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Picture this. You've just bought your first magnificent motorhome. It's gleaming on the driveway, you've filled the cupboards with an optimistic amount of pasta and tinned tomatoes, and you're itching to hit the open road. One of the first things you'll probably do is Google 'motorhome clubs'. For decades, joining one of the big organisations like The Caravan and Motorhome Club or The Camping and Caravanning Club was a rite of passage, as essential as your first cassette toilet chemical kit. But in an age of apps, online communities and a whole new generation of motorhome owners, are these old school institutions past their sell by date?
For years, the appeal was obvious. These clubs were the gatekeepers to a network of pristine campsites, offering a comforting level of quality and reliability. Membership came with a glossy magazine plopping onto your doormat each month, discounts on ferries and insurance, and a sense of belonging to a community of likeminded wanderers. It was a world of organised rallies, friendly waves on the road, and the comforting knowledge that you were part of something established and respectable. For many, it was, and still is, the only way to go.
The winds of change are blowing
But let's be honest, the world has changed. That annual membership fee, which can be over £60, starts to look a bit steep when you're also paying hefty site fees on top. Forum threads and Facebook groups are buzzing with members questioning the value. People whisper of a 15% drop in site occupancy at one of the major clubs and grumble that some club sites are now more expensive than their commercial counterparts. The phrase 'glorified car parks' gets thrown around, along with complaints about endless rules and a certain cliquey atmosphere at some rallies.
It seems the very things that once made the clubs feel safe and reliable can now make them feel a bit, well, stuffy. The world of motorhoming is getting younger. The pandemic saw a huge surge in people under 40 buying motorhomes, with the average age of an owner dropping from 53 to 49 in just a few years. This new wave of owners didn't grow up with the club handbook as their bible. They've grown up with the internet, and they're used to finding what they need with a few taps on a screen, for free.
The rise of the digital nomads
And that's the real challenge for the traditional clubs. Why pay a membership fee when you can join a dozen specialist Facebook groups for free? There are groups for single motorhomers, groups for families, groups for people who love wild camping, and groups for people who own a specific make of motorhome. These online communities are vibrant, immediate, and packed with real time advice from thousands of members. Got a problem with your leisure battery at 10pm on a Sunday? Post it in a group, and you'll likely have ten helpful replies before you've finished your cup of tea.
Then there are the apps. Park4Night has become the go to tool for finding overnight spots, from official campsites to laybys with a view, all reviewed by fellow users. Brit Stops offers a brilliant alternative, letting you stay for free at hundreds of pubs, farm shops, and vineyards across the UK in exchange for, perhaps, buying a pint or a jar of chutney. These alternatives offer a sense of freedom and spontaneity that can sometimes feel lacking in the more structured world of club sites.
So, is it time to cancel the membership?
Not so fast. The big clubs aren't taking this lying down. They still have the largest network of high quality sites in the UK, with facilities that are often second to none. For families, or those who simply want the peace of mind of a guaranteed pitch with a clean toilet block and a hot shower, that's a huge draw. The discounts on ferries and insurance can still easily cover the cost of membership if you travel frequently. And let's not forget the CLs (Certificated Locations) and CSs (Certificated Sites), small, privately owned sites that are exclusive to members and often offer a more personal, back to basics experience.
The clubs are also adapting. One major club has reduced its magazine from monthly to eight issues a year, a move that has divided opinion but shows they're trying to cut costs and modernise. Digital membership options are on the horizon, and there's a growing focus on glamping and experience based holidays to attract a younger crowd. Whether these changes are enough to win over the sceptics remains to be seen.
The verdict
Ultimately, the question of whether a motorhome club is worth it comes down to you. What do you want from your life on the road? If you value community, organised events, and the security of a well managed site network, then a traditional club membership could still be one of the best investments you make. But if you're a free spirit who craves spontaneity, is happy with more basic facilities, and prefers the hive mind of an online community, then you might find your tribe elsewhere.
Perhaps the answer isn't about choosing one over the other. Maybe the modern motorhomer can have their cake and eat it too. Use the club for a guaranteed spot in peak season, but use Brit Stops for an impromptu pub stopover. Be a member of the big club, but also be an active member of a dozen Facebook groups. The old guard might not be as dominant as they once were, but they're not dead yet. They're just not the only players in town anymore. And for us, the motorhome owners, that extra choice can only be a good thing.
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