The Camping and Caravanning Club Reviews 

Very disappointing and unfair cancellation experience.

I made the booking on 7 July for arrival on 10 July and cancelled it on 8 July, less than 24 hours later. They retained the full payment of £77.68 because the cancellation was not made at least seven days before arrival. However, the booking itself was accepted only three days before the arrival date, making it completely impossible to comply with that condition.

I understand that businesses have cancellation policies, but applying a seven-day rule to a booking made only three days before arrival, while keeping the entire £77.68 after cancellation within 24 hours, is extremely unreasonable.

I did not stay at the campsite, so this review relates specifically to the booking and cancellation experience. Based on how my case was handled, I cannot recommend booking here.

Winchcombe Caravan and Camping Fiasco

A very disappointing experience — particularly given the site's emphasis on peace and quiet.

From the moment we arrived, we felt uncomfortable. The arrival procedure involved what felt like an ID interrogation, with us having to prove our identity before being allowed to proceed to our pitch. It certainly wasn't the warm welcome we had expected.

Unfortunately, our final day was even more disappointing. This was supposed to be a peaceful end to a special retirement gift, but maintenance work was carried out approximately three metres from where I was sitting.

A petrol-powered chainsaw was being used, creating extremely loud noise, petrol fumes and dust directly around us. The workers were wearing full PPE; we were not. I completely accept that maintenance work is sometimes necessary on a campsite — grass cutting, repairs and general upkeep are all part of running a site. However, there is a huge difference between reasonable maintenance and operating a petrol chainsaw just three metres from an occupied guest area for a prolonged period.

The noise, fumes and dust were unbearable, and I felt that the work should either have been carried out at a safer distance or scheduled for a time when guests were not sitting in the area.

I contacted the owner, who came down and instructed the workers to stop. However, after she left, the work started again. I had to telephone her a second time and hold my phone up so she could hear the level of noise for herself. She then returned and stopped the work.

According to the owner, the work had continued for approximately one hour and twenty minutes, and it was scheduled to continue had we not raised concerns. That is particularly disappointing. Guests should not have to complain repeatedly before work involving significant noise, dust and fumes is stopped or properly controlled.

The workers' attitude was also disappointing. We felt there was a serious lack of consideration for guests and what I can only describe as a lack of common sense about carrying out this type of work so close to someone who was trying to enjoy their holiday.

The fact that the workers were wearing full PPE while I was sitting only three metres away without any protection also made me question how the risks to guests especially asthmatics, had been considered. I appreciate that PPE is primarily for those carrying out the work, but it does raise the obvious question of what measures were in place to protect an uninvolved guest from the noise, dust, fumes and potential debris.

The owner offered to refund our £7 fishing fee, but we declined. We weren't looking for a refund or compensation. We simply wanted to enjoy our final day in peace.

The site promotes itself as a peaceful location and somewhere to enjoy peace and quiet. Sadly, that wasn't our experience.

Maintenance is an unavoidable part of operating any holiday site, and we have no objection to reasonable maintenance being carried out. What we object to is being subjected to chainsaw noise, petrol fumes and dust from approximately three metres away for around 80 minutes, with the work apparently scheduled to continue until we complained.

What should have been a relaxing and memorable final day of our retirement gift was instead ruined by avoidable disruption.

A very disappointing experience, and sadly not one we would choose to repeat.

Beadnell Site mid August.Our campervan developed an electrical fault after our first night of four and we had no electic in van. The staff checked our electric hook up and determined the fault was within the van.Later in the day I spoke with a member of staff in the gardening shed, to ask if we could plug our mobile phones in at reception or elsewhere.I was given a disinterested reply that in spite of our circumstances and our need to use them to get our van repaired..there was absolutely no where to recharge them. I called into reception the following morning to be told categorically that The CACC have a policy of not NOT charging phones or a power pack irrespective of need.We had to rely on the kindness of a neighbour..a total stranger.. to support us by charging our phones in his van to achieve connectivity in our time of need. The staff did not show any concern what so ever and offered absolutely no support. The smiles and warm greeting we received on our arrival were replaced with disinterest and apathy!

