'.. well, I think it's deeper. The clubs own most of the sites are they cost even more! Even though people also pay yearly subscriptions!! Then there are 'Business rates', so private sites basically work for the council. Then there are all the regulations strangling small business, pension offerings etc, and tax on any profit... so that takes a huge chunk. We really don't live in a country with the same freedoms we had 20 years ago.

[@howyjones6797]

Exactly the same as caravan sales places that have gone under ,sheer greed

[@foisgrastoo]

That's why I don't camp even in a camper, can't get away from dogs !!! Hardly anyone properly trains their dogs these days so you get barking dogs at all hours . I choose dogless hotels and dogless beaches. Bliss.

[@KimDiscoveringHistory]

We took our holidays in Cornwall and used a beautiful site with an outdoor pool, a nice place to buy hot food, and a lovely on-site pub. Price was £284 for the fortnight. Then covid hit and 2 years later the priced had jumped to £720 including electrical hook up. Our caravan stayed in storage that year, and we decided to use Premier Inn on a special deal including breakfast for £630 for 2 adults and 2 children. We sold our caravan and never looked back. Greedy sites are already closing down.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That is a mad difference in prices. Particular when you supply most the facilities.

[@leahkeyworth]

Alot are probably closing down as could end up selling the land for a very nice price to property developers. Land is at an all time high due to not much building land available, so many are worth their weight in gold. Probably take the money, then retire on it.

[@steve5772]

We have a CS and feel guity about how much we charge, but we're the cheapest for miles around (still the right side of £20). I can't believe how much the big sites charge, and it's total greed, particularly when you see how they pack the units in.. You could get a half decent hotel for less than a lot of them, and you can probably get on a plane for less money than a few nights on some sites. One of the problems that no one mentions in terms of our costs as sites are motorhomes spending a week in a layby, then booking a cheap site to charge their batteries, fill the water tank, empty the waste and do their washing in the shower (yes, it happens). As you rightly say, it's not as bad as it was, but our electric and water are at commercial prices as opposed to residential, so can be a lot more that you'd pay at home. So yes, support your small sites 😁

[@Bessie66]

Would you be able to share your site name? I’m all for supporting local sites now - only been caravanning once and starting this journey but wow - the expense 😮

[@allanhughes7859]

folk are stupid so you can never ever win !!!

[@stevensmith662]

"A decent hotel for what they charge " aye right a decent hotel is at least £175 a night anything less than that is substandard

[@motorhomemavericks1]

It's not just the prices though - a lot of them are run like prison camps, can't do this, can't do that! Must park this way. We off grid as much as possible

[@sumary7663]

Yes I agree.

[@Gillby47]

My neighbours returned home early last week from their latest trip,they said the fun has gone out of trips in their van due to site fees petrol and basic unfriendly people resenting them .They have now decided to sell the van and look forward to occasional weekends away in cottages.Shame as my parents enjoyed caravanning for many,many years when site fees were reasonable and everyone helped each other.

[@TonyDean-y9c]

The "unfriendly people," is due to places like Cornwall being over rammed with tourists. It is hell in the Summer months for those of us to live here.

[@rickshaw2779]

@@TonyDean-y9c As someone who has enjoyed caravan holidays since the early1980's I have to agree. I have a friend who lives in Cornwall and they say the same. We will not go there anymore it's way too overcrowded.

[@robertbrown1852]

The push to force EVs on us will eventually kill off towing caravans and motorhomes/campervans.

[@roggabriel]

@@robertbrown1852 I’ve not yet seen a charging point I could use when towing a caravan. (I have a PHEV) I’d need to unhitch (somewhere) then charge , and then re hitch.

[@shereeharrison5610]

Killed us off PRICES KEPT RISING FORCED EV. CHARGES FOR THIS CHARGES FOR THAT. CAMPING & CARRAVANNING CLUB . BINNED THEM OFF. TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY

[@shereeharrison5610]

Cls are not cheap & cheerful anymore. Cls are charging more too. They have got greedier. It killed our caravan enjoyment off . Now we have campervan.

[@617539]

I think you are spot on on, I am an old timer who likes to have long weekends away in my caravan but, my pension stays the same but fees don’t hence I have to think twice about weekends away now.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes like many of us. As you know used to be a teacher so prices in some things doubled and my wages maybe increased 8% but really massive loss over past 12 years.

[@ghunt9146]

CCC do age concession, if that helps you out. I get it, & the Mrs qualifies next year.

[@peterburnett1661]

If you are a pensioner, why do you go away at weekends? Mid week is cheaper and quieter.

[@jon-ie4li]

Pension stays the same lol

[@53HB]

The mass bookings on weekends are also killing it , trying to get a fortnight or ten day holiday on a good campsite often proves impossible . Not everyone’s cup of tea but we find haven sites are usually good value for money and include extras to keep you happy if the weather turns I.e bars , food, swimming etc

[@G-ra-ha-m]

I had a comment that I left here, reported for 'hate speech', which is very strange. As the comment was not shown to me by youtube, I have no idea what it was, but it's very strange. I've not said anything hateful, I've merely made mild observations about the caravan market, and some campervan experience. Have we really reached the point where a mild conversation is considered 'hate'?

[@christinebeames712]

Yes , if you question or disagree with the narrative of or rules you are punished as many doctors found out during cawvidd ( can’t even use some words ) any doctor who said all was not as it seemed was sacked ,we used to think we had free speech , we certainly don’t now , R,I,P DEMOCRACY ,

[@StoatLoxley]

If you click on the link its explained. Its all AI anyway. all you have to do is put 2 words together like foreign and disgusting and it will trigger.

[@davidhalliwell1423]

The government has its nose in everyone else’s business but can’t sort out its own problems 😎😁

[@G-ra-ha-m]

@@davidhalliwell1423 Govern mental - the clue is in the name. It only exists to keep us poor and make us suffer. before 2020 this was just a feeling, but then they proved it, big time. Ministers partying while frightening people to stay indoors.

[@PapaTube-ep1nk]

£700 for storage in Scotland utter pure Greed it will all come to an end for these storage robbers as people turn away from Touring Caravans

[@KM2399]

Yip I'm paying £720 a year in Renfrewshire.

[@jacksjaunts8580]

⁠@@KM2399tow it up to Kinglassie, have a good day out and save yourself some cash.

