FFS I've booked cloud 9 glamping

[Sickoffamilydrama]

The glamping I've booked is in loads of news papers as being a bit of a shit hole www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19493253.cloud-nine-glamping-apologise-state-wimborne-site/

I've been flat out with work since Covid began and DH could only book a small window off work ( he's in a wedding band so lots a rebookings) found cloud nine it had availability for 5 why did we have that extra kid it always makes booking holidays hard

I saw it thought lots to keep the kids entertained plus something a little different, yes it was more than I wanted to pay at £700 but we've got some inheritance coming so thought I'd treat us and it would be worth it for the kids happy entertained faces.

Spoke to my credit card company I have to go and if it's not as advertised they will refund.

So my AIBU
AIBU to pack three kids into a car and drive 3 hours knowing that we will probably need to come all the way back?

AIBU to take a chance it will be okay?

We are going next week and I am looking forward to it - even if the forecast is a bit rubbish. I am a bit appalled at the cost of the activities for 4 children and the food looks expensive - but we plan to make the absolute best of it.

I'm finding there is a huge level of shitness at the moment, with what people say they will deliver and what actually materialises. Nearly started a thread earlier today about the shitness of Haven - they closed the site due to thugs causing troubles so offered us a full refund, but we haven't got it after weeks and lots of phone calls.

These companies are either greedy or utterly deluded about the service they offer. Or most likely both.

Looking at the Facebook page there's lots of positive comments too - Daily Wail is running a few anti-glamping stories at the moment - it suits their narrative tbh.
Seems plenty have had a good time and some people who haven't seem to have expected 5 star facilities!
When it rains there's mud and its a bit crap glamping or not - Muddy washrooms in campsites unless someone stands there and mops when ever anyone goes in.
I'm sure it will be fine!

I think it will be ok for you now as your expectations are very low! 👍

Sadly no one fooled me with a "hey beauts" email this is all my own fault.

I'm sure it will be fine we might be there for the heatwave so can boil to death enjoy the beautiful countryside.

I know you can have fun even in rubbish places, I've camped in Tenby at the top of a hill in a field where for the shower you stood on a pallet and tried to avoid being eaten by the tarantula s🕷️on the walls but that was pre-kids and I always want it to be nice for them.

@Sickoffamilydrama

Sadly no one fooled me with a "hey beauts" email this is all my own fault.

I'm sure it will be fine we might be there for the heatwave so can boil to death enjoy the beautiful countryside.

I know you can have fun even in rubbish places, I've camped in Tenby at the top of a hill in a field where for the shower you stood on a pallet and tried to avoid being eaten by the tarantula s🕷️on the walls but that was pre-kids and I always want it to be nice for them.

Also, this was sold as way more that pitching a tent in a field. The cost too. It reminds me of the Fyre Festival!

Sorry. Not the point of the thread, but I'm agog at how low the standards of journalism are that a few TripAdvisor reviews constitutes an articles?!

There are quite a few positive reviews.
Get a cool box and freeze plenty of ice packs for perishables / beer cooling as it looks like on site prices are a bit steep.
It can't possibly be worse than Brean Pontins, I live near there, its like an internment camp!

I think a big trouble is that places have vastly increased their prices but not what they offer, they are offering basic style accommodation for premium prices. I have just come back from holiday, luckily we booked last year so didn't suffer the price hike, but it is disgraceful to charge top end when there are things like: 5 person property - garden table set only for 4, kettle that was so scaled that it was impossible to use to make a hot drink, no glasses apart from wine glasses and "because covid" absolutely every little touch had been cleared out, it was soulless. (We have stopped before, we know there should be pictures on the wall, more books on a large bookcase then a few Harry potter books etc)

Don't panic! I've literally just come back from the Cloud Nine Dorset site and it was fine, we had a great time.

It is camping though. When it rains, the site is muddy and you're in a tent in the rain and everything is damp

However the upsides for us were - lovely big tent already put up with a carpet, electric sockets and beds with duvets and pillows. Plus our own portaloo next to the tent (I have never seen so many portaloos in my life).
Car free site so children could play very safely
Children absolutely loved playing in the woods and swimming in the lake
All the Cloud Nine staff were so happy and friendly, and couldn't do enough for you - we had an issue when we arrived (one child's bed missing from our tent) and they sorted it within about 10 minutes and were happy to chat to my very chatty dc while doing it.
The free kids entertainment during the day - there was a sports field with cricket, football etc, people teaching "circus skills" (hula hoops/diablo), a disco, bracelet making.
Evening entertainment - bingo, pub quiz, live music, silent disco - each night in the bar, free and good fun.

Downsides (for us) - everything payable on site was very expensive.
The paid activities looked good but everything was £££ so with three kids we just didn't do any of it. The one reasonably priced thing was pottery painting which was under a £5. I think some of the paid activities were cancelled as there wasn't enough uptake for some.
Food & drink was expensive. We had one meal on our first night (2 pizzas and 1 garlic bread) which was nice and £24. The rest of the time we cooked our own food.
Though on the last morning I went to a coffee van for two white coffees and two croissants and it was £12.
The lakeside restaurant was even more £££ with main courses £15-£20 each.
The bar was also pretty expensive - we bought one round of two alcoholic drinks and 3 sprites and it was £20+, so the rest of the time drank our own alcohol.

The fairground was also really expensive and rubbish, and the staff running it (outside contractor) were rude and grumpy.

Two other tips:
When you arrive and check in, get in the queue for golf buggies & trailers straight away, I made the mistake of checking in with only one person in the queue in front of me and then going back to the car. When I got back in the buggy queue it was huge and a 45 minute wait!
They then drive you back to your car, help pack all your stuff into the trailer and take you all to your tent.
As soon as you're on site go to reception and book your return trip.

Ticks! If your kids/dogs are playing in the woods or long grass, swimming etc check them every day for ticks.

Great tips thanks glampingcamper

Was thinking about taking a portable fridge I definitely will with the cost of food.

Take some cash for the shop if you just want to buy fresh milk - we only had contactless but the shop had a £5 minimum so ended up having to buy extra stuff each day to make it up to £5.

Just an update for everyone we went and had a good time.

It's very weather dependent and they probably need to do some more marquee/gazebos for if it rains.

Not everything was perfect they could do with a nicer lake to swim in and the showers need a dressing area, or different type of showers, if you took stuff in it got soaked but no one wants to walk back to their tent in just a towel.

Here's some pictures just because they are pretty.