Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Sun £9.50 Holidays

71 replies

BaubleWobbler · 03/01/2020 21:34

Hi sorry I'm posting for traffic.

Just wondering if it's worth doing the Sun's holiday deal thing that's starting soon?

Has anyone has any experience? Do you really get a cheaper deal or are there loads of hidden extra that when added up, means you haven't saved much at all.

OP posts:

Sharpandshineyteeth · 03/01/2020 21:36

I used to do them all the time. There are some extras, like entertainment passes but they are up about that and you can choose a cheaper deal.

Well worth it in my opinion. Even the smaller holiday parks are worth it as a base and they all usually have a pool and a play park.

GreenTulips · 03/01/2020 21:40

We got one and then DH parents joined us.

There’s was cheaper by a few £££.

Plus they got their dates and rental as requested. We got what we were given.

Some ask for entertainment passes plus electric maybe towels and bedding etc.

Either shopping around for what you want in my opinion.

moonsmarshmellow · 03/01/2020 21:42

I’ve used them before a few times.

Tbh it’s not quite a ‘9.50 holiday’- it’s ‘from 9.50 per person’ (sometimes more like 15 per person) then often there are extra charges that all add up. But generally you still come out with a holiday that’s cheaper than booking it direct.

We had an October half term break at a Haven (I researched one that had new good facilities and nice indoor water park) that came to around 80 quid all in The kids absolutely loved it!

FrankRattlesnake · 03/01/2020 21:43

Take a look and call the parks directly. We have done many in the past and really enjoyed them. Accepted the accommodation as a base rather than a fancy place to stay. We have stayed in some lovely places and parks.

More recently we look at the parks website directly to compare costs. With entertainment passes and service charges it is sometimes cheaper to book direct!

StylishMummy · 03/01/2020 21:43

If you're going outside school holidays there can be comparable deals direct especially if you upgrade. BUT for £9.50 a night with a static caravan as a base, they're excellent value.

Me, DH and DC did Ruda in Croyde, a Friday to Monday and Monday to Friday back to back, cost £180 in total. Then upgraded to a lodge for another £180 (our choice) so £360 total. To book a lodge directly for that week was £1,250!

Original poster

BaubleWobbler · 04/01/2020 00:01

Wow ok think we'll definitely try it then! @StylishMummy how did you book back to back? How does it work? Did you have to collect two lots of tokens and book to Holidays?

OP posts:

TimeTravellersHat · 04/01/2020 00:06

This tells you everything you need to know:

Pardonwhat · 04/01/2020 00:10

... is this thread one big advert?

TimeTravellersHat · 04/01/2020 00:15

is this thread one big advert?

No. The video link I posted is a documentary that clearly outlines how it's never actually a £9.50 holiday.

Pardonwhat · 04/01/2020 00:21

TimeTravellersHat

My mistake - I didn’t click the link!
The posts former to yours all felt very same-y.

betterwithouthim · 04/01/2020 00:22

When I did the sun one you had to collect tokens and then submit several date and park choices. I found that I could google the newspaper codes from other newspaper chains and the book directly through break free holidays I think it was for same thing and similar pricing. You could easily book the park and date you wanted then.

happycamper11 · 04/01/2020 00:22

Definitely worth it a lot of the time but always check the price booking direct too. Some amazing deals to be had on the euro sites. We've had many breaks for around £60 all in. Should really do another as dc loved it every time. It's been a few years.

happycamper11 · 04/01/2020 00:25

odes from other newspaper chains and the book directly through break free holidays I think it was for same thing and similar pricing. You could easily book the park and date you wanted then.

Breakfree is an entirely different offer with different codes and runs at different times. It's sometimes cheaper yes. The codes for sun holidays are easily available online for the direct sun booking site. No need to buy the paper

Leobynature · 04/01/2020 00:26

I was just thinking about this today. I was gonna take my daughter on a toddler and parent week, had anyone been on one? Any good?

nevermorelenore · 04/01/2020 00:26

I've done the Breakfree local paper ones a few times which are in the UK. Passwords are always online so I don't even buy the paper. In general, it ends up about 150 altogether, but this is usually much lower than booking direct in places like Cornwall or Devon.

Someone upthread mentioned Ruda in Croyde. That's a lovely one! Didn't know you could book back to back and would also be interested in finding out how.

SpinMill · 04/01/2020 00:35

We've done this for the past 5 years or so. We now stick with Haven as we know what to expect, the first one we went to was a Parkdean and was awful, so do your research. One year we were upgraded to a better caravan, but cant say we've ever had a bad one with Haven.
You do have to pay for entertainment passes, (£10ish each if I remember correctly) and a service charge per night for the caravan (around £9 per night). It's still worked out a lot cheaper than booking directly. There is also an extra charge for bedding, we've always taken our own and arrived to find the bed made up anyway.
Admittedly I only watched the first few minutes, but the link to the documentary above seems very biased, focussed on a certain type of family and not a fair representation at all!

TimeTravellersHat · 04/01/2020 00:42

@Spinmill you should give it a go as it’s actually surprisingly unbiased (despite the BBC being involved!).

It features a range of holidaymakers including: a group of young woman in “party” mode, two single mums (minus their kids) and two families with young children (one on a tight budget and one not).

I found one of the single mums highly amusing as she constantly scoffed at her caravans curtains etc but ended up having a great night out in the clubhouse after going over for “one” drink.

MoreToEatMoreToDrink · 04/01/2020 00:44

Me and a friend took the kids last year for a week. Out of holidays, we upgraded as high as we could and with entertainment passes and linen it was £180. As other have said, it’s unlikely to be £9.5 but you may get a good deal. Worth checking direct too though. And I’d go back again! We did haven in Ayr.

LagunaBubbles · 04/01/2020 00:46

Been on them a few times in various campsites around France. Miles cheaper than booking direct. It worked out at £175 for a week 2 years ago, Eurocamp rep said our caravan would have been abour £900 for the week. Last year we had 4 nights on the French Alps for £90.

happycamper11 · 04/01/2020 00:50

Agree give parkdean a swerve. We actually had a really nice Van because we got a free upgrade but the park, facilities and entertainment was a bit crap compared to haven. I think you can do butlins too (and pontins if you're brave enough) there are actually some £9.50 only dates but they are always at off peak times and out of school holidays

anothernewyear · 04/01/2020 00:53

I enjoyed that link, thanks for posting it. I've never been on a caravan holiday myself. But that link certainly didn't seem biased at all. There's a range of people on there.

TimeTravellersHat · 04/01/2020 01:06

@anothernewyear I’ve not been on one either but was fascinated to know how the parks could possibly afford to let out caravans at £9.50. The documentary successfully addressed that!

IHaveBrilloHair · 04/01/2020 01:13

I went on a few when Dd was young, we enjoyed them.
The £9.50 was based on 4 people, plus I had to get entertainment passes but it was still only £80ish for a 3 night break.
I chose places close to home and mainly we ate in the caravan as I had very little money.
I'd recommend them.

MyDcAreMarvel · 04/01/2020 01:17

No , there are more important things than a cheap holiday.

Original poster

BaubleWobbler · 04/01/2020 01:30

@MyDcAreMarvel - What a strange comment.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3