Haven / Park Resorts / Hoseasons

pollyanna24

I've been to a couple of Havens and I thought they were very good.

Doing some research today on the internet, I have discovered two more similar caravan type holidays.

Are they all the same only the prices do vary quite a bit for when I can go?

Do they all have onsite restaurants and pools and the like?

ThumbRemote

Been to lots of Havens. Only been to one Park Resorts park which seemed quite small and had less on than the Havens - though that was some years ago and may have changed.

Hoseasons aren't a parks operator as far as I know - they are an agent for other parks (in fact you can often book for Haven through Hoseasons). That means you'll get a whole range of park from booking through them, from small independents to large chains.

Syman

Hoseasons are (as said) essentially agents for several companies.

i have been on several hoilday to these sort of parks.

If you see Butlins as a premium brand...

then Haven (part of the Butlins group of companies) would be own brand higher range - Bigger parks, some reasonably good activities and pools.

Park Resorts are the standard own brand - smaller parks, less to do, smaller pools onsite, but still (in my experience) ok

Then Park holidays is your budget.

There are lots of other companies, such as Warners (who i think are part of park holiday now) that i have yet to try.

pollyanna24

Syman wrote: »

Hoseasons are (as said) essentially agents for several companies.

i have been on several hoilday to these sort of parks.

If you see Butlins as a premium brand...

then Haven (part of the Butlins group of companies) would be own brand higher range - Bigger parks, some reasonably good activities and pools.

Park Resorts are the standard own brand - smaller parks, less to do, smaller pools onsite, but still (in my experience) ok

Then Park holidays is your budget.

There are lots of other companies, such as Warners (who i think are part of park holiday now) that i have yet to try.

Haha, thank you very much for your analogy, has helped me out. I think I will go for a Haven. I find Butlins a bit full on, and I am planning on bringing my dog (she's old) and my parents (so are they) as well as my girls, so a quieter place might be better

usernameisvalid

Can't beat a haven holiday being what it is

13Kent

You might get a better deal booking directly with owners rather than directly with the companies.

Deals are better if you have less people in the van than it's occupancy, e.g. in a 6 berth van Haven include the cost of 6 entertainment passes, but if there are only 3 of you it might be cheaper to book an owners van and only buy 3 passes (especially if you have a child under 4 as they don't need passes).

Also some people don't necessarily want to use the entertainment provided but just want to stay in van and explore the area, so in an Owner's van you don't have to buy the passes at all.

Also if you ask an owner for their best price you might get a bit of a discount on their advertised price. I know a lot of owners also offer discounts for repeat guests if they know they took care of the van and left it clean and tidy.

This site has a lot of vans for rent on the above parks.

http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/index.html

I would just say be wary of some adverts, book through a recognised site such as the one above, and when you look at photos of the vans scrutinise them carefully, look out of the windows of the vans and make sure the van is on a pitch (not situated in a sales area), and not dressed too perfectly like a show home - with pans left out neatly on the cooker, the table perfectly laid with bowls of fruit and vases of flowers etc - look for things like personal belongings in the van, books, dvd's pictures on walls, coats hung up, tea towels,oven gloves, jars of coffee etc.

The reason being some people have been duped into booking holidays for vans that don't exist - unscrupulous people have been known to photograph a van on the showground and pass it off as their own.

misterbarlow

Used several Haven, several park resorts, and several independents, over the years..
All much the same really...

artichoke

i think it depends on what you want...

Butlins is a bit more full on - more to do one site with the fair, proper shows, lots of choice of restauraunts, good pools etc.

Haven - some sites are big and some smaller as are the pools, but all have the same shows, and one pub / restaurant at least

Park Resorts - pool, shows not as big as haven

Park Dean - smaller - better caravans with decking even in standard... not all have shows / restaurants open every day..

independents available through hoseasons - all very different but some have pool, hot tops etc