To be scared we're off to haven *gulp*

[booomy]

DP has just announced his parents have booked a last minute caravan in a haven park. I know i'm being stuck up, but I'm really afraid it's going to be filthy! I don't know if i'm more upset about staying in a caravan or the fact I might see FIL in his pants on the way to the bathroom...

We went to one 6 years ago. The kids still say it was their favourite holiday. Will we go back? Probably not!

i went to haven last june the caraven and site was lovely not to impressed with entertainment everbody stuck in big room with loads of kids including mine running round with bubble guns whilst staff were trying to do entertatinment acts have been to potins and buitlins so well aware of what the entertainment consists of most nights me and dh sat in the caraven with a few drinks not a bad holiday though!

MumsGoToReykjavik - Totally with you on the Donniford Bay comments. We had a cheapy break there last year. Never again! The place was bloody awful.

It does partly depend on the area you go to. I have worked on the entertainments teams for both haven and park resorts (10 years or so ago) my first park was in Skegness and the first person I saw when I arrived was a man with a tattoo... Right across his face! I ran the kids club and a dad told me to let him know if his child was naughty... Cos if he was he would throw him through the frickin window! However there was little trouble and the people I met when I worked in Devon and on the isle of wight were all absolutely lovely.

I don't wear boden lol, I wear asda price and tesco!
I would rather save my pennies and go to centre parcs, the pool is about 5 times bigger than those at Haven and its warm. When we braved Haven the first time the pool was that cold that our son (14 months old) got blue lips and fingers. It was also grotty and grim. Bits all over the floor (peoples bum and belly button fluff, pubic hair and cobs of head hair.) Our caravan on both occasions had no heating even though we paid for luxury plus. It was grim and I complained both times, we only lasted 2 days first time round and had booked for 5 on a half board holiday. Second time round it was supposed to be 3 nights 4 days, we stayed 2 nights and went home. I almost come to blows with the woman in the apartment underneath us (we got moved from our freezer compartment caravan) because the kids were too noisey for her at 7:45am, she came hammering on our door with her hair rollers in. I pointed out that our children were 4 & 2 and excited to be on holiday.
never again even if I was paid to go!

we went to hafan y mor in Wales & Craig Tara in Scotland, we always joke about how awful those holidays were

i have seen the prices for centre parcs compared to haven and whilst i,m sure centre parcs is lovely it does seam very expensive my collegue paid more for three nights in centre parcs [way more] than i did for a week in haven, butlins is quite good value and there is a lot more going on than haven but just be aware that there small extra charges for certain activities are nt very small at all !

I'm not sure if I'd pay all that extra to be honest. A uk holiday is what it is, often cold and rainy and I sound rather spend a bit less and have haven facilities.

I did have a peek at centre parcs the price made my eyes water.

I would be expecting luxury for that.

Thought I'd update! Caravan is lovely, very clean. Lots for DS to do, even if some extras cost a fortune!

BUT I'm never ever coming again. The people are vile. Poor woman at swimming I was talking to had her purse stolen whilst feeding her baby! So someone with kids in the pool did it? Vile people! Avoiding all communal places like the plague, I can't bear it!!

In answer to a previous poster, yes wrhave very low income, hence the treat from PIL. I'd rather not have a holiday then come here to be honest! Am grateful for the gesture but will be washing my hair in future!

So your judging everyone there by one stolen purse?

Once we had a guidebook stolen from the toilet of the V&A Museum. Should we never go back there based on that one incident?

Is your DS enjoying the holiday?

So you'd rather ds not have a holiday that's been paid for and he is enjoying as you don't want to mix with all the viiiillllleee people?

Heavens

People get pick pocketed everywhere in this country, no where is immune to theft. So are you never leaving the house again? Just curious.

Yes it is awful that they lady had her purse taken, but you can't judge all the guests at every Haven site based on one persons actions.

Glad the caravan is nice. Just keep an eye on your belongings and you will be absolutely fine in the clubs and communal areas.

We went on lots of haven holidays when the kids were little . I have to say the kids loved them. Usually these places were full of largish tatooed women yelling at their kids , but kids don't seem to notice that. The entertainment areas always had that unclean sticky carpet feel about them, but this was a few years ago and things may have changed now. We went to Primrose valley once and one of the mattresses in the kids room was covered in dried, caked on s**t ! It had just been turned over, I guess they were thinking we wouldn't notice. Overall we have some good holidays at Haven, with the odd bad experience.

Spot on usualsuspect.

Choice between going on holiday with the average Haven Holidaymaker or the mumsnetters on this thread? I think I would opt for the former.

Good grief my brother had his wallet stolen from his pocket in Paris (in the Metro). I really need to tell him never to go back!

I've just returned from a short break at a Haven site. Had a terrific time. We were booked into a Prestige caravan - full central heating, double glazing, ensuite bathroom etc. Gorgeous actually.

There was a large swimming pool with waterfalls etc and a newly built building with sports and soft play, which my grandson loved. Plenty of other facilities and activities too. The weather was awful, but we were never bored.

Incidentally, I genuinely only saw normal families.

I've booked a further two breaks for next year at a different site. I just hope it's as good as this one.

I was about to say the same. The only time I had my purse nicked was on a rather nice hol in a vair nice hotel.

Does that mean that the people in 4* hols are shits and I should never go back?

I didn't see awful families any of the times I was in Haven. TBH it sounds like you'd already made up your mind that it wasn't for "your kind of people" and you're allowing it to cloud your judgement.

Well guess what. It IS for your kind of people. People who maybe can't afford a holiday abroad or a rented cottage in the UK and to get a holiday need help from the PiLs. Get over it.

I've been to Haven Perran Sands,Haven Little Sea and Haven Devon cliffs twice.Caravans have been fine.The last we went to was tiny but clean.If its filthy complain to them to move you to another.Do we what we did check it out before you unload your car

Do what we do*

Oops didn't see your update.I don't think you cn blame Haven for that though.You get scummy people anywhere

Haven is great for the kids. I parked my touring van there in april and it has been there since, will be bringing it home november.

We go every weekend pretty much, sometimes dont even take the kids just dp and I.

I will be there for the season next year too.