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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

Sun £9.50 holidays are back from 5th Jan. Am a virgin Sun holiday person. Are there any tips to guarantee a good holiday?

166 replies

Notalone · 29/12/2008 20:52

Due to a mixture of the credit crunch, me being a mature student and DP having had an accident and not working, I am going to see if I can get a Sun holiday this year for us. Ideally we are looking at North / Mid Wales, Southern Scotland and Yorkshire. Are there any fab places to go that we should ask for? Are there any dives to be avoided at all costs? Can anyone share their experiences from years goneby? Thanks!!!

OP posts:
LucyEllensmummy · 04/01/2009 20:12

oh, off subject, what are you studying notalone, ive done the whole mature student thing - its tough but worth it

Original poster
Notalone · 04/01/2009 20:20

Oh thats great Meg! You are a star! How do I CAT you (sorry to be stupid - haven't done that before lol)

I am studying Occupational Therapy Lucyellensmum - am on my first placement on Tues. Eeek!! What did you study?

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MegBusset · 04/01/2009 20:48

You click the envelope by the side of the post to contact the poster, but I think you have to be registered to use it. Or you can just email me at [without spaces] mog basket @ hot mail . com

LucyEllensmummy · 04/01/2009 21:05

I did Biochemistry, for some reason i can't quite remember Good luck on your placement.

nappyaddict · 04/01/2009 22:44

With pontins you only have to pay for the electric meter which worked out about £1 a day for us. They are bigger parks with loads going on and often work out the cheapest. However if there are 4 or less of you I would recommend paying for at least 5 people so you get the 2 bedrooms (sofa bed in living room was very uncomfortable when we stayed)

Original poster
Notalone · 04/01/2009 23:19

Hi Meg

Have sent you an email . Thanks so much! Just to clarify it is Mog Basket and not Meg Basket isn't it?!

Did you not like your degree Lucyellensmumy? Sounds very high brow and way above my intelligence level!

OP posts:
MegBusset · 05/01/2009 09:45

Have replied to you Notalone

Original poster
Notalone · 05/01/2009 10:05

Thanks Megbusset

OP posts:
LucyEllensmummy · 05/01/2009 11:43

I have just phoned Haven and got a quote - they are doing their Superior caravans at half price just now. But that still works out more money than booking with the Sun. Nearly £100 more, also, you should check the surcharges as they very from site to site - we went to a park last year with the highest surcharge.

I think it very depends on whether or not you want to be sure where you are going. We are going to do it via the Sun if it is just us, as it means we can take our dog. If we go with BIL we will book direct - that probably makes no sense at all, but if i am to be stuck with them for four nights then i can't be risking a shitty caravan with no entertainment.

Notalone - i really enjoyed my degree actually, so much so that i stupidly went on to do a PhD. I don't think its an intelligence thing, its just what you are interested in. The PhD certainly nothing to do with intelligence, its just a project really - at least thats how i saw it. And of course, I say i don't know why i did it because actually, my job prospects don't seem any better now than before as science is one of those areas that it is actually quite difficult to get well paid work. A lot of research is done at universities and the pay is poor and the security is well, non existent. But thats just me, and i got ishoos!

Im off out to buy my copy of the Sun (cringe). I managed to half-inch a copy of the news of the world yesterday from the soft play centre (no token though). Their main news story seemed to be Gazza (thats Gazza not Gaza!) and Kate Moss's cellulite . Oh well at least i will have lots of paper to start my coal fire off this week.

LucyEllensmummy · 05/01/2009 12:02

To answer your initial Q notalone - how to get a good holiday? The answer is: Go with an open mind. Last year we were so piss poor that i was grateful to go anywhere - Im hoping things are looking up a little this year, but i enjoyed our holiday so much that i want to go back this year. In fact it was leaving my expectations at home that made the holiday for us - we were pleasantly surprised. I was a total caravan park snob, and thought i would hate it, but we didn't want to leave. We extended by two days (we wanted to avoid the traffic) and it only cost an extra £20, but we did this pretty close to the start date so took a chance.

Im getting quite excited now - i didnt realise the Sun did the holiday thing more than once a year - whoopdewoo!!! I don't even mind being subjected to page three to get it either

ChippyMinton · 05/01/2009 12:05

LEM

LucyEllensmummy · 05/01/2009 12:58

Hey chippy - hows you doing?

kidsx4 · 05/01/2009 15:44

does anyone know how much the up grades are? tia

Original poster
Notalone · 05/01/2009 15:55

Hi Lucyellensmum - I got my first token this morning. Actually had a v embarrasing morning all round A) because I had to buy the Sun and walk home with it sans bag and B) because I proceeded to slip on ice and me and the paper fell onto the pavement and I now have a poorly knee . When you said there was no token did you mean someone had got there before you or that there were no tokens full stop? Its just because the Sun I got says Token 1 but I thought it started on Saturday.

