Which Haven/Parkdean resorts do you like/dislike?

turfey21

Hi all,

I have been doing the Sun holidays for a few years and have been to lots of parks in Cornwall, and done Haven Torquay which was brilliant, caravan was excellent, quiet location but had plenty of facilities and we also went to Parkdean Dawlish which was not as good as the Haven due to it looking like it could do with a refresh.

We have booked to go to Haven Burnham-on-Sea in a few weeks but I have had to have an emergency operation on my foot which is not in partial plaster and means that although we still intend to go we will be limited to how much we can get out and about as I am not allowed to weight bear on it.
It is for this reason that I am going to try and book another break away later in the year and have narrowed in down to the following parks.
Has anyone been to these parks and what did they find good and bad about them.
My 16 month old daughter loves the pool and playground and we might do the odd disco this time with her but will basically be using the site as a base for exploring.

Thanks all

Kelly

1. PARKDEAN BIDEFORD BAY
2. PARKDEAN RUDA
3. PARKDEAN CHALLABOROUGH BAY
4. BUTLINS MINEHEAD
5. HAVEN DONIFORD BAY
6. HOLIDAY RESORT UNITY
7. HAVEN KILN PARK
8. HAVEN QUAY WEST
9. HAVEN GREENACRES
10. HAVEN HAFAN Y MOR
11. GOLDEN SANDS

artichoke

what time of year will you be hoping to go?

I pick my park for its beach and its swimming pool - wanting a good indoor pool with lots of flumes / slides / toddler splash areas indors for out of season and looking for a good outdoor pool with outdoor slides, / toddler splash areas for summer bookings.

I have been to Haven Hafan Y mor which has a fantastic indoor pool, a good but pebbly beach (lots of rock pools to explore) but no outdoor pool at all.

Haven Greenacres has an ok indoor pool and direct beach access to a sandy beach but cars are allowed on the beach which i did not like as my kids are small and don't expect cars on beaches so don't look for them..

Art

turfey21

We are hoping to go between June - September

blue_haddock

I was forced to stay at parkdean ruda last year for a wedding (most convenient accomadation) Personally i thought the caravan was very poor inside and the facilities on site were not exactly great however it was pretty much on the beach and the little village its in was really nice.

osian

Went to Quay West (Wales) last September and it was lovely. Had a standard caravan and it was very clean and relatively new.

Lovely pool and we went to the entertainment a couple of times in the night with our daughter (then 2.5). There was a magic show and a couple of discos and live music and she really enjoyed. I didn't do any of the daytime activities but looking at the timetable there seemed to be plenty on for families.

New Quay, although fairly quiet, is a very pretty old fishing village. I think you can take boat trips from the harbour. The village is about 15 mins walk from the quay west site and you can do this either by road or via the beach if the tide is out. New Quay has a couple of little shops, cafes, pubs and chip shops.

Day trips - perhaps consider going to Aberystwyth (about 30 mins drive). It's not the most beautiful place on earth but it's ok. It's got a promenade with a pebbly beach, you can go up on a fenicular railway at one end up a hill. Up the hill there's a cafe and a camera obscura. The other end, you have the remains of an old castle and that has a little park in the grounds. The town itself has some of the usual high street shops and some independent ones. Plenty of pubs and cafes etc.

Aberaeron is also a very pretty Georgian town/village. Not much there but a few shops and a harbour but maybe worth calling in for 30 mins -1 hour on your way back.

Inland from Aberaeron there is a National Trust Property called Llanerchaeron. I haven't been there but maybe worth a visit.

Further south from New Quay you can get to Cardigan.

turfey21

thanks all, have any of you had experience at staying at Haven Burnham on Sea, Haven Doniford Bay and Parkdean Ruda - I have read some recent reviews about Parkdean Ruda and it seems brilliant but am open minded

osian

We stayed at Burnham on Sea in 2007, so a while ago now. I was quite impressed as I wasn't really expecting much from a Sun holiday.

Again caravan was nice and clean, the site was nice but we didn't really use any of the facilities as we didn't have kids then, but it all seemed very pleasant from what we saw. Walkable into Burnham on Sea on a path close to the sea, though I can't remember much being there - perhaps a few take aways and a Wetherspoons.

Nice base to explore Somerset, we went to Street, Cheddar, Minehead, Dunster and Weston Super Mare as far as I can remember.

We're going to Kiln park this weekend, I'll let you know how it is.

I should have said yesterday that the area around New Quay (Wales) is not exactly a hot-bed of activity but it is very pretty and pleasant with a beautiful coastline.

givememoney

Just come back from Ruda.

Cannot fault the lodge we stayed in. Lovely decor, and the extras we didn't expect were:

• En-suite to master bedroom as well as bathroom with shower
• Towels supplied
• TV in lounge and another in master bedroom
• Our own dustbin...you may laugh but was emptied every day so very convenient

Also had microwave, dishwasher and utility room with washing machine.

Hop, skip and a jump to the playground for our grandson then straight through to the beach

Weather was not the best still it is Britain.

Don't go much for the clubby bits but did go to a show one night and thought it very good.

Would definately go again.

mum26

We've been to Ruda twice and loved it.

We are off to Littlesea haven soon with our fingers crossed.

Syman

mum26 wrote: »

We've been to Ruda twice and loved it.

We are off to Littlesea haven soon with our fingers crossed.

Went to littlesea easter 2011, found the site to be small but well kept.
The swimming pool is ok but not fantastic.
There are some lovely walks around the site.
food in the pub was your average "pub Grub"

There is a bus that runs hourly to Weymouth beach.

The strangest thing i found was driving through an industrial estate to get to it:rotfl:

OneYorkshireLass

Greenacres, Porthmadog, North Wales (Haven) is lovely as a base for Snowdonia. It's right next to a beach (access direct from the site) and the site is always clean. The only downside to the site is the pool is desperate for an upgrade.