Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday Village/caravan sites - Made me feel a bit sad

89 replies

Girlwhowearsglasses · 08/04/2015 14:38

Have just come back from one of the many many Holiday Village type camp sites in the UK. This one is very well kept, and cost as much to stay in a double glazed mobile home as a cottage on the beach would have (I have since discovered). It was located in one of the truly beautiful parts of the UK. In other words not at all unusual, and very similar to lots of others..

I have come away feeling a bit sad; and also that I'm a bit of a snob. I just don't get it.

Basically even though there were beaches and stunning landscape, great pubs and cafes and restaurants serving great food, lots of local stuff to see and lots of other attractions; a large portion of the people there spent most of their time in the camp. Aside from the crazy golf, playground, swimming pool etc, quite a lot if this time seemed to be spent drinking and gambling. The children also seemed to be spending a lot of time trailing their parents watching them drinking or playing bingo, and there was a large children's amusement arcade with a lot of expensive games which as far as I could see were training the kids to gamble. My DP took the DCs in once and they were hooked instantly and begged to go in there all holiday.. There was one 8 YO boy there who had around 70 cards from a machine which cost £1 per card (sort of collectable cards with a game involved) - he'd spent his entire time in there. The food and drink in the camp was at least as expensive as to buy much better nearby.

The mobile home was clean, but cramped and uncomfortable (beds always terrible in Mobile homes). We spent our time doing all sorts of things off site, and didn't end up doing a lot of the the stuff on offer in the camp - all of which cost £££ extra (climbing wall etc). Honestly we could have spent so much money in the camp - its not a cheap option at all.

We could have stayed in a really nice self catering and had some really fancy meals out for the same price.

AIBU not to get the point and wonder why they come to such a beautiful place and don't look at it?

OP posts:
Dowser · 08/04/2015 18:23

Our worst holiday was the majestic holiday village in Barry. Some of you may even remember the lurid headlines in the news of the world about coach loads of holidaymakers turning up and thinking it was a shambles and not even getting off the coach.

Well we chose this place as it was the nearest to my relatives who lived in Cardiff. We chose it before the now's head lines though. It had been the old butlins camp.

I'd never been to butlins . So, I was about to find out what it was about....and even better we only had two whole weeks there.

When we arrived, so far so good, the outside was clean, brightly painted. I seem to remember a big water slide out the front.
After you passed the front reception things went downhill fast. The chalets were the typical stock of butlins in the 60s/70s. Rows and rows of two storey chalet. All looking very dilapidated.

We were allocated a one on the ground floor. Bedding was clean but the rooms had a musty smell to them. The cooking facilities were dated and cramped, there was another dated dining table set and a bed all in the same room. I really felt like I was slumming it.
I just wanted to turn round and go home. I'm not posh believe me. I can do basic but this took basic to a whole new lower level.

The kids Had been let off the hook to explore . When we met up with them and said we were going home . they cried. They absolutely loved it.

They went on the cable cars, my son loved the arcades. They loved the pool.

So we stopped. I think thecamps are a lot better now. Hopefully all the old chalet stock has been consigned to the dustbin. This would be the 80s

TwoOddSocks · 08/04/2015 18:31

YANBU. I remember getting totally addicted to those kinds of machines as a kid. The thing was I never even really enjoyed them, I just became pre-occupied with getting more money off my mum to play again and again and would never end up happy or relaxed after it. I actually had a lot more fun when my parents dragged me off site and we went to the beach or just a walk in the woods where we could all climb trees etc.

poorbuthappy · 08/04/2015 18:36

Horses for courses.
I think you need to sharpen your research skills OP.
We've just come back from a similar seaside area where we stayed over the Easter weekend. We wanted a weekend of letting kids off the leash (but being well behaved of courseGrin) and having a weekend of doing nothing in particular at all.
And it was great. Grin
Trip advisor should always be used...

Original poster
Girlwhowearsglasses · 08/04/2015 18:52

I am on a quest for a relaxing holiday and haven't yet found it. Many have told me I needed kids clubs but there are three of them and they don't always want to do the activities (phone calls from holiday clubs cause the small ones won't play the games or mess about, and the ADHD one is unpredictable - hence not being able to be in a playground )

OP posts:
HopOnTheMonnerBus · 08/04/2015 18:56

I'm sure if you see us on our Butlins holiday you'd lump us in with the gambling/drinking types.

In fact we try to do everything when we're away.

Up early, swim, football club for DSs, head out of camp for beach walk or visit to local attraction, back for dinner then our evenings are spent in the entertainment bars where me and DH will drink and the DSs will spend time at the arcades.

Just because people choose to drink or gamble on their holiday doesn't mean they're not doing other stuff out of the camp too.

Sirzy · 08/04/2015 19:01

You can't judge on one snapshot.

We have just got back from a long weekend in wales, we go every year for a rest holiday. We only left the site to go to tesco and for an hour in a local town to get chips and ice cream from a great chippy and ice cream parlour. The rest of the time we spent on site/on the beach next to the site. It was amazing and just what we needed.

We have two other holidays this year (a caravan holiday in Norfolk and a 3 night cruise) which will be completly different, exploring places type holidays.

