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I've booked a bad holiday haven't I...

18 replies

Rotanicani · 29/09/2019 18:33

I know they’re not everyone’s bag, but we like our off season caravan holidays for an easy base to visit new places. Generally pleasant. Been on five already this year and had fun, simple but good for kids. Done Haven and some private sites, been clean and ok.

Mostly we booked direct, but occasionally we use newspaper promotions. Now I’ve done through Parkdean. Did the upgrade for heating (see the description below from the website in the picture) just like with Haven ones. Apparently though parkdean say this doesn’t mean I’ll get heating. The newspaper companies apparently put misleading descriptions on their sites and the upgrades don’t mean what they say. They were really rude too, telling me ‘you get what you pay for’ and making comments about promotions. Refused to even let me talk to a manger or raise a complaint as ‘you have nothing to complain about’

So now I’m booked on some campsite with a miserable company with clearly nightmare customer service, possibly no heating on a rainy week with the kids. This could be the holiday from hell couldn’t it?

I’m tempted to either stay at home or look for something else and write it off. Has anyone done a parkdean holiday? I’ve read reviews now and I’m REALLY worried this is madness. Cheap holiday= you are scum and will be treated as such doesn’t it? Would you cancel it?

I've booked a bad holiday haven't I...
OP posts:
Soola · 29/09/2019 18:36

When are you going? Take blankets and hot water bottles?

Portable heater?

SummerHouse · 29/09/2019 18:39

I stayed at Park Dean in Hunstanton (or just down the road). It was perfectly good. Clean and with heating. Ignore the rude person. They were probably having a bad day. Have you a fan or bar heater you can borrow just in case?

SummerHouse · 29/09/2019 18:40

Oooh blankets, hot water bottles, hot choc. I love a caravan holiday.

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WitsEnding · 29/09/2019 18:42

I've done newspaper holidays with Parkdean and they've been fine (probably 15 years ago but still ....). We found best to go to housekeeping and ask for extra blankets as soon as you're booked in, but that was chalets in early spring - we didn't upgrade.

Research the area so you have some activities to fall back on for wet days, don't panic.

Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2019 18:43

I would call back and ask to speak to someone else (manager or managers manager) to clarify this situation. I wouldn’t be spoken to like that for something I am paying for.

Ultimately it may come down to what you can put up with. I always find static homes very cold once the sun has gone in.

TheHobbitMum · 29/09/2019 18:44

We've done Parkdean caravan holidays with the upgrades and it's been absolutely fine, heating was available in the caraven. It was basic heaters so not the hottest/quickest but it certainly didn't ruin the holiday.

Go still and have a wonderful time away

Rotanicani · 29/09/2019 18:51

I asked to speak to the manager/ raise a complaint and she just kept repeating I had nothing to complain about. Nightmare. In the end I asked for the email address to complain to as she point blank refused. This was a follow up to an ignored email

I’ve been given the option to pay again for the upgrade I’ve paid for (she says I paid the other upgrade to the newspaper, not to them so it’s not their responsibility). The email says it’ll be a standard van with a fire in the lounge.

I’m just worried this is a nightmare site

OP posts:
bigchris · 29/09/2019 18:56

Which site is it ?

It's unlikely the payment will go to the newspaper

milleniumhandandprawn · 29/09/2019 18:56

This might help op.
I can't believe their attitude on the phone - that sucks!
Good luck :)

We appreciate all feedback from our customers. If you would like to provide feedback prior to your stay or after you have returned home, please email us at: [email protected] call us on 0344 335 3507.

Span1elsRock · 29/09/2019 18:57

We did a Parkdean holiday at Pendine Sands. The caravan was listed as having heating which turned out to be ceiling panels that generated less heat than a lightbulb, we went in May and it snowed. We've never been so cold and miserable in our lives, the site was a dump and they literally didn't give a shit in customer services. We went out and bought two electric heaters which gave us an hour of bliss, then they tripped the electric supply that security wouldn't switch back on. We left the site in utter desperation and paid another £200 for a van on another site that had heating in.

Didn't get a penny back and they were truly one of the worst companies I've ever dealt with.

Countrylifeornot · 29/09/2019 18:58

I've been on 4 Sun holidays to Parkdean resorts this year, they've been grand.
Parkdean will try to squeeze every penny out of you for upgrades, better pitches, caravan next to the rest of your party etc, as they get so very little for the holiday.
But, as a rule, Parkdean keep really high standard accommodation (just look at the websites dedicated to owners complaining about their vans being kicked off site after 10 years etc) so as much as they'd love to give us cheapskates shit accommodation there is none to give.
You'll be grand, don't worry.

EggysMom · 29/09/2019 18:58

The only bad caravan holiday we've ever had was with Parkdean, sorry.

Hairydilemma · 29/09/2019 19:01

Which site are you going to? I’ve been to Parkdean (albeit in a private caravan rather than one of theirs) and it was a lovely site (Kessingland).

As others have said, ignore/complain about the rude person and see if you can find out for definite re the heating.

You could also take your own portable heater/s if you have them? My experience with caravans is they can be chilly but also warm up really quickly with a few plug-in heaters. You can put them on timers too so it’s warm when you get up.

zafferana · 29/09/2019 19:01

We stayed at a Parkdean site just outside Clacton for a rugby tour it was actually rather good! Caravan was new and clean, heating in all the rooms.

Singlenotsingle · 29/09/2019 19:02

We've been on several Parkdean holidays and never had any problems. I think they're the best of the holiday companies. Better than Haven and much better than Pontins.

Rotanicani · 29/09/2019 19:13

It’s Breydon Waters

We’ve done hopton, caister, st Margaret’s bay, noses point, Coombe Haven, Camber Sands and wild duck for comparison if anyone can compare.

I’m worried this is a nightmare site. Haven were lovely when I booked, even linked our bookings (which considering how much the group spend on site is probably fair)

OP posts:
chocolateisavegetable · 30/09/2019 09:08

If you find out that the advert was misleading, you should complain:

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-if-you-think-youve-been-misled-by-a-special-offer
www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_section/03.html

XmasAnnoyances · 30/09/2019 09:12

Get a couple of electric radiators?

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