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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In a Haven holiday... hell

155 replies

Mandybrighton · 23/10/2018 20:09

Urgh. I am currently in a Haven Park about a hour away from home with my two boys and never thought I would actually crave to go home!

We stayed at this park in the summer and enjoyed it so much I decided to bring us back for the October half term. This time I booked a ‘ luxury lodge’ and it’s cost just under £800 😫.

For this price I was expecting something extra nice. However it’s basically just a jumbo sized caravan with the same furniture and fixtures that the previous ‘ deluxe’ caravan had. The only difference is 2 showers instead of one, a larger dining table and a larger outside area. Okay fair enough it didn’t live up to the expectation I thought on checking in but it gets worse...

When we arrived at the check in time they advertise I drove round to find repairs still
Being carried out to the ‘ lodge’. Okay not great as with two kids and just me I didn’t feel comfortable to start unloading everything in so they delayed us.

Upon placing things in their rooms and kitchen and so on I notice the cookware is thick in the previous people’s food and greasy. Then I see there’s a pubic hair in one of the showers. Then o walk into the bedroom to see BLOOD smeared on the wall by one of the beds... I called reception and explained. A cleaner turns up and removes the blood, and exchanges the manky cookware for clean ones.

Then the accomadation ‘ manager ‘ comes in all smiley and very dismissive saying to me well we aren’t responsible for the previous people staying and my cleaner said it was a bogey. I told him I had taken photos and it wasn’t a bogey. I explained this is supposed to be ‘ luxury’ and it’s not. He apologised but said ‘ well we got it sorted for you very quickly ‘ with a cheesy grin and a couldn’t give a toss attitude... I said you wouldn’t expect these standards and how could a cleaner miss it !?? That it made me feel sick and for the price I paid .. it was a let down.

When he left I emailed head office and sent them some photos. I said in the email I hoped to find nothing else but going to bed last night I went to pull back my duvet to feel something crusty and old ( looked like food ) on the corner of the duvet...

Also when I moved one of the smaller beds to Male way for my son’s travel cot again noticed stains on the sheets. If I don’t sleep like this at home why on earth have I paid £800 just under for this experience...

I’m
Gutted ... they don’t care with the well we fixed it attitude.. I’m planning to go home early. What I didn’t know and what he never told me is that Haven do have a gurantee that if your not happy with your standard of place you can go home the same day and recurve a refund. Well I didn’t know that and we have stayed now..

Some things I have found after the Intital email to head office. Shall I email again with the other things ? I just feel dirty in here and I expected way better. No where that I have ever stayed in had had someone’s blood there for us to walk into too..

😖😖😖😖🙂

OP posts:
gaggiagirl · 23/10/2018 21:13

I cried at the receptionist in a haven in the summer, not a single fuck was given and nothing was done to rectify our issues.
I had already paid for a second break that we've just returned from, to be fair it was fine but I'll never stay with them again.
OP you deserve better.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/10/2018 21:16

If that's their best my stomach turns to think of their worse. A lot more up to standard it it'd be a midden!!!

cafenoirbiscuit · 23/10/2018 21:17

OP you aren’t at Haggerston are you?

MrsA2015 · 23/10/2018 21:19

I’d leave tonight! Figure it all out tomorrow morning

BollocksToBrexit · 23/10/2018 21:22

Even their cheapest accommodation should be clean.

We stayed in the one in Pembrokeshire and it was filthy. One of the duvets looked like someone had wiped their arse on it and the bedroom carpet was covered in nail clippings. I don't think they'd bothered to clean it at all. Grim.

PuppyMonkey · 23/10/2018 21:25

You could be home in an hour. Go!

Jarveau · 23/10/2018 21:25

I agree that you need a full refund. Travelling with two children means you can't just pack up and return home immediately - you all needed to rest and prepare for the trip home.

Can you post the blood/snot/fairyshit picture on Twitter or Facebook?

It sounds absolutely disgusting. We'd thought about booking a short holiday with Haven, but there's no way I'd consider it now.

