Anyone else been disappointed with a Haven holiday?

[Chrysanthamum]

We booked a 5 star haven holiday park at the last minute in a really lovely part of England this summer and found it horrendous. We went for a park with lots of kid's facilities as I'm heavily pg and we have a toddler and 6 yr old and we wanted to just be at a pool chillin'.
Our caravan was filthy- toenails in bedroom, sticky carpet, dirty tables and fag butts outside everywhere. We checked out early and were so relieved to be home. We had to queue for 20 mins to get into the overheated pool and then we were put out after 1hr to let more people in. Even the restaurants served disgusting fare with no condiments on the table. Never again! We've had so many fab breaks and holidays all over the Uk often on a budget but this was sooo bad.

[Ethelswith]

This is a seven year old thread - reanimated earlier this summer by someone who clearly has a very specific issue.

We've been to Church Farm (Bognor), Golden Sands (Mablethorpe) and Devon Cliffs over the last 4 years and all have been fine.

[Looneytune253]

Wow really surprised at all these comments. We go to haven quite often, our faves being Craig Tara and haggerston by a long way. We went budget this summer and tried a park resorts caravan site and although we had a great time, you could tell it was a cheaper version and not as much to do. Don't be put off by these comments we've always had a great time. I have so so many fond memories of these sites from when I was a child too.

[CthulhuInDisguise]

Devon Cliffs is a great place, also Doniford Bay. We usually go to Parkdean resorts though as we have found their customer service and standards a bit more consistent.

[fadestogrey]

Hi, Yes Notalone!! I would also like to know the details of the lovely park on the Llyn, if you are good enough to share it with us!

[busysquirrel]

Hi there, can you tell me what caravan park you went to on the Llyn Peninsular? It sounds just like what we are looking for. A place where our children can play and be free to roam with other children!
Thanks!!

[JennyJudah]

I remotely remember when my sister and in-law took the kids out for a few nights stay at one of these overpriced (might i add) package holidays.

Turns out they drove to a wrong one and had to drive for an extra hour or two till they got to the right one. Whoops, their bad, never mind

Upon arrival they had to succumb to carrying their luggage up a flight of stairs. Yippee!

The resort itself was like a lifeless park, the only source of entertainment was a small kids entertainment outdoor thing (I can't remember) and mind you, it wasn't all that. So they too, checked out early.

[ItsABanana]

Just what kind of Havens are you all going to?! We go to Haven nearly every year and have done for the past 10 years or so. Love it, it's great for the kids, there's loads to do and we always go for the superior plus caravans so don't know if that makes any difference in regards to size and cleanliness or whatever.
Poos in swimming pools? Toenails in random rooms?! WTAF?!
Never come across anything like that all the time we've been going. Used to go as a child myself and never saw anything like that myself either!
We've always had a great time when we've gone.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

"Only one has been 'rowdy' and full of drunken youths and regular police visits. The rest were fine."

. You sound so blase about it!!!!

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Tried a haven at Perranporth when ds1 was a baby. Put me off them for life. The chalet felt like it was from colditz, there was mould in the bathroom, there was a plug missing from the bathroom sink, we hired their duvets which STANK of unwashed bodies but the very worst was fleas in the carpet which jumped on and off DS as he lay on his changing mat. It was really really really grim. We thought the fleas were sand flies at first (naive) so didn't report them for a couple of days. But finally I caught one and put it in a jar and went to complain. The staff shrugged and Said they'd sent maintenance over. 3 hours waiting for them, they came in and did nothing except say they'd get someone in to sort it. We left a day early. Awful awful experience. Their attitude was disgusting. I don't know what possessed us to book a holiday park with a 6 month old but we thought he'd like the pool (always too busy so didn't go in it at all). I hadn't done much research and assumed it would be the cheapest option. Got back and was gutted to see that we could have got a lovely private holiday cottage for slightly cheaper.

We have been to caravan parks since then but they have been smaller privately run ones with fewer "consumer" type activities but more nature walks and playground type of places which have been far far nicer.

[ash9213]

I've just come off haven holiday at Burham on sea the caravan was filthy cobwebs dust mouldy food ect they upgraded us I complained again as toenails on floor in bedroom shower filthy bloodstains on curtains went as break because of health as I had spend 3 days cleaning and getting rid of ants nest spent next 3 days having treatment from hospital doing bending stretching to clean I had 1 day to do souvenir shop before coming home was disgusting they said they don't have complaints number I gotta write email but made sure I took pics

[Clairehamilton285]

I'm not really sure how to start this post but here goes.
Me and my fiancé bought 3 caravans on presthaven beach resort in 2014, we had a fantastic first season and loved the park and the people on it. Then last year we had a new park manager (Elma John) we had history with her from 2009 at kiln park and she wasn't our biggest fan through no fault of our own, we were a little worried as we had witnessed what sort of manager she was. Anyway last year was as ok as it could be, anyway long story short, February this year we had a letter for 2 of our caravans saying that Elma was terminating our pitch licences because apparently my fiancé had been discourteous (which he never had) everyone always said how nice he was to everyone, and apparently he was running a business on park (renting out caravans) which most owners do, my fiancé didn't know what else to do so he went to rhyl court to ask for an injunction to stop it from happening, (he knew there was no point speaking to Elma as she doesn't like him due to history at kiln park where he went over her head to bourne leisure to sort out a problem we had) the judge at rhyl gave an emergency hearing but we couldn't get the injunction due to certain ways you have to go about it, so instead Elma that represents bourne leisure and their solicitor took an undertaking to say they wouldn't touch, remove or disconnect any of the caravans, while there their solicitor asked my partner how much he would want to leave park as elma didnt want to TOLERATE HIM, within a few days my fiancé received 2 letters saying that they were terminating his pitch licences again due to site fees not being paid (they'd already terminated so site fees wouldn't be due unless the judge said so) or that's what we thought, I had a letter for the caravan in my name just asking when site fees would be paid but no termination notice anyway this matter went back to court for another hearing after this and the judge told elma that again she wasn't allowed to touch the caravans as this was still in court, the very next day Elma had all 3 caravans disconnected, and electric wires CUT! We found out and reported it to the police for criminal damage (this is still ongoing) why would a park manager have wires cut? We know that's not the norm as we ve seen caravans disconnected before, we ve lost alot of rentals, we haven't wanted to let our guests down so we arranged and paid for them to stay in fellow owners caravans. Their solicitors and manager have played this whole thing very underhanded and tried to bully us. My fiance went for the final hearing on Friday, he took it back to basics and said that he just wanted to protect our caravans, which is the whole reason it was in court, they didn't sent a solicitor with the manager this time, they sent a barrister! My fiancé was without a solicitor as it would've cost more money than we could afford and we thought it was a simple case of they couldn't terminate the pitch licences for the reason she said because it wasn't true, however this barrister was even above the judge so he told the judge what he had to do, the out come was that we didn't get our injunction and she is now allowed to remove all 3 caravans from their pitches because we hadn't paid our site fees because we didn't know what the outcome was going to be and £15,000 is alot of money to lose if they were going to win anyway, but apparently they terminate an agreement twice as long as they put (without prejudice) in the letter,we've now completely lost everything! All holidays for guests will need to be cancelled, our caravans are now worth next to nothing as they don't have a pitch, we have to find either another park to take them to or sell them at a massive loss, my fiancé Is suffering from depression because of the stress of it all and is on antidepressants, my children age 6 and 9 are devastated because they can't see their friends and the only thing we got told by the judge is that we can sue bourne leisure but no amount of money can fix what their manager has done to our family, and all down to a personal vendetta. HAVEN PARKS ARE NOT ABOUT FAMILY OR RIGHT AND WRONG! THEY ABOUT MONEY!