[@truebluebears76]

@@KM2399there’s a storage in the Forth south Lanarkshire it’s about 250 a year and you can come and go as you please with a gate card

[@laurencelockwood6209]

Same in Sussex on the South Coast £700

[@janbolton7305]

We're on a gold standard storage near M62/M57 junction and pay £80 a month

[@finbarn4833]

What makes me laugh, is the pitch is £48 per night, but… ‘dogs go free, kids go free, awnings are free’ And the latest ‘hot showers free’. So, these are all the things that the Caravan & Motorhome Club will soon be charging for. Vote with your feet people!

[@rogerbroadbelt3424]

Some years ago, we went on a site where children were £2 a night and dogs were £3 night. When I was booking in I said the dog was looking forward to using the showers, the lady said, oh no, dogs aren't allowed in the facilities, I said, that he was paying more than children so he ought to be able to use the facilities. Anyhow, I asked what he got for his £3 a night, she said to be able to stay on site, I said we were keeping him so what does he get for his money, I ended up saying this was a rip off, paying £21 a week for nothing and we wouldn't be going anymore, she said we had seen the charges when we booked, I said we assumed at that price Oscar would be able to use the facilities. We've never been there since.

[@johncorbett1130]

Didn't they even provide a lampost for him

[@jimf4748]

I agree, we only stay on CL's now and pay between £20.00 and £25.00 per night. Many CL's have serviced pitches so are no hardship to use. We have caravaned/motorhomed for 36 years and with the cost of fuel and pitches, it's no longer the bargain it used to be.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That's not too bad. Thing is those sites probably used to be 10 to 15 a night.

[@jimf4748]

@@RollingwithTheRobsons Indeed they were but everything is more expensive now.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

Even if I could hire a CL, I'm not paying £20-25, especially if I don't need services (campervan, 2-3 days off grid are easy). £10 for one in a nice area I may pay. France is better, the ferry adds £200 but after a few days of aires it's paid for itself, then the cheap but great wine, cheese and bread can be bought. After two weeks, a nice french meal each evening a short walk from the aire is still cheaper than a muddy field in England.... Plus you get sunshine!!

[@auntiejilly1954]

Went to a CL with motorhome near Alnwick in April. Really scruffy. EHU. Not very accessible water on / off. Elsan disposal "not pleasant" £25 a night. Possibly okay for 1 or 2 nights if going to Castle for event. Pictures of site must have been a few years old.

[@kierandouglas7798]

What is a CL sorry? And why are they cheaper than normal camp sites?

[@alanmarshall4989]

I used to go camping regularly years ago, what killed it for me was having to book. Defeats the whole point.

[@seankenneally7008]

100% agree once you sell your caravan or camper van because of site fees you probably won’t buy another one ,lost forever like someone already said accountants not members

[@alexsmith358]

Our local campsite has gone up massively. It’s now massively empty most of the time. The weather hasn’t helped either.

[@gdreading9088]

As motorhomer's we agree with everything you have said. Now like many people with motorhomes and caravan's we watch lots of youtube channels about camping, and while watching fellow campers signing in to campsites, driving around looking for their pitch. Its plain to see that these campsites have plenty of empty pitches. ? The same goes for when we (retired) folk go camping. Always quite a number of empty pitches. One other thing that comes to mind is the current prices of motorhome's and caravans, whilst the majority of us drive around in vans that cost £15,000 to £45,000. When you look at the prices of new vehicles £80,000 and upwards, well campsite clubs and owners may very well take the view that "if these guys can afford a £80,000 van (£40,000caravan) then they can afford our 'new' prices"

[@rbnhd1144]

I have to agree with that, sadly everyone seems greedy since 2019, everything has changed.

[@TransparencyPlease]

Ridiculous caravan prices. We bought our's second hand, 2 berth, four years ago for £5,000. A friends bought an OK caravan for under £1,000. There are bargains if you look around.

[@tomf4547]

£6000 vito, blinds in the windows, cooker, cool box, toilet and bed inside. Free layby's in the most stunning parts of the UK 😎👌

[@misscoutts6193]

​@@rbnhd1144including b&b's they don't clean the room daily like they used to.

[@stephencunningham101]

We go to France every year. The cost of sight there are so much cheaper. Sight near dover(ferry stop) £35 pn. In France £80 pw that includes 15amp electric and free WiFi. We take two dogs no brainer

[@jerryorange6983]

how much do you pay to for the ferry ?

[@kierandouglas7798]

​@@jerryorange6983I second this question 🤣👍

[@jeffatkins6890]

Keep spelling in sight

[@kennethmeredith9322]

@@jerryorange6983 Think that's missng the point

[@bootletowbars3529]

Sold the van and now pay for the hotel or B&B prices and stay in the centre of town,1/2 the fuel costs by not lugging the van around and no depreciation on the van as we don't have one , although I will say we don't have any pets etc to cater for

[@gereshomeE]

The prices have become RIDICULOUS and GREEDY!

[@AlanSmith-xu3lo]

That’s what it boils down to GREED

[@johnboy4809]

left the caravan club last year as it was to expensive to stay on all our local sites, when they asked why i stated the price of the pitches

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yep and they to adapt as otherwise they will struggle financially.

[@bobbeard2517]

We are a couple of years from retirement & was really looking forward to the day when we could hitch up when we liked. Last year & more seriously this year we have discussed giving it up for all the reasons you have mentioned.

[@christanner8104]

My wife and I took early retirement eighteen months ago with the same idea. Hitch up and away! I'm not pleading poverty, but, when CAMC sites are asking £40 a night for the two of us off peak for a basic pitch, you'll understand when I say we've not been away much recently!

[@katienorthenmore1892]

@@bobbeard2517 it's a shame .

[@Peterhughjarse]

Totally agree, factor in the finance rates on your purchase and it’s all going to implode very soon.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yep as I said in last video 9.9% was cheap apparently, give over on those sorts of financing it's not.

[@CampervanTales]

Thats why we have our self build. In the last 7 years we haven't used a site. We park up, we are self sufficient with solar and gas. The money saved on site fees we can spend in local shops and spread it around. We can thoroughly recommend doing it our way.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That sounds the right way to do it. I worry with self builds when it comes to sell them on as it's working out their value.

[@CampervanTales]

@@RollingwithTheRobsons if you look at it like that it's not the thing for you to do. We have no intention of selling ours as we meticulously planned how we wanted it to suit us. We have done many van tours on our channel, self builds and coach built, but in all honesty wealways come back to the same conclusion, that ours is just right for us and no other comes close

[@bindatek8801]

Both the C&MH and CCC are BANNING self builds unless they are inspected by "themselves" to ensure that they are fully converted, that includes a Gas Cooking hob and FIXED bed, fixed furniture and toilet. Both of these organisations are under the impression that the SNOBS who were stupid enough to pay £100,000 for a "Proprietry" built van (and VAN is just what they are) , thinking that they are safe and perfect. The truth is that very few would pass OUR standards of conversion. Many are actually dangerous, with fittings that break away in a road crash etc. Doors that fly off during driving and all sorts. Don't kid yourselves, it is better to build your own, and over engineer EVERYTHING, none of the bought ones are even though out, let alone Over Engineered. Personally I overcome all crash hazards, by leaving the steel BULKHEAD intact. It might leave me with just three seats, but steel keeps those three people alive!!

[@jamesdiamond820]

Even self builds now are being hunted away by councils

[@CampervanTales]

We haven't had a problem. It depends where and how you park up. We have never been moved on. We only stay in one place for a night. We don't take the piss by getting awnings or barbecues out. @@jamesdiamond820

[@7greyghost]

Spot on. Been to the continent several times, not just France, and have always found the continental sites and amenities are far superior than the UK and also less expensive. My advice to anyone heading to the continent with a caravan or motorhome, join the european club called ACSII, and getting a Vignette for the tolls is also a must.

[@davidmatthews3093]

I thought keeping off the toll roads was a must.

[@sumary7663]

ACSI is great. Used it loads in June this year.

[@garyspringham2655]

Its not just caravanning and motorhomes its life in general we are getting ripped off across the board.😢

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

also agree on this point.

[@TransparencyPlease]

Rip-off Britain

[@JAS356UK]

All part of the plan you're own nothing and being happy agenda 2030. The worst is yet to come we are slaves to the system

[@lys823]

It depends on your circumstances. I travel on my own with my dog. The Camping and Caravan club are ideal for me. They are doing 40% off grass only pitches which I use as I have solar. I had 3 weeks in Scotland in June and the average price I paid was about £6 a night on the main sites. 3 nights minimum for offer. £26 for 4 nights on Loch Lomond, £15 for 3 nights at Oban. Both clubs may as well be adult only as they price families out.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes they do price families out.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

'40% off grass only pitches which I use as I have solar' Is thsi in a sensible, accessible pricing method, or is it selected sites at selected times as long as you book on a full moon on a Tuesday?

[@lys823]

@@G-ra-ha-m I've just looked on the website and it is available on 64 of their main club sites. It doesn't come off automatically. You have to enter grassuk40 in the promo box. I've just booked the Boroughbridge site for 4 nights and it cost 39.03 so gone up slightly from June. That price is for 1 person. I get 20% off being over 60 then the 40% off the total with the offer.

[@johncongram9818]

We have a classic caravan built in 1952. It operates perfectly on gas. We have a mains and battery system but we prefer just the basic needs. To me it seems caravanning is now needing every mod con you have in your house. We love quite small sites which are reasonably priced.

[@sumary7663]

£6 per night……is that a typo? Cannot imagine its correct!

[@juliegreig2936]

I caravanned with my parents then my husband (he was my boyfriend at the time) then camped. When we were married and about 30 we bought our first caravan 1999) for £2000 and caravanned right up until 2022 when we sold up. We both worked shifts and every weekend we were able we went away, had a week in spring, two weeks in summer, and a week in autumn. It got to the stage it cost us nearly £1000 a year between storage (£200 silver secure), insurance and servicing to keep warranty up. On top of that, we used more fuel when towing and site fees and started using CL sites where possible. It got to the stage we couldn’t justify the prices of sites/CL/ fuel and could go for a week to a Premier Inn for much less. My husband and I for the first time are now going abroad on holiday instead. We were considering a campervan/motorhome but then we will be in the same position cost wise and the money we would spend on outlay and running costs would buy us three holidays abroad for ever!

[@nigelduckworth4419]

I haven't got a caravan but have a small campervan. However, I have been watching the price of new caravans for about 15 years now and it seems to me that they have virtually doubled in that time whereas inflation does not come close to that. You could buy, when I first started looking with a view to buy, a perfectly good new van for 12-13000. Those vans are now well over £20,000. Motorhomes are off the scale. Even campervans are in the 50-70000 bracket for the most part. I suppose anyone who can afford those prices may not be too bothered about site fees. I did stay, however, in a C&CC certificated site which charged me more than I have ever paid at a proper C&CC clubsite in the past 15 years. The view was fantastic, the facilities absolutely ramshackle and dirty. So do your research before booking. This one got 10/10 on UKCampsites!!

[@keypoint1293]

£32k £50 camp fees for a caravan that is a lot of hotel nights, plus a pain in the arse towing.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Totally agree with you.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

And extra fuel, bigger car. Plus the leaks and warranty work, emptying and filling the fluids, sorting out the gas, faffing with the caravan at each end. A small camper makes sense in Europe or as a single vehicle in the UK, but caravanning in the UK appears to be expensive hard work, to sit in a field in the middle of nowhere.

[@richellson6963]

Why is towing a pain the arse? Pitch fees have nothing to do with what you think about sticking the van on the back of the car!

[@richellson6963]

@@G-ra-ha-misn’t the fact you pitch up in a caravan/tent/motorhome in the middle of nowhere the whole idea!?

[@keypoint1293]

@@richellson6963 there is no middle of no where in UK.

[@alarmactionukalarmactionuk893]

Caravanners for nearly twenty years now. We've converted to private adults only sites that offer so much more than the two main clubs. We only maintain our membership because of a one or two favourite sites of ours, but that is all we'll spend.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Fair enough. I used to use it for the CLs only and sometimes discount on euro tunnnel.

[@wesarnold2408]

We’ve just bought our first caravan, is there a website that lists these private sites? Thanks

[@alarmactionukalarmactionuk893]

@@wesarnold2408 Decide whereabouts you'd like to tour and google that region. Shop around to find best deal that suits you.

