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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Sandy Balls with 2 young kids. Recommend it?

32 replies

northender · 02/08/2005 22:49

We have a 4yo ds and a 10mo dd and are planning a 4 night break in Sept. Is there plenty to do on site and the surrounding area? Especially if the weather's bad.

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 02/08/2005 22:55

The place isn't really called Sandy Balls, is it?

Original poster
northender · 02/08/2005 23:01

It certainly is!! It's a kind of Centre Parcs thing in the New Forest. Thought the name might grab attention!

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 02/08/2005 23:05

Where's the [gobsmacked] emoticon when you need it?

Original poster
northender · 02/08/2005 23:37

!! Good to chat WWB but it isn't achieving the aim of finding out about the oddly named place! Has anyone out there been? WWB there is a website sandy-balls.co.uk if you don't believe me. (don't do links yet!!)Looks all very nice but not enough nitty gritty info IYKWIM.

OP posts:
rickman · 02/08/2005 23:46

Message withdrawn

Original poster
northender · 03/08/2005 09:02

bump

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 03/08/2005 09:13

It might not have been achiving your aim, but it was bumping the thread for you.

I'll go away and keep my chatting to myself now.

Original poster
northender · 03/08/2005 09:17

wasn't meaning to offend. All in good humour really!! There we've bumped it again. I think we'll go ahead and book it anyway if only to be able to tell people we're going on holiday to a place with such a weird name!! Center Parcs are sooo yesterday!!

OP posts:
Windermere · 03/08/2005 09:22

There is a mumsnetter called sandyballs and she gave a rave review about this place on another thread.

WigWamBam · 03/08/2005 09:25

What happened to my wink?

There should have been a wink at the end of my last post ... not offended at all

loulabelle222 · 03/08/2005 09:32

Omg I love this place. When i was younger i went all the time. The swimming pool is beautiful...with a sauna,steam room and jacuzzi and a gym. There is games rooms (big arcade) a lovely pub and restaurant which serves lovely food. During the day exploring the forest is always a good one! There is plenty to do around the park as well such as horse riding and zoo's and things! I love it there! have fun...so jealous!

Original poster
northender · 03/08/2005 09:42

Thanks llb222 and Windermere. I have to say I didn't find any mention of the sauna, jacuzzi etc on their website so that has sold it to me, dh can look after the cherubs while I relax!! Also found sandyballs previous posts about her namesake. Sorry about the missing wink WWB!

OP posts:
Original poster
northender · 03/08/2005 18:46

bump

OP posts:
spidermama · 03/08/2005 18:49

Highly recommend it. We had a great time last sept. Word of advice though .... Don't forget to venture out into the forest. There's so much to do in the campsite that you can forget how fab it is just climbing ancient oaks and crossing paths with deer and wild ponies.

I love the forest. Have fun.

sandyballs · 06/09/2005 11:32

Only just seen this . Have fun. We love it.

lucyep · 14/09/2005 11:57

We live not far from Sandy Balls. Always seems to be a busy place. There is loads to do around here:
New Forest of course!
Bournemouth about 20 miles down the road
Moors Valley Country Park with their small gauge railway.
Hope you enjoy yourselves. If you want any more info on the area, then let me know.

morningpaper · 05/04/2006 20:07

hmm just been looking for somewhere to go on holiday and found this place. Anyone been recently?

jenthehen · 05/04/2006 20:31

We went last year in sept and had a fab time. Ds was 3 and dd 1. We hired bikes and had a fantastic ride out in the New Forest. We had fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens in Bournemouth one evening (you can sit outside upstairs and look out to sea)Had a great day on the beach at sandbanks (I think that was the name of the beach) in Poole. We stayed in the log cabins which were great and all of the cabins in the little area we stayed in had children of a similar age so they played together on the grass in the centre whist the parents sat and drank wine. The indoor play area is a great place for them to burn up some energy (only dissapointment was the plastic garden chairs provided for parents to sit on - I was hoping for relaxing brown leather sofas and a latte!!)
We had a great time and look forward to going again. Hope this helps

morningpaper · 05/04/2006 20:35

thanks jen the hen!

Fauve · 05/04/2006 20:38

I recently got the brochure since everyone on here raves about it. Sounds really good, will have to go soon. Maybe by then they'll do an MN discount...God knows they get the publicity...

cod · 05/04/2006 20:43

oop ssorry
amt rying to link to sandy balls webiste

cod · 05/04/2006 20:43

www.sandy-balls.co.uk/

Orinoco · 05/04/2006 21:48

Yes, it's really nice. As long as you can put up with dh/dp's jokes about the name for your entire stay.

moondog · 05/04/2006 21:52

lol

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