To consider a haven holiday for summer hols

[Thisisembarassing]

I’ve never been before and heard divisive reviews. Some worst thing ever and some best. Trip advisor too seems to cut it that way.

anyone been? What’s Devon cliffs like? My kids are 4 (will be nearly 5 by august) and 2.5. We’ve done an expensive holiday already this year but need another little break

dh is repulsed by the idea

I love Haven holidays. We usually go on one with the extended family most years. I went to Devon cliffs a while ago but it was lovely when we went.

My kids have really fond memories of this kind of holiday. I used to take them on my own in school holiday as DH didn't have much annual leave and it was always good fun, they especially liked the arcades and entertainment at that age.

For me it was an opportunity to have a bit of a rest while they were entertained by someone else. I do remember getting a Groupon for a caravan holiday weekend one time in Devon and I took the kids on my own as DH was decorating the house. It was the first weekend of the summer holidays and happened to be absolutely glorious weather and I spent the whole weekend sunbathing while watching the kids entertain themselves in the outside pool.

It was great, mind you, I'm not 'repulsed' by things that don't cost a fortune.

I went to Devon Cliffs last Easter. I like haven in that you know what you're getting, whichever one you go to.

The caravans are always clean and modern ime.

It was nice. It's big, I think someone told me it's one of the biggest ones. Some of it's quite steep.

Very steep ramp down to the beach, the sea was red from the red cliffs nearby, I swam anyway, I'm not sure if it's always like that. There is an MOD training ground right next to the beach, there was gunfire most of the time we were on the beach. It wasn't really loud or anything, just pop pop pop. DD found it fascinating. There's a restaurant and a convenience shop by the beach.

There's a big indoor pool with loads of stuff and slides. Two smaller outdoor pools, only one of those has a non swimmers/ paddling area.

There's a big multi lane water slide outside seperate from the pools.

There's a co-op shop. A Papa John's, burger king, fried chicken place, a pub, a very small soft play, loads of arcade games, the normal entertainment stuff - panto, music, bingo etc.

Quite a bit of outside stuff, you have to pay for that seperately, we didn't do any because it was scorchingly hot when we were there.

Not much chance of eating anything green unless you self cater it.

It will tell you when you book. There is usually a range of caravans on the dates you choose, and the they will say whether they are older or new. The dearer the caravan, generally the newer and bigger it is.

I'm a happy Haven beggar. Can't afford anything else. Have you looked at the prices of Devon cliffs in the summer hols? Some of them are SO expensive you could probably have a week abroad for a little more.

They are what they are, but they kids will love it. I think a lot of them have had a revamp so you can’t really go wrong.

We've been to a few. There's a standard format.

Pool, usually with slides.
Amusement arcade- you generally have to go through it to get to the bars and entertainment.
Evening entertainment usually starts with a kiddies show, then bingo and then a band or cabaret act.

Caravans, as said before, get the best you can afford. Some are privately owned and rented back to Haven. Some have hot tubs. Your car parking may be some distance from the van and they don't always have deckchairs etc for sitting outside. So research carefully.

We stayed at Hafan y Mor and had a small first floor flat.

We went to Haven Hopton in Norfolk last year and going back this year, we had a gold caravan and it felt more like a lodge than a caravan. Full kitchen open plan to living room, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. Shower was tiny but useable.

Our caravan was directly on the edge of a little play park so DD could go out and play with the other kids and we could sit on the porch.

Loads to do on site, easy access to the beach and a really good base for all the other stuff in the area.

We went on our first haven holiday last year, to Devon Cliffs! We went in the May half term and the kids absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed it too! It was massively helped by having perfect weather so we could go to the beach every day, I’m not sure we would have enjoyed it so much if it had been wet and cold.

We had a bronze 3 bed caravan and it was fine. I paid to pick the location and it was perfect. We loved the food at Slim Chickens. The kids enjoyed the activities but definitely liked the beach the best. They’re a bit older than yours - 11 and 8, but there looked like a great range of things for all ages.