[@MrMortalskymonkey]

I think this is really well said. People need to vote with their feet. Gone are the days of a cheap caravan holiday now much of this is down to pure greed from caravan sites unfortunately. They'll be sorry when bookings fall and they go under.

[@ianwheeler7903]

I was looking to stay at the Caravan & Motorhome club site at Castleton and they wanted £43.00 per night and on August bank holiday weekend they want £51.00 per night for a hard standing pitch without awning. How can they expect people to pay this ludicrous amount of money to park on a bit of gravel. I will stick to CL's at around £15 - £ 20 per night.

[@neildean7515]

Thank you. what is a CL or what does it stand for???

[@ghunt9146]

@ianwheeler7903 yes, they're taking the pee. We look elsewhere in the area. Won't pay it on principle.

[@kray8246]

​@@neildean7515certificated location, usually 5 units maximum, on a farm etc.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

'Ye Olde Nags Head' in castleton does rooms for £95. Ok it's more, but if you didn't have the expense of running a caravan, it's not that much more... and you can get there in a more efficient car.

[@martinlambert]

​@@neildean7515 Certified Location approved by Caravan Club. Privately owned. Only 5 units allowed many are fabulous. Some are basic but always Inc Water/ Sewage and Rubbish. Look them up in Clubs book / map. Camping and Caravan Club do similar called CS ( certified sites)

[@AClearerWay]

Yes, you’re absolutely right! Everyone should boycott any campsite overcharging, and Brighton immediately comes to mind! Oh and they should also cancel their Camping Club memberships + attendance at any camping shows. We’re both retired, and we’ve been camping our entire lives. For us, it’s always been about embracing the great outdoors and it’s not only a grounding experience, but also a learning experience. We camp all year round and really look forward to meeting new folk. Just sitting by a camp fire under the starry skies is awesome, and waking up to the dawn chorus, and the beautiful sounds of nature … even the cows and sheep! Lol We believe that being as close to nature as possible, whether you’re in a tent, caravan or motorhome, is good for the soul! It reminds us of who we are and how special life is! Okay hotels and B&Bs are great, and they have their place, but they don’t give us the same experience … BACK TO OUR ROOTS ... BEING AT ONE WITH NATURE!

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That is true you miss the back to nature but at present paying through the nose for it unless have a motorhome/campervan.

[@MultiOutdoorman]

Yeah. Our budget site jumped from £ 1900 to £ 2400 in one season. 8 seasoned van owners moved on. Us included. Sold our bailey and spent 8 months building our campervan. Best decision ever.!!!

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That sounds like a sensible choice in the current market.

[@mikelee7865]

CLs and CSs have jumped on the same bandwagon and charging ridiculous amounts for often ridiculously bad facilities

[@jamesarc8192]

What is a CL and CS?

[@mikelee7865]

@@jamesarc8192 They are5 unit sites certified by one of the main clubs. Prices of these used to be reasonable but have risen in line with the main club prices, probably to prevent them undercutting the main site prices by too much. Some are great and give value for money but too many are in farm fields with no or poor facilities

[@dickkingswell5249]

@@jamesarc8192 The Caravan Club sponsor some smaller sites with a maximum of 5 vans on site- they are called 'Certified Locations' or CLs. The Camping Club do a similar thing but they are known as 'Certified sites' (I think). Some CL's are just grass pitches with no facilities at all other than a chemical emptying point and fresh water supply. Others are basically full-blown sites with everything one could wish for - they all used to be a cheap option but nowadays most are almost as expensive as the main sites,

[@kerrycooke5436]

@@jamesarc8192a 5 van only site. Some can be fully serviced with hardstanding, some just s field with a tap and chemical disposal point. We use mainly CLs as our caravan has all the facilities we need.

[@NiallWardrop]

Yes, see my other post above. I have heard it suggested that the "clubs" are encouraging them to add facilities and charge more. It's not working, look at the updates at the back of the C&CC magazine every month, they are leaving the network at a rapid rate. It used to be an opportunity for farms etc. to make a bit of extra cash but now a lot of them seem to see it as a business for big profits, look at the number of them that are listed as "Such and Such Camping site".

[@emilythemotorhome9165]

On our last week of a three month trip round France stopped at around 75 overnights most we paid for a barriered fully serviced with electric was £12 (we are in a motorhome) JUST this moment booked a stop over in Briton at Ferry meadows a caravan and motorhome site for one night on our way up north £35 for exactly the same area and same services. And that’s why we go abroad for half the year

[@davidreynolds3082]

For some prices we were quoted for overnight camping in a tent, we got a room in a B&B, with breakfast! Some site owners are just plain greedy.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That is crazy but yes here that alot.

[@gizmorow21]

The other issue i have in uk campsites is you pay for the pitch, and they then want extra if you have a awning,gazebo or pup tent. Never in europe have we come across this.

[@sumary7663]

Yes I agree with that.

[@leahkeyworth]

Used to live on one of the cheapest campsites in the northwest of england due to rent prices. Even 20 per night still works out 620 a month for placing your own caravan on a concrete block. Decided to buy an old motorhome and not use campsites. Saving hundreds per month. The northwest, for some reason, has the most expensive sites in the UK. £20 was the cheapest, some even around preston, was 45 per night for a caravan. Some, even for placing a small tent in a field, no other facilities, was 20 per night! Some small pods were 180 per night! Like property, these will also continue to increase. Land is that valuable now in England, we are being squashed in and will ne paying extortionate prices in the future.

[@russhumphreys8109]

We stopping using UK campsites. We spent June in Greece (not feasible for working families with school age children I know) But typical campsite fees €18-25. For €25 you get a beach front pitch, pool, bar, restaurant. No contest

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Thats great value. The UK is generally a more expensive country than Greece however 45/50 a night it terrible. I suspect be a few less sites unless they ammend their prices.

