CCC v CMH

If this has already been asked, please point me in the right direction.

What is the main difference between the two organisations. Is one more suited to camper vans, are there extra benefits with one of them, etc.

I’ve looked at both online, but sometimes it’s best to get users opinions, that have used them for a while, so thanks in advance for any insights.

Very little between them. Both have full facility sites, both have s network of 5-van sites (although the C&CC CS's as they are called can have a dozen tents in addition to share any facilities and the CAMC CL's as they are called almost all have electric hook ups whereas the C&CC CS's do not but a lot do).
The CAMC have rallies run by local 'centres' that need pre-booking, the C&CC also have rallies run by 'district associations' but they don't need to be pre-booked. The C&CC also run 'temporary holiday sites' again run by DA's. These last from 7 to 28 days or even longer, some have toilets/showers but most just have water and waste disposal and cost between £7 and £12 per night, don't require booking and you can stay as long as you like.
Both organisations offer discounts at loads of companies such as outdoor wear shops, car hire etc.
Both offer insurance.
Many Motorhomers are members of both clubs to give a greater choice of destinations (you'll find there is never a site of one club where you want one). I am one such member. Don't forget other clubs may be worth joining such as ASOC and MCC.
Hope this helps. I'm sure others will be along to give their opinions.

The Caravan Club (as was - now C&MC) is a bit more rule orientated, which is not necessarily a bad thing having seen the antics of some morons on campsites!

The rule that irritates some people is their insistence that you park with the corner of the van against a white peg. Again this is a sensible rule as it ensures a fire safety zone of not less than 6 metres between units . . . and having seen idiots go off in the car leaving a halogen heater blazing away in the awning, it's another rule I shall not complain about.

The facilities of the C&MC are better than the C&CC, and more standardised, so you know exactly what to expect at almost every site. They don't ask for a £25 deposit when you book, which is a two edged sword. The C&CC demand this to discourage block booking by selfish members who cancel at the last minute if the weather looks bad. Getting a place for a summer weekend at a C&MC site can be almost impossible in popular areas.

Scotland is better served by the C&CC and their Temporary Holiday Sites are excellent. Usually near the centre of towns, costing only £10 or so per night, and you don't have to book in advance. Both clubs have what amount to farm sites (Certificated Locations) which accept only 5 vans at any time and have far less facilities. Cheaper than  club sites and usually out in the country so far more peaceful.

My toast is getting cold, so I'll leave it to someone else for more details - or you can ask about any specifics. Short answer . . . join both for a year and see which you use most,  ready for a decision at renewal time.

P.S. Must type faster. Paul beats me again!! 

If you shop at Sainsburys and join the CAMC you can get 4% of all your shopping (not fuel) repays the joining fee in no time then you are on a saving.
I prefer the CAMC although some will say the sites are a bit more regulated the quality has always been good for me.

The CCC has an oldies rate if you are eligible.

Thats one benefit you dont forget Dave !!

Can I just say, I am a member of various forums ranging from magic to driving. This has to be the best for fast, detailed, knowledgeable answers.

I was a member of both, but dropped out of the C&CC when they introduced their stupid pricing system where it may cost this or it might cost that. Depending on when you booked, how long you booked for, if they were busy etc etc.. I don't know [or care] if this system is still in operation.
It depends on what kind of holiday you like. We very rarely stayed at the same place for more than a couple of days. I can book for one night with the CC and not pay a deposit. Although this is a double edged sword as Dave says, it is very handy to be able to phone a site and book on spec for 'tonight'.
I believe that you cannot book for less than 3 nights with C&CC and you must submit a deposit.
If you like to stay on one site for several days, and book well in advance then there is little difference between the two clubs. If you prefer to come and go where and when your fancy takes you then the C&CC is not really a good choice.

There does seem to be an obsession with 'club' sites to the extent that many people will only stay on a site which is owned or run by one of the clubs. There are thousands of independent campsites out there which are as good if not better than club sites. [Granted - there are some carp ones too ] We toured the Highlands every holiday for over 30 years and seldom if ever booked, or used a club site.

Frank

Just to correct Frank's post- the C&CC only has a minimum 3 night stay at certain sites (the most popular ones in popular areas) and only in high season.

Thanks Paul, I dropped out quite some time ago so am not up to speed on their rules & regs.

Frank

Paulmold wrote:Just to correct Frank's post- the C&CC only has a minimum 3 night stay at certain sites (the most popular ones in popular areas) and only in high season.

Even so, I've never been convinced by their spurious logic. 

One rule exercised religiously by the C&CC that does get on my wick is their insistence in allocating your pitch. (I know some wardens don't always do this, but most appear to!)

On one particular occasion we were given a pitch miles from the toilet block and the nearby woods. I asked if we could go on one of the several pitches very much closer to both, partly because of walking the dog, and to avoid a 200 yard trek to the loo. Short answer - "No. You have to go where I say!"

For the rest of the day we watched as those pitches filled up with other vans, which was rather annoying to say the least! If they had been large pitches which later filled up with long vans I would not have been upset, because it makes sense to allocate big to big. Several were large pitches, but the vans put on them were the same size as ours, or even smaller in a couple of cases - and one was a small pup tent!!

It's this power complex some C&CC wardens seem to have that puts me off their club, although we are members of both for the reasons already stated.

We're recently coming round more to Frank's philosophy about the independent sites, specially as the charges for both the big clubs seem to have escalated massively in recent years. I know there's more to it than appears on the surface, but £30+ per night seems a bit steep to me.

The truth is that neither of them is a Club any longer. They are big business!!

Great post as always Gromit.

Thinking about Scotland try wild camping there Rolyan, it is allowed and actually encouraged in the right places and of course the other side of the channel is a whole different ball park with the aires system. Maybe you don't need to join a club at all?