Glad you enjoyed Devon Cliffs - it does look gorgeous and right on the sea too. What level of accommodation did you have there? We went to Primrose Valley last year with clubcard vouchers and ended up in caravan city where all the caravans were on top of each other. In fact most of the caravans were bronze and as new as ours so we felt a bit short changed that we had paid extra for nothing. Next time I need to ask to be in a quiet area apparently and not just away from the club house. Lovely Megbusset sent me her priority code so I am feeling quite hopeful now lol

What sort of work were you looking for? I always thought they were crying out for people with science degrees but I guess it depends on which area you want to get into I guess. Just out of interest where did you do your degree? Its just that I nearly moved the whole family to kent a couple of years ago as I got a place at Canterbury Christchurch uni (you are in Kent is that right?)

OP posts:
LucyEllensmummy · 05/01/2009 17:32

I did my degrees at Kent uni, i know christchurch apparently it is very good for health related degrees. Im not sure i want to stay in science if i'm honest. but anyways.....

We got a letter this am with our priority code on it, I too bought the sun, but was less drama about it We were given standard accomodation, although i think it was moved up to standard plus because we took our dog (not sure) but we were given a three bedroom caravan with telly and cooker etc. No heating in the bedrooms so a bit chilly of a night and would be inclined to take my own linen this time, their quilts were a bit thin. We were more than happy with it. It was on the oldish side but clean, bearing in mind it was one where dogs are allowed so it wasn't spotless. Haven are doing a book early deal that means you can get half price superior accomodation for cheaper than if you booked the standard with them, but it still works out more money than the sun - i think you get heating in every room, but we just left the fire on with the doors open most of the time. We were told it would be £195 for four weekdays in June. I worked it out to be £120 for us and the dog with the sun (thats with the surcharges etc - check what site you go to, it varies alot!). If we went for the Haven offer we couldnt take the dog I wouldn't want to pay extra for a superior caravan based on what we were given last time, a standard, which was absolutely fine.

Its exciting isn't it

nkf · 05/01/2009 19:40

I forgot to buy The Sun today. I'm hopeless!

Original poster
Notalone · 05/01/2009 22:36

£120 isn't bad at all really. The way we see it is the caravan is just a base where we sleep, wash and sometimes eat. We don't spend much time there really so its not such a big deal if its a bit shabby, as long as it is clean. When we went to Primrose Valley the entertainment was included but we only went once so with the Sun holidays I doubt we will bother paying for the passes. If the weather is good (as it was mainly in Wales) then it works out really well! I must admit it is kind of exciting not knowing where you are going. Think we will probably narrow the sites down soon - the only definite so far is Auchenlarie in Scotland which is actually Hoseasons and not Haven. Have you definitely decided on Devon Cliffs then now?

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Original poster
Notalone · 05/01/2009 22:37

NKF - don't worry - you need to collect 10 tokens between now and Jan 21st so you haven't missed the boat yet. Where are you looking at?

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nkf · 06/01/2009 19:00

I remembered today. No idea what I am looking at? I've been recommended the scheme. I suppose Scotland at half term would be mad. Too cold? That's what I'd like to do. Someone on here mentioned France. For the summer maybe?

HallePerry · 07/01/2009 22:41

Right then ladies lets share our info so we can all get a lovely sun holiday (to answer an earlier question it works out about £80 for a 4 night or £74 for 3 nights - can be cheaper for non Haven parks)
I have been on quite a few sun hols so i can book online this year which means i just need the four letter words (!) on each token. I have four words/tokens so far but the shop had run out of Sun newspapers today.. therefore i need the word on todays token please!!! also as i am booking online i will probably have quite a few tokens that i can post to any MN who needs them.

Words so far for anyone who can book online (you need to have been before because then you get a ref number to enter on the website)

Sat 3rd = BAND
Sun 4th = LINE
Mon 5th = PAGE
Tues 6th = TOWN

thank u in advance

benbon · 08/01/2009 07:55

hi halle the word you need is

MAIN

HOPE YOU HAVE A FAB HOLIDAY, i think these hols are brilliant although were risking it and going to butlins at minehead this year should be fine though. the kids love it..

likessleep · 08/01/2009 14:26

Just to slightly jump on this thread, but can anyone recommend a good park from selection in Somerset / South Wales?
TIA

J2O · 08/01/2009 19:28

does anyone have the 4 letter word from Wednesday please? TIA

likessleep · 08/01/2009 20:57

MAIN (was wednesday january 7th)

J2O · 08/01/2009 21:13

ahhh Ok thank you, has any got todays then pretty please?

does anyone have any recommendations for a park with a good water park also please?