Anyone recommend Hoseasons? Is it better/same as Butlins?

[fruitbeard]

We're looking at Hoseasons but have never been before - we did a midweek break at Butlins last year and although we enjoyed it for what it was, I couldn't take 2 weeks there.

Hoseasons looks a little more... well, less slot machiney, iykwim?

Anyway, I think we've narrowed it down to either the St Ives, Torbay, Helston or Burnham on Sea...

Anyone been? Which, if any, would you recommend?

Our wishlist includes indoor pool (just in case), kids entertainment/club and close to a 'real' town so we can escape if we want...

Cheers

[squik]

Its equally as slot machiney imo. In fact the one we went to was bloody awful and I wish we had gone to the Butlins instead.

[VaginaShmergina]

www.parkdean.co.uk

Croyde Bay (Holiday village is called Ruda)

or

Warmwell

[MrsDoylesMole]

I second Park dean,we have 2 great holidays with them and plan on booking another this year.

[VaginaShmergina]

Which park/s have you been to MrsDoylesMole ?

Happy New Year btw !!

[fruitbeard]

Thank you all Happy New Year!

I've had a look on the parkdean website and it looks lovely - anyone been to the Sandown park?

[VaginaShmergina]

Not me I'm afraid. If you want to know all about the other two and tips for each then let me know !

Warmwells lodges are cheaper that Ruda and there is a quiet area of just lodges that circles around a play area soyou can sit on your verandah and let the kids play !!

Sorry, that was a tip and it might not matter

Chatterbox !!

[fruitbeard]

No, VS, that sounds lovely - the only reason I was looking at Sandford (not Sandown - d'oh!) was that the Warmwell site activities looked just that tiny bit too grown up for DD - she would be 4.5 when we're planning to go and atm (she's 3.10) I can't imagine her ski-ing or rollerskating!

The Sandford site looked a little more just-out-of-toddlerdom-friendly, if that makes sense.

Would be interested in your opinion of Warmwell's suitability for a 4yo as DH would rather stay in a lodge than a caravan

[wheresthehamster]

We went to Warmwell when it was a Haven park and I think dd3 was 2. She had great fun on the nursery slope on the little sledges while we tried to stand up on the skis!

[nappyzonehasastroppytoddler]

Oh i have just been looking at warmwell and wondered if they had sledges as ds will only be 2 and a hald and dd 6 and clumsy lol. Also the lodges - do any have hot tubs?

[VaginaShmergina]

Ski slope has a nursery slope for the little ones with little plastic sledges. Warning..... kids get very wet from the water that continually sprays to keep the surface slippery !!! We took waterproofs second year round.

One of the kids clubs morning sessions includes a trip to the nursery slopes so you dont have to pay.

Adults have to stay with we think under 8 year olds.

Warmwell is more than suitable for a 4 yo. We have been 2 years running. DD now 8 and DS nearly 5.

Book a lodge in the area I described, I think the numbers are in the 70's to 80's. They are near the fishing lake which means you will get a visit from the ducks !!!

No hot tubs though

We book the Weymouth level of comfort. Means its a bit nicer, you get a dishwasher and a corner bath as opposed to a shower.

3 bed lodge has a normal sized double room a good sized twin room and a compact twin.

Storage is a wardrobe in both the double and the larger twin and cupboards dotted here and there.

The pool is fab !! Wave machine, slide and various fountain things.

Roller skating is great fun, there is also a good sized indoor soft play next to the indoor rollerskating so you can watch everything from one place. Soft play is for kids under 1.40m (I think) So you should not get the big kids thundering round (I complained if they did !!)

Bloody hell, I could write a book Ask away if you can think of anything else....

Shop on sight is predictably over priced so either do a food shop en-route or there is a lovely size Tesco's 15 minutes down the road.

On site restaurant, food was not that great, nor the service.

Reception staff vvvv friendly and helpful.

[VaginaShmergina]

Have done caravans as well btw and now we have had the space of a lodge, there is no going back.

God I dont half prattle on

[nappyzonehasastroppytoddler]

ooo vagina i like your reviews - been anywhereelse similar?

[VaginaShmergina]

Have also tried the Haven sites but nowhere near as nice as Parkdean. Its a smaller company and therefore less known.

They do however run the offers on the £9.50 sun holidays. We did a two week stay at Croyde, through Parkdean and you could certainly tell the difference between the non 9.50 week to the 9.50 week.

Now I know I may get shot at dawn for saying such a thing but even the Holiday Park staff dread it so it was not just me.

Apologies to any of you who do them, we have even saved the vouchers previously but could not get any of our choices, but there is a definate "decline" in the guests !!!

I know I'm in for it now...... so sue me

[nappyaddict]

What do you mean the £9.50 week and non £9.50 week? £9.50 holidays are available most dates throughout the year there are even some dates available in the 6 weeks holiday.