What would we have done if this had been a medical emergency?No public phone on site.

Members should be made aware of this policy and ensure they have an emergency power pack.

A very disappointed and disgusted club member.

South Lytchett Manor excellent five star campsite Excellent site with shop with lots of amenties for sale and food Also a cafe
Unisex washrooms v spacious and shower toilet block ladies and gentlemen
Bus stop outside to Poole and Swanage Swanage far away food very expensive Poole much better shops great and food
Swanage nice coast walk but charging to walk along a small pier 2.50 per person crazy They dont do that at home
Buses cheap and comfortable
Customer service v good
Regular bus service outside the campsite
Strongly recommend staying here

Keiths Farm sea palling, Norfolk. Just a field for 6 pitches, hardstandings are not flat, and grass area can get water logged.
Over the years we have met lovely people, and found it relaxing but since taking our grandchildren, most elderly people want just to read and do not relish children, and can be rude. It's close to beach, but facilities are very below par, 2 almost porter toilets need up gradind and 1 porter shower poor. The toilet wast area is very bad the if the sess pit is getting full can be detected across the field. Surrounding trees and hedges always seem to need maintaining.

Militant sites with more rules than Nazi Germany. I've been camping across the UK for over 30 years and these sites are the most pretentious and underwhelming I've come across.

I am a member of both caravan club 25 yrs and camping and caravan club 7 years. Just had a lovely long weekend with the caravan club at Cirencester and invited two grandkids to stay two nights with us! Cost £4. This weekend went to stay at winchcome with the camping caravan club. Again invited the two grandkids to stay. Cost per child £8-80 per night. each ! How can the club substantiate this charge to their future campers. I’ve written to the club but no response. Something needs to be looked at this charging. Certainly won’t be looking at sites with grandkids unless it’s caravan club in future. 🙁🙁🙁it’s expensive as a 70 year old at £47
a night as it is. With a 5 year old and a 11 year old add. 17-60. Total £64-60 a night.
Be warned the camping and caravan club is no longer the friendly club😖😖😖

As a solo camper, there is always someone on club sites to help whatever the problem. Good locations and clean facilities.

The Booking system is in the dark ages, you just have to keep searching because it constantly asks for your details instead of saving them, then to top it all off they don't show available sites, just like computer says no, all other similar sites have available slots to show, so you arnt trawling through campsites for ages. Please come into the modern world. I won't be renewing next year if it doesn't improve.

I’m afraid the Club - or it’s site - is not fit for purpose. Been a member for over a year, OK to start with (first couple of searches / bookings) but then - it won’t recognise me. I have membership card (and number), the system will recognise me and the number but then demands that I re-register but as my e-mail address is in the system it refuses……. So can’t do anything. On the mobile using the App, it won’t ever allow me in. It did last year, nothing has changed at my end (login & password) but it comes back as password incorrect, even though that is what was accepted previously. But also, I had a real problem with a club site, booked in to, that was still being built, no showers, toilets etc. When booked, no warning of this but then after - when I complained - (surprisingly!) some reference to the state of the site appeared. Any apology - no way - all my fault…..!!!! THIS IS THE CLUB IN ACTION. NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. Will I renew again? Unlikely, having renewed earlier in the year that won’t be necessary for months but it’s a waste of money………

After over a decade of membership we have decided we won't renew.

After attempting to amend a booking to be told we would lose our booking deposit and would need to rebook we decided enough was enough.

Expensive, poorly maintained sites and ridiculous deposits has left me feeling it's now better to book with independent sites.

I'm afraid I won't be surprised if this club will cease to exist in two years. They are losing members by the 1000s and that's not sustainable.

