A question that crops up time and time again is “which caravan club is the best?” As you’re no doubt aware, there are hundreds of little caravan clubs about. But there are two major clubs to choose between: The Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club.
To answer the question of which is the best, I will compare the two clubs on several factors:
- The number of sites available
- Caravan and Motorhome Club Sites
- Caravan and Motorhome Certificated Locations
- Camping and Caravanning Club Sites
- Camping and Caravanning Club Certificated Sites
- Camping and Caravanning Club Camping In The Forest Sites
- Caravan and Motorhome Club Sites
- Perks of membership
- Membership price
The Number Of Sites Available
Variety is the spice of life. That’s why I thought it would be good to compare the two main clubs on the number of sites they have, as well as how varied the sites are.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club own and manage approximately 200 main club sites in the UK. Furthermore, as a member of the Club, you will have access to over 2,500 certificated locations.
On the other hand, the Camping and Caravanning Club owns and manages 103 sites throughout the UK. As a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club, you will have access to approximately 1,550 certificated sites in the UK. Moreover, you will have access to over 150 Club-approved sites in Europe, as well as 15 Camping-in-the-forest sites.
While the Caravan and Motorhome Club have more sites, the Camping and Caravanning Club seemingly gives you access to a wider variety of sites. To find out whether this is true, I took a closer look at the site types to see what you can look forward to.
Caravan and Motorhome Club Sites
The Caravan and Motorhome Club own and manage around 200 sites across the UK, in areas and locations including Devon, East Anglia, Southern England, and Scotland.
The sites owned and managed by the Caravan and Motorhome Club normally have very high standards, with plenty of staff keeping sites spotless and helping holidayers with all their requests.
As well as the exemplary staff and fantastic views, sites owned and managed by the Club tend to have a lot of site amenities that aren’t found on most sites. For example, WiFi access, swimming pools, pubs, activities onsite or located nearby, and fishing ponds.
Let’s take a closer look at a Caravan and Motorhome Club site and see what you can expect. The picture above is taken of the Southland Caravan Club Site, in Sandown, Isle of Wight. This beautiful campsite is ideal for family holidays and has plenty of amenities that make it an ideal place to stay. Amenities include:
- WiFi
- Laundry facilities
- Motorhome service point
- Electric hook-up
- Gas
- Children’s play area
The campsite is also nearby to plenty of activities, including beautiful walks, cycling routes, and over 120 attractions a short walk or car journey from the site.
Of course, this is just one example of a Caravan and Motorhome Club site. Suffice to say, however, that many Club-owned sites will be of a similar standard to this one.
Caravan and Motorhome Certificated Locations (CL)
There are thousands of Certificated Locations available to members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Certificated Locations are privately-owned, relatively small sites for caravans, folding campers and trailer tents across the UK.
Certificated Locations are relatively cheap and can be found across the entirety of the UK. Sites are exclusively for the use of Club members, and the sites have to meet the high standards set out by the Club to be certificated.
Every CL must have the following:
- Emptying point for waste
- Drinking water supply
- Bin for dry rubbish
- Public liability insurance cover
Some sites will also offer electrical hook-ups, gas, showers, and toilets. However, owners of the sites don’t have to provide these amenities. Let’s take a look at one of these sites to see what you can expect.
Pictured above is Toynes House, a quaint site located in Fowey, Cornwall. As with all Certificated Locations, this campsite allows for 5 caravans at any given time and has all the basic amenities required by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
As well as the facilities required by the Club, the site also offers:
- Electrical hook-up
- Battery charging
Nearby, there are plenty of activities to partake in, such as scenic countryside walks. There are also a range of attractions nearby, including the Charlestown sailing port, the Carlyon Bay golf course, and the Eden project.
Camping and Caravanning Club Sites
The Camping and Caravanning Club run and manage 103 sites across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
As with the Caravan and Motorhome Club sites, the Camping and Caravanning Club sites are maintained to a high standard. There are always staff on hand if you ever need any assistance.
Club-owned sites usually have several amenities that you won’t find on smaller sites. For example, most Club-owned sites will include some, if not all, of the following:
- Toilets
- Showers
- WiFi
- Walking areas
- Shop
- Electric hook-up
- Battery charging facilities
- Laundrette area
- TV room
- Children’s play area
Let’s take a closer look at one of the Camping and Caravanning Club’s sites to see what you can expect.
The Boroughbridge Camping and Caravanning Club site is a beautiful site located on the River Ure, not far from York. The site is well-placed for the multitude of activities available across the York region and North Yorkshire.
