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Anyone been to Bluestone? Tips please!

8 replies

Cliques · 28/07/2019 14:07

My parents have booked us a weekend in Bluestone with them end of August. How does it all work and what would make like easier? Dc (preteen) has ASD so I’m a bit worried about how busy it’s all going to be. What is unmissable? What is a waste of money?

All and any tips welcome!

TIA Flowers

OP posts:
Cliques · 28/07/2019 16:59

Bump

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 28/07/2019 19:37

The arrivals team will be waiting for you, you’ll need your reservation number, name of the lead book and address.
There is a village in the centre of the site, with a pub, restaurants, and a few shops (bakery / coffee shop, a small supermarket / off license and a toy shop / clothes shop). There is also a children's play area in the village called "tree house".
Most of the main "play" facilities are in the South of the site. This includes the swimming pool, the huge adventure centre, and Camp Smokey with zip wires, tree climbing, tree top walks etc. 
Note also the long stay car park is in the south of the site. After you have unloaded you must take your car back to the long stay car park for the duration of your holiday.
The lodges are divided up into seven main "named" areas, and the areas are wrapped round the village in the centre. So all seven areas are fairly near the village
We tend to book one or two paid activities every day and then go swimming/walking or to the adventure centre in between. Other families we know only book one paid activity per day and enjoy a more relaxed break. Some of our favourites include Into the Wild, Panning for Gold, Nature Detectives, 4x4 Safari. 
Our family really value the buggies. They are particularly valuable if members of your party are not fit enough to walk several miles a day up/down hills. They are not cheap so if cost is an issue there is a bus that travels around the park. If you do decide to hire a buggy, make sure you take an old towel so that you can wipe the seats if the weather is wet or you will get soggy bottoms! If you don't plan to hire a golf buggy then bring your own scooter or bike for children.
Take your own kitchen roll and extra toilet roll (you're given one per bathroom).
Take beach/pool towels for the Blue Lagoon. We forgot ours last time and had to hire some at the pool (only a few pounds each each) but still a bit of a pain.
Be sure to use the Adventure Centre All indoors – so perfect if rain strikes. This is where the messy play sessions were held – but there is also an indoor rock climbing wall, mini golf course, climbing frames, bouncy castles, a soft play/sensory room, free Wi-Fi and a bar.
Leave your brollies at home – as there are big umbrellas already in the room for you to use.
Visit the Blue Lagoon between 9am-12pm, as it is exclusive use for guests during those times and then it is open to the public.
Ask for two key cards when checking-in, so that if you visit separate places during the stay one of you won't be stuck waiting outside the lodge.
Visit Tenby and/or Saundersfoot beach during your stay, which are about 15-20 minutes outside of Bluestone.
Check out time is 10am, but you can stay on-site until 3pm so take advantage of this.

Cliques · 28/07/2019 20:57

That’s so helpful! Thank you, Rice! Just what I needed Flowers

OP posts:
oldenoughtobehavebetter · 28/07/2019 21:05

Definitely visit beaches! Don't just treat like centreparcs.

It's nice just to take the round trip nature walk from the lake round to the ravine if you want a bit of peace to calm down your dd

Fish and chip take away van on site and also there's a fish restaurant in saundersfoot thats amazing. I don't know if they take bookings it does get packed.

TheWeatherGirl1 · 28/07/2019 21:05

We hired a golf cart and were pleased we did. It was fun and we're pretty lazy so it was ideal.
The pool gets real busy, we would go when it opens for a couple of hours to beat the crowds, I believe it's open to the public after around midday too.

Have a good holiday

MrsDilligaf · 28/07/2019 21:19

The new serendome opened a few days ago, so that will be worth exploring.

My DD has been to a few children's events (buzzy bumbles , and shelly's messy mayhem) and really enjoyed them.

Definitely venture out to Tenby, Narbeth and the surrounding areas. There are the usual big high street shops in Haverford West so handy if you want to stock up.

Our usual day is: morning spent in the Blue Lagoon, back to the lodge for lunch, then we spend the afternoon exploring the woods, going to nearby beaches, folly farm, pop into soft play on our way back to the lodge, then eat either in the village or in the lodge.

All the lodges are child friendly with high chairs, nappy bins, Ikea plates, bowls and cutlery they've also all got travel cots. There's no laundrette on site so if you're likely to need to wash anything bear that in mind.

I prefer it to Centre Parcs, it feels calmer somehow, and I especially like tootling around in the golf buggy.

Hope you have a great time.

Cliques · 29/07/2019 09:05

This is so helpful. Thank you all so much. Just the sort of tips I needed! I’ve been to Pembrokeshire’s beaches before and am tempted to do mornings in the pool and afternoons on the beach (weather permitting). I hope the new dome means plenty of space if it rains

OP posts:
TheWeatherGirl1 · 29/07/2019 11:41

Oh yes, I second Folly Farm!

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