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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to book a Park Resort holiday and expect to have nice time?

28 replies

SonShines · 10/06/2013 22:39

Amazing deal on Groupon, very tempted and after looking at their website I'm having visions of a lovely, comfortable, long weekend. My memory of English holiday camps is telling me something different though...

Has anyone been, can you tell me what it's really like?

Looking at IOW, if any, I think.

OP posts:
mrsjay · 10/06/2013 22:41

I quite like Park resorts they are fine which 1 are you thinking of going too ,

Original poster
SonShines · 10/06/2013 22:45

One of the Isle of Wight ones, I think. Kids will be excited about the ferry Grin

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 10/06/2013 22:50

I've stayed on a park resort, I had a great holiday.

MegBusset · 10/06/2013 22:50

We had a few trips to Park Resorts Camber Sands when we lived in London. You have to leave your inner snob at the door and accept it for what it is, cheap and cheerful. The swimming pools were good and the evening entertainment worth a giggle.

'Comfortable' really depends on the luck of what caravan you get. We always went for Gold caravans and had one or two that were really nice, a couple a bit shabbier.

WeAreSix · 10/06/2013 22:52

I've been to Park Resorts IOW. Had a good time - we don't use any if the entertainment at the park though, just a place to sleep! The pool was small and very busy, but the caravan was clean and the park was well kept.

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 22:53

I went to blue dolphin (haven ) in scarbrough (sp) and hankered after the shiney park resort next door Sad it was lovely we go to the one in perthshire and I have been in the borders site it is cheerful holiday camp stuff but I think it is a bit better run that haven,

chicaguapa · 10/06/2013 22:55

What's the Groupon offer?

Original poster
SonShines · 10/06/2013 22:59

£59 for a midweek 4 night stay or weekend 3 night stay, for 6 people. It's £109 for IOW, but that includes ferry.

Is there much to do on IOW? I've never been.

OP posts:
Original poster
SonShines · 10/06/2013 22:59

Some of the trip advisor reviews are just dire

OP posts:
mrsjay · 10/06/2013 23:01

what are they saying some folk love a moan on T A though we went abroad at easter lovely hotel and there was awful reviews about the hotel it was lovely,

usualsuspect · 10/06/2013 23:02

People compete on trip adviser to give the crappest reviews.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 10/06/2013 23:03

That's a vey cheap deal considering it cost us more than that last time we went just to get the ferry!

Original poster
SonShines · 10/06/2013 23:06

It is cheap... No catch as far as I can see.

I am a bit of a snob, if I'm being honest Blush

Our usual holiday is a quiet cottage holiday let in the countryside somewhere. so we don't meet anyone else

OP posts:
twinklytoes · 10/06/2013 23:14

we quite like park resorts. mainly because the children love it! if you're children are under 11 and the holiday is for them then it's probably a good choice. and also, that tesco clubcard vouchers pay for two long weekends a year!

we've been to languard on IOW, the only downside of this camp was that you couldn't bring the car to the side of the caravan, so had to carry luggage.

we've been to five sites now and found as long as you upgrade the caravan to silver plus then you get pretty good accomodation. the entertainment is a bit hit and miss for adults but the children, generally are very happy.

the best site we've been to is Kidwelly near carmarthen, right on the beach. do not go to the site that saids it's in clacton on sea... it's not! it's in the most deprived area of the UK and generally feels very unsafe as you drive up to it, then there's needles on the beach, and very unfriendly staff on the site.

you are going to get a "typical british holiday"

Areyoumadorisitme · 10/06/2013 23:26

YABUnrealistic unless you do as an earlier poster said and leave your inner snob at home.

We once went with friends on a haven holiday paid for with tesco vouchers. It was ok because I went with such low expectations. I can't say I'd want to pay real money to repeat the experience though.

That said, the kids had a great time.

Horses for courses really.

Dominodonkey · 10/06/2013 23:34

I used to work for park resorts on the iow. Lovely camps especially lower Hyde as you can just walk into shanklin. You get really lovely families there. There is loads to do on the island- the needles , dinosaur island, black gang chine about 4 zoos etc

Boonyjinkies · 10/06/2013 23:35

I am a snob. I recently stayed at park Resorts in kessingland. Had a brilliant time and it was so cheap!! We will return. Do it.

skyeskyeskye · 10/06/2013 23:38

I had two free holidays at Park Resorts using Tesco Clubcard vouchers. I stayed at Camber Sands and one near Mablethorpe. Both parks were clean and tidy, with nice parks and swimming pools.

We had a gold caravan each time which was lovely.

I tend to stay in Parkdean sites now just because DD loves the entertainment there

BluddyNora · 10/06/2013 23:46

We just got back from Biddeford bay in Devon, was lovely.

mrsdinklage · 10/06/2013 23:49

We had a great time at Park Resorts, and blackgang chine was great (disclaimer - it was a few years ago Smile

moogy1a · 11/06/2013 07:40

We've just had a free long weekend ( thanks Tesco) at Park resort at Scarborough. It was fab. Beautiful beach across the road, kids loved the cheesy entertainment. pool clean and good fun
We did have a gold plus so the caravan was surprisingly roomy and very nice.

Original poster
SonShines · 11/06/2013 12:07

Wow- might bite the bullet and go for it!

OP posts:
oliviafrombolivia · 12/06/2013 18:55

I have stayed at Park Resorts in Croyde, Devon, just across from the beach. Lovely little village and surrounds, avoided the on site entertainment as it wasn't our scene, had a great time.

skyeskyeskye · 12/06/2013 20:00

olivia - sorry, but the Croyde one is Parkdean, not Park Resorts.

You are right though, it is lovely. I stayed there for 4 nights last year and had a fab time.

DisappointedHorse · 12/06/2013 20:05

It's what you make it. If you're a snob and intend to stay on site all the time you'll hate it.

Use it as a base to go out and see the Island (and there is loads to do) and accept the nightlife is like Phoenix Nights and you'll be fine.

Whatever you think though, the kids will love it.

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