Haven Holidays Which One? Golden Sands Or Norfolk Wild Duck Hopton Caister Seashore?

hobo28

Me & the family have been twice to Golden Sands. If your expecting a Centerparcs level of comfort/decor then forget it. But we really enjoyed it. My advice is to go for the gold caravan if you can afford it.

As someone else has said, go to any seaside and it will be full of chavs. Mablethorpe had no more/no less than any other.

Your kids are about the same age as ours when we went and they really had a great time. The beach i thought was very nice. Its not the same as a beach you'd find in Spain but its one of the nicest I've been to in the UK. Plus that and the fact you can just walk across a small road and its there is a big advantage.

The site itself felt safe. Never felt anything but safe. The entertainment in the evening is great to keep the kids occupied until they drop then a short walk back to the caravan.

The pool there is a touch small and again cannot compare with the likes of a Centerparcs.

Bottom line is we liked it so much we went back again. Hope that helps.

oizafed

You have all been so helpful thank you. I wasnt really expecting centerparcs standards, but just somewhere where the kids will have a great time. Was just undecided between Golden Sands and the ones in Norfolk as there will always be something to do in Norfolk and Mablethorpe seemed a little quiet, but quite a few people mentioned boy racers around the town whcih didnt really appeal to me with young children. I am not a snob, and reading back it might come across that I am, just wanted somewhere nice where the children can relax, but I guess all the holiday parks are much the same. Just good to get real peoples opinions so thank you to you all.

arthur_dent_2

Park resorts and Haven holidays are pretty much the same whichever sight you go on. Swimming pools are never that exciting and the caravans are just caravans.

However, I love these holidays. I have never stayed at golden sands since I live fairly nearby, but Mabelthorpe itself has a certain old fashioned charm even if it is not huge (not tiny either) Skeg is good if you can see past the chav element, I genuinely love Skeg. Cleethorpes has got Pleasure Island where I believe Tesco vouchers can be used or get a three for two from tourist information. Grimsby is good for shopping a reasonable sized town for a day out. Cleethorpes also has the best pool in the area, although if it is warm Skeg pool isn't bad either (2 indoor and an outdoor). Ingoldmells (Fantasy Island) is ok for a day out (buy the local paper for free tokens sometimes) but if you want to avoid chavs this is not the place to be. It has an extremely poorly regulated market attatched to it. Never really sure of what you are buying.

Great Yarmouth I do not know aswell but have been on holiday there twice once with children and once without. You cannot really go wrong with Yarmouth you will always find something to do and it is very good for all ages.

As for the sites themselves, I would guess that your 4 year old is going to enjoy them more than your eight year old having said that the kids clubs are good and try to cater for all. Caravans are caravans, I have only had one problem with accomodation (no gas) and despite finding out about the problem at night, they were there to replace the gas bottle within the hour.

Go for it, many people enjoy these holidays every year, I adore them and I am not a chav, if anything I suppose I am a goth, I have never had a problem when staying at these sites. If you want quiet Wild Duck is supposed to be quieter.

oizafed

Great thanks again

Golden Sands in Mablethorpe here we come. Please keep the reviews coming, as it is great to hear peoples opinions, and I still have a couple of weeks before i book.

Thanks !

hudsonmat

If you are going to Norfolk I would recommend Hopton Holiday Village. Been a couple of times one a Sun £9.50 and the other a half price holiday in June and both times the caravans have been excellent. Has both an indoor and outdoor pool plenty for the kids to do, right on the beach and a very good sized clubhouse. Just down the road Gorleston has a nice beach with a few rides for the kids as well if you don't fancy Yarmouth.

Have a good time wherever you go!

hudsonmat

buckrogers

hi
we used to own a caravan in Hemsby Great Yarmouth , near Caister,
Enjoy long sandy beaches, funfairs, bingo, amusements, bowling, crazy golf, fun pubs, cafe, cabarets and gift, fashion and sports shops
and Gt Yarmouth has its Theatres, Shows, Pleasure Beach, Piers, Funfairs etc., is just a few miles away.
going there again this summer to seashore

financial_filly

Hiya
We have been to Haven a few times with Ds (now 5) and he loves it and we get a chance to relax knowing he is entertained and we will be going again this year when we can decide where to go that is! Can't decide between Caistor, Pesthaven Sands or Hafan -y-Mor so if anyone has any views on those sites would really appreciate it.

Back to your request for info only been to Golden Sands for a day visit and I must admit the pool did seem a bit small although i think they do have an outdoor pool but that wasnt open. The entertainment complex seemed quite large and was very busy (this was in september) but the kids seemed to love it. However if i had to choose i would go to Caistor (have been there twice now so it must be ok).

