Help! caravan park holiday virgins..

I_am_He-man

Me and my partner are taking our three kids on a weeks trip to a caravan holiday park. We are complete novices.:mad: This is our first ever carvan holiday together. We haven't got a clue what we are doing or what to expect. What do we take? How much money should we take? Are there any NEED TO KNOW things about holiday parks? We are going to Clacton. Is there anyone out there that can help!!! Has anyone out there been to a caravan holiday park recently any info would be greatly received. We are leaving on Monday. Somebody, Anybody, PLEASE HELP!!:huh::huh:

McKneff

Caravan sights are brilliant for kids and parents alike.

Take a frying pan (you get used to your own)
Take your own peeling/cutting knife for the same reason.

Relax, have fun and enjoy.................. Bet its not cheap.

My son is 42, our first holiday at butlins was when he was 2.

Next one was when he was 7 and daughter was 4 at Haven Holidays near Scarborough

No shower or toilet in the 'luxury' caravan, it rained all week, we were the furthest caravan away from the toilet/shower block and the bars etc. We put hundreds of miles on our car mileage that week. At the time, thats the way it was. That was in the'olden' days. We had a fabulous time.
The vans are luxurious now in comparison.

The shops are notoriously expensive. Take lots of food, breakfast cereal, beans, eggs, anythign you can tuck into corners in your car.

Have fun.................

Eagle_1

Ive never been to Clacton so cant comment on that site but holiday parks can be expensive so thats why I always take with me the essentials like : Small pop bottle filled with washing up liquid, dish cloths, small pop bottle with cooking oil , cereal, milk, bacon, sausages, beans etc, tea, coffee, sugar, cans/bottles of pop and a few cans of lager. Just by taking these few essentials it will save you a fortune on site. Dont forget tea towels as they wont be provided !

Most parks have swimming, entertainment for the kids etc so they will have a fab time. As regards to how much spending money well all families are different. We never go and buy all the "Haven" goodies at the toy shop, we rather spend money off site as its much cheaper. I take cans of pop out in my handbag as they are so expensive in the bars.
It can be very expensive , but it doesnt have to be. I only buy basics on site and even gifts for friends are bought off site.
Im sure you will all have a great holiday !

hyltonlad

the best advice has been giving take tea towels etc but allso take salt pepper you never use a full thing in a week take toiletries and before you go goofle the nearest big supermarket its much cheaper than the camp.
hyltonlad

sarluk

Hi

Agree with what everyone is saying its a must to take your own t' towels,toiletries, washing up liquid, cooking oil ect...these are the things a lot of people forget and they are often the most expensive in the on site shop.

We've been to haven a few times over the past few years and we always take these along with our own towels, loo roll,dish clothes, handwash/soap, foil, cling film and basics foods...cereal, box milk, pasta/rice and some tinned things like beans and soup.

Things on the site can be expensive especially if there are arcades and any fair rides. We always set a daily limit on what we want to spend on these. When we first arrive we always make sure we get the program of events for the week and mark out all the free entertainment like daily shows, kids clubs and swimming and try and do as many as we can.

There is also normally activities that you pay for... differs from park to park but things like sports, climbing wall, archery ect...( in haven anyway )cost around £6 per person. There are usually some free sports too. Also if they have outdoor/indoor sports courts they are usually free to use but make sure you take your own football/basketballs, tennis rackets ect.. as haven once tried to charge us £6 to hire a football!

Also dont forget things like hairdryers and an iron most places charge for you to hire them. I also personally take a small plug in fan if i go in the summer as i find caravans can get really hot and clammy, but that could just be me

Hope you have a great hol

sarluk

ps...
again this could just be me and not ppl in general but i always take my own pillow or i cant sleep and loads of bottled water as i could never drink tap water in a caravan and i find bottled water to be another expensive item in the on site shop.

sandraroffey

we have always had caravan holidays and have learnt over the years to take a few things from home, although most is provided. you do get used to your own. take basis like tbags sugar, washing up liquid. they dont provide towels and drying up clothes. i always took a cooked chiccken with me, food ready when you get there. remember that the onsite shop is probably very expensive. loo rolls!!! a must. and visit a supermarket later for cereals and stuff. eating out all the time an be costly. but picnics is good. clacton is great, as it walton on the naze, just along from there.

are you hiring bedding or taking your own. even if you are hring, i always took our own duvets. only because teh ones they provide dont seem very warm!!! and even in summer, the ans can get a little chilly. we always also took our own tea mugs. its usually tiny tea cups that are provided. one gulp and its gone!!

have a great time. and remember all the things you wish you took next time you go. frying pan is must, tin opener, your own small knife/peeler.

such a lovely beach at clacton and walton. which clacton one are you going to. i have been tomost down there. although in the last ten years of having kids around we mostly went to camber sands, which is pretty amazing.

tryingtobegood

The 2 other things I can add to all the suggestions from above are an old towel/bath mat for coming out of the shower as they are normally not provided and if you have room a small clothes horse and pegs for drying off your swimming cossies and towels...there's generally not enough room to dry stuff in caravans. Last week I hung all the towels looped over the wardrobe/room doors to dry while muttering about needing to remember a clothes horse next time! If it's good you gould peg them onto your clothes horse and stick it outside. Have a great time.....As for spending money I spent £350 last week (7 days, 2 adults+2 kids) , but we did eat some carryout meals from the camp site which proably accounted for £80 of that:eek:. Next time I'll be a bit more organised over meals and lunches...
I also take my own pillow and pillow protectors for the others!
Have fun , hope the sun shines!:D

drsmum

i usually collect salt,pepper,ketchup,sugar etc from burger king,mcdonalds and places like that for a few weeks prior to going a caravan holiday as well as most of the advice given in prev replies:)

sarah_elton

I live near Clacton so have been there most weekends recently for beach days given the fab weather we've been having!

The beach is sandy and clean. On the left side of the pier, you get a lot less people on the beach and the sea is far shallower.

The pier is fun and there's big amusement arcades as you'd expect so the kids will probably want some cash. Plenty of 2p machines in the arcades so it's not expensive. The pier has rides as well as arcades. There's a good crazy golf up on the promenade, and a Wetherspoons opposite for you and your partner if the kids are old enough to be left to play on their own.

Colchester is a 20-30 minute drive away and has Colchester Castle which the kids would like. Surrounding it is Castle Park which is lovely too.

trubarwri

I agree with all the above and there is nearly always a big supermarket nearby, google it, and stock up when you get there with any other foods etc.Think of what you'd usually eat/use over the weekend or week and add some treats! Yes we've been in the bars every time for the entertainment but they are REALLY expensive so don't rely on a long evening out! Food on site is worth avoiding due to the cost but the chips with a portion of chips is never too bad. We've always enjoyed our times away but after one time, never underestimate how sometimes it can be really cold in bed at night so take a spare jumper each, really!, to sleep in - just in case! Hope you have good weather, enjoy it!! It can be really relaxing! Kids love it x Loo rolls, towels, t towel , washing up, tin opener..........!