Last minute trip to haven

[bubbabub]

For various reasons we are unable to go abroad so been thinking of booking a haven holiday but I am a bit unsure due to all the negative reviews I’ve been reading, first of all the hygiene and apparently ants everywhere and bed bugs?! Then nothing being available as you have to book 12 weeks in advance so people saying they were unable to use the pools as they were booked 12 weeks in advance, so AIBU to wonder if there is any point booking a last minute visit to haven? (Posting for traffic really) we usually just stay in PI.

During covid I would say that was the case but not now. What haven are you thinking about?

Lots of them say the same that nothing to book as it’s all booked already, all hallows is an example but most of them said the same thing

I've voted YABU only because I think you're being unreasonable by thinking they're "all bug ridden" etc!
I grew up going on Haven holidays, loved going there as a kid and we've been nearly every year when our children were little as well and we've all loved it. Never had a bad experience.
The accommodation has always been basic but clean and comfy. (Go for a bronze
category of accommodation, those are what we've always gone for and been fine with. Never done basic so not sure what that's like, think bronze is the next one up)
Still reasonably priced.
There's plenty to do on site, like swimming pools and entertainment on a night. Most are right next to a beach too.
Have fun 🙂

Im referring to the reviews online not my opinion just to clarify

We’ve been to lots of haven holidays over the years, never had signs of bedbugs. Always clean. Some sites cleaner than others. Booking swimming was an issue, you still have to book in advance but often you can get in if you turn up.

Just choose a different park if you don’t like the idea of a Haven now.

I have been to many haven sites over the years and have never had any issues with cleanliness (and I am the type who has been known to pack up and go home or move elsewhere if accommodation isn’t good enough!)

I don’t get the entertainment passes but my sister does and has never had an issue getting them booked for swimming and the booking stops it being overcrowded

But also worth providing there is a whole world of caravan holidays beyond haven sites! Widen your search if you’re not finding what’s right.

Ignore the reviews! Honestly, we've done loads of haven holidays and yes they're not 5* luxury but they're simple, comfortable and great for kids. Booking swimming is a pita, but the site we tend to stay in has an outdoor pool which you don't need to book, so worth looking at that as others might as well.

And as PP said, other companies are available.

Look at ukcaravans4hire - these are privately owned caravans on sites, including haven that imo are far better than the standard you get on haven - cheaper as well.

Hate haven really as we've moved to cottages now but the private ones aren't bad really.

We go at least once a year, my children love it! We’ve been to mablethorpe, haffan y mor, Cala gran, blue dolphin… all clean and tidy. In reality the ‘activities’ you can book are expensive and only last 45 minutes so it’s not like they take up the entire day, mine aren’t bothered. Book one near a seaside town and you’ll be able to occupy your time no problem. Personally, I book the best caravan I can afford. We take meals to eat in the van as the restaurants are spenny.

I've been to a number of Haven sites and similar type places in the UK. I've never had a problem with cleanliness. The dirtiest accommodation I've stayed in was actually at CP.
I think standards depend on the age of the unit and the diligence of the particular cleaner that day, so can be pot luck.
Read the recent reviews of your chosen site, paying attention to comments about the pool and shared areas, because neglect of these is a more helpful guide thsn the odd person disgusted at hair in the shower or a stain on the mattress (easily rectified with a reclean request). Try and assess from the tone of reviews if the person is balanced or complaining about a slew if things that wouldn't bother you, so may be overly negative.
Take cleaning stuff and sleeping bags if you're particularly worried about beds.

I've been to many Haven resorts over the years and always found them to be great.
My preference is to book a caravan with the owner directly as you get a higher spec caravan with nicer furniture for less money.

I’m at Seashore right now (3rd time here) and there’s decent availability on activities. Plus it’s right by Great Yarmouth beach so we spent the day there yesterday going on rides and on the beach. I’ve never loved the food here but we bring plenty to eat in the caravan.

How old are your kids? We love Haven, we go a couple of times a year to different parks. Assuming you're taking kids and the aim is for them to have a fun time, it'll be fine and you'll have a great time. The pools do get crowded but there's always timeslots, they release more on the day and people cancel so if you can't book in advance I wouldn't worry too much. Pick one near a beach, or with an outside pool that doesn't need booking. There's loads of other activities to do anyway. If one thing is full they'll be something else, and spaces always come up on the day. We usually take things like a kite, frisbee, badminton, although we've never run out of things to do. It's not luxury but it's nice to not worry about sand and mud and just let the kids run free and have fun.

So yes swimming the online booking will likely be booked up. However once you actually arrive more slots appear on the system daily and you can book sessions at the activity hub in person.

