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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

Has anyone been on a haven holiday? If so where and what is it like?

33 replies

clutteredup · 04/03/2008 21:42

Looking for affordable term time holiday to go on with DC, i like the look of the indoor pools as DC would be happy to go to the pool everyday.I wondered if they were really like the pictures or do you get what you pay for? Can't afford Centreparcs

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tortoise · 04/03/2008 21:45

I have been on 2 Haven breaks with my 4 DC. They all had a great time and can't wait to go again one day.
We went to Weymouth both times but different parks. Would love to go to a bigger site like Devon cliffs.
They were up on the dance floor until 11pm some nights!

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 21:47

How old are your DC? I'm not sure I want to be on the dance floor till 11!! DD2 doesn't really do sleeping yet, 14mo, and DS6 , DD1 4 - would there be enough for littler ones?

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Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 21:48

Do not, whatever you do, go to Haggerston Castle.

We went there last year with my parents, DD 5yo and DS 3yo.

There is a big amusement arcade, through which you have to go to get to all the facilities, even the playarea.

Only one playarea for the whole place.

The pool was nothing special.

All the activities were extras, some of it very expensive. The kids club was a complete rip off, they sold some kind of badges or medals each evening.

Where abouts are you? You can get some great bargains on the Dutch Centerparcs if you leave it till the last minute. Depends on when you are going too, if the German/Dutch schools are off you might not get anything.

We went to one in Holland recently, weekend for 150euros for 5 bed bungalow.

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 21:51

Oh dear don'tlike the arcade thing we'd be fighting all week with DS about it and DH would be wanting to go too. We are in Somerset so Holland seems expensive to get to although I'm sure its very cheap when you do, Ill look at it though I didn't know there were centreparcs in Holland.

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Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 21:52

Here is the European website in English with the last minute deals.

We also got a weekend for 50euros one time, but that was booking on Thursday and travelling on Friday.

tortoise · 04/03/2008 21:52

10, 8, 4 and 3!
You don't have to stay for the entertainment in the evenings mine just like to stay up as a treat plus it was nice for me as a single Mum to have a night out! youngest slept in the buggy if she wanted to.

tortoise · 04/03/2008 21:53

Yes the arcade area is a bit of a pain!
I'm in Somerset too!

onepieceoflollipop · 04/03/2008 21:59

We went to Burnham on Sea, first week of Sept (i.e at the end of the Summer season.)

We were very disappointed with the standard of hygiene/cleanliness. The chairs in the "restaurant" were fabric covered and caked in dried on food. Why on earth they didn't have washable chairs in a family resort I do not know. One table in the pool area had an upturned soggy ashtray plus contents underneath it - it remained there all week.

dd1 was almost 3 and loved the entertainment (!) but it wasn't really our thing.

One positive thing, the outdoor pool should have been shut at the end of August but they kept it open as the weather was good (almost 2 years ago) - we were quite impressed by this initiative.

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:02

Thanks Linder, it still looks a bit pricey if you add getting there plus DH has to book his holiday in advance so couldn't go very last minute ( and DC don't have passports)
Wow tortoise , 4 DC and alone I struggle with 3!
So are the pools like they suggest on the website, cos they look great? Is it all clean ?

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Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:04

xposted with you lollipop, so the cleanliness was bad at burnham, anyone else had cleanliness issues in other places, its something that would bother me.

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Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:05

sorry kinder, bad spelling night!

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Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 22:07

Hmm, Haggerston was a bit grotty in some bits. It was a bit dim and dingy. Although I think that they were starting a refurbishment this year.

We did not use the entertainment complex much though so I cannot really say.

Clutteredup
I have been thinking about where I have "met" you before, did your DD lose her cuddly toy last year?

tortoise · 04/03/2008 22:08

When we went in the summer the pool wasn't great at Littlesea. Mainly gritty where kids were in and out of the outdoor pool and indoor pool. Oh and breakfast bowls hadn't washed 100% but weymouth bay was better.

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:13

Oh dear this isn't sounding so great. I used to think people who complained about public swiimimg pools were being snobby but the one where DS does his swimming lesson is some weeks so rank I'd drop the lessons if he didn't love them so much so I'm a bit more wary these days, esp with DD2 being a floor feeder
HI Kinder, yes it was me , we lost DD1s bunny,last summer.

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lackaDAISYcal · 04/03/2008 22:17

We went to Primrose Valley.

It was chavtastic.

We also went to CP in belgium last year in the October, and had a great time. The all in price, including ferry, insurance, bike hire, executive villa with sauna (and breakfast delivery service), plus an extra night in the on-site hotel because someone booked the wrong date for the return ferry, was less than the base price for the same week in a CP UK. It was very clean and the facilities were excellent.

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:23

Aslong as its clean I don't mind , we haven't been on a proper holiday for 5 years , we really can't afford a lot that's why I was thinking of going termtime.
Does anyone recommend any other holiday parks with good clean facilities?

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Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 22:27

Ah, yes the bunny. I sent a postcard to your DD from Germany. Glad she found her bunny

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:29

We still have your PC on the notice board and she still talks of Bouncy Bens travels - thank you!

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mckenzie · 04/03/2008 22:32

I took the DCs to Pagham last year. Never ever again.

Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 22:32

You are welcome. How far did Bouncy Ben travel then?

Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 22:34

Hmm, does not look good for your Haven Hols. Maybe you should start another thread asking for other ideas.

I do hope that somewhere a marketing person from Haven googles Haven and finds this thread.

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:39

Bouncy Ben went all the way to Kenya, via London (of course) and Germany - but perhaps not to any Haven Holiday resorts!!!! I'm glad i checked as i was all ready to go ahead and book somewhere - I guess you get what you pay for

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KatyMac · 04/03/2008 22:42

We went to Burnham that year (in August) it was filthy & tatty & yuk

I was hoping if we went agin as there is no smoking it might be slightly better - but DH won't risk it

Original poster
clutteredup · 04/03/2008 22:45

Not really a lot of positive feedback here - although Tortoises choce seemed to be better - I guess it depends on the park.
Can we make a list of don't gos and do gos?
Weymoth seems to be on the do go list - anywhere else? Anyone been to Devon?

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Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 22:47

What about this campsite

Not been there but the review is decent.