The booking system is a disgrace now, if you enter dates and the dates are not available, you get a message saying no availability and to modify your date. WHY NOT show a calendar detailing what dates ARE AVAILABLE rather than continually having to resubmit dates to see what is available?
The App is painfully bad, why does it constantly want to update each time you login.
The App consistently rejects login details unless you enter them in manually, despite entering the same email and password.
Site fees are getting a bit too expensive, sometimes feel you would be as well with a travel lodge or premier inn at times, instead of towing, when you take into account, extra fuel, caravan insinsurance.

I wrote a negative review on the club website about my stay at their site in Bowness on Windermere. They have chosen not to print it. Do they only wish/allow positive reviews?

Great campsite within easy reach of plenty of places of interest.
Very welcoming staff on arrival and throughout our stay.
Some road noise could be heard.
Very noisy children after 10pm in and around play area. After asking if they would be considerate and be more quiet they did listen thankfully!

The camp site and people running it were fantastic!! I'd highly recommend the site

The problem is with bookings. The club wanted to charge me over £800 for 13 nights! A discount code became available 10 days before our holiday which reduced the cost by £500! I was delighted with the discount - but last minute discounts of that order make planning a holiday in advance impossible.

Is this a club or is it a business?

A club works for the benefits of it's members and usually offers discounts as a benefit of being in the club.

The Camping and Caravaning Club seem happy to try and get the most money possible from its members, exploiting those who need to plan ahead. It's very sad, and the collapse in people staying at this site, with cheaper local competition (unless there is a last minute discount), shows people are voting with their feet.

Having emailed feedback before I visited, I was told one of the directors would be contact me. No one has.

10 days at Tregurrian in June. Had great time. Easy travel by bus into Newquay and Morgan Porth. Walk into Watergate Bay from site. Site was well maintained, staff friendly and helpful. Cafe on site served lovely meals.
Only problem was during a hot spell, 25 degrees plus, there was no way to have a cool shower, the water temperature was scalding hot.

I thought this was about members' experiences generally as to how how the Club works for them. Our experience is that it does not. It is only interested in making money and is not too bothered about any constructive criticism from disillusioned members who joined a Camping Club which has now turned into a money-making Business. The annual subscription is high especially for those who rarely use Club Sites because of the price and the Club surely knows how many Members fit this description. In particular the Paper Membership, for which a higher subscription is charged, is now daylight robbery as Paper Members are not kept in touch with changes and offers and the Siteseeker Book gives only minimal information and changes printed in the Club Magazine tell you the new prices and facilities but to find new contact details you have to look online. Not everyone lives with internet access on holiday or even at home! At a campsite abroad this summer we met other CCC Paper Members who were equally unhappy. Neither of us knew there had ever been a minimum stay at some sites in the summer and they said they never got sent Out & About either. We use our membership some years purely to get a CCI card for Europe and are beginning to wonder whether there is a better alternative. And if the CCC wants to ask members this, don't just ask the Digital Members which seems to be what they have been doing!

The CCC is a club my wife and I are happy to be members of .
The Web page works well and the booking system is very straight forward and easy to use especially on an I pad.
The sites are of a very high standard and the staff escort you to your pitch and explain the amenities. The discounts for the seniors is much appreciated.and the annual subs are cheaper than their competitor CAMC

We renewed our membership recently during a long distance European continental trip. Towards the end of the journey we were travelling north through England from Harwich to Cumbria taking 3 nights to do so. We were unable to find a CCC Club site that would take us for less than 2 nights and ended up staying on non-CCC sites. We will not be renewing our membership next year.

I took advantage of a special offer that enabled me to stop in my campervan on a non electric grass pitch for £12.50. I've been a member on and off since 1968. This is the first time I've stopped on a club site for approximately 9 years. Having a campervan I don't need the facilities of a club site which now comes with prices of around £20 assuming I can find a site that doesnt just have hardstanding pitches with obligatory electric. Come on CCC, don't forget what camping is all about, not all of us want luxury facilities, electric, and the rest.