22 replies to this topic

[glostergull]

Hi There. Just joined this forum as I have started to tour again. Got myself a Bailey Mosselle2000. and in all excitment got ready to tour this summer.

Now I have not managed to get out much in the last 6 years, but imagine my surprise at how the prices have rocketed. Has anyone noticed this. We used to be able to find a CL for a fiver and most managed camp sites or commercial sites were no more than ten to fifteen a night including electric hook up and for those closer to fifteen a night had a pool.

I looked up some in Dorset and was shocked to find that they wanted £40 a night with hook up and a pool. with only a 6 amp supply. Is there not a danger of pricing our enjoyment out of existence if prices keep on rising like this or do you think it's just a case of commercial interests jumping on the bandwagon to see how much they can make out of this.

At this rate it will be cheaper for B&B.

[Blue Louis]

I admit that does sound rather steep, but on special sites that offer you what you want and they are quite often the owners sole form of income, the charges do have to reflect what the owners believe is a reasonable compromise.

Believe me when I say it is always a heart wrenching decision when increasing prices, but with ever increasing costs and general outgoings I am afraid charges do have to go up to reflect the cost of living.

If the OP is willing to drop/reduce his expectations there are countless hundreds of truly excellent CL and CL style sites around the UK where you can enjoy good facilities and a hook up within a very reasonable distance of a pub or whatever you want and for a fraction of the price of the charge indicated in the OP.

Bonne chance

[RogerL]

In the 5 years before the banking crash, credit was cheap and easy and many younger families came into caravanning as big spenders and using the more expensive sites - after the banking crash others have turned to caravanning and camping as cheaper than traditional holidays - all of this has pushed pitch demand sky-high with an inevitable rise in site fees.

But as BL posts above, CL/CS sites generally provide good value pitches and are less frenetic than the bigger sites.

[markf]

At ou regular campsite in the UK we pay £11 a night inc electrics and there are no facilities and that seems about the same price for CLs here as well, In France this year we paid £16.50 (ACSI) for a pitch, showers,pool and bar, £21 in high season and the facilities were as good as club sites here. Another uk club site we like costs us £26 ish a night with showers but no pool or bar.

[dallasw]

Sites have become more and more expensive over the years.

As long as caravanners continue to pay, site owners will continue to charge whatever they can get.

The only answer is to find a site with more reasonable charges - they do exist.

[glostergull]

Thanks for the replies guys. I for one would welcome any recomendations. We don't always need a pool but on very hot days they are indeed welcome. We don't look for noisy active days just a rest and nice scenery in a shady spot with good company and if I feel in the mood. I get my guitar out for a singsong

[JohnS]

What has happened is, because there is a major recession going on, caravan site owners (like many other businesses) have realised that their customers don't have as much money as they used to have.
So, very cleverly, they've put their prices UP.

It must make sense to somebody, somewhere.

[RogerL]

This is the reality and pain of a recession - both customers and businesses face increased costs and reduced income - so customers' disposable income shrinks, often to zero, and businesses' profits shrink, often to zero.

Businesses can't simply pass on increased costs without considering the effect on their total income - unfortunately many commercial caravan sites are simply following the Caravan Club lead - ie, head up backside to the effect on customers, just increase prices if costs increase.

[Jbeans]

At our fav site, the boss man has put his price up to £15, and that is just for a pitch, 32amp hook up, and a chemical loo disposal point. But we still go as its near to where we want to fish, and we can stagger from the pub.......................

[RogerL]

Jbeans, on 10 August 2012 - 12:06 PM, said:

........... 32amp hook up....................

Have you modified your caravan to use two 16A hook-up cables ?

[bi6als]

glostergull, on 09 August 2012 - 11:11 PM, said:

..................nice scenery in a shady spot with good company and if I feel in the mood. I get my guitar out for a singsong..................

not surprised theyve upped the price...........cant take the hint eh  

[Challenger]

glostergull, on 09 August 2012 - 11:11 PM, said:

Thanks for the replies guys. I for one would welcome any recomendations. We don't always need a pool but on very hot days they are indeed welcome. We don't look for noisy active days just a rest and nice scenery in a shady spot with good company and if I feel in the mood. I get my guitar out for a singsong

If that is all you want then go to France and out of season it is extemely competitive.

[glostergull]

Thanks. I will really give that some serious thought. We like the idea of going to france with our caravan but we were not sure which the cheapest crossing was. we normaly went Portsmouth Cherbourg. But a caravan on the back may have been to expensive. We even thought of using our van as it's even more economical than our car and more stable. It's a high top long wheelbase Renault Master. all our stuff went in the van and it made the caravan lighter as a result. It's great driving it too.
Nice on Guru. I will remember you if we find you when out camping. It will be a serenade in the middle of the night by Bagpipes and wurlitzer

[Blue Louis]

glostergull, on 11 August 2012 - 08:15 PM, said:

We even thought of using our van as it's even more economical than our car and more stable. It's a high top long wheelbase Renault Master. all our stuff went in the van and it made the caravan lighter as a result. It's great driving it too.

The only downside of towing a caravan with a commercial van is that there are a lot of sites which won't allow you on.  Yes over here in France most municipal sites will but a large number of privately owned sites will not, so please be duly forewarned.

[bi6als]

Blue Louis, on 12 August 2012 - 04:55 AM, said:

The only downside of towing a caravan with a commercial van is that there are a lot of sites which won't allow you on.  Yes over here in France most municipal sites will but a large number of privately owned sites will not, so please be duly forewarned.

I think it happens over here as well

I believe its a viewpoint that if its a van its a Traveller and that Travellers are criminals. A bit of a bigotted generalised view but I  suppose its their site so they make the rules.