I actually like Haven

drebe23

Just wanted to update on my Rockley Park Holiday - it was FAB!!! we had amazing weather too which helped.

When we checked in the first caravan smelt of smoke so I went back to reception - they couldnt apologise enough and gave us a BRAND NEW prestige Van with sea views from all sides ( Pine Ridge) it was lovely!

the site itself is defo one of the best havens i have been on - very clean, well laid out, staff very friendly, lovely area to explore - Poole park is fab for the children, we loved Farmer palmers which is close by too

I would really recommend this park - off to Quay West next - not sure if that will live up to Rockley though!

cheers
dre

MadDogWoman_2

I like Haven sites too, we've stayed at

Wild Duck - Norfolk, fairly small but perfect for a family looking for a quiet park
Haggerston Castle Berwick - it was ok, but thought the pool and entertainment room wasn't large enough, but that's because we have a DD who loves to swim.
Devon Cliffs - Devon - this is our favourite park, the pook is perfect for our DD to test her swimming skills, she especially loves the soft play equipment too. The food on site isn't bad, but the pub at the opposite end of the road to the park the food is amazing.

Our main criteria for our choice of park is the pool as DD loves to swim, and Devon Cliffs is the best we've found so far.

penelopedee_2

We like Haven sites too. I've stayed at quite a few caravan sites around Devon and Somerset over the last couple of years and the Haven ones are ok - there are worse out there! Last time we stayed in Burnham and the staff were brilliant, we only paid for a cheap caravan but got a better one and they provided clean linen which we didn't pay for. We had no hassle all week but we were back at the van by about 10.30 most evenings so I don't know if there was any mis-behaviour to worry about after that.

mum2one

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I joke about Haven being for chavs .... but (in my defence) I have been to Haven at Prestatyn, and was pleasantly surprised. I think the latest we stayed out was around 11pm and I didn't see any drunken behaviour; I also felt it was safe to have our baby out in his buggy (asleep) with us in the evening. We only ate on-site once and then found cheaper places outside; but we spent a good many saved 2ps in the arcade in the evenings!

We're going on a £9.50 holiday in September and Haven was our first choice, but we've ended up at a Park Resorts place instead. I'm looking forward to comparing it to Haven.

Prestatyn is a nice site, and a good base for seeing North Wales, we have bronze caravans as we have a dog, we've had good, we've had bad caravans, but I always say its what you make it.

The other site I like is Martin Mere, just 5 or 8 miles from Blackpool, the site is up and down, they love their speed bumps, but its central and they have a bus stop on site, the double decker old fashioned red bus drops off at Zoo, by Blackpool tower and near pleasure beach, then theres a local service that drops at a few different places, but when I went on that route, asked the driver for near to the tower, and he dropped me at the back of it, really helpful. Think the Martin Mere site has had pool area done recently.
The other bit I like is the actual Mere, if you get a caravan with a good view your overlooking the mere and blackpool tower xx

jimjams_mommy

We go to haffan mor in wales, we pay for the up grades and have the platnums carvans be enjoy it the park and the local area with little ones. A

loucroft

Good post!

We like Haven too - Devon Cliffs twice and Filey (Blue Dolphin).

Both parks were nice, we had a celebrity staying when we went to filey!

Anyway, the first two times at Devon we found private caravan owners. They tended to be cheaper than booking through Haven, and I have to say the vans both time were clean and the owners had left little extra's like tea towels, little amount of washing up liquid, cloth, small milk bottle, loo roll and cleaner !! Also, we were able to arrive whenever we wanted on the arrival day.

Last time we booked through Haven, at quite a high price. The van was clean and we were able to check in an hour early (usually 4pm) but thats where the fun ended!

The 'deluxe' has extra space and bed linen. Perfect, we had travelled around the UK and really couldn't squeeze anything else in the car. However, the bed linen was limited to torn duvet covers, the thinnest flattest duvet I have ever seen ( with stains ) and as soon as we got there we had to go shopping for the little bits that aren't included. For a self catering van, there were no big baking trays and upon telling them, they didn't arrive as promised so we couldn't cook a big meal if we wanted to stay in one evening.

The food in the pub/restaurant was actually nice last time and good value, though the places to tend to get packed - they don't do 'queuing' systems but thats what us Brits tend to do, I can't stand having to queue to order food. I am not a food snob, but prefer to order my meal at the table and not eat in a meat market!!

I'm no chav and hate caravans, but the space we got each time made a big difference. I was just rather surprised that it cost more direct with Haven, yet you get less. You complain, you don't get much in return.

Now, I'm not snobby but the childrens entertainment was great and there were some free activities, and some cheap ones, throughout the holidays. The fairground at Filey ended up costing a small fortune - I now compare this with Butlins where the rides are free and the indoor play areas and entertainment at Butlins are superior to Haven. It was never my choice to go to Butlins because I hated the idea, BUT we went once this year and are going again in a few weeks! However, don't ask me about their accommodation and food packages, they're poor! The kids loved Butlins and so did we.

So, love Haven but would choose to hire privately in future to save costs and improve quality of accommodation. Butlins if you want amazing and different entertainment all day and night!!

I plan to start writing reviews on the places we visit, we seem to have been everywhere this year!

nickyhutch

I've found Haven to be fine to use as a base to explore the area. I wouldn't use the onsite facilites except for maybe the pool. The evening entertainment isn't my scene and the beer is waaaaaaay overpriced for a tightwad like me!

Haggerston Castle and Lakeland were great - so many lovely places to see close by.

adviceforall

A good place to book private caravans direct with the owners is http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk

loucroft

I found my private sellers in a different place, though I made sure that they were genuine and didn't give deposits until I was given full contact details and had testimonials - you just have to be careful!

Snooper_2

I have used a Haven Camp for the fist time and was totally thrown by the shabby condition of the furniture, and carpets through out the caravan I hired. It was like living in a gold fish bowel, with curtains (no nets) ill fitting and a door that is fully pained again no curtain. So at nights you are seen by anybody passing. The basic amenities were dated and in real need of repair. You do not get adequate cooking utensils and you are not provided with a micro wave. No heaters in the bed rooms. The claim of ‘standard’ caravan translates to a joke that I would advise everybody to avoid. The price you pay to stay at Haven for a basic almost tent like experience is insulting. The camp is based on how much they can extract from its customers, almost every that is provided labelled free is based on you either not participating OR joining in, but everything you use at a price !!

My experience for a like for like with Parkdean holidays is far removed. Parkdean supply you as ‘standard’ a micro wave, nets on windows for day time / night time privacy. Curtains on door and all windows. The amenities are fresh and always in good condition. Every caravan I have used with them has had heaters in the bed rooms(used them over a number of years) the price IS truly good value when you consider what you are getting for the same with haven is by far more. As I say, like for like at ‘standard’ Haven push up the user price just to match what Parkdean provide.

I shall NEVER use Haven willingly again.. !!