Cheaper to book direct with Haven or Sun £9.50 holidays?

arthur_dent_2

artichoke wrote: »

so as an experienced haven holiday maker which sites do you recommend?

I need them to have good indoor pools ....

any recommendations welcome...

i went to mabblethorpe last year and it was fine - but would like some other recommendations as well please

thanks

art

I have lent out my brochure and my useless computer can't handle 2 windows at once but from memory:

Thorpe Park Cleethorpes, I went before it was refurbished but it is a pleasent site and very near to Pleasure Island (usually 2 for 1 if you go to the tourist Information) This is now the flagship site and has just been given a major makeover, looks fantastic.

Blackpool, really nice site but I cannot remember much about the pool leading me to think it must have been quite basic.

Hopton was Ok i believe had one decent slide.

Others I have been on have been through P ark resorts. Looking through the Haven site this year, I would definately say that Caister would be a good bet and there is always something to do around Yarmouth. Primrose Valley also looks fantastic. I have booked to go to Blue Dolphin, which was cheaper but not as active as Primrose valley and they are practically next door to each other. Wild Duck which is a quieter park and I am going with family and Presthaven Sands which I am looking forward to the most, looks like a really nice site.

When comparing the prices of the Sun versus direct, please take into account the fact that you have to partially complete the booking process to find out and compare the actual costs rather than the brochure costs at the haven site. Superior plus accomodation is much much cheaper than standard accomodation due to the way that their discounts work.

Finally how have you managed to guarantee a place at the site you want on the dates that you want with the sun? If I could have guaranteed the may bank holiday I would have gione through the sun as you are right ot would have been a lot cheaper, however as you have to give a selection of dates and sites I can't see how you know that you will get Caister on may holiday weekend.

artichoke

"Finally how have you managed to guarantee a place at the site you want on the dates that you want with the sun? If I could have guaranteed the may bank holiday I would have gione through the sun as you are right ot would have been a lot cheaper, however as you have to give a selection of dates and sites I can't see how you know that you will get Caister on may holiday weekend.[/quote]


I have NOT booked through The Sun. To guarrantee the dates i needed in May, i have booked direct with Haven, and gone for a standard plus caravan at Hafan Y Mor becasue the indoor pools look great so even if it rains all day the kids can spend every hour in the pool when it is open.

They are only age 3 and 4 and so love the characters at Haven, Polly, Greedy etc, so I have bought all the character toys for 99p each on ebay, so this year we will be able to give them a cuddly toy, rather than them crying because i will not spend £15 - 25 on a beannie type character doll in the Haven shop.

can't wait - i might try Caister and some others around Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk if i see a last minute deal later in the year.

art

arthur_dent_2

Sorry I meant Spaceman when I was talking about guaranteeing places and dates. Have a lovely holidy.

P.s I bought our Haven toys from the school fair for 50p. If they charged less maybe they would sell more. We looked at Hafan y mor, it seems to be a great site but it was just a little bit too far for us to travel.

artichoke

hi

so just so i know for next time - which site on the east coast do you think has the best indoor pool? is thorpe park better than primrose valley?

i might try and book a deal in october so need decent indoor pools as the beach will be too cold probably....

i live near matlock so can get to the east coast quicker than the west coast - but it is quite good being so central as it does give quite alot of choice on both east and west coasts:rolleyes:

art

tismemick

I'd take Primrose Valley over Thorpe Park and day, but i'm not a fan of Cleethorpes, lol, i'm off to Reighton Sands, my daughter loves it there, next door to Primrose Valley,

if your going to east coast i'd deffinatly pick either Reighton, Primrose or Blue Dolphin, they are basically next to each other, about 7mile from Brid and 10 mile Scarboro, idea base to go exploring the east Coast, if you go to Reighton and enjoy a bit of WWII history there are a load of bunkers and coastal defences there on the cliff and eroding away on the beach,
look here http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=4006 or http://www.neolithicsea.co.uk/reightonsands.html

arthur_dent_2

I too would go with the 3 that Mick has mentioned as the Thorpe Park sight looks really good but there is a lot lot more to do around Scarborough than Grimsby and Cleethgorpes.

Wardy

They are only age 3 and 4 and so love the characters at Haven, Polly, Greedy etc, so I have bought all the character toys for 99p each on ebay, so this year we will be able to give them a cuddly toy, rather than them crying because i will not spend £15 - 25 on a beannie type character doll in the Haven shop.[/quote]

What a great idea!!! thanks for that. We went to a Parks resort last year and ended up buying Sparky & Narky. Think I will copy you and go prepared this time:beer: