Totally dissapionted with haven holiday!

Ivrytwr3

We've been to 4 different Haven sites and am off again in the next 2 weeks. I think with Haven you get what you pay for, if you go for the cheapest caravan it is going to be basic. We always go for the prestige or a private let.

We've never had a problem with overcrowding rowdy/chavvy kids. Although we don't eat in the restaurants and cook and eat all meals either in the caravan or eat out when visiting other towns/parks.

We also only go to the entertainment complex once or twice during the week, we mainly use the caravan as a base to explore the surrounding areas or just to play family games etc, no games consoles, no mobiles.

Raspberry_Swirl

We've been to Devon Cliffs Haven and have always found that one to be god value. We only ever go on the Sun Newspaper breaks and during school times (we don't have children) and as a base for going off and exploring the area it's been fine.

We've always had a decent, clean caravan and never paid for an upgrade.

I would also recommend Hendra in Newquay (not a Haven). We had a long weekend there earlier this month and it was wonderful.

kibs

I think I was there are the same time op 18 - 22, and tbh we had a really nice time.

Ok Tuesday it did rain a bit, wasn't really a problem for us as we were off site.
Wednesday we spent most of the day on the sand and it was bliss not having hoardes of people.
Thursday it rained a bit on and off and of course when it rained the slide and cars was closed, but everything else remained opened. Still didn't stop up from building sand castles, and having the beach again almost to ourselves.

The accomodation was clean, comfy and adequatly equipped. We either stay in basic of prestige plus, depends how I feel when I book.
Not sure what the food places were like, we never ate in them.
Swimming pool I knew from previous visits about the changing rooms, and seeing people walking there in their swimming gear confirmed that things had not changed.

We go there because it is quiet and to spend time together as a family as because of busy schedules this is the only quality family time we get.

kelloggs36

Haven in Europe are fantastic! I used to go 'camping' in a caravan as a child in the UK and would never bother these days due to the lack of consistent weather! AT least in somewhere hot abroad you don't need to rely on poor entertainment as the swimming is freely available. It isn't much more expensive either compared to the UK.

bubblegumcola

garangy wrote: »

Last summer i took 2 kids to the Haven park at Seton Sands near Edinburgh.
It was fine for the kids, plenty to do in and around the area but the actual eating and entertainment venues were disgusting.
The chairs were so badly stained i didn't sit down, the place was ''minging'' as the kids called it.
We didn't eat in the restaurant as id bought some muffins and they were out of date! so i didn't want to risk eating the food.
Never again.

We went to Seton Sands at Easter last year and it great for a base to visit Edinburgh and the surrounding area but thats it.

I completely agree with your views with the entertainment venue, very poor, we went once and that was it, my kids hated it. I would say the entertainment is suitable for toddlers and thats it, my older two thought it was awful. Never ate in the restaurant, cooked all meals in the caravan and just got chips from the chippy which was fine. Never tried the swimming pool. Kids kept wanting to do the slot machines to collect tokens for the rubbish prizes on offer which was annoying and purse emptying!! The site needs a serious revamp.

One bonus was that we actually ended up with a pretty nice caravan, we got upgraded I think, it was quiet and I got my holiday with vouchers from the Sun so didn't pay much. I go to a Haven place but only as a base for visiting the area. No way I'd pay extra for the entertainment passes again, complete waste of money for us. I got it for bad weather but we played games in the caravan instead in the evenings.

pulliptears

To be fair to Haven, Butlins was as bad lol. Went there with the kids years ago (skegness). Arrived late one friday night, opened the chalet door...no lights. We stumbled around until we eventually found a light that worked, turned it on and saw half the flat covered in glass from shattered light fittings. The bed was covered in what looked for the world like blood, the electric fire in there didnt work, wires were hanging exposed everywhere and to top it all as it was past 10pm reception was closed

We spent a restless night asleep on the mattress fully clothed, a gang of lovely lads thought it would be fun to hammer on the windows at 3am drunk....

Reception were apologetic and said that the park had just opened for the season. They immediately upgraded us to a Gold Caravan. Got in, finally unpacked knackered after a sleepless night, went to make a cuppa and found the tea pot still had tea bags in it from the close of last season. The lid was lifted with the mold.

We just used it as a base after that, ate off park and just slept there.

kjmtidea

I went to Butlins (Bognor) for the first time last year and it was fantastic, our accomodation was spotless and I could not fault the holiday one bit. It wasn't even full of chavs like I was expecting!

Unlike Haven a few years back, never ever again. It was absolutely filthy and you couldn't pay me to go back.

kez_s

I've just come back from Haven yeterday, we stayed at Seaview in Weymouth and I was very worried as I got a deal and then only a couple of days before we were due to go I read some reviews and I was dreading it, it sounded awful, well either I have some very low standards (I'm a former head housekeeper for several hotels) or I am just a fairly easily contented person as we had a brilliant time!

We only had a standard caravan booked and it was immaculate and being a picky bag at times I couldn't find one trace of dirt or stains, etc., the outdoor pool was also extremely clean and whilst the entertainment, etc., wasn't that great we didn't care, we went to the pool, walked to the adjoining Weymouth Bay complex and had lunch there, we stayed outside in the evening as the weather was gorgeous and we all had a brilliant time and I had forgotten how much fun a caravan holiday can be and it brought back many childhood memories.

There are several things that could be improved, eg, more staff, better entertainment and faster meal service but all in all we loved it!

Curlywurli

I've been to Caister a few times and it's the worst park I've ever been to. The last time we went there was on a Sun deal and it was a nightmare. The holiday camp had flooded- obviously not their fault. We were supposed to get in at three, didn't give us our keys until 5:30, told us we could go and wait in the cafe. Dumped our things in the caravan, went to the "supermarket" and it had closed at 6- even though they were hours late getting us in everything had still closed early. Our little girl was six months old at the time- it was awful. I've been to many haven camps and this is one I would never go back to- even if it was free!

*onlyme*

And why did I read this thread? We booked our 1st ever holiday to go to Haven near Chichester...during October half term. I am hoping and praying it is not as bad as some of you have described. I will go with very low expectations so it can only get better....(one hopes!!)