I am BU. Holiday parks and 'chavs'!

[Waltermittythesequel]

My dsis has informed me that I would be mad to book a Haven holiday in the UK since it will be full of rough people and chavs.

I have never been so I have no idea of the type of clientele.

I'm honest enough to admit that the thought of being surrounded by Jezza Kyle types is a little daunting.

There'll be dh and I along with our 3 dc and I just don't want to fork out a lot of money and feel uncomfortable and unable to use the facilities.

I hate judging people based on how they look/sound etc but she's been before and has really worried me!

I understand where your coming from but i think it depends on the location of the holiday park. Mostly i've heard they are lovely (not been in about 20 years since i was a kid)
I think areas like Devon/Dorset/Cornwall would be lovely

It's awful, don't go. Worst holiday ever. We tried 2 last year and cut both short. The people are horrendous X

We love haven and go every year, Devon cliffs is the best one so far. The only place I didn't like was pontins but haven is great for all the family. Butlins is also another favourite but is quite pricey, you get what you pay for though. Enjoy your holiday

I've been to the Lake District one which is lovely and quiet. The Blackpool one is rowdier but all clean etc although the pool is small and shite which my kids hated.

Pontins was far worse. The rooms were gross and the double bed in our family chalet was a frikkin mouldy old sofa bed

In a bizarre twist I've booked us to go to Disneyland Paris!

I can't get on board with Haven, I'm afraid. X factor wannabes and pools with queues just doesn't appeal!

If I'm going queue, I'd rather do it in Disney!

Thanks for all the responses. Interesting thread!

That's an unexpected outcome

Chavs believe anyone who doesn't look and live like they do are snobs.

So to be a chav it is not working class or middle class distinction but ANYONE who scores 4 or more of the following:

1. Cannot reason with their dc/partner/friends/colleagues/teachers at their dc's school without bellowing/ffing and blinding and possibly hitting or threatening to do so

1. Does everything to excess without consideration or thoughtfulness to anyone not in their circle (drinking, belching, shouting, laughing, singing etc)

1. Are usually poorly educated, racist, sexist and are narrow minded and yet are usually know it alls and have big egos.

1. Eat to excess and badly and mostly are happily overweight as are their children.

1. Have tattoos, wear inappropriate clothing and don't care what they look like, and have poor social skills.

I can sort of see what the op means...the larger holiday camps ( not mentioning any names here) do seem to have men and women who buy cheap booze on their way to their holiday and drink too much when in the clubs...but thankfully they are in the minority and i think the problems caused by hens/stags and large groups is being addressed.
My son has worked 'other' holiday camps and they do get their fair share of trouble makers who see it as a massive drinks fest who all club together and 'dib in' with the cost of the holiday I too would have reservations being next door to these drunken/loud/vomiting yobs especially if I had children who's night sleep/holiday would be ruined.

Dh wants to book us a Haven holiday. We've got three kids and two have autism and hate noise. Frankly Haven for me feels like a nightmare (I'm not that into holiday camps and prefer cottages). But I've shown dh my preferences and will see if he books anything.

I've been on haven holidays at least once a year for past 10 years. Kids love it my parents who are quite middle class go every year too with the grandkids.

Like others have said - you'll get a mix of people, like most places, and it'll vary from park to park.

I've been to a few over the years, and have one in Wales booked for a week in August. And tbh, I'd much rather it was full of 'chavs' than narrow minded, judgemental twats.

I've just returned from a weekend at a Haven site in Lincolnshire. It was full of large tatooed chavs. The people in the next door caravan screamed loudly at their kids from early morning to late at night. I saw another parent screaming at his small child inches away from her face. It was awful. The caravan stunk of damp and urine. Yesterday we went to Butlins at skegness for the day and it was similar there, complete with aggressive teenagers causing trouble.

Devon Cliffs is lovely yet went to Presthaven one and it was vile (about 10 yrs ago though). Theres always a mix of people - we do Butlins a bit now and pay for upgraded seaside apartments and premium dining and yes we see quite a few sights but we have a great time as we find Centre Parcs a little dull and overpriced - no chavs but plenty of Boden - not sure which is more irritating!

I used to go with my family in the early 80's, and we never saw a hint of trouble. Always had a tremendous time swimming and adventuring with impromptu friends.

Have they really changed that much?

I wish I'd read this post a few weeks ago.

We just returned from a week at Haven Golden Sands in Mablethorpe. We live in the US and wanted to give our 3 children a taste of my childhood holidays at Butlins. (Which is why we should have gone to Butlins.)

It was rough as buggery. I was born and raised on a council estate so I like to think I have my "ghetto pass" as my husband calls it, but bloody hell. There were more tattoos than teeth, and that was just the women. Lots and lots of people smoking and drinking out of cans at the playground at about 11:30 in the morning.

At least three times a day a couple of people having Carling-fueled screaming matches near the chilly. A delightful young teenaged girl telling my mother to "Fuck off" in front of my preschooler. Delightful place.

Your sister is right!

Babyroobs were you in Mablethorpe? It's a shithole, isn't it?

more tattoos than teeth 😁

It's pretty much income related so if you think you are more refined the more expensive or exclusive places have parents who will still swear and drink but it'll be more expensive booze and they won't drop their aitches when they yell abuse at their kids.

Of course if you can only afford Haven perhaps you wouldn't fit in at the other places and they might regard you as chavs......it's all relative.

Where does your SIL think would be more suitable for you?

Wow I can't believe I missed this.

Someone's DH actually shouted "oh no I forgot my shell suit" in the queue?

Cringe.

Just as well you went home as he would probably got punched in the face later deservedly

I've never been to Haven. Had a lovely Parkdean holiday with the kids though. My dcs lurve holiday parks, and seeing them running about so happily makes for a happy time for me too. My checklist usually goes 'playground within a minute walk; pool or beach; somewhere to buy food; bit of nature to explore'.

TripAdvisor is your friend, BTW.

Haven parks tend to be heaving with all sorts of people. We cut our last visit short because of the weather and the overcrowded, noisy, dirty facilities. The pools tend to be more like paddling pools and you would really struggle to swim in them. Eating places are pretty dire and the arcade will drive you insane!! Don't do it. A static caravan on a nice site somewhere would be much, much, much more enjoyable

I've really enjoyed the Haven holidays I've been on. Yes, for some people it might come off as a bit 'rough' but there's always a few knobs on any holiday you go on.

Funniest haven experience: two mums got into a physical fight over who's kid the massive turd in the pool belonged too