Sandyballs, New Forest-some advice/feedback please.

[parachutes]

Hello, there seems to be some really good feedback on sandyballs but was wondering if anyone had been there recently?
I also cannot find any price lists for their activities so would be grateful for any info on that?

We're thinking of going for a week in June, staying in one of their lodges.

TIA

Was there a couple of months ago. Activities ranged from being free up to £10ish with most being around £3 (from what I can remember). These are craft type activities (sticking, playdough, tie dyeing etc), although I think they do have some cycling activities for older children, not sure of the price though. The activities here are not on the same scale as Centerparcs.

Some accommodation is tired and chintzy, the nicer lodges we have found are Sycamore or Beech Retreats (however these are only 4 berth).

Sandy Balls is good for toddlers or under 5s, there is a small soft play place, and two separate shallow areas of swimming pool.

Not much on site for over 5s though, bar the outdoor play areas (swings etc) and arcade!

I have found the staff at Sandy Balls to be very helpful with regard to pre-booking enquiries, so ring them with your activities queries.

Forget to mention, there is a main swimming pool for older children and adults, but the shallow end was too deep for our 7 year old to stand up in, and the two toddler pools were too small and shallow to swim in!

Make sure you visit the Raptor and Reptile centre in Ringwood

Marking my place as we're going in May :)

My neighbour went last august and loved it.

happy to advise on things to do, if you tell me kids ages and interests. its a lovely area

Mine will be 2 and 4 (sorry to hijack OP!)

Hi,
Sandy balls is not far from where I live!
This site may help you.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1065822-d1051930-Reviews-Sandy_Balls_Holiday_Centre-Fordingbridge_New_Forest_Hampshire_England.html

This New Forest site may help you with holiday planning as well.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g186297-i1124-New_Forest_Hampshire_England.html

megbusset - if you would like advise - what sort of things do you enjoy - there are marinas at poole and christchurch, sandy beaches practically everywhere around bournemouth, new forest - ponies/pubs, moors valley country park, alice in wonderland park, salisbury or bournmeouth for shopping, indoor pool in ringwood, nice paddling pool and play area by the river in fordingbridge

Hello everyone, thanks for the replies (no problem MegBusset!).

Ds is 7 but recovering from illness, partly the reason for choosing this holiday as it's only 90 minutes drive. We're checking to see if we can book some riding lessons for him (as he does those generally anyway) and it's an activity we know he likes. We won't really need loads of activities mainly the pool; I just wanted to make sure that the accomodation was of a good standard and the site was nice.
I am off to book

Thanks again.

of no use to you OP, but I went to Sandy Balls in January a few years ago, to get the kids out of the house while we had a new kitchen fited. The place can have 4000+ people in it at the height of summer, and there were 200 people there that week. It was completley deserted and the most surreal experience!

Have often wondered what its like when not deserted!

It's a bit like a mobile home park, to be honest. I had read some good reviews but was quite disappointed.

(I went in Feb 09 so it may have changed a little since then)

The welcome area is nice and modern as are the shop and the upmarket restaurant.

But our cabin was very chintzy and pokey. 70's style gas fire.

The swimming pool seemed really dated and you had to queue and wait a while to get in. This was on a weekend in Feb so not the height of the season. Heaving with teenagers.

The kids activity cabin was run down.

Having said that, I thought the cycling facilities were great and they provide you with routes and maps which was very helpful. So enjoyed that aspect of it but not the rest.

I'm fairly sure that the facilities as Sandy Balls are also open to the general public, not just people staying there.
In winter they have a synthetic ice skating rink, which they advertise in the local paper.
Many years ago, my eldest son's school used to use Sandy Balls indoor pool for swimming lessons occasionally.