26Point2Miles · 08/04/2015 19:12

Ha ha ime the 'attractions' nearby all take advantage and up their prices too.... They know holidaymakers are nearby

A walk along the beach may be 'free' but the add ons all add up

6Musiclover · 08/04/2015 19:26

OP, why on earth do you feel sad for people on holiday who are obviously enjoying themselves.Confused
The irony is, is that if those same people saw you and your family looking miserable they would probably feel very sorry for youWink

You have mentioned a couple of times that your children are prone to fighting with each other and are not amendable to joining in in kids clubs/ activities.
Just a thought, but perhaps it's not the type of holiday per se that is the problem..

tshirtsuntan · 08/04/2015 19:32

This reminds me-anyone fancy the Happy Mondays at Minehead Butlins? 8th Nov I think Grin Grin

saltnpepa · 08/04/2015 19:40

Sounds chavtastic (ducking), and I'd rather sit in a cardboard box than go to anything like what you have described. You poor things, I hope you get another holiday this year to make up for it.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 08/04/2015 19:42

Shock at a tenner a night on the arcades! Really? That seems like a lot of money to me to spend in one week for a pile of plastic tat that will end up in landfill.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 08/04/2015 19:50

Thinking about it, OP, if you consider that people are spending a tenner a night on 2p slots for something that amuses them for a month or 2 (if It lasts that long) then gets consigned to a box and hardly looked at, then I can kind of see what you're getting at.

I do like caravan holidays and being outdoors with the adults barbecuing and chatting with a beer or a glass of wine while the kids kick a football about or have a game of cricket or hide and seek. Or on a rainy evening staying in the caravan playing a crappy box game that turns out to be a bit of a laugh. But yes, I do think that arcades are just addictive money-eaters with the fun short-lived and the reward a bit, well, shite. It ain't food for the soul, that's for sure, but appeals to most people's consumerist nature.

Original poster
Girlwhowearsglasses · 08/04/2015 20:00

They're not 2p though! They are all £1.

It's not like it used to be, its not innocent fun winning fun plastic tat.

When I was a kid there were things that were chance games AND lots of video games (Wreck It Ralph type world) - but here we are talking a completely different balance away from the video games, and psychology along the lines of Vegas has been employed - (patterned carpets, dark coloured lighting, no clocks, making you go through the arcade to get places, etc...

I am judging the holiday company not the parents or kids.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 08/04/2015 20:06

The site we were at there were lots of 2p machines, 10p machines and Some more expensive ones. Nobody is forced to use them though. I think I spent about £5 in there last weekend, when the weather has been bad we have spent more. We never generally go on arcades but when we are here DS likes it for half an hour or so

Why the need to judge just because it isn't to your taste?

Owllady · 08/04/2015 20:18

Where we go in Wales it's just like my childhood tbh, the machines are pennies

We stay in a cottage though but it's more to do with our washing :)

EveDallas · 08/04/2015 20:18

Add message | Report | Message poster CurlyhairedAssassin Wed 08-Apr-15 19:42:28
shock at a tenner a night on the arcades! Really? That seems like a lot of money to me to spend in one week for a pile of plastic tat that will end up in landfill

Horses for courses. It was the only money we spent all day - and would have been the same cost as two rounds in the pub. Difference there is that it entertained us there and then for approx 2 hours and she's still playing with the stuff now. Better value than the beer or wine you bought...

I love our caravan. It's on a nice small site with lots of other families. It's quiet and has direct access to a huge dog friendly beach. It's a 5 minute walk from the nearest pub/restaurant/evening entertainment and 10 minutes from the centre with arcades, fair and splash park.

It's as good/bad/chavtastic as you make it.

Coconutty · 08/04/2015 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 08/04/2015 20:35

I worked on a holiday site for a few years a couple of years back, and go to Haven/Butlins/Parkdean type places once a year, and never in my life have I seen one with only £1 machines.

These holidays are what you make them. I'd much rather spend all week on a site with lots to do than go hiking for hours in the countryside, but that's just me.

We're going to a park in South Wales this year, can't wait Grin

MrsFlannel · 08/04/2015 20:42

Owl where is that please!? I love Wales. Due a trip!

Original poster
Girlwhowearsglasses · 08/04/2015 20:56

I've asked DP. Only ones less than £1 were ones where you buy a ticket and if you buy a whole shed load you might get a pencil

OP posts:
TerryTheGreenHorse · 08/04/2015 21:08

Which park was this? Ive been to loads in my time and ive never seen one without penny games.

Was it a weird private one?

Caravan parks have had arcades in them for donkeys years, in the seventies we went every year and used them.

I don't know why it's bothering you, we also went in day trips and read books and frolicked on the beach etc.

TheoriginalLEM · 08/04/2015 21:16

I have been to both Haven and Park Resorts - there are plenty of "2p" machines that actually have £1 and 50ps in them, but ive never actually seen anyone on them. There were plenty of 2p machines and machines where you get tickets, yes you spend more on actually "winning" the tickets than what the tat at the end of it is worth by my dd loves doing this and sometimes you get lucky and get a cuddly toy Grin.

I was slightly irritated that you have to walk through the arcade to get to swimming pool and entertainment area.

The daytime entertainment was dire though - we went along once when it was raining but didn't stay. There was no other families there either. This was at one of Haven's biggest sites. That was Sun Holiday weekend then - OP your face would have looked like a cats arse on speed i can tell ye.

TerryTheGreenHorse · 08/04/2015 21:17

I find them brilliant with little kids.

DrasticAction · 08/04/2015 21:20

Op did you never see a program about holdiay swaps, its was so funny and interesting.

Its certainly not my kind of holiday at all.

It sounds utterly depressing and I spent a long time in pubs playing those machines whilst adults drank ( not on hols though).

When you keep saying camp I cant but help think prison.

I am all for mobile home hols though, and am happy to stay in them, just not on a huge site like that with stuff to do , not in uk anyway.

DrasticAction · 08/04/2015 21:21

and yes its a shame when its not a cheap option at all and you cold have got lovely individual cost cottage.

anyway you know for next time"