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Looking around at various holiday parks on the internet, we came across Parkdean Holidays mmmmm now this looks promising we agreed, seeming to specialise in parks in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Norfolk, Scotland and Wales. Catering for those wishing to stay in a static caravan, or those wanting ... Read review
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Advantages: Nice Area, Good Kids Entertainment Disadvantages: Disgusting Showers/Toilets
...ready but feel free to park on site and use the facilities until we can check in.
Bear in mind we had been travelling for about 4 ½ hours with a 5 year old in the car.
On arriving, I went into reception where before I had a chance to say anything the girl said "You cant check in till 12, you might be able to check in earlier come back at 12". So on telling my fiancé this we headed into West Bay, which I have ... ...contained a map of the park and information on some of the facilities and passes to use them.
THE PITCH
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The pitches for tents and caravans are based on a hill, which is on a tiered system. Our pitch was at the top of the hill on the second tier, this was fine for us although someone with younger children/toddlers who need to be supervised may find this a problem.
My Fiancé and myself regularly go on camping holidays in the UK, and as normal my Fiancé decided to take his son away in August. Unfortunately due to a bit of a mix up (no you cant use Tesco vouchers to book camping holidays at Haven), we had left things a bit late to book think it was the end of June.
Looking around at various holiday parks on the internet, we came across Parkdean Holidays mmmmm now this looks promising we agreed, seeming to specialise in parks in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Norfolk, Scotland and Wales. Catering for those wishing to stay in a static caravan, or those wanting to stay in tents or caravans on pitches either with or with electric hook-up.
Looking at the various sites we decided to book they're to stay at their West Bay site in Dorset.
BOOKING #######
Booking was fairly easy and was done by phone; in total the holiday would cost £210 for 7 nights, staying on an electric pitch for my fiancé, his son and myself. We were lucky I was told as we had managed to get one of their last electric pitches. The staff on the phones were friendly and efficient and I was told my pack should be received shortly with my booking confirmation in it.
About 3 - 4 days later I received a letter confirming my booking however no other information about the site. Ah well not to worry will probably get given something on arrival.
Arriving and Checking In
We arrived a little earlier than the 12pm check in time stated on the letter I had received (we arrived at roughly 10.45ish), but this has never normally been a problem. At other sites we have stayed they have simply said that the pitch isn't ready but feel free to park on site and use the facilities until we can check in.
Bear in mind we had been travelling for about 4 ½ hours with a 5 year old in the car.
On arriving, I went into reception where before I had a chance to say anything the girl said "You cant check in till 12, you might be able to check in earlier come back at 12". So on telling my fiancé this we headed into West Bay, which I have to say doesn't have much to do to kill time especially with a car full of camping gear. After taking a walk on the beach and having some sandwiches it was now roughly 11.30 so we decided to see if we could check in yet.
This time my fiancé went in he did slightly better than I did and was told the pitches were not ready yet, so he nipped to the toilet in the reception then overheard a radio message saying to send them up, so he asked again if we could go up and thankfully he was told we could. He was also given a little introduction bag, the bag contained a map of the park and information on some of the facilities and passes to use them.
THE PITCH ########
The pitches for tents and caravans are based on a hill, which is on a tiered system. Our pitch was at the top of the hill on the second tier, this was fine for us although someone with younger children/toddlers who need to be supervised may find this a problem.
The pitch area was adequate for us, and was flat which is a bonus when pitching a tent. The electric hook-up worked and we had no problems.
SHOWERS AND TOILETS ####################
Now here is where I have to say I was disgusted. For over 150 pitches tents/caravans there was one shower block male and female, and one family room.
Shower/Toilet Block ************************ The female showers houses the Showers, Toilets and Sinks, it also had 2 baby changing mats and a couple of hairdryers.
There were about 10 showers in it, in each shower cubicle there was a shower which was not adjustable and set quite high on the wall, a shower curtain which was just as well because as you could not move the shower the water hit the curtain rebounded off it and hit you, and a peg on the door this was the only place to put clothes/towels while showering.
There were also roughly 10 toilets in the shower block and the same amount of sinks.
I have to say the female showers/toilets were disgusting they seemed dirty and the area even in the toilets was always like walking in a puddle, on the toilet one day and I thought this makes a change the floors dry, but while there a puddle stream of water slowly made it's way down from the other toilets and you've guessed it another puddle to wade in.
On the plus side I don't think they were ever without hot water.
The whole time we were there I only ever seen the toilets/showers being cleaned once.
As for the male block my fiancé commented there was no way he could shower his son in them, as there simply wasn't enough room for both of them in a cubicle.
Family/Disabled Room ******************** As the name suggests this is meant to be a room where families can go and shower etc together, normally the disabled room is separate BUT the site only had one of these.
In it was a shower which could be adjusted in one corner, a bath in another corner, the toilet in another corner, 2 sinks, and 2 bins.
On walking in the first thing you noticed is the filthy floor, I tended to use the shower to water clean the area around the shower. Once put a bag on the floor and when we got back to the tent noticed a bad smell turned out it was the bag I had put on the floor.
We tended to put Brad in the bath after cleaning it, while we showered then carry him to an area we had showered to clothe him.
The water in the family room was hit and miss I think it depended what time you got in although it was never freezing cold more tepid at times.
There was normally a queue for the family room (cant think why), so we found that going down at 5 was always a good plan.
One thing that did bug me was teenagers using it singly instead of using the shower block, and people using it to go to the toilet when there was no reason they couldn't use the block.
Washing Up Point ********************
3 sinks for over 150 pitches enough said. Although water was always hot.
FACILITIES ON SITE ################
The facilities on site included a swimming pool (also open to general public), a park, and a restaurant/café and bar.
Swimming Pool **************
The swimming pool is free to those staying on the site had both a child's pool with a small slide and a bigger pool with a slide. The water always looked clean although could have done with a smidge more warming up. The opening hours were reasonable and it also had other activities you could book in for like inflatable fun, or hydro jets. The Changing rooms were clean and fairly warm too. Also there were lockers available to put your stuff in free of charge.
The Park ********
The park was really good it had obstacle courses, swings, scramble nets and something really to suit most age groups, it was fenced in and also had woodchip. The park was clean although there wasn't really anywhere for parents to sit while their child/ren played.
Restaurant/Café/Bar ****************** MMMmmm now lets see on the door it states that food is freshly prepared (raising eyebrow here). There was a sit in menu - toad in the hole, fish and chips etc, a takeaway menu - pizza, curly fries etc and a kids menu (very limited although does offer mash or jacket potato as an alternative to chips).
Now I have to say that a) this wasn't the cleanest place I've seen b) the average person working there was 18 c) isn't the cheapest place bearing in mind less than 5 mins walk away are a variety of booths offering jacket potatoes, burgers, fish and chips etc.
The first time we went in we tried to order a pizza but was told they only had ham and pineapple as they didn't have any bases although they should be delivered on weds. So we choose toad in the hole, chicken and chips and a kid's meal. I have to say it wasn't too bad.
On our last night we decided to try again for pizza this time we were told by someone who could barely speak English we think they were polish, the only one they didn't have was bolognaise, so we opted for the chicken tikka £6.50 one we then tried to order curly fries to be told that they didn't have any of them either, we then also tried for garlic bread you've guessed it non of that either, so in the end we settled for another pizza cheese and tomato £6.00 (I think).
Now I have to say my Brad who is 5 could have made a better pizza the bases must come as standard cheese and tomato because the chicken tikka pizza was literally a cheese and tomato pizza with curry slapped in the middle and not even spread out or cheese melted over it. The chips that came with the kids meal looked and tasted as if they had been re-cooked.
Enough said lets just say I wouldn't eat here if you stay here.
ENTERTAINMENT ##############
Now I have to say the children's entertainment is quite good, they have a maxi club for younger children, a freestyle club for teens, both have various activities on during the day and in the evening the maxi club has a stint in the clubhouse where one or more of the characters are involved either maxi, or millie etc.
Also the compare for the children's bit was fantastic he was funny, and friendly and he was also part of the resident band.
The only 2 things to mention are the drinks in the club are expensive nightclub prices and sometimes the entertainment was not as advertised.
OVERALL #########
I have to say the area of West Bay is lovely and would happily go again, however there is no way I would stay at a Parkdean Resort again, what with dirty showers and rubbish restaurant, club priced drinks, with only the entertainment being the redeeming feature next year we are going back to either Haven or Unity. My fiancé is going to be writing to Parkdean to complain.
Advantages: Secure Parking Disadvantages: None that I could find
Our recent holiday to Turkey was unavailable from our local East Midlands Airport, so we ended up once again flying from Manchester. We have flown from Manchester a few times now so this is no problem,however it is about an hour and a quarter drive from our home in Derbyshire. With taking the car we then need to find somewhere to park for the duration of the holiday so we tend to use the BCP Airport Parking, car park name of Airparks Handforth Dean.
We booked our parking through the Travel Agent, however, I have in the past booked direct on-line, which saves about 50p. When booking through the travel agent you are handed a voucher which consists of a two page A4 document. This document contains your booking reference with your name and booking date on. Car park name, address and telephone number, the airport you are flying from ...