DreamingofSummer · 23/10/2018 21:25

Twitter is your friend here. They have 000s of followers. Lodge a complaint and everyone sees it.

twitter.com/haven

SchadenfreudeUndeadified · 23/10/2018 21:26

It wasn't Golden Sands at Mablethorpe was it???

We've been there - it was dreadful!

PuppyMonkey · 23/10/2018 21:31

Rest and prepare for the trip home? She lives an hour away - I’ve had longer daily commutes to work than that.Grin

Bluntness100 · 23/10/2018 21:31

Actually that picture made me feel a bit queasy and I've no idea why the manager thinks the fact it's a bogey is in some way acceptable.

I also can't believe they are charging and getting eight hundred quid for a week. That's outrageous.

Namechange170518 · 23/10/2018 21:32

We've been to golden sands for the last two years and found it fine. We stay in a relatives caravan though.

RedBlu · 23/10/2018 21:33

I completely understand where you are coming from.

We went to Center Parcs earlier this year and we paid a ridiculous amount for an "executive" lodge. We have been to CP loads but never splurged on an executive but this was our first holiday as a family of three so wanted something a bit nicer.

Anyway, absolute waste of money.

The lodge was dirty and run down, same interior as the cheaper lodges just with a dishwasher and coffee maker?! We could have booked a cheaper lodge and saved scout £300!

It totally ruined the holiday for me as I was expecting so much more for what we paid but it was just so disappointing.

Growingboys · 23/10/2018 21:33

I would go home straight away and contact the local paper to where the camp is, offering your pictures.

That is absolutely filthy

Jarveau · 23/10/2018 21:37

PuppyMonkey I know, I noticed that after I posted! I had in mind the times when we've arrived at a site after a long drive.

I think it's a reasonable explanation to give for not leaving within the "same day" rule for a full refund, though.

Childrenofthestones · 23/10/2018 21:38

Well if you will insist upon mixing with the hoy poloy.....

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 23/10/2018 21:38

Golden Sands >> Shudder .

Been there . Dire .

Also been to Coombe Haven Hastings which was ok , free upgrade to a caravan close to amenities but not close enough for it to be an issue . Could see the main pavilion from our caravan step.

Best one was Hopton near Great Yarmouth , not sure if that was Haven or the other one , Park Holidays is it ?

theworldistoosmall · 23/10/2018 21:41

Lol at the stayed for two years and it's been fine. Of course, it's been fine. You are renting off a relative.

That's fucking disgusting op. £800 for that dump, they should be ashamed of themselves. Although shouldn't matter if £80 or £800, the place should be clean.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 23/10/2018 21:42

That is not a bogey

To me, though cannot see it too clear, that is akin to blood

HidingFromMyKids · 23/10/2018 21:46

That's disgusting. Tell us which Park!

We have done a haven holiday every summer for years but quickly learnt not to book through haven itself.
Private bookings in luxury caravans are the best as they are often treated like a second home.

Hope you get some kind of resolution x

M0reGinPlease · 23/10/2018 21:47

I find when any kind of accommodation does not meet expectations you're better off addressing it immediately. Once you've unpacked and settled in they give less of a shit as you're less likely to leave. Be specific with what you want- another lodge? A refund? A full deep clean? Give a specific list of what you want done and don't take any bullshit. If you get this sorted now you can salvage an enjoyable holiday.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/10/2018 21:50

I didn't zoom in on bogie photo.
I'd throw up.

GreenTulips · 23/10/2018 21:50

We went a long time ago. Our apartment was facing a grass square where some loud teens were playing football on our arrival.

We came in, started to question the state of the place when one of the teen peed through our letter box - great being puddle.

We left, we got a refund.

Nicknacky · 23/10/2018 21:54

cafe Haggerston Castle is a Hoeseasons, not a Haven isn’t it? Think the only Havens in Scotland is Craig Tara and Seton Sands.

Witchofzog · 23/10/2018 22:00

The one at Lydstep Beach near Tenby is fab but it is mainly private rentals. The one at Primrose Valley in Scarborough is not so fab and the caravans were way too close together.

Name n shame op. Which park are you on?