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you pays your money        we are in the CC but have been on ccc sites   we have found the cc to be 'better' for us   the last one we went to was ccc and the loo block was cold, had no private sink cubicles   pitches seemed to be closer together       but we are going on a hosted tour and cc failed the 'interview' when i wantede questions answered so we are going ccc

yes, it is a minefield    try one one year and change the next

Easy decision here. Ask anyone who is currently a member of the Camping & Caravanning Club about their website. They reckon it's a complete nightmare and not very user unfriendly to say the least but the problems with the Caravan Club are minimal and a much easier website to use. There was a thread only recently regarding this, see the link below.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=271953&PagePosition=3

We're in both and use both. The CC has a silly booking system where the bookings for the year open in the first week in December: because there is no deposit people tend to (we do) make all their CC bookings on that day. Because the weekends get booked up quickly on the popular sites it is difficult to book a full week, especially in school holidays (this has been my experience).

The CCC has a silly website which is very user unfriendly indeed.

Try both. We stayed in the CC in order to use Crystal Palace and Pembrey, but we have also managed to visit Chatsworth (last weekend, booked in December!!) We find the silly booking system annoying, but this is horses for courses and I know the next person to post will disagree. We prefer the CCC as booking is easier, despite the silly website.

Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 02/5/2012

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Easy decision here. Ask anyone who is currently a member of the Camping & Caravanning Club about their website.

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The CC sites may cost more than private sites but then the quality of the site tends to be better on CC sites, if it is a larger site that you are after. Just my own personal view drawn from experience. CC members can use the network of CLs, the five caravan sites, so that membership of the CC gives you access to those. Many a little gem tucked away all over the place. The CC has negotiated cheaper entry, or two for one entry, at many tourist locations for CC members ("Days Out"). The CC provides a free advisory service which you may wish to benefit from whilst you are buying your first van and trying it out. The CC also provides insurance and breakdown cover (green flag) for members. I find their insurance expensive though and not as extensive as the cover I have. You do get a monthly magazine which has a wealth of information. Booking sites via their web site is simple and so, so convenient.        

The C&CC provide very similar facilities (other than the days out bargains). We do not think that C&CC sites are as well appointed as CC ones. They are wonderful sites, its the finish thats different. Booking sites via their web sites can be a challenge sometimes. We have been in both for years but very rarely use the C&CC facilities. Each year we think about giving up membership but end up with them "just for one more year". We did use their sites extensively when the kids were young and we were tenting, so leaving would be like losing a relative I think. At least the monthly magazine covers the cost of the annual fee. My own view is that the club is more tenting orientated than caravanning but maybe tenters think its the other way round

Join both and see how you feel at the end of the year.

Phil

what are you hoping to get from the clubs?   As has been said, there are plenty of non club sites to choose from which are excellent and possibly cheaper.  Our membership of the C&CC is worth every penny as we go on their weekend meets and as they are mainly non booking/turn up kind we can decide at the last minute if we want/can go. We have had some very enjoyable breaks with them and are starting to make friends.  We joined the CC this year and have been on a couple of their rallies but they all need to be booked so if you have a family like mine (elderly relative. grown up children, young daughter all needing help/transport etc) it can be quite awkward to plan too far ahead.

Let us know what you're looking for and then we can help you decide based on our experiences.

We are members of both clubs for the CLs and CSs, we very rarely use club sites as we prefer to use our caravan loo and shower anyway. We have found some lovely little sites this way (and a few horrors!)

Anne