The site has all the amenities listed above, so it’s the ideal campsite for families. There’s plenty to do for the entire family, with a TV room, children’s play area, several relaxing walks, and a public house mere minutes away.
It’s also worth noting that this site, and many other Camping and Caravanning Club sites, accepts all of the following:
- Caravans
- Motorhomes
- Tents
- Trailer tents
- Folding campers
This is notable because some Caravan and Motorhome Club sites only accept caravans and motorhomes. So if you have one of the other units, such as a trailer tent, the Camping and Caravanning Club sites could be best for you.
Camping and Caravanning Club Certificated Sites
The Camping and Caravanning Club have a network of over 1,550 small sites across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland available exclusively to their members. The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Certificated Sites only accommodate up to 5 caravans or motorhomes and up to 10 tents at any one time, so these member-only sites are perfect for quiet weekend getaways!
Certificated Sites are much smaller than your average site, which means there are typically fewer facilities and amenities available on-site. However, every single site is inspected by a C&CC site officer every year to ensure all sites are up to standard. It’s also worth mentioning that staying at one of these sites can cost as little as £10 per night!
Every Certificated Site will the following available:
- Dustbin
- Drinking water supply
- Chemical deposit point
Some sites will have additional facilities, such as electric hook-ups. However, these are not required by the Camping and Caravanning Club’s regulations.
Let’s take a look at an example of a Certificated Site and see what you can expect.
The Sandringham site is a beautiful location to stay, located within the grounds of the Royal estate. Despite being located close to a popular tourist spot, this campsite is both quaint and quiet all year round.
As well as the necessary amenities mentioned above, this site also has the following facilities:
- Dishwashing facilities
- Electric hook-up pitches
- WiFi
Because of the site’s location within the Royal grounds, there is plenty to explore. If you enjoy a scenic walk or two, this site is absolutely perfect. It goes without saying that exploring the gardens and woodland that make up the estate makes for a beautiful day out.
Camping and Caravanning Club Camping In The Forest Sites
Camping and Caravanning Club members can stay at 15 beautiful campsites located in forests across England and Scotland, thanks to the Club’s partnership with Forestry Locations.
Club members receive a 15% discount when stopping at these sites all year round. The pitch prices differ greatly between sites because some are larger campsites with plenty of facilities, whereas others are more stripped back, similar to Certificated Sites.
Let’s take a closer look at one of the several sites located in The New Forest. This is one of the larger Camping in the Forest sites, as it has 600 pitches.
The Holmsley site is one of the most popular Camping in the Forest campsites. The campsite is surrounded by beautiful woodland – as you’d expect from a Camping in the Forest site. It’s a stunning location perfect for family camping holidays.
The site has plenty of facilities, including:
- Toilets
- Shower facilities
- Grocery store
- Chemical disposal point
- Laundry facilities
- Battery charging facility
- Play area
This campsite has plenty of facilities and amenities, which cannot be said of all the sites that make up the Camping in the Forest group. However, this is one of the sites that accepts all of the following units:
- Caravans
- Motorhomes
- Tents
- Trailer tents
- Folding campers
Winner: Camping And Caravanning Club
The Camping and Caravanning Club has a greater variety of sites than the Caravan and Motorhome Club. However, the Caravan and Motorhome Club have a greater number of sites. Personally, I think site variation is more important than the number of sites. That’s why I believe the Camping and Caravanning Club wins this category.
Perks of Membership
Next, let’s consider the perks of membership. Why should you join either of these clubs? And is there anything that makes joining one club a better proposition than joining the other?
By the end of this section, you should have an idea of which club is best for you.
Caravan and Motorhome Club: Perks of Membership
We all know that you don’t join the Caravan and Motorhome Club solely for the campsites. There are several other perks to joining the Club which might convince you that a membership is a worthwhile investment.
- Savings on over 1,000 UK attractions: According to the Club’s website, members get “great savings” on over 1,000 UK attractions. For example, you can get a discount of up to 49% when pre-booking Alton Towers tickets. Or one free child ticket when visiting the Sandringham Estate. There are so many attractions to choose from across the UK, many handily located close to campsites.
- Access to a large site network at a discounted rate: As I’ve already mentioned, as a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club you will have access to over 2,700 sites. Non-members can visit these sites too, but they have to pay a non-member fee of £12 per night. As a member of the Club, you’ll no longer have to pay the non-member fee which soon equals big savings!
- Access to member-only insurance products: As a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, you’ll have access to member-only insurance products designed with caravan owners like yourself in mind. In my opinion, this is actually one of the biggest benefits of joining the Caravan and Motorhome Club; it can end up saving you a fortune and you’ll have caravan insurance tailored to your requirements.
