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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
nc18 · 04/01/2020 01:31

@happycamper11 and @SpinMill

Interested to know which Parkdean resorts you went to as I'm having to choose between 2 this summer (needs to be near school and there are two in our town) and I'm considering the sun holidays.

Also, has anyone ever successfully booked several dates consecutively at the same park? (Need to move out for a month in term time for house renovations Confused)

nc18 · 04/01/2020 01:32

@MyDcAreMarvel yeah, like cutting costs while I move out for a home renovation....enter Sun holidays Grin

MyDcAreMarvel · 04/01/2020 01:51

You think it’s strange to have some principles and not go on a holiday supported by the sun? Are you very young op or not from the UK?

nocluewhattodoo · 04/01/2020 01:54

I've never been on a caravan holiday, but DP used to go with his Nan as a child and loved it, from watching the BBC youtube link it looks right up 3 yo DDs street. It looks perfect for children and families

MT2017 · 04/01/2020 01:59

We went on one and it was crap. Awful place, awful weather (not blaming the paper for that, obviously Grin).

Never, never again.

happycamper11 · 04/01/2020 02:00

I'm going to hazard a guess that @MyDcAreMarvel is from Liverpool. I've seen this a lot.

happycamper11 · 04/01/2020 02:02

@nc18 we went to a site called sunnydale I think in Lincolnshire. Was not worth the long journey we made. I've heard a few similar reports from friends too. Probably fine if all you want is a base to explore the area but dc want the whole hog

nc18 · 04/01/2020 02:15

Ah, it's not one of the two I need to choose from. We might end up there for a month and one is walking distance from school so I think I'll just see what I manage to get. Thanks

nc18 · 04/01/2020 02:16

Why am I being cryptic? Confused I nc'd so I didn't have to be!

It's a choice between Ocean Edge and Regent Bay parkdean resorts in sunny Morecambe. Anyone visited either or both?

happycamper11 · 04/01/2020 02:18

If your there for a base it will be fine, our caravan was beautiful! It was just the novel holiday part it lacked. I've never heard of anyone booking longer than 2 back to back stays but doesn't mean it's not possible

nc18 · 04/01/2020 02:20

Thanks @happycamper11. The caravan itself is my main concern. It's just to live in for a bit while our house is renovated. I might just book through Hoseasons before the Sun holidays bookings open actually. It is looking like £220 per week and I'd hope to be given a less shabby van

loubieloo4 · 04/01/2020 02:29

We have done a few.

Both ends of the uk!

Haven Nairn in Scotland was brilliant, so much to do in the area and on the most beautiful beach. Caravan was very new and modern. Small complex, pool, bar, restaurant, crazy golf.

Haven Riviera sands Cornwall, one of my favourite places in the world, so much to do in the area and the beach is massive! Very small complex but with so much to do in the area we only use it as a base.

If you want a larger complex Haven Perran sands, loads of activities, kids clubs etc and Perranporth is beautiful, the beach has a great pub (on the sand) called the watering hole amazing sunsets!

LagunaBubbles · 04/01/2020 02:33

I didn't even buy the Sun, the codes are easily available online. And some people don't understand that it's not the holiday that is £9.50 (or £15 in the case of Europe) its £9.50 a night. And yes the park can also add on a service charge etc but its always been miles cheaper still for us.

nc18 · 04/01/2020 02:46

@LagunaBubbles £9.50 a night? I thought it was £9.50 per person per holiday booked?

I've never done one. Also I'm seeing £15 for my June dates but that's in the UK not Europe (and no, I won't be buying the Sun either. Does anyone actually do that just for holiday codes?)

MrsMrsMrsC · 04/01/2020 03:03

Does anyone have a link how to do this £9.50 holiday please

debbs77 · 04/01/2020 03:16

Hi! Is this suitable for a larger family of 9 please?? Xxx

busybarbara · 04/01/2020 09:29

I went on one several years ago and it seemed they basically bundled together all the riff raff on the same week and it wasn’t a peaceful holiday at all. I left a night early. Never again

bobstersmum · 04/01/2020 09:47

We usually go on two sun holidays a year. Last year was a bit rubbish so we didn't, none of the dates we wanted were available and the ones that were, were highly priced. Looking forward to next weekend to try and book.
My elderly mum buys the sun each day and uses the Sun Savers app to put the daily code in (every day not just when the holiday campaign is on) and every so often it gives you £5 in your wallet which you can use in all different ways, (she saves them up for us bless her) it mounts up, so this time when I book my mum has £40 in there which will usually pay for about half of the cost! I usually pay about 80 for a mon to Fri break, we usually go haven sites but have been to others. There are extras on top but there will be specific ones when you are booking that state pay no extras, in my experience these are usually the more bargain basement places. Other than that I usually expect to pay an extra 30 direct to the site after booking for the passes and service charges. I never pay for the bedding, I take our own, and I've never been to a haven site where I've had to use it, the beds are already just made up. The only thing to be aware of is if you book for up to 6 people you may well get a 2 bed accommodation with a pull out in the lounge, this is no good to us as we have children that need the rooms and dh hates the pull out needs. It's a bit luck of the draw, but usually haven will give you larger accommodation and if you get something not suitable when your arrive, haven are quite good at just upgrading you to save the hassle.

newyearnewnameagain · 04/01/2020 10:59

We haven't been on holiday since my son was born. Thinking this might be an idea to do a sun one. DS will be 4 this summer. Do these places have indoor or outdoor pools?

So I put in dates and venues I would like and then wait ? Is that how it works? My DS is not at school so we can go outside holidays, but having Uk holidayed a lot in Cornwall ( years back) it can be pretty chilly still in June 😬

TheFutureMrsB · 04/01/2020 11:14

It sometimes works out cheaper to book directly through the holiday site as they don't tend to add extra charges for passes etc. It's worth having a look around first.

percheron67 · 04/01/2020 11:16

Is it feasible to book a cheap holiday with them and just use it as a base from which to see the local sights. It will be for my adult daughter and me and I thought it would keep the costs down. Are the parks very noisy at night?

TheGoogleMum · 04/01/2020 11:18

Compare prices as sometimes it isn't that much cheaper, but usually will be a decent saving in school holidays (but a lot less availability!). The accommodation is pretty basic unless you upgrade. I've done a couple and they've been fine

TheGoogleMum · 04/01/2020 11:21

It isn't £9.50 a night but it is per person even if a baby. There are sometimes daily added service charge per night and an optional charge for entertainment passes per person. If you chose a 'pay only 9.50' date for the park there is no need to pay extra for service and entertainment for that date at that park. There is a Facebook group about it full of useful information

BigSandyBalls2015 · 04/01/2020 11:23

Choose your park carefully. We did a few when our DCs were younger, some were fab - church farm in pagham. Some were horrific - Hastings! Young lads in the bar with tags on, filthy caravans, massive queues everywhere.

happycamper11 · 04/01/2020 11:28

The important part to not is that it is from £9.50. This is the cheapest per person rate. Peak times will start at £15pp. Once the £9.50 and £15 have sold out which are basic caravans then there can be upgraded caravans left which could be £30 - £60 pp. you can of course upgrade on booking but there's a chance you can be upgraded for free anyway. I've a feeling the limit is 6 per van but it could be 8. Definitely not 9 - you'd need to book 2 vans