Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Duinrell advice

32 replies

DuinrellCalling · 07/04/2022 18:48

HI all, I've name changed as I've been banging on about our impending holiday to everyone and don't want to out myself!

We're just about to book a break at Duinrell for the next half term - we're pretty convinced from reviews/personal experiences of friends etc that it's fab and we're very excited... we just can't decide which 'Duingalow' to go for. I'm keen on the 'Comfort for kids' option because of the extra outside space but DP is worried about the distance to the action, and also says we don't really need a garden with a slide etc as we'll have lots to do. This accommodation says it is 10 mins away from the parks. Other options say 5 minutes away (or 10 minutes). I don't feel like 10 minutes is too far at all, but I also don't want our distance from the main stuff to be a pain.

Does anyone have any experience of the site and, if you have, can you help me make up my mind (DP has left it up to me)?! Thanks.

OP posts:

InTheCludgie · 07/04/2022 19:42

Hi OP we are off to Duinrell in the summer and have been several times before. We usually stay in a Canvas static caravan but have taken walks around the Duingalow area and it's not a long distance at all from the main plaza, I'd say 5 mins (might be a bit longer with young kids who faff about instead of walking along with you!). The theme park is a couple of minutes beyond the plaza area, I'd say it's all fairly compact on site and easy to navigate.
Hope you all have a fab time! This has been our main holiday destination since DS was a toddler, he's now a pre-teen and has been asking to visit other European destinations so this may well be our last trip there.

Original poster

DuinrellCalling · 07/04/2022 23:55

Ooh, thanks @InTheCludgie! It's great to hear even more positivity about the place... I've yet to hear anything bad about it (although this makes me worry that I'm putting the place on a pedestal so high that the poor place is going to struggle to live up to our expectations 😂😐).

Is the canvas static caravan you stay in the glamping accommodation? Do you recommend that?

OP posts:

PaperTyger · 08/04/2022 07:19

Op how old are your DC?
People usually also stay or visit the safari park beekse begen and efteling .

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Days out

InTheCludgie · 08/04/2022 08:23

@DuinrellCalling I'm pretty confident you'll have a fantastic time, there's plenty to do onsite (waterpark is wonderful, though only a two hour slot so is a good excuse to go a few times during your stay!). The static caravans are fine, most have a deck with seating, table etc, kitchen area and you can pay a bit extra for linen and bedding packs. We take the ferry and drive so tend to bring these things with us. I'm sure someone will have told you all about the ice cream shop in the town, definitely make a trip (or two!) there.
@PaperTyger we're also doing a couple of nights at Efteling after our Duinrell stay, very excited for this as we were supposed to go for the first time in 2020. Any tips or recommendations? (Apologies for the hijack DuinrellCalling)

Original poster

DuinrellCalling · 08/04/2022 15:59

@PaperTyger - my DC are 8 and 4. We've been to Efteling before (loved it ) but we're definitely just going to do Duinrell this time... it seems there is lots to do both in the park and in the surrounding area.

Thanks for the tips, @InTheCludgie

OP posts:

Ionacat · 08/04/2022 16:06

We’re off next week and have booked through Eurocamp postponed several times thanks to Covid. (Mightily relieved I’d booked the Harwich crossing with Stena rather than Dover to Calais!) Eurocamp were great at moving dates and customer service has been excellent throughout Covid. If we’d have booked direct with Duinrell, we’d have lost our money as the accommodation was open even though nothing else was….. The kids are super excited about tulip fields and windmills!

PaperTyger · 08/04/2022 16:08

Op we've only done efteling before and doing duinrell And EFT this time.

Original poster

DuinrellCalling · 08/04/2022 16:23

Ooh, have fun @Ionacat! Eurocamp don't have availability for the dates we want, unfortunately, whereas booking direct does. We nearly booked to go last year and only realised at the last minute that the park/pool were closed. They didn't make it massively clear on their website so I'm very pleased we didn't book as that would have been HUGELY disappointing.

We live close to Dover so will be crossing that way. Crossing everything that the issues will be sorted by then... Mind you, I found out yesterday that I can use my Tesco Clubcard vouchers with Irish Ferries (who have a Dover-Calais crossing) so I'm super happy that we'll be getting our ferry travel for free (again, fingers crossed!).

@PaperTyger - hope you have a great time! I'd love to do that but time/funds mean we won't be able to this time.

OP posts:

PaperTyger · 08/04/2022 16:38

@InTheCludgie

What age's are your DC and where are you staying

FoodieToo · 08/04/2022 16:48

OP please book the Premium accommodation . The Comfort/ Budget options look awful. We have been five times and I cannot recommend the place enough .
But would only stay in the Premium.
Nowehere is that far from anything really .
I actually think they are getting rid of the older accommodation types slowly as opposed to trying to refurbish them.

PaperTyger · 08/04/2022 16:51

Oh no foodie!!
We couldn't get premium!

FoodieToo · 08/04/2022 16:55

Oh don't worry , am sure it will be fine . They just look a bit run down but you probably won't spend much time in them anyway !! Keep an eye on the website , as availability changes !!

