I remember when I was at school and nobody ever wanted to say they we're going on a Butlins or Haven Holiday. I myself have never thought of Haven as something special. I've seen the adverts on TV and in the paper and just thought it was a place people with low incomes go for a week in the summer. How wrong was I!

Part 1 - Setting Up Camp

A bunch of us went in search of the office where you check in. Be sure to bring your letter from Haven to show you've paid, e.g. a website printout or letter via post. We started to look around the camp for this check in office. After five or ten minutes walking around we headed back to the car park. We all laughed when we found the office was in fact a shed right next to the car park. It would be better if the shed had an improved sign.

We all started setting up the tents and we're finished in no time at all.. yeah right (oppps take that last bit off lol).

The pitch itself was large, you can put the biggest of tents on them and still have room. We had a huge tent, 8 man tent, huge area in the middle you know the kind, and still had room for the car, windbreakers and lots of chairs. The best thing about the pitch other then the price, just £70 a pitch for a week!, was the fact that the park was right next to us.

A problem I think a lot of people have on holiday is finding things to do before lunch. Yes you can pack a lunch and go to the beach but if you want to stay around camp then that's not an option. Haven, Seaview has two pools. The outdoor pool is small in size but does have a water slide and a baby pool, even if it is small. Adults can laze around the pool on the chairs and watch the kids. Lifeguards keep an eye on the kids so you don't have to hehe :)

The park has a huge arcade, which has slot machines, games and much more. We had great fun winning tickets for the kids and ourselves. We then exchanged them for some fun prizes, e.g. a bear and some bracelets. The arcades cost a lot of money, a standard machine costs about 50p a play. However, if you just want fun with the kids 2p and 10p slot machines can be found all over.

Make your way into the reception area and pickup some booklets for fun days out. There's lots to see and do but lots of money is needed to. If you don't have much money to spend, simply check the information board each day for shows in the main club. Kids can visit the club for shows, which feature the Haven fun club characters or take part in fun and games with the Haven Fun Stars. Fun Stars being the people employed to entertain the kids while you have a drunk on a night.

Well I never! Chips on a seaside holiday. If you have five minutes to spare then visit the family restaurant for a drink or to have a meal. I thought the menu was a bit limited but I guess it depends on the person. Meals include fish and chips with peas, fisherman's pie, roast dinner, children's mix and match menu and lots of salads, potatoes and other lovely food.

Overall the service was good, the food was good and the prices ok. Oh I have to mention the non-stop music, which includes really bad songs like the Spice Girls and Star Trekking! After a week it gets on your... well you know :)

The best bit of the holiday was the night life! Well I say night life I mean the Haven club. The club is a very large room, I think it seats about 200 to 400 people, which has bars around the outside. The adults can collect drinks from the bars while the kids can buy icecream, popcorn, drinks, chips, chickens, wedges and lots of other fantastic goodies from their own little food outlets.

Listen up parents for my top tips for saving money on food and drink..

2. Ask for a cup of water at the food outlets or the bar. They're free and taste great.. hmmm yummy :)

The Fun Stars work at Haven. They will take care of your children in the club on a night. However, this doesn't mean they will stop them running off! It's your job to make sure they don't run out the room or walk off. The Fun Stars will dance with them, play games and lots more.

It's then time to bring one of the Tiger Club characters out. There's Rory the tiger, an elephant, a bear and a wizard.. sorry I've forgot the names and a few others but you get the idea. The character, e.g. Rory, comes out, dances with the Fun Stars and gets his picture taken with the kids. Haven does have someone to take pictures, which can be purchased at the gift shop. They start at about £6.50 just for the picture and sky rocket if you want it in a key ring or picture frame. But hey.. its worth it mums and dads :)

Part 6 - Mums and Dads.. Let's Party

There's then time for some dancing with the kids and adults, if they want to join in with the kids. Each night there's a different event. It might be a dancer, a little show or something. They're good fun but you get what you pay for (The pitch or Caravan).

Men and Female toilets are separate. The showers can get a little dirty at times, its all that sand, so its best to use the shower at the other end to the drain so you don't get everyone else's waste coming your way.. including wee sometimes.. :(

The cleaner was given the sack a few days into our holiday. He was seen making jokes to people which some might have taken the wrong way.. anyway.. The showers and toilets were not cleaned for a day or two and it took a whole line of people at reception before the reception staff come and cleaned them their selves.

Part 10 - Other Stuff

Cash Machine on site in the arcade, there is a charge but all the shops and outlets take card payments including Solo.

You can buy a lovely breakfast from 9am onwards, I think 8am or sooner would be a little better but hey. Toast, eggs, beans, bacon and lots of other goodies for under £4 for the lot. Fresh orange juice, tea, coffee and cornflakes are also on offer.

I'm not going to say too much about the area because I'm reviewing Haven. The beach is about a 20 minute walk away. Simply follow the signs, use your free Haven Site Map to find the beach path, to the beach. Watch out for horse poo along the way and bring water for the kids as it can get a little hot. There is a small fairground and cafes ect.. You will need to walk, drive or get the bus to the main Weymouth beach if you want more.

Haven holidays are great! It doesn't cost too much too pitch a tent... There's lots of stuff for the kids to do, e.g. swimming, the club, arcades or the park. You will however need a lot of money for food, drinks and gifts. Unless you bring a lot of food and drink with you to make meals.. Your gonna be spending big bucks :) The area around Seaview is lovely and well worth a visit.