Every year my family and I take a holiday usually we land up in Devon as there is so much to do. We have stayed at a few holiday parks but the one we have used over and over again is Welcome Holiday Park in Dawlish.

If you are looking for a holiday for the whole family this park is for you!

***Booking***

Welcome have a website http://www.welcomefamily.co.uk/ we usually take a look at the website and then phone to book the holiday. You can also request a brochure and book through the post.

If you phone the holiday park you will find the staff to be very helpful and if you have any special requirements like sometimes we need 2 caravans to be near each other the staff will try and help.

After you have made your booking you will recieve a receipt in the post and if you haven`t paid in full it will tell you when you have to pay in full.

***On arrival***

Once you get to the holiday park you will find a small carpark next to the reception if there is no room there are plenty of other carparks around the park. The first thing you need to do is go to the reception to see if your holiday home is ready. Usually we arrive at 2pm and the caravan is ready even though it says on the booking form it wont be ready till 4pm.
The reception staff are fantastic they will give you a map and tell you how to get to your holiday home. They will also tell you that you need to go to the housekeepers storeroom to pick up your linen.

One of the things I love about Welcome is they give you a real good welcome! When you enter your caravan/chalet the first thing you will see on the table is cups , a teapot , little sachets of cofee , cocoa and tea , biscuits , sugar and milk!

We have been in various caravans over the years ranging from cheap to expensive , no matter what your price range is you will always find your caravan to be very clean and tidy. Yes ok the sofa`s and carpet might look a little tired if you choose the cheapest holiday but it has never spoilt our enjoyment.

I am going to write about the caravan that we stayed in last year

**Moonlight**

Is a small 2 bedroom caravan which sleeps up to 6 people this is the cheapest caravan that you can hire. Our caravan was near the playground which was perfect for my little boy ! The caravan was a bit dated but the furniture and carpets were clean and tidy.

So in the caravan you will find a seating area which I have to say is not as comfortable as a sofa from home. Usually there is a fold out bed somewhere in the living room. You will find a nice dining room table usually round with seating and stools. There is a coffee table ,gas fire which we always used first thing in the morning as it was so cold even though it was May! a small tv which I believe was 14inches that is always a bit of a shock for us as we have a 32" flatscreen tv!

*Kitchen*

In the kitchen you will find a good range of utensils plus all the basics such as plates , bowls and mugs.There was a small fridge which had a tiny freezer compartment , also an electric oven which arggghhh always drives me up the wall as we use gas at home and of course don`t forget the kettle or the kitchen sink!

*Bathroom*

The bathroom was again dated but very clean , the shower was temperamental and took a while to get used to.

*Master Bedroom*

You will find a double bed , with over head cupboards and by each side of the bed a little table ,a wardrobe , dressing table and stool with mirror.

*2nd bedroom*

There are 2 very small beds with over head cupboards and a small wardrobe.

***Facilities in the Park***

There is a fantastic playground for I would say the under 8`s there are a variety of climbing frames , swings and other rides.
You will also find a football pitch , an indoor swimming pool , mini golf ,an amusement arcade and a take away.
There is also a laundrette which has coin operated washing machines I believe it costs £3 for 1 load, powder and conditioner are included which is not bad. Dryers , ironing board and iron and plenty of seats if you want to hang around.

Also on site is a very large clubhouse , you will need to pay for a pass which is only a couple of pounds per person ,make sure you take your pass with you every evening as there are security staff who ask for the passes. Inside the clubhouse are lots and lots of tables and chairs with a stage and dancefloor. At the back of the clubhouse is the bar and food area , the food on offer is really nice and not too pricey you just put in your order take a number and the staff bring it over to you.

The clubhouse has something on offer for all the family and the entertainment team are very good at their jobs , the little ones can dance and have fun and games and then its time for bingo and cabaret. During the week is fancy dress plus loads of other competitions.
Also there is a photographer and I have to say the photo`s we had taken of my son were brilliant!

There are some shops just outside the park I believe they belong to the park , there is a sweet shop which is full of fudge and loads of varieties of sweets! A Takeaway which has a good menu , their portions of chips are very good and will do 2 people.
If you are looking for a dressing up costume then Giggles Fun shop is for you as the have loads of fancy dress costumes but be warned they are quite expensive!

**What do I think**

This really is a family oriented park which is why people go back year after year as there is something for everyone.The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed and all the staff at the park are really nice.
The clubhouse can get very very busy especially during school holiday time ,so it can seem a bit claustrophobic at times. Throughout the park you will find it very clean and tidy that includes the takeaway , playground and even the toilets.

Prices in July for a Moonlight start from £280 at the beginning of the month and £570 for the end of July.

Across the road you will find a supermarket a bit like a Spar shop it is very cheap and well stocked so no need to go miles away to the local Tesco`s.
A short 10 - 15 minute walk from the park you will find a beach with amusements and pub/bars.

The holiday park will make a good base so that you can visit places like Torquay , Paignton , Paignton Zoo , Pennywell Farm , Dawlish , Teignmouth , Exeter the list is endless!

**Contact**
Swan Holidays (Westward) Ltd
Welcome Family Holiday Park
Dawlish Warren
South Devon
EX7 0PH
Telephone: 01626 862070
Fax: 01626 868988