Caravan & Motorhome Club

We're in the Caravan & Camping Club - the friendly club. We rarely use official club sites but do use the small certificated ones often. 10% off  Channel ferries is also quite handy,

The Caravan and Motorhome Club used to be called the The Caravan Club but they rebranded a few years ago. My mate was in them and reckoned their sites were all run by jobsworth mini-Hitlers, they didn't have a good reputation 5-10 years ago but could be different now.  The C&MC may not deem your van conversion is a motorhome, it's certainly worth checking. The C&CC seem a little more relaxed about it.

That aside either of them will give you access to nice sites, small certificated sites (members only but usually quite basic) and reduced insurance and ferry fees. Their sites, like most good sites, will have a no noise after 11pm rule

We've been in the C&MC for the last 10 years, their sites are ideal for your requirements. Personally I've never had any issues with the site wardens but then again I try not to be a total arse when I'm out and about.

I would echo the suggestion to check out the small 5-van sites (CL in C&MC terms, CS for CCC), especially if you are self contained, they tend to be a LOT cheaper than the club sites - but the facilities on the club sites tend to be immaculate and very very good. Affiliated sites are more hit and miss

Absolutely - either that or the other one. Just so that you can book certified locations, which are fantastic. Cliff top views, few other people, and only a tenner a night? Yes please. The big sites are shit.

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We are members for their ReadyCamp not quite glamping sites.

All the sites we've tried have been clean, tidy, big family groups with kids sometimes but not chavs.

We like the vibe of campsites, just can't afford a van and too many aches and pains for proper tents

ford transit

Is it properly converted? I've seen people turned away at their sites when they have turned up it 'partial conversions'.

The big sites (in my experience) are also a little more regimented in terms of how you can setup. Certified locations are great but don't have the same facilities.

To be honest these days we just look at reviews on line and try and work out what is good. We rarely spend more than a couple of nights in any one place so if a site is not to out liking we just don't go back.

Ignore me, hadn't picked up you were on about the other lot and too kate to edit

Yup we are in both and handy to find certified sites, they tend to clean and good reductions for members.

Yeah my thoughts for a while has been that they won't deem the van 'white' enough because of its self converted/we did it ourselves nature. My impression is it would be ideal if I had £30k up to chuck at a motorhome/caravan but we did it ourselves because we dont have that sort of money. What you're saying is backing up my impression of it and definitely won't want to be turning up somewhere to be turned away so perhaps not!

CLs sometimes do have toilets and usually have electric hookups.

If I were you I'd contact the club about your van - they have a customer service dept and everything.

From the CAMC website:

When building your own conversion, the best definition to keep in mind is whether the “clear intended design and purpose of the vehicle is to provide leisure accommodation use in the course of a recreational touring holiday” - if so, you can bring it to a Club campsite!

My mate converted his Renault Traffic to a day van and the C&CC accepted it as campervan.  Have a look at the websites

https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/membership/

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/membership/

My biased view on this as follows:

C&MC

- changing and trying to be less stuffy

- tend to have official sites in slightly better locations e.g. nearer to a town/attraction/river - look at Barnard Castle as a good example

- more expensive membership

C&CC

- more relaxed

- allow non-members to stay on their sites

- lower membership fees

Both have:

- lots of small member only "Certificated" sites in good locations

- member discounts on sites, ferries, shops etc

- slightly beneficial to be a member for insurance premium

I'm somewhat tempted to switch clubs, just so I get new CLs to try out. And I could maybe holiday with my sister who has a tent.

We used them,  well maintained sites, can be a bit regimented (park with the offside rear next to the peg)  but useful , well cleaned facilities (*except internet, and it’s not their problem, I’m speaking about you Cambridge, you well known rural backwater) but staff generally helpful and friendly and some good locations.

We are members, they can be a bit of the stuffed shirt brigade sometimes. If you arrive at 12.50 you will be sent away because arrivals are strictly 1pm or later and you have to align your rig with the peg to keep the distance exactly right for the firebreak.

But if you can get beyond that then all of the sites we have stayed on have had really helpful wardens (notwithstanding the above), clean and well maintained facilities and no late night noise/ screaming kids etc.

They can be a bit pricey though.

Been in it for 3 years, worth doing, good sites and I got a discount on my insurance too, just for being a member

We are in it. Never have a problem with noise. Always clean.

We have the camper, Tourneo Custom and Tourneo Connect all registered on our details.

Whe Abigale has used it with either Tourneos there has never been a problem with using a site. That's with just a mattress or roll mat thrown inside

Prices seem to have gone up quite a bit for 2023 and I think its showed as they have just reduced the 2024 prices

Have you heard of Freedom Camping? There’s a few of their certified sites round my way. And they’re all small and in nice locations.

One looks to be caravan/camper only so that must be a thing too!

https://www.freedomcampingclub.org/

We’re in the C&MC and have been for the past 3 years since we bought a little 2 birth tourer. The main caravan club sites can be a little soulless sometimes with neat ordered rows of caravans and massive motor homes, however there are so really nice main sites as well like coniston, Kendal or borrowdale, where the vans are more scattered amongst the trees. sites are always nice and clean and quiet, although can get a bit pricey these days (paid £30 a night in Kendal over the bank holiday)

As above plenty of great little CL sites, but you have do do a bit more digging around as often limited details on the main caravan club website and limited online booking options

if were just going for a quick weekend away we tend to go main sites as they’re nice and easy, tend to be in good locations and easy routes in towing. If longer go for CL sites

seen a fair few converted panel van campers on the main sites, although in the minority compared to coach built motor homes

It's only £60 joining fee. You can save that in 2 nights if you stay in a CL versus a big site. Give it a go.

Don't know about c&c but we've just booked a load of french sites through our C&MC membership for later in the summer. Was a godsend when planning our trip and a 10 day tour came to under £200

Interesting that they've reduced 2024, it's  well expensive currently!

We've had mainly positive experiences. Couple of instances of loud music until 11pm which REALLY p**me off. Sites are always really well kept, we don't use the facilities but I believe that they're always very nice. Wardens can be a bit weird, the one at Hebden Bridge is an utter *.

Cl's are very good value and usually very very quiet, we lived on one briefly! I personally find it's a mixture of people, elderly couple with an old caravan, through to 50ish year old couples with annoying kids and 100K of car and caravan. Doubt you'd be turned away from anywhere....

Edit: is there no sweat filter any more?! Apologies, I've edited!

Club sites have gone up a lot in price in the last two years 20%+ so they are not as good value now but cl network is great.
You can email them photos of your van and they will give you written confirmation that it will be accepted on sites. Our Doblo camper is fine and it just looks like a car from the outside.

Hmm tricky to make a decision now I know there are two possibilities, one sounding a little more flexible/friendly.

Where do you usually end up that you'd want to use a site? I'm sure someone on here will have stayed on the possibilities!

For what it’s worth I have been a member of both clubs and find the CAMC more friendly and easy going.

It has been about ten years since we were in the camping and caravan club but it used to be annoying booking months in advance and told to go next to the toilet emptying when there was loads of spaces

I like to choose where I am going to spend my holiday

If only the UK was civilised like France and Spain and had places on the edge (or even in the centre) of towns and villages.

Have been living in the van since September and have paid for maybe eight nights on a site in that time.

@GolfChick

Hmm tricky to make a decision now I know there are two possibilities, one sounding a little more flexible/friendly.

The C&MC don't let you see their site list unless you are a member. The Camping and Caravan Club do. Have a look at where you want to go to start with and see if the Camping club have sites there... If not, maybe get in touch with someone who is a member of the C&MC club and see if they can do a quick search for you 😉

FWIW - We have been disappointed with the choice of locations from the C&MC

I can send my copy of the camc handbook if you want a list of the sites and cls

I can see sites on the C&MC but are we saying there are more hidden?

Full address details for CL’s are only shown to registered members. Sites they may show everything

@golfchick - you can look on other websites to find C&M sites

https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/webapp.php#page2

Filter on C&M sites and certificated C&M sites

I/we are members.

There are children I'm afraid (I have some of my own) but It's mostly retired people

+ Better regulated that most sites - there are rules that wardens enforce

+ Clean and tidy

+ Easy to book

+ Never had any after hours noise

+ Seems to be enthusiast led

- some sites have small pitches

- some sites are basically in municipal parks

- downside of the rules is that it can be stuffy regards how you park etc

Regards riff raff at the last camc site we were at. We grassed them in to the warden. I get the feeling it's taken seriously

@GolfChick we’re members of both clubs, we find members at the Camping Club are more friendly, wardens at both are much the same and the vast majority are superb. Occasionally there are strange rules about which way your door faces which can be awkward depending on which way you like to face for a view! However, the large sites have got quite expensive now so we tend to go on the CL/CS sites where a lot of the time you’ll need a toilet, cheapest recently £5 near Appleby. The Camping Club do temporary holiday sites that are often convenient for nice places, Llangollen, Settle and Bridlington are some we’ve stopped at, £8 night. Caravan Club do “rallies”, I recently stopped at Darley Moor - £30 for the weekend and entry to the bike racing included (I was actually 10metres from the track). I think the caravan club expect you to join in with activities like the flag ceremony and games, I politely declined even though I was approached by a woman whilst I’d still got my jamas on!

oh yes, I forgot, if you’ve got a sliding door don’t park near me!

the "rules" about which way your door faces and where you are in relation to the marker posts make sense if you thin about them. The marker posts are positioned to maintain a fire gap between outfits I used to hate going to volleyball tournamenst and bike races where yo uwould pitch up then return to find someone had erected their tent so close that you would trip over their guy ropes on the way out of your own tent

as for the door thing, it's just about privacy, continetnal vans have doors on the other side, it's just nicer if you don't have your door facing someone else's

but any decent campsite will enforce the 6m fire gap rule

Been a member for 20yr now. As mentioned above a lot of the sites are a bit soulless (lots of tarmac and gravel) but some are lovely like Borrowdale in the Lakes, also can be pricey but they are all kept to a very high standard.

We prefer the CL's as they are (much) cheaper and tend to be quieter. Everything we need is in the van so as long as we've got electric and water, I'm happy.

This was at our favorite site in the Lakes on August bank holiday last year.

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I'm with both.

Friendliness and helpfulness varies site to site with both of them tbh. I tend to go for larger sites, as it's usually for work and I want pubs and shops nearby.