[@NitroNoriFan]

A lot of CL’s & CS’s, especially the newer ones seem to be charging far too much for a basic pitch these days. Many are charging extra for metered electricity whereas it used to be included in their price. One particular example is a non-facility CL in Shropshire just a couple of seasons ago had been £18 per night including ehu. They increased the fee to £20 inclusive but then started charging for electricity on top at a metered rate but only reduced their standard rate by £1. Making it £19 for an off-grid pitch which I think is expensive. We stopped going, their loss. As you say, electricity and petrol prices for their mowers (often blamed for increased pitch fees) have fallen but are not reflected in lower pitch fees. We caravan most weekends plus longer holidays throughout the year but sites that we have used regularly in the past that have increased pitch fees by 25 & 33% are just that, a thing of the past - we don’t go to them any more! On various forums, you get people saying “ohh, what’s a fiver?” Well it adds up when you’re on a restricted income. We’ve been caravanning over 40 years and have seen fees go up and up and up. We only want a patch of grass with ehu. We don’t need fully serviced pitches, I can walk to a tap and a drain and we use our own on board toilet and shower. I think a lot of the new, post-Covid campers who are/were used to going abroad and paying several hundreds of pounds for a weeks break found there new hobby cheap in comparison at £35 - £50 per night. They don’t realise how much pitch fees have increased for that same patch of grass. And, the newer 5 van campsites seem to be run as a business for profit rather than a farmer letting a patch of land for a beer money. encouraged by the Clubs to start their fees at from £25 plus extra for awnings, dogs, showers, Wi-Fi, etc. They would get more visitors if they were fairer priced. Luckily there are still many reasonably priced, well established sites out there.

[@davej433]

A lot of sites are about half full of seasonal pitches which makes them look busier than they are . We have just been away for 10 nights costing about £300 which is marginally more expensive than last year for comparison.

[@NiallWardrop]

They should not have gone for the seasonal pitches. It is not right that tourers can't get a pitch because the site is "full" when several spaces are occupied by empty seasonal units.

[@robertharvison6162]

we belong to the camping and caravan club . we are lucky with all the discounts available to us ie our age ,visiting out of season ,midweek etc etc works out not too bad but i fully understand the problems if you have a family and visit during school holidays ! we also branch out into private sites and have found no problems

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Good for you, My mam and dad are retried so been able to get cheaper pitch fees althoguh still too high for mid week at 40 quid a night.

[@charlesbridgford254]

Pricing working people off the sites will kill the industry.

[@terranceprice7006]

My daughter, her husband an grandson Paid £110 for a hardstanding pitch for two nights about two/3 months back

[@malcblakey7828]

@@terranceprice7006WHY? Keep paying and they will keep charging. It’s disgusting.🤢 Colleen

[@G-ra-ha-m]

Robert, how much a night do you pay? I object to 'discounts', I just want an honest price. A huge price with exemptions and discounts is IMO borderline fraudulent and I don't tolerate that from any club.

[@martingump]

Well, I'm waiting. I could buy a caravan (I've been tenting for years), but it seems like the market is turning. Caravan dealers are going bust at an alarming rate and there is a glut of unsold 2023 caravans in the market. Factor in stupidly high site fees, and I'll sit tight for a bit and wait for prices to fall. Empty sites in 2025, fewer dealers in 2025 and a market saturated with caravans will surely see value returning to this activity.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Prices are dropping like I said in the last video. Some deals out there mainly on new as they need to get them off their credit line. Not sure whether the pitch fees will drop that much to be fair but we shall see.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

We where in the market for for four berth now dropped it to two because of high fuel and waiting for prices to drop

[@dezderrington4285]

Also, all these 2023/22 caravans that aren’t sold are built to the poorest quality. All leak within a couple of years. All glued together as well which makes them unrepairable. I’ve seen them being built, proper rough job.

[@NevilleBrentnall]

A good diatribe on caravanning... May I add a twist to this. As a storage site owner, (and I guess pitch site owners too), we have found that annually business rates are sucking the lifeblood out of our business.....if we were to fully cover this rediculous cost our storage fees would need to rise by 50%. Soo...higher costs = fewer storers. Its a balance between having a viable business or no business!!

[@georgecullen9516]

Caravan club site near EDINBURGH charges over £60.00......and a friend , static in the border,s, they charge them £20.00.for reading the pitch meter every time ......they also charge £2.000 if you want to walk away from the site and they will dispose of the static for you ....but what the manager is doing is taking the £2.000... and then reselling the static......

[@Dusty2feathers]

A number of factors here. Site fees are over inflated. Tourers ( especially motorhomes) overpriced. An increasing trend for motor Campers using pub car parks for their trips away. Just had a look online for next week and the week after and found plenty of spaces available in Cornwall. Another reason is the insane relentless desire to go electric. All killing this once great pastime.

[@jeffcole5708]

Camping for us has been cut short this year, forty to fifty pounds a night and extra for dogs and extra after two adults with two children. Electric was always extra but prices doubling.

[@DTSquared]

Totally agree that there are some expensive pitches out there which is why we always use CLs which cost far less and are far more interesting places to stay and not crowded. However the common view that you are paying for “a bit of grass and some water and electric” is a massive over simplification. Having spoken to and even interviewed numerous site owners there are lots of other costs such as staff, insurance, business rates, groundcare equipment, commercial waste costs and others. Also with modern sites there has been investment in things like hardstandings and serviced pitches over more recent years. Most importantly in the UK in particular to stay for one night you are not ever paying for one night, you are paying for at least 2 and potentially 3,4 or more nights. This is because the majority of the costs and capital investment exist when the site is not occupied. So the biggest reason for higher prices will actually be people not using sites. The number of motorhomes has increased and I haven’t seen figures on this but anecdotally lots of CL owners have mentioned that motor homers are staying for one night to empty tanks etc after “wild camping” for other nights. This and a general trend for people to go abroad again will push down occupancy rates which is likely a greater push to increasing pitch fees than owners being greedy.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Agree with all of that.

[@GaryBox]

It's like many things that tried to go upmarket, forgetting who the real customer was. These sites appeal as much if not more to motorhomes which have become very expensive. The irony is that motorhome owners are more likely to want to wild camp as they have everything they need onboard.

[@SloopyDog]

Site owners are so greedy. I had a caravan on a site many years ago and the site fees were reasonable then they decided to put up the fees to a price we could not afford. Greed is killing caravaning. Bottled gas prices have gone through the roof, and electricity prices have risen so fast. I loved my caravan and I would love another one but I just can't afford one. People buy caravans then they have to rent them out to afford the fees.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes that’s probably true about having to rent them out. The market is starting to correct but not on site fees.