- Access to the Club forum, with over 100,000 users: As part of your membership, you will get access to the Club forum at no extra cost. In my experience, this can be worth the membership’s cost alone. As a member of the forum, you will be part of a community with fellow caravan owners. You can share advice, hints, and tips that help people make the most of their caravan. If you ever need any help or guidance, you can ask; most of the time, you’ll quickly get an answer.
So here are some of the primary benefits of joining the Caravan and Motorhome Club. These benefits are pretty awesome; they’re sure to enhance your caravanning experience all while saving you money.
Camping and Caravanning Club: Perks of Membership
Members of the Camping and Caravanning Club enjoy several perks, beyond the exclusive access to hundreds of UK campsites. Here are some of the best perks of Camping and Caravanning Club membership.
- Discounted manoeuvring and B+E training courses: As a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club, you’ll have access to discounted manoeuvring and B+E training courses. These courses are available to non-members too, but you can enjoy them at a discounted price. For example, members can partake in the Confidence Builder Course for £150. The same course would cost a non-member £175.
- Club publications at no extra cost: Camping and Caravanning Club members receive club publications at no extra cost as part of their membership. For example, the Club’s magazine, Camping & Caravanning. Camping & Caravanning is a popular magazine published monthly, and you’ll be given it as part of your membership.
- Access to exclusive insurance policies: As a member of the Club, you will have access to exclusive caravan and motorhome insurance policies. The Camping and Caravanning Club provide these policies with caravanners like you in mind. Even better, members get exclusive deals that make insuring your caravan inexpensive.
- Discounted breakdown and recovery cover: Members of the Camping and Caravanning Club will have access to discounted breakdown and recovery cover: Arrival Breakdown Cover. This breakdown cover was created by the club after asking members what they really wanted and needed from roadside assistance, according to the Club’s website. Consequently, Arrival Breakdown Cover is one of the best breakdown cover options out there. And as a member, you’ll get it cheaper than anyone else and also get a £15 Club voucher!
There are also other perks of membership, such as shop discounts for members and cheaper ferries. You can end up saving a fortune if you have a Club membership.
Winner: Draw
The perks offered by the two clubs are remarkably similar. As a result, it is difficult to choose between the two. It’s really down to personal preference if you’re choosing one of the two clubs based on membership perks.
Membership Price
Still undecided between the clubs? Let’s take a look at the price of membership.
The Camping and Caravanning Club offer three versions of their membership, whereas the Caravan and Motorhome Club offer two. Here are the membership prices.
Club Membership Costs
| Camping and Caravanning Club Digital Membership | Camping and Caravanning Club Print Membership | Caravan and Motorhome Club Ongoing Membership | Caravan and Motorhome Club One Year Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| £41.00 | £47.00 | £54.00 | £64.00 |
The digital edition of the Camping and Caravanning Club is the cheapest caravan club subscription at £41 per year. The Caravan and Motorhome’s cheapest membership is available for £54 per year.
The Camping and Caravanning Club offer two versions of their membership to UK residents: digital and print. With the digital version of the membership, you use the Camping and Caravanning Club website to book campsites. You also receive your monthly magazine online rather than getting a paper copy. The print membership, on the other hand, means you’ll receive a paper edition of the magazine as well as a printed site directory.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club offer two versions of their membership. The first, the ongoing membership, is an annual direct debit with no joining fee. The second, the one year option, has a joining fee of £10. With the one year option, you don’t have to worry about your membership automatically renewing.
Winner: The Camping and Caravanning Club
The Camping and Caravanning Club offers the cheapest subscription: a paper-free version that benefits the environment as well as your bank account! Considering both memberships are otherwise pretty much as good as each other, it makes sense to go for the Camping and Caravanning membership.
Conclusion: Which Caravan Club Should You Choose: Either, Neither, or Both?
After breaking it down, it appears there is very little difference between the two main caravan clubs.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club membership gives you access to a greater number of sites. On the other hand, the Camping and Caravanning Club gives you access to a greater variety of sites.
The perks of both memberships are pretty similar. As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t much that sets them apart.
And, last but not least, the Camping and Caravanning Club offer the cheapest subscription by a significant margin.
In my opinion, the Camping and Caravanning Club membership is the best value for money. I have both memberships and I tend to get more from the Camping and Caravanning membership than I do from the Caravan and Motorhome membership. But in the end, it’s all down to personal preference.
Which caravan club do you prefer and why? Let me know in the comments below!