I have never ever been allocated a pitch at a club site. I've always been shown the choices available unless of course it's the last pitch vacant. The wardens at C&CC site will go round with you pointing out the vacant pitches, the CAMC give a site plan and mark the vacant pitches, you go round, pick which you like and then go back to reception to let them know which one you selected.

I don't know whether it's relevant to you as there's no age shown under your avatar, but members of the C&CC aged 60 and over get 25% Age Concession discount from club site pitch fees outside of the high season.

With the C&MC we almost save enough on M6 toll charges and Roadchef 20% discounts to pay the annual subs, over and above the reduction in pitch fees. Plus we like having access to the CS & CL networks.

They each have their good and bad points. As has been suggested, why not join both then evaluate after a year.  We did that about 25 years ago and are still members of both!  

cheers
Roger

Paulmold wrote:I have never ever been allocated a pitch at a club site. I've always been shown the choices available unless of course it's the last pitch vacant. The wardens at C&CC site will go round with you pointing out the vacant pitches, the CAMC give a site plan and mark the vacant pitches, you go round, pick which you like and then go back to reception to let them know which one you selected.  

Me too, Paul...im happy to be advised based on my requirements,,,sunny aspect, good satellite reception, well away from the toilet block....and i will choose a vacant pitch based on their response/advice....all very amicable....but we definitely dont get 'put' anywhere.....

We are in both, use the benefits of both, insurances with C&MHC, RAC with C&CC and especially the network of CL's and CS's.
Never been 'told' where to pitch except on a C&MHC rally and he 'really' was a 'little hitler' lol.
Like the fact you don't need to book with the C&CC for rallies and also like their MH section called 'Waggoner's'. And having been members of the C&CC for 33 years we are called (and are ) veteran and only pay about £24 a year.
So as some have suggested join both for a year see what's what as it's only you who can decide .

We're members of the Caravan club but I HATE their notices everywhere. Do this, don't do that - toilets are cleaned at 10.30 kindly vacate by 10.20......  We have been on sites abroad with 1000+ pitches and they don't close the showers, how difficult can it be?  And I had a face off with a warden when I drove up to a white peg instead of reversing - I wanted my Hymer door on the sunny side which overlooked our neighbours, I was asked to turn around and I refused, I paid for that pitch it was mine to do as I wanted - didn't go down well. I'm not impressed with concentration camp rules .
Rich..

RML wrote:We're members of the Caravan club but I HATE their notices everywhere. Do this, don't do that - toilets are cleaned at 10.30 kindly vacate by 10.20......  We have been on sites abroad with 1000+ pitches and they don't close the showers, how difficult can it be?  And I had a face off with a warden when I drove up to a white peg instead of reversing - I wanted my Hymer door on the sunny side which overlooked our neighbours, I was asked to turn around and I refused, I paid for that pitch it was mine to do as I wanted - didn't go down well. I'm not impressed with concentration camp rules .
Rich..

Ha ha, we went to a C&MHC rally back in the early 80's with our first caravan and the marshal told us where to pitch and offside rear corner 'on' the peg. Fair enough I thought, pitched up and got kettle on. He came over and told us we weren't on the peg. I looked confused, took him round to the back and said 'yes I am'. 'No your not he said it's 'six inches off'. WHAT? Anyway I pulled up the peg and stuck it back in exactly where he wanted my van. He was not well pleased and we've never been back to a C&MHC rally. ASOC and C&CC rallies are great   .

We are in both and always look for CMC sites first.  As has been said the CCC pricing system is confusing and I dont like being put on a small pitch just because our van, or caravan as it used to be, is small.     I also prefer CMC small 5 van sites as CCC, although also restricted to 5 vans, seem able to pack in as many tents as they like.   Both magazines are interesting

Just to digress slightly and mention a little rule of the C&CC which a lot of people don’t know. 

You sometimes (not sure about always) can’t book for one night BUT - if you just turn up and they have a free pitch, they can’t turn you away.

Nora

We’ve been members of both organisations (don’t think of them as clubs) since we started motorhoming nearly 3 years ago. We use them for about half of our stays on sites with the other half being on commercial parks. The key for us are the locations and we like to go where some of the club sites are. Off peak for us on concession (referenced by others) the CCC can be a cost effective option but, generally, I don’t think either can be considered cheap. Having said that, a commercial site in the Lakes was quoting over £40 a night last year.

We don’t have any problems with the rules and have yet to encounter unfriendly or unhelpful wardens (although everybody is entitled to an off day, right ). I have seen wardens doing their jobs and being subjected to, what I consider, unacceptable abuse. The closing of toilets for cleaning around the late morning departure time is an irritation but I guess it’s to ensure those arriving are met with clean facilities. The rules are well publicised, and mostly for the comfort of the majority, if you have a problem with them then don’t join either organisation. They suit us so we will renew our membership of both this year.

Meant to add, we’ve never been allocated a pitch in advance by either club and have been offered a choice of those available. Conversely, almost all commercial sites have allocated a pitch when we’ve booked in advance although some have offered a swop if we were unhappy and other pitches were free.

Nora is correct about CCC staying for one night if you just turn up, I think we even managed 2 nights at Keswick like this.

Easy to drive on for free/wild camping in Scotland if they are full.

You can pre-book on C&CC for one night except in high season if you want a Friday or Saturday. Some popular sites in areas such as Lake District have minimum bookings of 3 or even 5 nights but it's very much dependant on which site you want. The website will advise if such rules apply to the site you want. As Nora said, there is nothing to stop you simply turning up unannounced and if there is room they will offer a pitch, or phone ahead to check.