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Original poster

Haven Recommendations and why? Any tips?

46 replies

gingerrcat · 17/07/2023 23:11

Not sure if we will take dc out of school so looking to book the end of August or October half term.

Are the parks ridiculously busy in half term? I know there will be kids all over the place but does this mean we couldn't swim some days (as others have reserved?)

Any thoughts or advice appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 07:21

No one is keen on haven then Blush

OP posts:
Hihihihihihihihihi · 18/07/2023 07:23

gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 07:21

No one is keen on haven then Blush

No - visited once and never again. It was eye opening to say the least

febbabies2023 · 18/07/2023 07:24

Which one are you looking at?

My MIL owns a caravan on a haven site so we spend an awful lot of time there!

Haven seem to be investing a fair amount of money into some of their parks like the one we go to (it's got a new show bar, the outside parks and activities have been done and they're starting work on extending the pool and arcades)

It does get extremely busy during the holiday season, and I wouldn't say the entertainment is as good as butlins (came back from there last week) BUT our little one loves it and depending on location you don't have to be stuck there either!

If it's a reasonable price I would do it but if it's going to cost 8/900 then I probably wouldn't bother akd you could find better

Hope this helps a little!

CeeJay81 · 18/07/2023 07:36

We often go to Haven. We love Hafan y mor, as its not too far for us and its one of the bigger sites with lots of activities. However personally i think the school holiday prices are just too much. We usually just take our's out of school. We were lucky last October half term, as Wales had a different week to England and they only put the prices up for the England one. So can't answer about how busy it'll be this October when it's the same week.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 18/07/2023 08:27

We've just got back from a long weekend at Haven Hopton and we had a really good time (after a bit of a sulky first day due to rain and a 4 Hr drive). We're not big fans of the entertainment but that's the case at any holiday park, it's just not our thing, the park itself was good. Really easy access to the beach, close to amenities like supermarkets and only a 15 minute drive to Great Yarmouth and all the stuff there.

DD loved the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, we booked 2 sessions a day and availability was good, there was adventure golf, arcades, climbing and inflatables, lots of nice bits to walk around and the on-site Garden House restaurant did good food, they also had Papa Johns and a chippy.

nasanas · 18/07/2023 08:31

Apparently swimming is a nightmare and you have to pre book and it's difficult now. You used to juts turn up!

If you are on Facebook there are a few groups you could join where you will find out everything you could ever want to know and details about the different parks and vans.

I use Haven regularly but we go to Blackpool, we don't use the Haven park facilities, just the van. It's an easy booking system, I pay extra to choose my van, on a quieter part of the park and they are clean and fresh, all you need.

RainbowConnection1 · 18/07/2023 08:45

We've been to Primrose Valley in the past and it was great!

fizzyfood · 18/07/2023 08:48

Been to Weymouth Bay and Rockley Park, always had a great time. Clean caravans and lots of activities. Swimming has to be pre booked, which is easy to do on the app. We're going agin in August. Favourite park is Weymouth Bay.

liveforsummer · 18/07/2023 08:54

We went to Haggerston castle last summer at a time where the Scottish and English school holidays overlapped (it's just over the English border so gets lots of visitors from both) I feared that was bad planning however it was fine. Had no issues booking swimming you can do it well in advance and no issues booking any other activity. Maybe some parks are different but here it definitely wasn't a problem. Trips offsite were fine too

Rawrrawr1 · 18/07/2023 08:59

As others have said as long as you book swimming in advance you won't have an issue, we tend to try and book a slot a day and then cancel any we cant make as plans change.
Haven is what you make it, we went to primrose over Halloween weekend last year and it was busy but always managed to get a table for entertainment.. though we do tend to leave the entertainment before 8.
Been a fair few other times but outside of busier times as we have a pre schooler

GetDownkeith · 18/07/2023 09:04

We were at a Haven this time 2 years ago and the dc all enjoyed it two teens and 11 year old. I agree it's what you make it. There is a lot of snobbery around it which I was guilty of too but we went somewhere with loads of activities and plenty to do in the area and we had a good time.
Was still a lot of restrictions when we went because of Covid so not sure what booking is like now but we just booked everything in advance that the dc wanted to do and even my most dulling teen enjoyed himself.

PaperNests · 18/07/2023 16:31

We love Haven. It ticks everything we need for a budget UK holiday with small children and no car. We love nature so mainly go for the coastal locations, the kids go for the pools and activities. I find booking things by the app really easy. Means there's no queuing and not knowing if you'll get in. What location/parks are you considering?

Caravanvirgin · 18/07/2023 16:34

febbabies2023 · 18/07/2023 07:24

Which one are you looking at?

My MIL owns a caravan on a haven site so we spend an awful lot of time there!

Haven seem to be investing a fair amount of money into some of their parks like the one we go to (it's got a new show bar, the outside parks and activities have been done and they're starting work on extending the pool and arcades)

It does get extremely busy during the holiday season, and I wouldn't say the entertainment is as good as butlins (came back from there last week) BUT our little one loves it and depending on location you don't have to be stuck there either!

If it's a reasonable price I would do it but if it's going to cost 8/900 then I probably wouldn't bother akd you could find better

Hope this helps a little!

How does the cleanliness of Haven compare to Butlins? I’ve just come back from Butlins and it certainly lived up to it’s reputation in places.

febbabies2023 · 18/07/2023 17:10

@Caravanvirgin well I can only compare the one haven we spend time at to the Butlins at Bognor Regis

I would say like anything it does depend - the busier they are the messier they seem to be!

However, I would say that the haven we visit was cleaner than the butlins. We enjoyed butlins, however the floors were ALWAYS sticky, the toilets were grubby and flooded on a couple of occasions and no soap in them etc which we've not ever had problems with at Haven. However swimming at Bognor was really clean and tidy

They both have their pros and cons. Our butlins deal was cheap but again I wouldn't spend like £800 on it!

Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 19:33

@Hihihihihihihihihi oh no why?

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 19:37

febbabies2023 · 18/07/2023 07:24

Which one are you looking at?

My MIL owns a caravan on a haven site so we spend an awful lot of time there!

Haven seem to be investing a fair amount of money into some of their parks like the one we go to (it's got a new show bar, the outside parks and activities have been done and they're starting work on extending the pool and arcades)

It does get extremely busy during the holiday season, and I wouldn't say the entertainment is as good as butlins (came back from there last week) BUT our little one loves it and depending on location you don't have to be stuck there either!

If it's a reasonable price I would do it but if it's going to cost 8/900 then I probably wouldn't bother akd you could find better

Hope this helps a little!

Yes very helpful thank you.

Do you mind me asking which one you go to?

I have looked and it's difficult to compare them side by side!
Ideally we'd like a really good indoor pool and not bothered about LOADS of activities but maybe 2 or 3.

The September prices seem to be £800+ so might have to wait until October half term but then we don't have heat or light days!

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:12

CeeJay81 · 18/07/2023 07:36

We often go to Haven. We love Hafan y mor, as its not too far for us and its one of the bigger sites with lots of activities. However personally i think the school holiday prices are just too much. We usually just take our's out of school. We were lucky last October half term, as Wales had a different week to England and they only put the prices up for the England one. So can't answer about how busy it'll be this October when it's the same week.

Good point thank you!

We are not wales, any idea how to find out- I guess I just Google it lol?

(Wondering if Wales have councils like England)

OP posts:
MissDollyMix · 18/07/2023 20:26

We used to go to Haven Berwick upon tweed a lot when the DC were little. They LOVED it. Better than Disneyland apparently. Berwick site is tiny compared to others which suited us fine. We just used it as a base. It’s a great location for exploring the area. DC used to love all the slot machines and the disco. The pool wasn’t up to much. It was never particularly crowded or noisy. Always felt quite clean. Definitely upgrade to the best spec caravan you can afford. The basic ones are extremely old and… well… basic. DC still ask to go back even though they’re teenagers now!

Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:31

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 18/07/2023 08:27

We've just got back from a long weekend at Haven Hopton and we had a really good time (after a bit of a sulky first day due to rain and a 4 Hr drive). We're not big fans of the entertainment but that's the case at any holiday park, it's just not our thing, the park itself was good. Really easy access to the beach, close to amenities like supermarkets and only a 15 minute drive to Great Yarmouth and all the stuff there.

DD loved the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, we booked 2 sessions a day and availability was good, there was adventure golf, arcades, climbing and inflatables, lots of nice bits to walk around and the on-site Garden House restaurant did good food, they also had Papa Johns and a chippy.

This sounds lovely and was one I had considered!

What was the indoor pool like?

Was there decent parking in Great Yarmouth?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:37

nasanas · 18/07/2023 08:31

Apparently swimming is a nightmare and you have to pre book and it's difficult now. You used to juts turn up!

If you are on Facebook there are a few groups you could join where you will find out everything you could ever want to know and details about the different parks and vans.

I use Haven regularly but we go to Blackpool, we don't use the Haven park facilities, just the van. It's an easy booking system, I pay extra to choose my van, on a quieter part of the park and they are clean and fresh, all you need.

Thank you- I didn't know you could choose where you are! Is that regardless of the time of year/ length of stay?

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:39

RainbowConnection1 · 18/07/2023 08:45

We've been to Primrose Valley in the past and it was great!

Another I looked at- it's big isn't it?

What are the facilities like and the indoor pool please?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:42

fizzyfood · 18/07/2023 08:48

Been to Weymouth Bay and Rockley Park, always had a great time. Clean caravans and lots of activities. Swimming has to be pre booked, which is easy to do on the app. We're going agin in August. Favourite park is Weymouth Bay.

Thank you I'll look into those!

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:45

liveforsummer · 18/07/2023 08:54

We went to Haggerston castle last summer at a time where the Scottish and English school holidays overlapped (it's just over the English border so gets lots of visitors from both) I feared that was bad planning however it was fine. Had no issues booking swimming you can do it well in advance and no issues booking any other activity. Maybe some parks are different but here it definitely wasn't a problem. Trips offsite were fine too

Thank you for this it's helpful!

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:47

GetDownkeith · 18/07/2023 09:04

We were at a Haven this time 2 years ago and the dc all enjoyed it two teens and 11 year old. I agree it's what you make it. There is a lot of snobbery around it which I was guilty of too but we went somewhere with loads of activities and plenty to do in the area and we had a good time.
Was still a lot of restrictions when we went because of Covid so not sure what booking is like now but we just booked everything in advance that the dc wanted to do and even my most dulling teen enjoyed himself.

Which one did you visit please?

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerrcat · 18/07/2023 20:53

PaperNests · 18/07/2023 16:31

We love Haven. It ticks everything we need for a budget UK holiday with small children and no car. We love nature so mainly go for the coastal locations, the kids go for the pools and activities. I find booking things by the app really easy. Means there's no queuing and not knowing if you'll get in. What location/parks are you considering?

Not sure yet, I think we'd be looking at what ticks the boxes first for our needs like a good indoor pool as dc love the water!

OP posts: