Last minute trip to haven

@DeathMetalMum 100% agree on quay west and Hafan as good places.

We don’t tend to use much of the facilities apart from the pool so enjoy both. We have stayed at Hopton but again we did front row sea, used the pool but nothing else on site.

Wild Duck was the worst we ever stayed at, followed by Skegness then Mablethorpe. But still those issues were not ants or bedbugs.

Worst parkdean was warmwell 🤢

If you want a caravan lodge place @bubbabub you could try somewhere like kelling heath, it’s woodland pool, pub / restaurant without the kids holiday hype stuff.

Anyone been to the Lydstep beach site? I was about to book because it’s the only place in the area with a pool, but now not sure as it for the week after next and it sounds like we will have problems booking a slot! It’s for a cottage as there are no vans left. Thanks in advance!

We have been using Haven for 30+ years we started when Dc1 was a toddler and we continue to use sites as a base for short breaks, the caravans are fine some better than others the holiday makers are also fine some better than others, you can engage as much as you want in the activities /entertainment, we have been to 1 site that was terrible and that was lesson learned,

You make it seem as if the only options available to anyone ever are Haven or "Abroad". Broaden your horizons!

We've been every year since having children. We've done Primrose Valley, Seashore and Hafan y Mor, all very safe, very clean and close to beaches. The kids look forward to it every year, and plan their activities weeks in advance (we let them choose six each); they've learnt things like kayaking, canoeing, den building, etc. We book swimming four weeks in advance on the app; three sessions for the week, but if you turn up on the day and pay they will usually squeeze you in for another. The pools are lovely, and your time isn't monitored, so you can stay as long as you like. We don't tend to do the evening entertainment, just the odd magic show/panto when they're on.

It's not really my idea of a relaxing holiday but the children love it, and look forward to it every year. We're leaving on Friday for Hafan y Mor and they're currently counting down the hours.

Recently stayed at Haven Weymouth Bay a few weeks ago. Our caravan was infested with ants. We were all bitten and had to throw out half the food, they didn’t even do anything but put some powder down outside but was a little late by then!

Why haven op? I wouldn’t go to a haven again I’ve only been once so I appreciate it might have been a bad campsite! Over flowing rubbish bins outside! Joint found on the floor of the room my dd was sleeping in! The public loos weren’t kept clean! There was all water in the floor in the toilets! Hair in the bed of the caravan. and grubby bathroom! Hair in loo and shower! Plus the venue was just completely rammed and we caught a sickness bug, I know I don’t know where from but it was grim, so I always put it down to that place! Appreciate this isn’t everyone’s experience but it is mine!

Choose an independent campsite with good reviews, I can recommend some if you want! Some are very expensive but some really good value and are pristine, much nicer than haven in my opinion!

Butlins does have the best pools and the free fairgrounds. But like you say more expensive a basic apartment for this weekend was £400 when I looked but then again the cheapest haven caravan was £219 for the same weekend without a great pool and free fairground. Depends how much money the pool and fairgrounds would save you.

My friend has a Haven caravan. I’ve stayed in hers, and also booked separately on the same site as her partner was with her, and my husband and the dog. The on site restaurants are quite pricey and the entertainment a little naff but we don’t have kids and they’re aimed at families. However no issues with the vans at all….clean well equipped.

I'd look for an independent site unless you desperately want the facilities offered at a Haven park.

Parkdean seems to be similar but a bit cheaper, no idea whether they are any good, though.

Agree last minute not good as swimming will be booked. If you are in the south go to shorefield / oakdene you just turn up and are near the sea . Haven accommodation is quite cheap and tacky always go for high end if you go there. Parkdene is better but also need to pre book. Hoburne is also good and better accommodation standards.

Also swimming can depend on each site.

So Hafan although you book a slot they don’t kick you out after a set time. Hopton you get given a wrist band and after an hour your colour is called and you are asked to leave the pool.

Stayed in Haven for a football tournament a couple of years ago. First time and everywhere was spotless.

I keep reading this as “Last minute trip to heaven”!!!!

@bubbabubwell you did ask for opinions after reading negative reviews? So it’s not just my opinion, just telling you our experience at haven! You might be lucky as it seems they can be abit hit and miss!

We have stayed at Lydstep beach (last year) it's a nice site one of the smaller ones. The pool is small though, fine for younger kids or those who just like to swim. It has the best beach access of any of the sites I have stayed in though. We could walk back to our caravan in about 5mins. The beach is huge and doesn't get many other people as it's not got easy access unless you are coming from the caravan site. Great for paddle boarding/kayaking or body boarding as it's in a closed bay.

I have mixed views on haven. I have never had a dirty caravan but there are times when i feel as though i have ended up with a lower grade caravan than the grade i actually booked. The last time i went i paid for a gold caravan and it felt more like a silver. Okay i could have been unlucky. However the holiday wasn't cheap.

We spent a lot of time at Blue Dolphin, Primrose Valley and Haggerston Castle as kids. My sister still takes her family.

We’ve done Hafan Y Mor with our autistic son, and are going to Craig Tara at the end of this month.

Couldn’t fault it, for what it is.

We’re not expecting 5* or we wouldn’t be on a Haven holiday site, but for what we need (swimming, playground, activities and a beach) it’s perfect.

If its perran sands ignore the reviews. Its fine. The location is fantastic too.

Ah see that's the one where we had a rubbish time based on the surrounding guests plus also having visited 3 years in a row that time was the worse and it was really run down. The area we were put in was a right dump! That was 2 years ago so maybe they have invested since then.

My mum owns a caravan on a Haven site. There are a lot of people that complain to get some compo off their holiday, look at the reviews carefully. Some will say that the caravan was filthy but never actually addressed it with reception but went straight to social media for example.

We went last week and yes had previously booked most of the activities. However we did manage to book another swim session in under 24 hours in addition so it can be done. Site also didn't seem rammed, I was expecting it to be worse that it was. There was no issues getting a table for evening entertainment or the restuarant and no queues for food.

Every site is going to be hit or miss and won't please everybody.

Duh! Misread the OP as a 'last minute trip to heaven'.

Now that would be fab!