Any tips for bluestone

[Carycy]

We have booked bluestone for half term. Never been before. I just went to book activities and gutted to realise both my kids miss out on most of the activities due to age.
Kids are 5 and 7 and everything seems to be from 6 and from 8. The sort of activities that they have been doing for ages at centerparks like mini landrovers etc. worried it’s going to be a very disappointing holiday.
Also read that public can go in the pool on the afternoon. Are we best going morning.
Please reassure me will will still have a nice break.

Bluestone is a very pleasant resort but we got the sense that some people are not sure what to expect from it. It is not a self-contained resort a la Centre Parcs and I think Bluestone should avoid measuring itself against it in marketing material.
Don’t go there expecting to be entertained/occupied in the same way as you might at CP. Go prepared to make your own fun to some extent... take a kite, frisbee, Swingball, pool toys etc...
Unlike CP, don’t try and stay on site for the whole of your stay. Visit Tenby and/or Saundersfoot beach during your stay, which are about 15-20 minutes away.

I feel that the shopping is better at Bluestone. The ParcMarket at CP is like strolling to a scaled-down Sainsburys or Asda – all the big brands are there at inflated prices. Newton Stores at Bluestone has a more traditional ‘Village Shop’ feel – you’ll find brands plus a LOT of local produce. Plus the prices are reasonable too.
It’s harder to compare the swimming complexes. Bluestone has a lazy river, Center parcs has a lovely outdoor area and some fast rapids, and both have slides for the older kids/adults. I’d say both are pretty equal but maybe center parcs’ outdoor area gives it the edge.
Where Bluestone does come out on top is with their Adventure Centre. Entrance was free and included a large indoor play area with arcade games, a bouncy castle and mini golf. The only reason we didn’t spend more time here was because the weather was so good we preferred to be outdoors.
Being a valley it is hilly which makes bike hire an unecessary expense. If you hire a golf buggy (which we did), you will have a steep walk from the car park (no cars on site except for unloading) which gets a touch tedious and difficult with young children.
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.
Check out time is 10am, but you can stay on-site until 3pm so take advantage of this.

There should be some activities for kids your children’s ages. I went last year with my 3 year old and he did go karts and skywalk mini. There are playgrounds in the serendome and in the village too. The pool is great too.

I would advise to get a buggy as depending where you are it can be far to walk with kids.

I’d also advise getting a click and collect slot at Tesco Haverfordwest as the shop onsite is small and expensive. The restaurants at bluestone are decent but were doing a reduced menu last summer so not a huge amount of choice.

Hire the golf buggy, it's an absolute must and make sure you book it in advance as they get sold out. Don't take bikes for the children or hire them, it's too hilly. One of mine had a nasty fall from his bike when it took off down hill. If Camp Smokey is open, go there, many times - it's the best thing ever, they have marshmallows to roast and the food is amazing.

We're going there at half term too (booking transferred from last summer). My DCs are older but there should be plenty of activities suitable for them. Do book them in advance as they'll get booked up quickly. I think we are paying £100 for weekend golf buggy hire although that was booked over a year ago so might have gone up.

Have a read about the Covid restrictions on their website re the swimming pool. The last time I read it, the slides and rapids were still shut and there is an 1.5 time slot for the pool.

Take bikes and cycle around the site (or use the cul de sacs to practice if they are still learning- there are no cars during the week so very safe). There are walking and/or cycling trails (cant remember which!) around the site and further abroad. The pool is fun and there is a big soft play type place where the high ropes activity is (if it is open under Covid regs).

There is a playground near the village centre where the ice cream cafe and restaurants are.

As a pp said, go in trips. Tenby is nice and you can look up when the RNLI practice lifeboat launches are - get to the cliffs early if you want a good view though! You can get to Pembroke and the castle, and Carew Castle is nearby. And you can get to the seaside.

Book as much as you can before you go.
Take a clothes airer - there's no where to dry bath towels let alone swimming stuff or hand coats or other wet stuff.
The golf buggy was brilliant - totally made it easier. When we went it was constantly raining and we were miles downhill from the car.

Thanks for all your tips. I have booked a golf buggy and some activities for the mornings each day. Hopefully the afternoons can be spent exploring a bit more. Will have a look at booking camp Smokey. Sincerely hope the slides aren’t shut.

Bluestone is amazing, we love it for younger kids.
Aim to have a couple of days offsite. Tenby/Saundersfoot are lovely, or you could just explore and find a beach. Folly Farm is nearby - its a farm/zoo/play park/fairground and is a fantastic day out.
At Bluestone itself - Camp Smokey for marshmallows round the pit/ the shindig if it opens due to Covid restrictions. Activity Centre got turned into a covid hospital and is reopening as the Hive but not until end July. The Serendome is a fantastic area with several activities for the age ranges of your kids - high wires, low wires, wacky races building your own cart, earing areas...
Play area in the village centre next to the pub, Blue Lagoon swimming pool (slides currently closed so keep watching Wales gov announcements). And i agree - golf buggy a must!