Ants are just one of those things in the heat especially in warm weather however I’ve never had issues with them in any haven caravans I’ve stayed in.

Bedbugs I’ve seen online a few comments and I’ve also seen caravans (not just haven) being treated for them. It’s not really havens fault however someone has brought them along with them and from what I’ve seen as soon as they are alerted they treat the vans. Sadly seen someone post about beg bugs and they then went and stayed in a hotel same night, that poor hotel owner will now likely have bed bugs because people don’t realise they will
move them.

We always book the highest spec caravans they have as it does seem the lower ones are not treated with as much care by the guests using them.

I’ve never had an issue with hygiene or booking the pool; I would phone the site in advance to check about the pool booking if you’re worried.
I have started to take my own pillows though just because

There are other caravan hire companies if Haven is booked.

Been to Haven 6 times never had a dirty caravan atho seen posts regarding issues.

Swimming will be booked up but often spaces come available on the day and people wont turn up for their booked slots. Outdoor swimming also available.

Change of scenery would be good, I'd do it. Currently getting organised for our trip in a couple of weeks time.

We stayed at a Haven in a gold caravan and it was absolutely spotless.

We used to stay at caravan parks fairly regularly until we stayed at a Haven place. I think I’m in a minority - lots of people I know seem to love a Haven holiday - but I thought it was dreadful. Massive, crowded park, caravans crammed together, dirty pool, antisocial guests, badly maintained public areas, horrible. Never, ever again.

There are some nice places with Hoseasons.

I love Haven! The last one we went to was just outside of Edinburgh. We had booked a fairly basic one (Bronze I think - definitely no higher) and when we got there they had upgraded us for free to the very best ones they have! It was LOVELY. Never had any issues with cleanliness etc at any of their sites at any grade of caravan.

I don’t recall any issues booking swimming sessions, but when we have been it tends to be weeks where the rest of the country weren’t on school holidays.

Depending on where you are in the country, could you look at Scottish sites towards the end of August? According to Google, Scottish schools start back between the 12th and 18th August, so you might find it both cheaper and quieter!

My dd loved haven when younger. Never had an issue there or at any other caravan holidays.

Some sites are much better than others. We have stayed at about six different sites. The only one we didn't love was Hopton in Norfolk. The site was huge, caravans were too close together liked over by lots of residential houses and the pool was overcrowded.

Our favourite is Quay West in Wales, fairly basic but stunning with an amazing beach closely followed by Hafan Y Mor which is a huge site but really doesn't feel like it is. There's so many on site activities and the pool area is great.

Not once have we had any problems with cleanliness, and have always booked directly. We tend to book several pool sessions in advance and then cancel one or two of them when we arrive depending on the weather/other plans. So I would say you should be able to get time in the pool.

We stayed at Seton Sands at the end of June/start of July (high season for Scotland as schools are out).
It was immaculate. Yes, you do have to book the pool but only 24 hours in advance, and it dies mean that it's not totally packed onr minute and empty the next.
We used it as a base for sightseeing and we ate off site a lot (the world cup was on so the bar was full- and I'm English!).

We have been to various Haven sites over the years and only once was the caravan not that clean and they did come back again (even then it wasn't the scale you see some people say there van is in).
We haven't had ants or bedbugs. Think about how many people stay, most have a fine time and it's only those who don't who are likely to complain.
The worse break we had was when the van opposite us played loud music in the day and then the van next to us at night had a party and had around 20 people all crowded round the outside space and we had to call security. While they say they attended and dealt with it, they did not as I feel they were too intimidated as when I spoke to reception about it they knew which guests we meant so had obviously had them on their radar. There wasn't really much Haven could do (apart from potentially be better at dealing with situations) and their only solution would have been for us to move (but we only had one night left) so it wasn't really viable. So ultimately it could depend who your neighbours are for how your break goes, but I guess this could happen at other sites like park dean and isn't just a haven problem.

In terms of activities, swimming is booked 4 weeks in advance, not 12. Yes it can get booked up but people often cancel. For example I will book our slots (you only get 14 anyway in advance so for us that is 3 swims) but if we then plan that we will be out that day or the kids don't fancy it then I cancel them. Some people also say based on people just not turning up if you walk up and ask then often there are spaces. If you go now outdoor pools are open and most do not require booking (unless it involves going via the indoor pool).

The activities are booked 12 weeks in advance but due to the cost of them you will often find you can still book. Also depending on where you go and what you do you might not want to book them anyway (we tend to favour trips out in the local area to staying on site).
Personally I don't think the Haven sites are a stay all day on site kind of place. Perhaps if you had little ones then you could make it last watching the kids show in the daytime as well as the evening, but to me the locations are usually based in tourist hot spots so you go out for the day to attractions.