InTheCludgie · 08/04/2022 17:00

Hi @PaperTyger the kids are 11 and 7, we are staying at the Efteling Hotel.

fourofwands · 08/04/2022 17:09

We've stayed in 3 different duingalows in different bits. Nowhere is too far from the plaza or the park really. The premium one was actually our least favourite as the decking area didn't feel private, whereas with the cheaper 2 we had a tucked away garden.

LeastofLeicester · 08/04/2022 17:11

We've booked the kids duingalow for July.

We've been before and did need some down time after walking around all day so thought it would be nice. Plus something to do while we're getting ready/cooking dinner.

PaperTyger · 08/04/2022 18:40

How long are you there for?

Bosrijk ( where the little pool is) my favourite accmd

Do use the pool or at the very least have an explore around that side. The real natural lake is so pretty, the sandman castles in the middle changes colour at night.
You can also sit and eat by the lake, and there are loads of natural play areas there.

In general relax, enjoy.
When rides are busy in the middle of the day enjoy the numerous play areas ( mine spent an entire afternoon playing on the stepping stones In the land of the laafs and running around the little buildings.

In the early evening I enjoyed eating in the White horse restaurant which is in the carousel square.i could sit and enjoy a glass of wine and the children ( in eye sight) could go on the numerous carousels And swing chair rides with barely no queues.

Don't miss the 3d show, and the fab play area Which you walk out into ( indoor).

Take every moment to enjoy the fairy tale wood, wander,soak it in it can take three hours! Enjoy.

Original poster

DuinrellCalling · 08/04/2022 21:10

@PaperTyger, you're giving me massive Efteling envy!

We're not going to go for premium accommodation so hoping the comfort will be OK. Having made our decision this evening to go for the normal comfort (ie without garden) near the park, both @fourofwands and @LeastofLeicester are making me have a rethink!

OP posts:

InTheCludgie · 09/04/2022 08:27

We're only there for two nights @PaperTyger, I've not done a great deal of research on Efteling but from what DH says there will be loads to keep us occupied during that time and plenty for DD who's quite short for her age.

PaperTyger · 09/04/2022 08:33

I tried to get premium but could only get comfort.
Op I've heard the duinrell can be a disappointment after efteling because it's not as beautiful,ammd isn't as good.
So we are prepared for this and going for the water element, beach and close to the Hague Leiden which I want to explore and Amsterdam again Which I adore.

PaperTyger · 09/04/2022 08:35

@InTheCludgie

Oh my goodness yes... tons we've spent a week there before and dragged ourselves away to visit Amsterdam!

Lots to do fairy wood could be your entire visit;

DalarnaHorses · 09/04/2022 09:01

We've been a few times, but I think the last time will have been our last as DD thinks she's outgrown it. Although The Netherlands is still our favourite place.

We went for fairly basic Eurocamp accommodation, I actually love the simplicity, we've stayed at Centreparcs before and I spent way too much time trying to keep it tidy and buffing up granite worktops. I aspire to a Eurocamp kitchen with just a small amount of worktop to clean! We did take all our own bedding (because we had the car and I'm tight) and we were glad we did as the Eurocamp bedding wasn't great. The waterpark is good, but different entrance rules apply depending on who you booked your accommodation with. The outdoor pool is freezing, but fun anyway.

We visited The Hague and walked down into Wassenaar - great ice cream and lovely shops. I also went on long walks looking at all the lovely Dutch houses and there are a lot of diplomats residences there. We split the holiday with a few nights in Amsterdam. If we went again I'd visit Leiden, we never found time to do that. The beaches are lovely, we actually live near the sea, but I wasn't prepared for the wind to be warm coming off the North Sea (September), you can walk for miles on the beaches too.

Even the McDonald's are nice in The Netherlands - I had breaded King prawns and mint tea with a bunch of fresh mint leaves! Although veggie options seem to be fake meat rather than beanburger type things.

Food shopping is good in Wassenaar, Theres a Jumbo with lots of fresh food, we stocked up on things to fetch home - crispbread, apple sauce, stroopwaffles, (lavender and black pepper flavour), sprinkles.
Make sure you carry change, the toilets in most places charge, sometimes there's a toilet attendant

There's a good Facebook group for info

www.facebook.com/groups/210616936267196/?ref=share

PaperTyger · 09/04/2022 09:16

Cludgie loads of play areas lot's to do.
Droomvukcht aka dream flight is beautiful...

Mine spent an entire afternoon in the land of the laafs on the stepping stones across the pond.

fourofwands · 09/04/2022 09:51

Make sure you go to Scheveningen. It's a lively seaside town with a great promenade and pier, loads of restaurants along the beach. It has a trendy rather than tacky vibe

Original poster

DuinrellCalling · 09/04/2022 15:20

Thanks, all, for the tips etc.
I've now booked... we went for a premium Duingalow in the end (so the original question in my OP was actually null and void !).
Duinrell here we come!

OP posts:

FoodieToo · 09/04/2022 16:03

Oh good for you, OP !! You will have a ball.

Duinrell and Efteling are different , you can't really compare them. Efteling is huge and has amazing theming and rides.

Duinrell is quite small but also very charming ! You can hire bikes and ride to beach, visit Amsterdam for some culture etc . It's fab !

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread