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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:

Debs75 · 02/01/2012 21:58

We did Haven loads and have always loved it. I've done all the Yorkshire ones(am a yorkshire lass and like to be local) apart from Blue Dolphin. Have took my friends there twice and it looked so naff, it is more than likely the worst of all Haven sites.
Next year we are going to Parkdean in Hampshire(will be a long haul for us) to go to a wedding in August and it will only cost us £550, Haven would be £700 and Butlins would be almost £2000

Mandy2003 · 02/01/2012 22:00

Parkdean (through The Sun offer) have always been brilliant for us, have been 5 or 6 times. Do the offer now while your DC are in lower/primary school so that they can have a day or 2 off in term time!

We did go to Butlins once, when DS was about 8 years old. He felt very unsafe compared to how he'd been at Parkdean, and complained that there were "dodgy" adults looking at him and other children. Just saying what he said but I didn't feel that comfortable either. Unless you go self-catering I thought the accommodation at Butlins was very poor.

As for Pontins - just don't even think about it

Original poster

LadyEatsCrispsALot · 02/01/2012 22:00

That's great advice Flightrisk. This will be our first holiday as a single parent so want to make it a good one! Just hope I can manage it!

OP posts:

DharmaCeutical · 02/01/2012 22:00

If you dooooo decide on haven, I second the idea of a private caravan. Ours was immaculate and well stocked. It was obviously the owners pride and joy.

Someone described Haven as a Jeremy Kyle theme park and they're not a million miles out. I secretly loved the people watching

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 02/01/2012 22:04

Don't go to Haven, it's bloody disgusting.

We went to one on Wales, I forget the name, but I do remember the ridiculously small pool ( complete with cracked, missing tiles and filth ) was in a giant conservatory thing.

The conservatory thing heated up in the sun, which was unbearable.

Also along the pool were the changing facilities, some of which had nappy bins in them.

You had to be there to imagine the stench dozens of shitty, pissy nappies created as they gently warmed through.

And the flies, oh lordy the stench along with the flies, even the dcs refused to go in !!

mrsjay · 02/01/2012 22:06

somebody said about Haven kids clubs if your children are under 8 you have to stay with them , and to the other people who went to scarborough it was BLue dolphin we went to , its dire , park resorts was near by i used to look longinly at it and wished i had booked , I had a static van years ago at haven , we liked it for a few seasons ,

FlightRisk · 02/01/2012 22:16

*ApocalypseCheeseToastie"

Your park sounds like Greenacres near Porthmadog. Disgusting is an understatement. Honestly I've never been so upset by a holiday that had cost me so much money and we were so badly treated. DS did make 1 friend but at butlins he made loads

Feenie · 02/01/2012 22:18

Don't go to Craig Tara Haven in Scotland - full of dog ends and dog shit, HUMAN poo in the changing rooms which stayed there all afternoon, even though surly staff were informed and ditto piles of vomit.

SoftKittyWarmKitty · 02/01/2012 22:18

I'm a single parent and I've been to Haven for the past few years - Primrose Valley near Filey - but always book a private caravan. They are much cheaper than booking via Haven, for a better standard of caravan. We stayed in this caravan last year and it was lovely :) . You don't get entertainment passes with most private caravans but can buy them separately although we don't bother, as we're out and about in the daytime and am not bothered about going to the club in the evenings.

With money being so tight though, I might have to do the Sun holidays this year, so thanks to the person who posted above saying the vouchers start on Saturday.

hatesponge · 02/01/2012 22:19

I wouldn't hesistate to go to Haven or similar (have been to a Park Resorts and another one...John Fowler possibly? also fine) in preference to the shit tip that was Butlins. Honestly there is no way I'd ever go back to Butlins, only place I've been that was worse was Pontins...

My experience of Haven etc is all West Country based - Dorset/Devon though, but all v good (as were other sites mentioned).

katz · 02/01/2012 22:20

We've done park resorts holidays they're good

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 02/01/2012 22:21

The absolute worst holiday we EVER had was at Haven - the Blue Dolphin at Scarborough as it happens. We came home after just one night, cut our losses, and just couldn't stand it any more - it was utterly vile and revolting. I could witter for days about everything that was wrong/dirty/broken/overpriced/shit and not think of one single thing that was even Ok, let alone good or nice about it. Don't do it!

Santasjollys · 02/01/2012 22:26

I agree if you're going to go with haven, try to book a privately owned caravan. We have one at primrose valley, (Filey). The first time we went there on holiday we stayed in one of theirs and it was awful.

The sites do get very busy, but depending on where you go, there is usually plenty for young children to do.

JinglePosyPerkin · 02/01/2012 22:40

A word of wisdom to those of you who love Butlins but hate Haven - Butlins has recently been taken over by Bourne Leisure (Haven), so expect standards to be dropping in the near future .

FlightRisk · 02/01/2012 22:42

Oh no they were taken over a while ago now certainly before I went to Butlins.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 02/01/2012 22:46

Greenacres ! That's the fucker.

We'd been to the park resorts one the year before and loved it, we stayed there mainly for the location, not too far from Snowdon etc and near decent beaches, was a crap holiday.

One night we risked the entertainment, the kids thing had been cancelled so they roll out some old comedian who thought it would be a good idea to tell rude, expletive ridden jokes in front of a bunch of kids

The only decent Haven sites are the old Butlins ones and they've ruined those from what i've heard.

I like Butlins, it is what it is. Full of chavs ( mainly out of season tbh ) but there's loads to do, the kids love it and in the main it's safe and clean.

Which is all I need.

FlightRisk · 02/01/2012 22:55

I go to Butlins high season (my birthday is in august) not as many chavs there as there were gypsies at haven

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 02/01/2012 23:02

Yes, we've been to Butlins high season and found it less chavtastic.

We take the kids out of school when we go away these days, they find it hard to cope with (both have asd ) when it's busy, saves a bloody fortune as well which means we can go away each weekend during the summer hols.

snowybun · 03/01/2012 00:18

We went to Haven at hastings october half term all I can say is the caravan was awful mouldy smelly not vaccumed properly. The sofa seat was breaking when you sat on it.
We will stick to camping in the future our tent is much cleaner, warmer and enjoyable than that caravan.

wannabestressfree · 03/01/2012 01:04

How about Eurocamp if you are feeling adventerous? They have lots of offers on

MabliD · 03/01/2012 01:19

Going against the grain a bit, but I've been to Haven sites dozens of times since childhood and always enjoyed it - although we never really messed about with the pool/entertainment side of it (apart from getting very very drunk on the beer pitchers when on holiday with now DH). We tend to just use it as a base to explore from rather than relying on the camp for our fun. Never had a problem that wasn't sorted quickly, and once got a random free caravan upgrade. I have been to Butlins twice and wanted to shoot myself.

I have, however, never been to Scarborough. That may make all the difference.

Dee03 · 03/01/2012 01:36

I've been to haven in Hastings about 10 years ago and it was awful then went again a could of years later with a friend and all our dc and it had been done up so was slightly better.
4 years ago me and dc went to haven at camber sands and it was great. Had a chalet this time and kids loved it. Going to do the sun holiday again this year and go again.

sashh · 03/01/2012 05:08

I actually enjoyed Haven. Went to the one at Filey, the caravan was great but was one someone owned and rented out so lots of nice bits like board games and a video library.

molly3478 · 03/01/2012 06:46

Go to butlins its the best! We are booked for 2012 and its our 5th time in 4 years. I never went as a kid and now I love it loads as there is so much to do, seeing how excited your kids will get etc.

Kayzr · 03/01/2012 06:50

I've done both and they are both really good. Butlins is better for entertainment. We went to a haven in north Wales and it was great.

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