[@graemeroberts5730]

Have to agree that the Clubs are fair too expensive. We now look to book (and do) private sites with added facilities…..bar/restaurants….and in some rare cases a heated pool! Main jaunts are now to France……better value for money with so many more facilities.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes totally agree. 50 a night in France gets you loads here it's some gravel and a electric point.

[@03Timm]

Agree wholeheartedly. Mainland Europe far better value with more facilities often with on site shop/mini market

[@gaz1226-j2x]

Fully agree that sites are way too expensive generally, especially the pitch plus charge per person, additional for awning, £3-£5 per dog brigade , which is unfortunately becoming much more common. For me though the worst are the sites that don’t give an option of no EHU. I have solar panels and lithium batteries so can go approx a week without EHU, but I still have to pay for it.???? So I agree that site fees are killing camping / caravanning. The only answer is to stop booking the club sites or any expensive site.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That is why we used to like CLs as it was pitch fee and that was it. Why should we pay that much more for each person and kids. I am not saying 0 but some are 8 quid extra per kid. What so they can use the toilet and maybe a little more water.

[@rvp589]

Just got a 10% discount on a fully serviced pitch for 28 days and that was £1650 ... so over £1800 normally Thats quite expensive... i bet i could rent a three bedroomed house for a lot less.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes that’s alot of money. You could but holiday let rentals are often mad prices.

[@justinaddis1505]

I don’t think it’s the sole thing. Everyone has a perception of a reasonable cost. With the increase in every aspect a so called cheap holiday now isn’t. Storage, insurance, maintenance, site fees as well as the cost of fuel is simply too big a pill for people to swallow. 2 weeks ago in Cotswolds site 1/3 empty in a Friday as people saving money by coming for 1 night. Mainly benefitting motorhomes. I think caravans have a limited future frankly as it currently stands.

[@soundssimple1]

Someone should do a league table of basic charges. List the sites and the basic charge. Embarrass the greedy.. Maybe send the prices to the Robsons.?

[@stu71disco]

It’s not just prices our club has lost a ton of sites ( mostly simple bare farm field) off our books that we had been camping at since the 70’s now over the last few years more and more are becoming suddenly “ sites of scientific interest “ listed due to various protesting groups It often states major problems as polluting the ground with grey water, which makes me laugh as most of the field has cows etc peeing and pooing all year round which is hardly what you want in the water table either, let alone all the pesticides etc. I hanker after the days when I’d just arrive with either a tent or caravan and find a simple field with a tap on a post and a hole in the far corner for the toilet for £4 night 😅 happy days.

[@margaretbritton7080]

Yes it is a massive issue, it has become just that bit too much, during Covid they could charge what they liked but now the sites are only partially being used, surely better to drop back to an acceptable price and have the bookings, don’t think it’s rocket science!

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I agree it's totally crazy although some motorhomers who have money filled in some of the gaps from caravans not for all site. It's all the extras as well they charge for.

[@Bessie66]

Just bought our first 2nd hand caravan and we are nearly 60 yrs old. The biggest thing I can’t get my head around is when you book a pitch that’s it! No matter whether you put awning up or not to me as long as your in your designated area you are good to go. We are in caravan and motorhome club - is there a cheaper alternative. We just spent £91 for 2 nights - no awning

[@luminar5]

It’s getting close now the price of pitch’s and the price of hotel rooms, I can see a lot of sites closing because of greed. There still are some well priced sites it takes more to track them down.

[@1954Hamster]

@@luminar5 have you been to a decent hotel lately, looked going to York for a Saturday night in November! and at a premier inn they want £320 so paying £45 for a pitch no comparison

[@ianship5058]

After caravanning for 25 years we have just sold the van costs were going up and up and the CEO of the caravan and motorhome club earns £92 K a year enough said

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That seems a lot 92K but in the grand scheme not that much. A head teacher of a secondary schools earns around 100K.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

I had caravans years ago when our children were small and with money being tight CLs were our go to stays and we loved them. We now have a campervan now that it is just the two of us and we rarely use sites now due to the cost, we don’t use mains unless maybe in winter. I really think caravanning now is too expensive, if it wasn’t for my disability the campervan would be too expensive as well. The devolved government’s are wanting to roll out tourism taxes on the places we all like to stay. You could almost think there is a conspiracy to stop us all having breaks away.

[@philipthomas2918]

Just sold our van due to ages. Need to think overall costs, annual warranty service costs, insurances, replacing tyres/parts, storage, towing fuel mpg, on site fully serviced pitch, extra cost to erect awning etc, hard work cleaning, polishing, loading clothes, foods, accesories etc. Also £30K capital purchasing cost, annual depreciation, loss of interest on capital cost. It ain't cheap!

[@TK-Will.]

Paying £40-£45 per night is mad …. Especially when you factor in the extra fuel and travel time. You can pay the same price at a premier inn for example. You save on fuel (not towing) and travel time. You have a nice comfortable bed and private bathroom, Plus there is usually a pub/restaurant attached. Ideal if you just want some time together.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Totally agree.

[@davidvarley3507]

Not much of a view out of the window of a premier inn. No fresh country air. No countryside walks on your doorstep. No star full skies to see at night. Worth the price I think👍

[@bigalb1913]

The really interesting comparison, for me, is with sites in France (cost of living similar to UK). Many sites in Europe are part of the ACSI camping scheme and give big discounts away from the peak season. We've stayed at many excellent campsites in France which have swimming pools, restaurant, take-away snacks, play area, table tennis, bar, gym and are in lovely locations for less than 25 euros per night (including elect.). In contrast we're booked into Brighton CMC site in early September on a grass pitch for one night - £45!

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes, I totally agree here. France used to be cheaper but very comparative prise wise for fuel and food. Yet campsite so much better priced.

[@davidpinnington213]

our rig is pretty much self sufficent just water supply and a elsan pit and we can OG on CL/CS/THS/DA meets for ages (well 2 weeks or so) we won't pay silly money unless threre is a added feature on site - cheap hobby that went out the window a LONG TIME BACK

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Agreed, no longer a cheap deal.

