Haven holiday I'm so worried :-(

chonorla

Ok, echoing the other replies, it will be what you make it!

We are off to Haven in the Lake District next monday for 5 days and on a VERY tight budget (have just had to buy a second car and pay a months nursery fees upfront for my 2 little ones at £840 :eek: as am starting a new job when I return - these were not in the equation when we booked the holiday!) but we've never had a lot of money anyway, so it won't be much different for us.

There will be 6 of us - 3 adults, a 13 year old boy (who eats more than all 3 adults put together :rotfl:) a 1 year old and a 2 year old, so things can get quite expensive for us.

I've tried to do a meal plan for the week - just a loose one that can be adapted such as the large jars of pasta sauce from Asda (about £1.20) , bag of pasta, block of cheese - simple pasta bake, can be done in half an hour if we get in late/desperate to get back out etc
Also jar of chilli, tin of kidney beans plus rice - quick chilli etc That way if we know theres quick and easy food to be made, it'll save the temptation of "nipping" to the chippy.....
Also lots of stuff for sandwiches - got non-perishables to take now ie jam, paste etc and will buy some cheese and cold meat when we get there. (A quick google will find you a big supermarket close by.) And snacks and drinks will be fruit, crisps, breadsticks etc and there is always a supply in my bag to keep them going! Second the cordial and a drinking flask for each child, mine drink a huge amount so this saves a fortune.
Toast and cereal for breakfast.
I like to keep it simple, I spend all year cooking from fresh so think we can get away with a bit less varied diet for a week! It costs no more than a normal weeks food, possibly less because I just take what we will eat, so tend to buy smaller sizes in some things as I dont fancy carting it home with us!

Plenty of stuff to do on site, I've not been to Haven in Cornwall but have been to about 10 different ones and always stayed in the standard (My eldest son is nearly 13 and has never been harmed by his lifetime of cheapy holidays, in fact he has been counting the days down till next monday as he cant wait, bless him!)

Also check out the local area on the internet before you go, I often find money off vouchers/ buy one get one frees for local attractions, or even free ones. Theres plenty to do on the park but sometimes we like to get out and see the local area too. Probably a little late for you now, but I use Tesco vouchers and buy a local day out for the area we are going - means we always get to have a big day out which we usually could not have afforded.

We always find if we are organised and compromise (ie only eat out once or twice) we can afford treats such as ice creams etc for the kids without worrying about finances too much. As mentioned before, pop to Poundland before going and stock up on glowsticks, colouring books etc - I always managed to convince my son, when he was younger that they were much better than the ones sold on site and he was always more than happy :cool:

We tend to go out for an hour in the evening, with having 2 very small children and then back to the caravan with a cheapy bottle of wine or two. the alcohol is a little more expensive than most bars but we just have one and then go back to the caravan. Always saves trying to find the caravan (which looks like the other 2000 on site) when 3 glasses of wine has affected your memory...slightly....:o

Agree with taking plenty of clothes so you don't need to use the launderette (who wants to be washing on holiday anyway??), take washing up liquid in a small bottle, dishcloth, couple of bin bags, toilet rolls etc saves buying full packs/sizes when you are there - you'd be using them if you were home anyway, so no extra cost.

It will only be as expensive as you make it and as for the standard caravans - yes they are basic but we never spend a huge amount of time in ours, you'll be out having fun and it will be used as a base!

Have a lovely time and heres hoping the weather holds out for us all! :j

Mappygirl

I love Haven holidays!

We went a couple of weeks ago, there's me, DH, 4yr old and 18 months. The one day they were occupied all day with the free activities such as circus skills, face painting, Rory the Tiger keep fit, the on site park, the beach and the swimming pool and then the evening entertainment that we spent vitually nothing! There are a lot of free activity's - just plan your day around them!

We have been on a lot of haven holidays and I always take meals with me. We plan to maybe have one meal out, either in a restaurant or takeaway - BUT NEVER FROM THE CAMP SITE!

Just relax about it all and enjoy spending the time with your family!

mr_lordi

The first three days of our holiday we take pre cooked meals in pans and cooking pots. We do a cuury a spag bol and a chilli. Take two frozen one thawed. Then the remainder of the time we either eat out or cook in. Also as others have said take sweets,cans of coke and glowstick things with you and just be discreet. Most others do.