I stayed in a private caravan 1st time and it was fantastic and very close to everything but far enough away we werent really disturbed by any noise although we were that tired we probably wouldnt have heard anything anyway lol! The entertainment staff last year were brilliant and if they were there this year my son would be begging to go! Lots of things to do to keep them entertained - they cater for all ages. The pool was an okay size but was just one unlike at Seashore were they had two pools. They had also just taken over Caistor Beach which was a site next door and they were using their club room for the kids nightime entertainment which although big was probably on the small size for peak august season. We took my parents last year and although they had to have a couple of days away from the camp they went into great yarmouth etc. (think roary the tiger had got to them a bit much! lol) they enjoyed themselves.

We have always booked silver or above (depending on time of year and price) and found them to be comfortable and clean.

Sorry for the very long post but hopefully it might have helped?? if you want to know anymore you can pm.

oizafed

Many thanks - may I ask when did you go to Golden Sands? was it recently? The brochure says that £3 million has been spent here. Does this seem true? The pool on the website is what is actually attracting us as it does look as though they have had the refurbishment done, and they also seem to have a childrens indoor ball play area, always a good idea with british weather. I have searched mablethorpe on the other forums tho and people are saying that Golden Sands is terrible! Am really confused by all this. Thanks

chattycathyuk

Im Also looking for a hoilday in the uk, ive been to a few haven sites and they do all differ.

Hafan -y-Mor

was the best out of the ones ive been too. You are stuck in the middle of knowhere, so if you dont have transport, this may not be for you. But there is a bus stop at the end of the road.

There is 2 beauitful beachs, Theres a cove if you like fishing and long sandy beach if you like walking the dogs ect.

Kids club are very good,Love getting the family involed in sports and team playing. My son who 7 loves this place.Theres a woodland walk on the site.


You can also vist porthmadog & snowdonia. Theres a go karting track and quad bikes which you can hire. My Husband and brother love this.


Entertainment was good at the show bar, caterers for both children and adults. Shuts around 1pm. Bongawonga club is for children of all ages, my son was 4 and lovely dancing with all the other kids. This shuts around 10pm.

Swimming pool is big with slides, flumes and babys pools, i thought it was clean.

I wouldnt book via haven i would book with a private owner, you will get a Top gold 12ft caravan for half the price plus some will let you take little dogs at no extra cost, ive been here 4 times and i would never pay havens prices. ive seen some of the havens caravans and to be honest i wouldnt want my dogs to stay in there, never mind me.

http://directcaravanholidays.co.uk/index.html

http://www.a1-havencaravanholidays.co.uk/



Ty Mawr

Mmm what can i say! If you like gangs of chavs and enjoy drinking to the early hours of the morning this place is for you.

Towyn use to be ok, but its so run down. Theres nothing to do here apart for spend money in arcades and eat chips. There is a good market there, and maybe go into Rhyl for a day shopping or walking on the beach. If you do like towyn try staying at other hoilday parks in the area.

Haven swimming pool is like a swamp, hairs and human bits floating in there, i wouldnt like my child swim in it.

Entertainment, you have to be drunk to enjoy it otherwises you would cry. You have to fight to get to the bar, i mean fight with your fists!

Theres groups of youths hanging around drinking and boy racers driving up and down trying to pick up young girls.

Best thing about this place is getting out of it.

Presthaven sands

Its out of the way, so theres no shops ect, you would need a bus or a car. Theres not a whole hell of alot to do here. Same as a bove. I would say its better than ty mawr, There's two bars one for family and one for adults, Im not sure if it is still the same as this was a few years back now.
But once again nothing to do, cant really walk anywhere as theres no where to go, but if you do have a car, go to the Conwy zoo good day out.

Ive also been to Butlins in skegness and i didnt like it one bit! End of the day we are all different and like different things! I loved center parcs but its very expensive. If your the out going party type i would go for presthaven & ty mawr, but if you like walking and exploring go for Hafan-y-mor lovely down there in the summer.

What ever you do dont book with haven them self, vans a dirty and damm right rubbish. you really dont get what you pay for, search ebay, web, local papers For private owners hiring out vans.

ive been caravaning for years and where i stay helps make my hoilday!

oizafed

A big thank you to everyone who answered. I have booked for HOPTON. Dont think I can go too wrong there. Would have liked to try Golden Sands but not worth the travelling and too many negative reviews. So fingers crossed there will be lots to do. Thanks again