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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take my kids on a Haven Holiday?

61 replies

LadyEatsCrispsALot · 02/01/2012 21:15

Recently separated and just planning what type of weeks holiday I can take my dCs on? They are 4 and 6.
Previous family holidays have been camping, but I don't fancy that on my own with them.
Are these holiday parks good value or plain exhausting for a single mum?
I am struggling to decide so any ideas gratefully received. Xx

OP posts:

mrsjay · 02/01/2012 21:19

NO you are not BU a holiday park would be great if you are on your own and dont want to camp and there is loads of site for the children , what about butlins or parkdean who have nicer parks than haven . I do think a holiday park is ideal if you dont want to go camping but still do your own think , we used Hoburne holidays last year google it , was a lot quieter than Haven but still had things to do ,

Thefoxsbrush · 02/01/2012 21:20

I find butlins much better value for money as there is about 5x more free entertainment and it is of a much higher standard than haven (ALWAYS something to do), free fair rides and a crèche service for about £5 which might be nice if you want to use the spa/have some me time.

turkeysandwich · 02/01/2012 21:21

Having been a single parent visiting the holiday parks, I would plump for Butlins over Haven. They have a lot more entertainment on during the day and the swimming pools, fair rides etc are much better.

If finances can stretch, the hotels at Bognor are so much better. (if you book before Jan 4th then kids eat free).

Disclaimer: I don't work for Butlins but have just been on their website booking a break!

RhondaRoo · 02/01/2012 21:21

No you are not BU.

Seek out a cheap deal, make sure you have budgeted for 'spends' in the club (sweets and arcade games galore!) and enjoy watching them having a fab time.

I only holiday in the UK, normally in holiday cottages but have also camped and motor-homed (?) and DD says the best holiday she ever had was at Presthaven Sands in North Wales (was on the Sun £9 hols - cost me for 4 people but only me and DD went, still value for money though).

Wasn't my ideal holiday but as a single parent with a very active child, it ticked a lot of boxes and she loved it.

foosty · 02/01/2012 21:22

would agree that a mobile home would be ideal, but we went on a haven holiday in scarborough last year and it was bloody AWFUL.

I had (stupidly, as it turned out) presumed that the park would be pretty quiet as the English school holidays hadn't started yet (we were coming from Scotland where they start at the end of June)

but NO- it was almost full of families with kids (why weren't they in school??!!!) and was a nightmare trying to use the pool (which was nice enough, to be fair) as it was always so packed out

our caravan was stinking of wet dog and fags

Yorkshire is lovely though!

just avoid, avoid, avoid Haven. IMHO.

cornsilxkskiy · 02/01/2012 21:23

we did Haven one year and I didn't like it. Centerpracs is good value outside of school holidays.

cornsilxkskiy · 02/01/2012 21:23

we did Haven near scarborough as well - blue dolphin. Grim.

Goolash · 02/01/2012 21:23

Go for it. I've often taken my kids to parks on my own when my dp has been working. It can be tiring when they're young but at least there's plenty to do. Look at the Parks section on the Hoseasons site also so you can hunt out the best deal.

LovingChristmas · 02/01/2012 21:24

If you book Haven, look on ebay for caravans, do not book through Haven, it's about double the price and you get miserable vans unless you go for the Gold standard ones.

Original poster

LadyEatsCrispsALot · 02/01/2012 21:27

Liking the crèche idea a lot! Buntlines may be the way forward then. thanks very much! I assume red wine is available...;)

OP posts:

Original poster

LadyEatsCrispsALot · 02/01/2012 21:28

Buntlines!!!!! butlins.......ahem

OP posts:

mrsjay · 02/01/2012 21:29

I was in scarbrough haven 2 years ago foosty scottish holidays and it was god awful we had our own tourer van but got it was dismil , Op go to butlins

foosty · 02/01/2012 21:30

yeah, corn, we were at blue dolphin too

honestly, I cried with how much I hated it

zoomed out on our last day screaming 'yeeha!' and giving them the finger through the sunroof

leelo · 02/01/2012 21:32

the sun are starting their £9.50 holiday deal on sat 7th of january. if you want a cheap holiday. on their site it tells you when you can go and where. they have european sites aswell. we're looking at doing it this year as friends have done it and said good value and we are trying to do up the house and a holiday would be impossible unless its cheap or free.

TheGoddessBlossom · 02/01/2012 21:32

Done both. Rate Butlins over Haven by a MILE.

wannabestressfree · 02/01/2012 21:33

I did a two night break in one of the butlin's hotels last year as a sort of taster. My boys had a great time and I didn't feel like a social pariah as I felt I may have by being at Centre Parcs on my own. There is lots to do but it is expensive when you are there........

cornsilxkskiy · 02/01/2012 21:34

haha
we went a day early it was so awful- paid £600 for the privilege of staYING IN a dirty, smelly caravan. Didn't bother wilt the pool as it was stuffed. I was close to tears when we arrived and saw the state of the place!

foosty · 02/01/2012 21:39

yes. So, to summarise, TheLady - don't go to Haven Blue Dolphin. It is shit.

CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 02/01/2012 21:40

We always go on Haven holidays. We have had one or two problems, over the years, but they were always attended to straight away. We dont tend to stay in the van in the day anyway, always out having fun!

soverylucky · 02/01/2012 21:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

betternextlife · 02/01/2012 21:46

We have done both butlins and haven and both worked out ok.

With Butlins you pay for the day long entertainment which is brilliant for kids and I found we didn't need a lot of spending money. We did self catering and took lots of food with us to keep the costs down.

Haven sites vary in standard, some better than others. We found that generally we needed more spending money as less to do on site.

lovelyladuree · 02/01/2012 21:50

We are going to Haven Caister this year. I hate the fact that Butlins let non-guests in during the day, so if the weather is good, you end up queueing forever for everything. Haven have decent kids clubs so you will get a break, and there are always other kids for yours to make friends with so that takes the pressure off you a bit too.

NorksAreMessy · 02/01/2012 21:52

This is a secret, and I will deny it if you tell anyone, but I have done the Sun caravan holidays several times, and they were GREAT!

Cheap as chips, but then we upgraded for a few luxuries, DC loved it, loads of other children to play with. I loved not having to take a dress or shoes with heels, we spend the whole time on the walk-to-able beach digging sandcastles and eating picnics.

Only bought the Sun for the vouchers, and threw the rest away without reading it

FlightRisk · 02/01/2012 21:53

Oh god please don't take them to Haven. I'm a single mum too took DS to a Haven in 2008 spent a fortune on a caravan and it was self catering. The power went off for a whole day, they don't tell you about any excurrsions you can go on. The "fun stars" are lazy bastards who really can't be arsed with your kids. My DS went to a craft club he made a bradley bear that had moving arms, it took him 10mins, there words to him after he'd finished were "there's nothing else to do so you'll have to go" ARGH

Loads of dodgy looks from people because I was there alone

Seriously spend less (I did for half board) and take them to Butlins instead.

So so so much better, the red coats are fantastic, the entertainment isn't just ofr the kids either. There's so much to do. The water park is free and brilliant!!

They can't do enough for you even if something goes wrong. My kettle stopped working it was replaced within half an hour.

I will never ever recommend Haven to anyone Xx

FlightRisk · 02/01/2012 21:58

They even do snake bite and black op. So much better in my opinion. Also book a last minute they're nearly half price then

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