[@fenland_paddler]

Caravan & Camping club site in Keswick wanted £72 a night for a bit of grass and electric. AND, they wanted to charge £3 a day per kayak to launch when they have NO upkeep of the shore to do as nature does it. Went last year and absolutely loved it. Not this year. Like someone else in a comment said “vote with your feet” We did and will not renew our membership. Bit of a do as we say Club anyway.

[@dcsss]

I would never buy a caravan, because you always have to book a pitch. Have had motorhomes since 2009. Keep on my drive and can stopover in lay-bys if I want. You can use your mh or campervan as your only vehicle.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I agree. Just hoping motorhomes dorp a bit more so in our price range.

[@davidglover6672]

My wife and I gave up our caravan a couple of years ago due to pitch fees, and lack of availability (people double booking then deciding which site at the last minute). When you take into account the standing costs of roughly a £1500 per year - storage, servicing the van, insurance, depreciation etc. On top of this, you then tow the van resulting in doubled fuel consumption. You are better off, and less hassle, using hotels or B&B.

[@misscoutts6193]

B&B prices have also gone up.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I do agree with this. B and B have gone up but more heavy competition from hotels to keep those prices being more reasonable.

[@ukman9797]

I gave up motorhoming last year due to pitch fees alone. We you also factor in fuel, servicing, insurance etc it becomes very expensive. I can stay in a decent B&B for those pitch fees without the expense of buying and running a MH. The last site I tried to book wanted £50 per night PLUS electric, awning and a dog. Ridiculous!

[@evilroman1sobieski756]

We are paying £27 a day per person for a tent pitch with no electric hook up. We love camping and the fact that it would be cheaper to stay at a guest house or small hotel does not make that option attractive to our family. The males in our family are OK with a bit of wild camping however the female contingent cannot contiplate camping without proper toilets and running water even though we own three portable toilets which we take and never use. Their inability to piss in a bottle on a night has led to said bottles not being allowed on our trips. With them needed to take care of the domestic duties on our holiday ie Cooking, cleaning, keeping tabs on the kids etc it is this that they are using as leverage to get their way in this matter.

[@paulpringle8263]

I think sites will close especially club sites. If you look round alot of private sites offer the same standard sometimes better. Stopped camping and caravan club membership 2 years ago when my membership for caravan and motorhome club comes up for renewal I'm cancelling them aswell. To expensive

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I agree. As I say if the price of everything has gone up but wages haven't eventually it becomes unaffordable for people.

[@peterkane9822]

We find seasonal pitches can work well ours is for 2025 just been notified £2230 from beginning of March to the end of October which includes winter storage, WiFi, water. Electric comes in at £100 a season but once set up ie with the awning it's just a 1hr 40 mins drive no picking up from storage or leaving in the morning after rushing around and trying to get breakfast down. I feel if you use it and there's lots to do in the area or on the way home then it's worth it. Most months we go for 2 to 3 nights two or 3 times a month and a week in the holiday season

[@wdsmauglir4683]

Greedy site owners won’t lose out if they close, they will just sell their land to developers to support Labours build on green belts policy and retire as millionaires…..

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

That could be true.

[@grahamhireme9283]

But so would you

[@dougbrayshaw]

Sold our campervan last year. It was costing a fortune to just keep it on the drive as we hardly used it towards the end due to pitch fees. We can book a very nice lodge in Cornwall for a 3 night weekend for £148 most months of the year (not August) thats a lot of weekends away for the same cost as keeping our van on the drive. Also, a farm near us charges people £34 a night to stay on the edge of a field with no facilities whatsoever.

[@coasterfest]

I don’t think site operators can help it themselves, at least to some extent. Site fees used to be so low because they had so few overheads / expenses. The problem now is that those few expenses they did have, have been some of the worst things to be hit with massive price increases during this cost of loving crisis. Electricity, as you mentioned, went crazy. Even if prices are dropping now, there’ll be no benefit unless they’re at the end of their contract, or somehow got a market tracking contract. The same story with gas, those prices went even crazier than electric, so if they’re using gas to heat and provide hot water to the toilet / shower blocks, same problem there. Then there’s the crazy price hikes for business insurance. Also the minimum wage increase, whilst due, has meant youngsters getting a pay rise of around 40%, that has to come from somewhere.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I hear what you are saying but then some sites are not getting enough trade but when you look that their prices you can see why. We shall see what the future holds. In France 50 pounds a night gets way more than in the UK.

[@coasterfest]

@@RollingwithTheRobsons Hopefully things will balance out. We're starting to see the benefits of prices normalising in my business, things like diesel, electric, gas coming down are helping to reduce the cost of goods we buy in, even if we can't directly benefit with lower energy bills ourselves yet, due to contracts. (Pub) Hopefully, as things normalise more, things will improve. They always say 'prices never come back down.' and whilst I agree with that sentiment normally, the last 4 years have been anything but normal, and I am hopeful that some things will come back down. We're seeing it with fuel, vehicles and caravans, hopefully site fees next.

[@frankmurphy99]

What % of fees are electric use its greed hope they go bust

[@coasterfest]

@@frankmurphy99 that depends on way too many factors. For starters sites could be 16 amp, with a max draw of 3600w, or 3.6kw. Or they could be 10 amp, with a max draw of 2400w or 2.4kw. Then it depends how much of that you actually use, but, working to the maximum, which is probably the potential they need to consider. It would then depend on their rate, and when they last renewed contracts. For micro to small businesses, It could be anything from 25p per kwh up to 75p per kwh. Which means a site with a 16 amp hookup, on a bad contract, could be paying as much as 3.6 x £.075 per hour, x 20 hours equals £54 per night!!! Or a site with a 10amp hookup, on a decent contract could be paying as little as 2.4 x £.025 per hour, x 20 hours equals £12 per night. You see how the varying factors make such a huge difference. And obviously not everybody draws the entire 16/10 amps. But some do, some will charge an EV, or use other high powered devices. And as you see, even with a good contract, on 10amp, the price is not insignificant!!! And that’s just electricity. They have other overheads / expenses too.

[@Budgie40]

I added solar panels to my caravan 240w it work well give you freedom from the grid. All the sites we use are around £20 a night in a lot of cases they are cheaper.

[@PaulLancaster-hj3kx]

Static van pitch fees are 5K on small sites, £100 a week, vans are only habitable for 6 months in the North West so its £200 a week.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

The world of statics scares me and no idea why people agree to silly terms. You buy a caravan for 30K then when you sell it you need to give some money to the park. Give over with that madness.

