No WiFi at Haven site

[Anonymouse2019]

Hi, we're going to Hafan y Mor in Pwllheli soon but despite claiming they have free WiFi, they really don't. It's totally unusable so we have no Internet whilst there. Its a good thing that we'll be spending more family time and less/no screen time, but we'd like to access the Internet to look at weather forecasts, plans trips out, look for local supermarkets and so-on.

Two questions really:

1. Is it possible that Haven do this deliberately so that people spend more time (and therefore money) within the park itself?
2. Is there a gadget that'll give us WiFi whilst we're there?

Thanks!

The OP has already said that there isn't enough signal for data to work.

Each to their own. Been there 6 times and always enjoy it.

What a patronising person are you. Ironically, typying nonsense from your phone/computer instead of talking to your family/friends.

the weather is also on the TV op
plus the weather forecast is not foolproof

sunday was due to have rain all day
come 10 am the forecast had changed
and it never did rain
take coats, expect all weathers

It always baffles me when people take time out of their day to post catty or nasty responses when all the OP has asked, is a standard question.
I wonder if they think they’re being clever? To me, it just makes them look like a dick.
Have a lovely holiday @Anonymouse2019

What a load of bitchy, sarky answers. Mumsnet at its worst. Yuck.
No advice OP. We were at Greenacres last year and there was no signal. Neither for internet or phone calls. It makes things really difficult. My kids are older so we’d spend most evenings having a ‘WiFi walk’. The main complex seemed to be the only place with any signal. It make it tricky when we wanted to book tickets online etc.

We caravan a lot and find it's quite usual to have poor wifi on caravan sites, I usually hope to be able to use my phone but before I go I download loads of TV onto my iPad, if you want it for streaming I would do that. I have paid for site wifi before if signals are really bad and it's available and you can buy mobile wifi if no other options. If there is the option to pay for premium site WiFi that is probably the best option and shouldn't cost too much

Some havens have a Vodafone mast this year - Hafan Y Mor is one of them. Are you with Vodafone? If not could you hotspot off a Vodafone pay as you go sim, buy a package for unlimited data?

I don’t mind lack of free WiFi if there is a decent data signal but not having any data signal at all in this day and age is pretty poor IMO

I never trust any caravan site wifi service, it’s often too slow as too many people using it. I always check the 4g coverage for my mobile provider before I book anywhere.

We went at Easter and paid £12 add-on for site-wide WiFi. Worked perfectly. Was handy for ordering food to the caravan via haven serve. Have a great holiday, OP.

@Anonymouse2019 we use a “mifi” router in our caravan but it runs off whatever the local network is, so we’ve had mixed results. If the mobile signal is bad a portable router won’t be any better.

The irony of people being on their high horses and telling you to get your head out of your phone, whilst they have their head buried in their phone scrolling through MN.

I hated having no WiFi at the holiday park we went to. You spend the entire day doing activities with your kids, having family meals, etc. Wanting an hour here or there to do whatever you want to do on the internet is fine. I personally love to sit in bed with a cuppa and read the news, or this site while everyone else is asleep. Shoot me.

We’re at Hafan y Mor now and we paid £12 for wifi for the week - we now have internet!
We came last year and it was very weird having zero internet the whole time.

Went to Hafan at Easter and they were trialling the free premium WiFi. Was great. We stayed on the Harlech section

We were camping this weekend and whilst there was wifi it wasn't very strong and a man was desperate to watch a football match on his ipad but live streaming just wasn't happening much to his frustration.

Not for what you're asking eg bbc weather but we download films which can be watched offline via Amazon Prime (think you may be able to do the same for Disney/Netflix too)

That and checking the weather/whatever you need in the main hubs whilst there may be the best options.

If it's the type with static caravans you've got no chance. We had one right next to the giant signal booster pole and despite paying for better internet it only worked on the porch.

The accomodation is built like a giant metal faraday cage so no mobile reception either. It made it impossible to keep an eye on our 11 year old, she wanted a bit of independence so we put a tracking app on her phone with the intention of keeping an eye on her so she could pop to the on site arcade and shop by herself.

Never again!

I used my phone on holiday to book train tickets, tickets for a boat trip, check out local places to eat, check out local walks and to read mumsnet

This is why we didn’t go for a wkend there this yr. My mobile data doesn’t work at most holiday parks either, I can never get a signal. Same with DH.

We went to Solway holiday park last summer for a wkend and you could purchase WiFi which was excellent. It was maybe about £10 for the wkend. Also meant we could use Netflix on the TV. Does make a difference to your stay.

Nothing worse than being stuck with council tv when the kids in bed 🤣

I don't think that having poor wifi would mean people stay on site more - in fact probably the opposite as people will go off site to find somewhere with wifi. It's annoying but it's more likely that it's expensive to install & run & they want to keep the costs down to maximize profit without increasing prices.

You could look at weather forecast, look at local activities & restaurants & supermarkets before you go

Er, lots of holiday locations have poor phone signal. In the 21st century it's really cheapskate to not have wifi in the rooms/cabins of a major holiday park.

I've been to Hafan a few times, never struggled with phone signal. It's not great, but it's useable.

Council TV?

Just been to a haven site (Perran Sands) and we found a good signal up a sand dune near our caravan. The wifi in main entertainment area was pretty good.

For those saying enjoy the no wifi/phone signal it's not just about family time with no devices. Whilst away my nan was admitted to hospital and my mum had a fall- try dealing with hospitals and family when you can barely get a signal to call them.