@DeltaAlphaDelta79 is correct. Go for the best caravan you can afford. They are usually called things like diamond or platinum or gold plus package. We've done a few haven holidays and have mostly had a great time. It is fantastic for kids. The newer and more modern the caravan the better IME, the newer ones are wider, better insulated, have better kitchens and are often in better areas of the park and closer to stuff. Do your research on haven parks and look at facilities and if they suit the ages and interests of your children. Different Havens have varied facilities, if the pool is important to your family, check the pool out online, some havens only have a lane pool and a few slides, others have huge dedicated kids areas. Same with activities offered, they all have similar activities but some have better parks/ golf/ clubs/ climbing walls ECT. Than others. The only bad Haven experience we had, we cheaped right out, we had a bronze caravan on a very late last minute deal on quite a run down park and it was a bit grim and very rowdy. This was years ago. Since then we have always stopped in gold or above and researched the park never had a problem.

Butlins Minehead is great. The beach is over the road and sandy. Plus Minehead is a nice place.

I splashed out when we went at Easter for a week and got one with a balcony. But normally I'd book the standard or the bronze, the new ones, and they're absolutely fine.

You just get more space, and things like a second loo and a dishwasher in the more expensive ones.

The not new ones don't have central heating, which is the reason I don't book them, they've usually got a gas fire instead.

Eta: the beach at Devon Cliffs is sandy!

To be clear I wasn’t calling anyone who goes on haven/ similar hols beggars, rather that dh needs to understand we’ve already spent our holiday budget so he can’t be an outrageous snob about not staying in a 5* AI hotel

yeah it was about £900 for 4 nights 5 days. Week hols need another 2k on that realistically

I’ve heard that’s the worst one

Never been to the Devon one. We go to a different Haven every year and love it. We do it for the kids really as they love using the swimming pool twice a day and doing the other activities. We don't stay on the site the whole time - we go off in to town or to the beach most days. It's a good base. Yes it's cheap and tacky but worth it to see the children having a blast.

We went to the Clacton on sea park back in 2022 around Easter. The weather was lovely and we spent 50% of our time on site and the remainder of the time on the beach / visiting the surroundings.

There seemed to be a high number of hen- dos while we were there. We've since deflected to Park Dean sites which seem somewhat calmer/ quieter.

Not been to Devon Cliffs, but have done my fair share of heaven holidays.

I'd say with your kids ages, GO FOR IT!!
They'll love it. It's ok for adults, the good thing is, you'll have everything from beach to playground within easy walking distance. So DC will be easily pleased.

Mine usually made playground friends on these holidays, so you'll have garateed few hours of peace each evening!

Ok so haven or butlins?

if haven which site keeping in mind HRH and kids ages, we’d like something by the beach with a good pool for splashers. If the beach has fossils or close to anything fossils that’s a huge huge plus

All clean, couldnt fault it

Ive also done Butlins (bognor regis) but hated that. Although my kids enjoyed it. Haven is less full on but still has activities for kids

It's worth baring in mind the vast majority of activities at Haven you have to pay for whereas at Butlins they are included. Might not matter with such young ones but once they are a little older it'll get expensive fast.

Why you hate it? I didn’t love the arcades but the pool was lovely, kids had a whale of a time so that’s enough for me

Could you give me a a for instance as some you’ve got free with butlins but there was a lot you have to pay for too, we didn’t and probably wouldn’t at haven either (at least now)

Haven’t been to that one, but have been to another. Though it was good, value for money. Caravan spotless and exactly as the photos.

The bit I found disappointing was that there wasn’t really much room to let the kids run around. Lots of cars on site, everyone parked next to their own caravan (which has positives, obviously!). The one we went to had a limited playground for the age my kids were. Swimming pool was decent. We basically used it as a self catering base rather than doing all the stuff on site.

If it’s a beach to fossil hunt (and fly kites!) take a look at the Haven Greenacres at Black Rock Sands in Wales - we went a couple of years ago and had a lovely time 😊 only downsides were the pool was a bit basic and an awful meal at the on-site Wetherspoons type place.