haven 2014 holiday

spaceman5

Hi looking to book our 2014 holiday, looking to book a haven holiday, and as we live in Somerset and I want to go back up north(where I come from) so I can visit some family, we are looking at doing a 10 day holiday to make it worth our while, ideally I would love to take my kids to primrose valley where I used to go as a kid, but unfortunately that is just slightly out of our price range, so was asking for advice on the 2 parks around there, Blue Dolphin and Reighton Sands, also could possibly look at Marton Mere near Blackpool, has anybody got any experience of these resorts and what they are like?

TIA

artichoke

Hi

When are you looking at going? Is there a big difference in price between the sites?

I suppose it depends what your are looking for on the sites as you know Haven's are pretty much all the same but with different pool features and different size show bars

Haven Marton Mere is ok - very near to Blackpool centre - the pool is quite small and has a splashbowl flume that you need to be over 8 to use - no other slides or flumes. Has an outdoor splash zone for younger kids. No beach.

We are going back here Oct half term (sun deal) but only because of the location as we are going to the Illuminations in Oct half term. We would not go back other than for the Illuminations as the pool was a bit too basic for our kids now.



Haven Reighton Sands - this is a much smaller site - basic pool - but has the new outdoor lazy river which our kids enjoy but you need good weather for it to be open.


Haven Blue Dolphin - medium size, pool has an indoor 3 lane slide, (think there is a flume but might be getting mixed up) - we have been here camping but would not go back as again its a bit basic for our kids now and as we only go now on Sun deals we can get better places for the same sun deal price)


Haven PV - we were there the last weekend of school hols (sun deal) i was not as impressed as when we have been before - nothing much on in the Show bar in the way of big acts - just the funstars... it all seemed a bit quiet... adventure pool keeps the kids happy with the lilly pads and the slide ....

but as we had been to Butlins Skegness the weekend before on another sun deal it all seemed a bit small and dull I know i have chatted to you in the past about the difference between Haven and Butlins and as this was my first experience of Butlins at Aug bank holiday i will have to say you are right - Butlins wins hands down on pools, shows, fair etc etc - thank you for opening my eyes to Butlins, we will be always trying to book Butlins now on Sun deals and will not book Haven except if we really want to go to that location! Not that this helps you but wanted to express my thanks!

Anyway have you loooked a private caravan rentals - would that work out cheaper? I know some who do weeks for £500 and weekends for £300 in Aug on PV - i am guessing you want to go 10 days in Aug school holidays - or could you book 2 weekends of that at PV as sun deals ie the 2 last weekends on the School holidays and then top up direct with haven for the mid week?

Art

spaceman5

artichoke wrote: »

Hi

When are you looking at going? Is there a big difference in price between the sites?

I suppose it depends what your are looking for on the sites as you know Haven's are pretty much all the same but with different pool features and different size show bars

Haven Marton Mere is ok - very near to Blackpool centre - the pool is quite small and has a splashbowl flume that you need to be over 8 to use - no other slides or flumes. Has an outdoor splash zone for younger kids. No beach.

We are going back here Oct half term (sun deal) but only because of the location as we are going to the Illuminations in Oct half term. We would not go back other than for the Illuminations as the pool was a bit too basic for our kids now.



Haven Reighton Sands - this is a much smaller site - basic pool - but has the new outdoor lazy river which our kids enjoy but you need good weather for it to be open.


Haven Blue Dolphin - medium size, pool has an indoor 3 lane slide, (think there is a flume but might be getting mixed up) - we have been here camping but would not go back as again its a bit basic for our kids now and as we only go now on Sun deals we can get better places for the same sun deal price)


Haven PV - we were there the last weekend of school hols (sun deal) i was not as impressed as when we have been before - nothing much on in the Show bar in the way of big acts - just the funstars... it all seemed a bit quiet... adventure pool keeps the kids happy with the lilly pads and the slide ....

but as we had been to Butlins Skegness the weekend before on another sun deal it all seemed a bit small and dull I know i have chatted to you in the past about the difference between Haven and Butlins and as this was my first experience of Butlins at Aug bank holiday i will have to say you are right - Butlins wins hands down on pools, shows, fair etc etc - thank you for opening my eyes to Butlins, we will be always trying to book Butlins now on Sun deals and will not book Haven except if we really want to go to that location! Not that this helps you but wanted to express my thanks!

Anyway have you loooked a private caravan rentals - would that work out cheaper? I know some who do weeks for £500 and weekends for £300 in Aug on PV - i am guessing you want to go 10 days in Aug school holidays - or could you book 2 weekends of that at PV as sun deals ie the 2 last weekends on the School holidays and then top up direct with haven for the mid week?

Art

Could you please let me have the details of the person you know on primrose valley, and your welcome with regards to butlins , we try and get butlins on the sun promotions but too be honest the past 4 sun promotions we have not managed to find anything of any interest, not even had a sniff off a haven camp in school holiday times nevermind butlins , had too settle on park resorts this year and the one we went too was shocking but never mind

artichoke

spaceman5 wrote: »

Could you please let me have the details of the person you know on primrose valley, and your welcome with regards to butlins , we try and get butlins on the sun promotions but too be honest the past 4 sun promotions we have not managed to find anything of any interest, not even had a sniff off a haven camp in school holiday times nevermind butlins , had too settle on park resorts this year and the one we went too was shocking but never mind

thats weird as i have found it much easier to get PV, and have also got Butlins skeg Aug bank hol, and have now got Butlins for a christmas weekend this Dec (booked this one last week on the latest round) , plus butlins BR for easter school hols 2014. I was wondering if they were putting more of the flagship camps and best dates into the promotions as i have found it easy to get them....maybe it depends when your school hols are? I know i could not get Butlins Skeg for the dates i wanted (as its easter school hols in lincs, notts, derbyshire) , but could get Butlins BR as the kids down there have gone back to school that week.

Anyway if you look on here there are a few PV private owners
http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/primrose-valley-holiday-park.aspx

this one is £450 for a week
http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/sprop_ref_2738.html

the problem you will have is the ents passes for 10 days will be expensive.

art

artichoke

oops duplicate post - sorry

spaceman5

artichoke wrote: »

thats weird as i have found it much easier to get PV, and have also got Butlins skeg Aug bank hol, and have now got Butlins for a christmas weekend this Dec (booked this one last week on the latest round) , plus butlins BR for easter school hols 2014. I was wondering if they were putting more of the flagship camps and best dates into the promotions as i have found it easy to get them....maybe it depends when your school hols are? I know i could not get Butlins Skeg for the dates i wanted (as its easter school hols in lincs, notts, derbyshire) , but could get Butlins BR as the kids down there have gone back to school that week.

Anyway if you look on here there are a few PV private owners
http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/primrose-valley-holiday-park.aspx

this one is £450 for a week
http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/sprop_ref_2738.html

the problem you will have is the ents passes for 10 days will be expensive.

art

Thanks Artichoke, managed to get a private caravan probably equivalent to superior for 14 nights last 2 weeks in august next year at PV, came in at under a grand and that includes passes, did not get it through your link but managed to find 1 through facebook of all places lol, but without your input I would not have even thought about going private, happy with that, plus the fact we have booked 11 months in advance it gives us plenty of time too save to pay for the holiday and spends, rather than the usual 2-3 month cram if we waited for next years sun hols, so thanks again:T

artichoke

Glad you got it sorted out.

and thanks to your input previously re Butlins - i have 3 Sun/ break free Butlins breaks booked

art