[@cooleyballs1]

And.?

[@sparkmeister4706]

There's 2 sides to the argument here. If someone rolls up with a £45,000 caravan and a £ 75,000 tow car. Is £45 per night unaffordable for them ?

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I would guess not. They are the people who can still afford to go.

[@andrewhartley3]

Camping is the same. We have a famiy of six with three two man tents. I couldn't believe the prices.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes the prices are just so high. Just for a piece of grass then huge extras for each additional person.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

I think the cheapest camping is to go to france for > 2 weeks in a campervan. Unlike a tent, you don't need to pay for a pitch. Package holidays are also quite competitive, and you get hotels... complete with fixed plumbing :D

[@alisonbredin5219]

Fees haven't gone down because lots of sites got tied in to power contracts that are still running at exorbitant prices. Also customers take the mic and take advantage of the electric and plug in far more than allowed and even had people charging their electric cars.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I hear that but why sign up for long contracts then when you can see the prices can't stay that high for ever?

[@pnaty97]

In a word, yes. £37 a night for a piece of grass is ridiculous.

[@malcblakey7828]

I can only agree with comments on this post were the Uk is starting to price out both caravans and motorhome owners due to the price of pitch’s. We have a 8m motorhome which we upgraded from 30+ years of caravanning, and have travelled around Europe in May & June after retirement. I paid €22 or just below £19 for what we class as a super pitch with a swimming pool…😡😡

[@blackcountrygaz7080]

I can see people swoping their front gardens next for the odd week.

[@Steve-n-Val]

We actually do caravan & motorhome rallies now, on average from £8.50 - £14 per night, we are both retired & cannot afford the price of commercial campsites. On rallies you do get a water suppy, elsan & sometimes rubbish disposal. We do treat ourselves a couple of times a year, to a site that we love & have been going to for a number of years.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yeah rallies are a good option as long as you have a decent battery and maybe a solar panel just in case.

[@Steve-n-Val]

We have 300w of solar & 200ah lithium battery, we can stay off grid for a LONG time. Staying off grid soon pays for the solar & lithium.

[@Cardifftoyboy1]

Every great cause starts as a movement. Becomes a business. And eventually degenerates into a racket.

[@misscoutts6193]

Like music festivals.

[@steverock4329]

As a non-caravaner can I ask why you need to use a site? Why don’t you just pitch up somewhere where it doesn’t cost anything? I just assumed these modern caravans were self-contained these days with batteries, solar/wind generators, water storage, heating, toilets, showers etc. If they’re not self-contained - why aren’t they? 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@stephanguitar9778]

Illegal in England and potential for crime.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes the issue is that most places won't allow you to. The other issue is it's not easy to move compare with a motorhome.

[@Cas.1964]

We recently stayed at a CAMC site £40 a night. Whilst there we found a CL a mile up the road, £20 a night fully serviced and beautiful location. The CAMC was electric only. Guess where we'll be staying next time!

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes many cl s out other sites to shame.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

The CL system is a scam. It's an artificial system from legislation and planning, unelected bureaucrats meddling in our lives. Remove the restrictions and market forces woudl quicky adjust and provide a lovely system that worked well for all.

[@KM2399]

CAMC Montrose this weekend. £55.00 a night for two adults in a 7 MTR Motorhome

[@auntiejilly1954]

Stayed at a private site, just across the road from CAMC site at Barnard Castle. Good facilities, almost half the price.

[@Cas.1964]

@@auntiejilly1954 can you remember what it's called? We're heading over there later in the year and don't fancy the CAMC prices!

[@trucker5722]

Absolutely nowt cheep about caravaning these days. 20 K for a half decent van £500 storage £200 insurance £240 services £2000 a year depreciation, that’s before you turn a wheel.

[@arnie111999]

I here these stories all the time about site fees and am stunned - I live in France and travel all over Europe, admittedly not peak but rarely pay more than 20-25 euros so £17- £21 per nite in fantastic locations - paid £33 this June but that was for a pitch with its own new private shower and toilet room 150m from Gardaland and Lake Garda - your prices seem insane!

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yes it's true Europe is soo much better value than the UK for pitches and sites at present.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

In June I toured france and spain for the whole month. Total camp site fees: €0. I paid for water sometimes, and bought the french produce, as I was touring I needed no electric (I have an alternator and a gas fridge). English campsites are cheaper in winter (when the big clubs are firmly closed LOL), it can be nice then.

[@janbolton7305]

We're lucky to be able to travel to France outside of the school holidays. Using the Acsi discount card the fees are usually around £20 for amazing sites with all the facilities you mentioned

[@alanwann9318]

The Caravan club used to turn me away ( a single traveller with a tent) so i found alternative, s)

[@salan3]

We are getting rid of our van. We can get a static (including electric/bedding/heating/gas/etc/etc) for far less Example (out of season, yes but we are retired so always go out of season).A local site wants between £35 and £47 EXCLUDING electricity. We have booked a static for four nights (inc) for £49!! No towing. No setting up. etc. Just not worth it. A lot of my family have been camping for decades. They now just go abroad for cheaper.

[@avrilhepburn7745]

Well said and we think you are so correct in what you have said, it’s exactly the same here in Scotland it’s about time the sites reduced there prices it just getting ridiculous they were quick enough to put them up when the electric prices went up but unwilling to reduce them now it’s gone down considerably.

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

Yep, the joys of capitalism put prices up when they want but unlikley to drop them when they should.

[@thomascatford2627]

It's Scotland what would you expect ? Greed

[@StanleyFranklin-fw5wb]

I

[@mrbullock4267]

30 odd years ago we started off under canvas with the kids ( less than a 5er per night) Then moved to a tourer (around a 10er per night at the start, 30quids at the end, 20 odd years later) Put the tourer on a seasonal at 1750quids for the season, when up in one jump to 2200quids the next one So sold up getting a static on a owner's only site at 2300 for the first season, 6 years later the fees had gone up to just above 3k So decided it wasn't worth keeping because of the times we used it so sold that too Now we're back to square one under canvas with our kids and grandkids in their canvas bungalows with us in our small 4 person tent lol

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

I couldn’t do a tent to be fair. Especially with my hab fever It would go mad.