Hearing really baaaaaad things about a Haven site called Cala Gran near Fleetwood and we're booked to go in two weeks..........any MNetters been?

[Doodle2u]

So, we're skint but thought we could manage a week in a caravan. Chose a Haven site on the basis the children would love playing with other children around the site, ride their bikes etc and a bit of a swimming pool would be a bonus.

Booked Haven's Cala Gran but typically, only AFTER I'd paid for the damn thing, did I start to hear bad stories about it.

Anyone?

Cala Gran? That sounds Spanish.

We went to a Haven once and it was a bit rough...kids loved it though.

Aye - i think they called it that to 'posh' it up a bit Corny. [eek]

Which one did you go to and how rough are we talking here? Will I have all four wheels on me car at the end of the week?

I don't really like caravan sites so I was biased anyway. Quite a few people sat round drinking Stella for breakfast. My ds's thought it was brilliant and went on about it for ages. It was a good laugh really.

It was near Morecombe - Blue Dolphin (I think.) Everyone I spoke to was really nice. I just don't really like caravan parks. (uptight emoticon)

we went to haven called rockley park in dorset the other week was lovely, very clean caravans, fantastic site (own beach/watersports) evening entertainment was great (although think that one is a 5* site)

Haven't been to this particular one but have done other Haven holiday parks.
They very similair to Butlins / Pontins. I would reccomend getting the better standard of accomodation.
We just tend to use it as a base and have days out away from the site.
However ds uses the sports facilities and dd loves the character entertainment so we do a couple of nights in there.

TBH i think it's a matter of personal preference. My dc's always enjoy themselves so for that reason we return to these type of holiday parks for a cheap break.

Well I was thinking I could put up with it if the children had a great time Corny - to be honest, I want to go to a nice villa in Corsica with it's own heated swimming pool but we haven't got a pot to pee in this year and I didn't want to spend a week in a tent - we do that nearly every other weekend as it is!

Thank you Lily and e&h

Look the important thing is to get a break and you're right the kids will love it. Just go with the flow, plan some excursions off the site and accept that maybe it's not going to be your dream break but it is a break and a change is as good as a rest and all that!

If it is a bit rough - well that's an opporunity for you and your dh to eavesdrop on other people's rows and embrace your beer drinking, hog roasting souls

Yes I really shouldn't have posted all that should I Doodle. sorry - I'm just all in a dither with the fonz and all that.

I've been to Cala Gran twice. The last time was about 3yr ago. It's no worse than any other Haven site i've been to. It will be fine

You mentioned bikes, but not how old your kids are... there are some good off-road cycle paths in the Lancaster/Morecambe area which isn't a million miles away from where you'll be.

Doodle dd is pining to go back to 'pontins' despite she being lucky enough to have had two holidays abroad in the last two years.
It makes me that her favourite destination is pontins
Have yet to break it to her that we are going to be camping this year rather than pontins!

If your dc's enjoy it you will. I find copius amounts of wine enables me to see the entertainment through dd's eyes

Corny - what you on about? There was nowt wrong with what you posted?! Don't suppose you fancy a day out to Fleetwood with the children in two weeks, do you? I'm on my own on this holiday for the first 4 days! DH coming up later in the week.

Northern - You're right and I like your thinking. Phoenix - thanks for that, no worse means not soooo bad, right?

If you are near Morecombe we found a fabulous surfy beach when we went. We spent hours there each day.

Grim - they are 8 (DS) and 6 (DD). DD is a lazy beggar but a flatish route would be OK.

Lily - case of wine just been added to my packing list. Will one case be enough?

When are you going Doodle?

Monday 27th july - children finish school on the Friday before. Will be there Monday to Thursday with just me and them and then DH is coming up on Thursday night.

Doodle i enjoyed it and would go back (if it was cheap ). I've been to Havens plenty of times on those £9.50 Sun holidays The kids will love it

Add another case just in case the entertainment is spectactularly bad !! There will be dodgy moments and people, but sit back have a drink and laugh!!! Kids will love it!

Thanks for the invite Doodle! I don't really like driving on the motorway but may try to be brave.

We go to Haven several times a year. Ds loves it, especially the character shows in the evening. A woman I work with goes to Cala Gran regularly and has nothing bad to say about it. I've only been to Cala Gran once for a couple of nights and although it's one of the smaller sites that's not such a bad thing because you don't have to walk very far at all to get to the pool or entertainment. The only negative I found was that the pool was really busy and they has stopped letting people in so we were told to return in an hour (we did get there for it opening though which is always the busiest time).
Loads of people are really negative about Haven (usually people who haven't actually been to one I find!) but we don't go for us, we go for ds and he'd much rather go to Haven than abroad. Yes, you do get plenty of chavvy types but not everyone is like that and I would imagine that most of the "Stella for Breakfast" (lol @ Cornsilk) types would head into Blackpool rather than hang around the site anyway.
Relax and enjoy yourselves, the kids will love it!