[jellybeans]

I have been to a few and have always had a good time. Have sometimes had to clean the caravan and get annoyed with the mither for money all the time at the kids shows (eg 'look kids come buy this hat like mine') but we tend to use them as a base and rarely use the pools etc and usually only go to a couple of shows. Only one has been 'rowdy' and full of drunken youths and regular police visits. The rest were fine.

[notsofarnow]

I've just done hafan y mor and loved it. Yes loads of slot machines but the site was clean the accomodation was clean apart from a musty smell from the carpet but it was 1 step up from basic apartment. Pool changing rooms were cleaner than my local pool. Didn't actually eat in the restaurant and did self catering and you can't fault the surrounding area in North Wales either.

[ChildOfThe70s]

The Weymouth one is great, ok it's not Centreparcs but its about a third of the price! Would definitely go there again

[mummyzy]

Has anyone been to BLUE DOLPHIN??? I remember going when i was young when i was about 5 and loved it then but i have read the dreadful reviews! whats is it realy like? and filey beach is supposed to be full of dog poop?

[JRocks]

There's one near where I live which I would never recommend to anyone, it's awful. Hayle in Cornwall. I think they play on the proximity to the sea etc, as if that makes up for the cupboard like rooms and general grottiness.

[sunburntats]

oooh tea rooms equals cake.....im easily pleased me..

[TotalChaos]

sunburn - the basic caravan was fine apart from a very wobbly toilet seat! so I really think your gold one should be OK. There's a really nice pub with restaurant a couple of miles from Haggerston Castle called the Lindisfarne. Lindisfarne Island has some nice tea rooms etc.

[eandh]

we've been to rockley park in dorset a few times, caravans have been spotless, site very clean and tidy and the pool/changing rooms very clean and available. Evening entertainment was ok (well kids enjoyed it but they did have a christmas show in July!!) we would def go back, however, we rarely spend a lot of time at the park as normally head to sandbanks or boscombe beach for the day

[mumandlovingit]

we went to haven mablethorpe in july and the kids loved it.it is full of slot machines but i think they all are at caravan places.we didnt even go on them.the kids did go kart racing, dodgems, trampolening,swimming,archery,fencing, loads of activities.no problem getting into the pool or time limits.we got changed at our caravan though as they're communal chaging rooms with cubicles and thought it'd be easier with the children in the caravan.it wasn't far from the pool though.

the kids entertainment was good and they didnt want to leave. the funstars interacted well with the kids and our eldest one was on stage 4 or 5 times out of the week we were there doig competitions etc.the food was good except for the take away bit in the entertainment complex, very little food for a lot of money.the restaurant was good though and the food nice.i moaned about one of the serving guys and they soon sorted the order out and took the name etc of the guy who was useless.

the carpet in the entertainment complex at night was sticky but they were cleaning it every morning to try to get the alcohol out so they were trying. the caravan was fine.my dp checked it all out when we arrived and said if it wasn't immaculate we'd be swapping caravans.no need to though, it was fine.

we've been to haven at caister in norfolk and mablethorpe and they've both been fine. the entertainment for adults was mainly in house and i wouldve liked to have seen more outside cabaret like they do at park resorts where we've been but to be honest i think haven is mainly aimed for people with young kids so you're not mainly there for the adult entertainment.

essay over.hope you have good holidays.

[Chrysanthamum]

Well they're doing Christmas packages which look v enticing - CP that is not Haven!

[Tommy]

it was a bit - we went just for a weekend in June when the DSs had an INSET day but I can't really imagine wanting to go back to Haven or Butlins after it TBH

[Chrysanthamum]

I quite fancy Centerparcs but is it not a tad expensive?

[Tommy]

we did Haven at - Devon Cliffs last year and the caravan was lovely - v clean and comfy. Howvever, I didn't enoy the site and TBH we didn't hang around there much at all. Wasn't as good as Butlins the year before.

Did Centerparcs this year which is now officially my fave

[frasersmummy]

the last few haven holidays we have had garden furniture at the side of the caravan so sitting outside wasnt a problem