The_mangler

We too are ona tight budget so before we get there I always find the nearest Tesco/Asda and do a shop as early as possible. We find a big breakfast, not always cooked but cereals toast etc then a quick snack ie crisps is fine for lunch. I check out the cheap carveries too so we can get a really good meal for £25 for 6 of us as a treat. As for going out to the clubs in the evening, we go until about 9pm and take our own drinks and snacks and like others have said, we save the last day for the fair, go karts etc whatever else there is that costs! Make the most of the free activities, kids clubs, pools, park, pack tennis rackets and a football for the sports courts and go on long walks on the beach looking for the most interesting shells etc. Also, we save Tesco clubcard vouchers throughout the year then use them to pay for a day trip to a theme park, its saving us £70 this year to go to Oakwood. We only ever have bronze standard vans because we have a dog but only once has it been really poor standard, we complained and got shifted to somewhere better. if you can get on site as early as you can check in, that way if you need to change there will be a choice - if you dont arrive till late all the vans will be full with no room to change. Im sure you'll have a lovely time, its a break from the norm and you are making memories for your kids

zagfles

We've been with Haven loads of times and generally they are very good. There was one we went to (in North Wales) where we had loads of problems but was a one-off.

The swimming complex is free and for the evening entertainment we always take drinks for the kids rather than pay £2 or whatever for a coke, probably a bit cheeky but no-one ever complained, and we buy a drink or 2 each so only spending a few £. Eating onsite isn't usually good value - we usually find local pubs where you can often get 2 meals for a £10 type deals.

jumpingjackd

Agree with most of the posts above, you will have a great time and kids will love it and talk about for ages. We did Haven when kids were small and money very tight, they still say they had the best times there.
Go to supermarket and make easy meals, and buy their favourite snack and drinks, you could get fruitshoots and refill the bottles or buy them a sports bottle. Have a BBQ one night. Go to Poundland and buy glowsticks and a couple of other toys to hand out when you are there. They will be just as pleased with their surprises. If they want to play machines use the 2p ones.
Staying in a caravan is a great novelty for kids.
Just relax and enjoy, you will have a great time.
Meant to say standard 3 bed is fine, we went a few months ago for the weekend and it was ok. Think the only thing missing was a microwave.
Poundland great for pool toys as well.

2sides2everystory

With a little luck and a fair wind you will probably love it. It's true that if you do all your shopping and buy all your meals and drink at Haven you'd overspend but as previous posters have said, buy things you know you can get cheaper elsewhere before you leave and then seek out the nearest proper supermarket outside the gate as soon as you arrive. If you have a car then Tesco St Ives is just 2.5 miles away.

I haven't been to either of the Cornwall Haven Parks but we've stayed at Haven probably thirty times over the years (admitted last time was 18 months ago now).

When my kids were youngsters ike yours and indeed right up to mid teens they made full use of the "Free Fun Pass" facilities and always enjoyed it. I am sure your kids will really love the holiday and Tiger Club and you will feel safe knowing they are in good hands for a few hours whilst you take a break.

And the cabaret evenings can be real good entertainment for the whole family even if the drinks might not be cheap - after the first one you might even be able to refresh your glass or bottle or kids lemonades and crisps from a secret supply in your bag once the lights go dim

Have a really good holiday - I am sure you won't be disappointed - fingers crossed for the weather so you can use the beach but even if it rains there will be plenty to keep the kids occupied.

sunshinetours

You'll love it!

Riviere is right on Hayle Sands so walk to a massive beach. Site is nice

Food - well Lidl and large Coop in Hayle town

As a treat try the Philps pasties on the road going out of Hayle towards Lelant. Cheap filling lunch

borderlakland

Went to Riviere Sands 2 summers ago, Think our van was the 1 up from the basic. was clean and basic no frills. But that is exactly what we wanted. only used it as a base. Can't comment on the entertainment as we didn't use it at all. but kids weren't bored at all. so many stunning beaches to explore.
Take washing liqued, towels and dishcloth along with things like clingfilm for packed lunches. also took our own sharp knives as the ones provided are useless.
We did the whole holiday on a very tight budget and didn't eat out etc, loads of pinics, went to Goonhilly using tesco deals (highly recommended) one of the biggest expenses if you travel to different beaches etc is car parking, lots of places there is no escaping it so having a separate fund for this is useful.
if i had room i would prob stick the slow cooker in so can get back to a meal already .
Have a great time, and like others have said the holiday will be what you make it.

oddies

never been to haven myself but been to butlins on a shoe string:rotfl::rotfl:also go on other caravan holidays, as said shop at supermarkets, always take cereals with you to last over weekend or beyond, there is a cooker in all caravans, i cook before i go away, making lassange, sheperds pies spagg ball things like that, make them in the foil cases and freeze, place in cool bag/ with icepack before your leaving, will stay like that till you get to your holiday and put in fridge/freezer part till you need to use them put new potatoes with them and salad, also vac/pak any cold meats from butchers.. your butcher will do this free of charge or small charge.. you can go on holiday and not eat out if you so wished but treat yourself and go out a couple of times. there have been some good suggestions on here already and some i shall use myself this year like the light up wand things.. god they cost a fortune when i take grandchildren to the theatre.. not anymore :D