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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Is a Haven holiday really tacky?

32 replies

twentypence · 15/04/2007 02:14

Visiting from NZ, and we could stay in a luxury cottage for a fortnight here for what Centerparcs want for 4 nights (July).

Have 1 ds (4 years old) and really need to have a kitchen as I am coeliac and he is allergic to everything!

My mum and dad recommended Hafan y Mor Haven holiday park, as they went recently. However they are obese and so could have been more swayed by the vast quantities of food they got to consume daily (were in half board). They were also on a special offer and anywhere would be good for 10 pounds a day.

We don't really have anything like Haven holidays in NZ and so I can't decide if it's a taste free zone or good value self catering accommodation near to stuff we want to see.

OP posts:
sandcastles · 15/04/2007 02:28

We (me, friend, her 2 dds & my dd when she came along) used to go there every year for 6 years as my friends childminder had a caravan there. We only had 1 meal each visit in the resturant there & that was OK. But we prefered to use our own food.

We didn't really do any onsite stuff, just used it as a base for the week. The eldest of my friends dd went to the disco with a friend who also came along. BUt thta was about as involved as we got. Oh & the soft play area when our dds were small enough for it.

We stayed at Great Yarmouth & I know facilites vary from site to site, but as a base & somewhere to cook etc, I think it woiuld be fine.

Furball · 15/04/2007 03:40

We've been to about 4-5 different Haven sites mostly quieter ones, and although we just used the caravan as a base, in the end we gave up as there is no getting away from the fact that even if you don't go in for the evening entertainment, others do, then stagger back past your caravan really loudly at midnight or whatever.

Furball · 15/04/2007 03:42

the last one we went to, one of the entertainment staff was getting it on with the girl in the caravan next door and they would sit talking outside our bedroom window at 2 or 3 oclock in the morning!

Original poster
twentypence · 15/04/2007 04:15

Mum and Dad stayed up till midnight, so wouldn't have noticed the noise. Is Centerparcs quieter?

OP posts:
Furball · 15/04/2007 05:33

yes but hugely expensive

Original poster
twentypence · 15/04/2007 08:24

Renting a cottage in Wales would be somewhere between the two - but we rent lots of holiday homes here, and I thought it would be nice for ds to have the swimming pool etc.

OP posts:
MintChocChippyMinton · 15/04/2007 08:32

we've done several of this type of holiday, used the pool and playground but not really never bothered with the entertainment, (although the kids disco can be fun) and avoided the restaurants. I would say it is a cheap holiday, the caravans are usually ok and well equipped for basic catering. If you go before the school holidays it should be quieter.

Original poster
twentypence · 15/04/2007 10:33

When are school holidays?

OP posts:
Furball · 15/04/2007 15:14

if you were to go beginning of july you'll be OK most schools break up around about 15th

saltire · 15/04/2007 15:19

What about a cottage place with a pool? We stayed at one in Devon last year, it was on a farm, about 12 cottages, and had a pool, children's play area, pool table, trampolines,etc. We are going next year as well, can't get much of a holiday this year

Original poster
twentypence · 15/04/2007 20:06

That sounds nice Saltire. Is there anywhere like that in the North or Wales?

We would be looking at the week before the school holidays.

OP posts:
PanicPants · 15/04/2007 20:13

Just got back from a haven holiday and really wouldn't recommend it. (Seaview in Weymouth)

The caravan was filthy and the heating broken. We had to have a man come and fix it several times. It was damp and freezing at night - despite the gorgeous weather.

The duvats were thin, and the pillows flat, even though we had extra. And no room to put ds' travel cot either.

We ate in the restaurent once and that was ok. BUt it was the state of the caravan which put us off. Wouldn't do it again.

It was a shame as we went to a caravan park in the Isle of Wight last year and it was so much nicer.

Anyway, despite the moans we still had a good time, but only because we spent as much time away from the site as possible!

Londonmamma · 15/04/2007 20:19

We went to one in Devon because I had a fantasy about staying in a caravan, having been FORCED always to camp in a tent as a child!!

We did have to get them to replace a mattress that stank of wee, but other than that the accommodation was nice, the pitch was quiet, it was near the beach and the entertainment was fun. If you really want naff, try Butlins. Yep we did that last year too. Fun, but very naff.

My DH describes Centerparcs as 'Butlins without the tats'. Centerparcs is my fave of these three opeions - but you pay for it!!

puffling · 15/04/2007 20:31

I recommend farmstay.co.uk Lots of them have self catering units and I even found one in Wales with a pool. Link here:
www.northwales-countryholidays.com/

Original poster
twentypence · 15/04/2007 20:42

Lovely looking place that. I think we are going to have a problem with everywhere because of the weekly thing, when we are only in the UK for 3 weeks and so really want our weekends free to visit people.

OP posts:
puffling · 15/04/2007 22:48

If it's out of school holiday time i.e. first half of July, I guess you could probably negotiate with places about a shorter stay.

MintChocChippyMinton · 16/04/2007 13:04

Agree, out of school hols, you can often get a 3 night weekend Fri-Mon, or a 4 night midweek break Mon-Fri, especially at the last minute.

burstingbug · 16/04/2007 13:06

We're off to Haven - Devon cliffs next mth in a 4* caravan I think.
Hope its going to be better than Seaview.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 16/04/2007 13:09

park resorts are a sort of midway house with the pool etc but less overkill on the entertainment side? they haev a website, we've only done the ones in IoW and kessingland (skip kessingland, but the ones in wales and a few other places are suposedly excellent.

As they aslo do camping you'll be able to find reviews (and also of anywhere that oes camping ) on uk campsite website.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 16/04/2007 13:11

also wondering about here ; I think forest holidays do similar- will ahev a gander....

PeachyChocolateEClair · 16/04/2007 13:12

yep forest holidays have some in Yorkshire, will get park resorts too-

PeachyChocolateEClair · 16/04/2007 13:13

park resorts

they're all over the palce geographically, 2 in Wales at least.

gscrym · 16/04/2007 13:18

We've just been on one and the only negative for me was that you had to go through the big, flashing amusement arcade to get to anything like the pool or the entertainment. Other than that, we went riding round on bikes, walks fed ducks and swans and DS went pony trekking for the first time. It was one of those collect tokes offers from The Sun newspaper.

princessmel · 16/04/2007 13:26

We've been on Haven holidays and the kids loved it. We did too. weather was fab though, last august.

We went swimming every day, ds did the childrens activities, they had their own beach, crazy golf, soft play, playground etc. We hardly spent any extra money as we just made use of the facilities.

It was Rockley park in Poole.

Been to a Pontins,(Camber sands)and that was not as nice. Louder in evening with people going home. We ask for a quiet plot away from entertainment now.

Stayed in a Park Resort place too. That had the childrens show/disco on too late IMO though.

I'd love to go to Centre Parks but its too pricey for us.

mrsjohnsimnelcake · 16/04/2007 13:27

haven holiday- minging.
we had a platic cover on the matress oin a damp caravan, yuk yuk yuk