Now that I have your attention. I don't mean the kind that you lot are thinking of but come to mention it though? Hmmmmmmmmm........ No. Stop it at once Shirley!
I mean Sandy Balls Holiday Centre on the edge of the picturesque New Forest in Hampshire. It's like a small one off Center parcs. You can choose to stay in a ready tent, mobile home type place or lord it up in a lodge or superior lodge. The things is once you are there you get peace and quiet and relaxation. And yes it is geared up for families! The most impressive thing for me about the place was the staff. They actually care! Quite a mean feat these days, me thinks. They are friendly, efficient and get on with their task as soon as asked. The second thing were the facilities. Two swimming pools, one in and one outdoors. Two toddler pools, a jacuzzi and a sauna too. There is a soft play area for the wee ones - Very clean and my little one loved it. A gym, toning tables and a beauty and treatment room too. And not forgetting the arcade, restaurants, pool tables, gift shop and Spa shop. Plus outside dotted about the park are play areas for the children. The whole place is geared up for entertaining
the children and gives parents some peace! The place is quiet though and lovely surroundings. In amongst trees and the accomodation nicely planned out. It was a real treat.
Details please?
Sandy Balls is situated in the village of Godshill near Fordingbridge. Twenty minutes south of Salisbury.
On arrival you go into reception and you are given your key and all the information relevent for your stay.
LODGE ----------- We can drive to our lodge and park outside. The lodge we stayed in was a pine lodge - literally. Floor to ceiling pine. Even the kitchen was pine! We had great fun trying to count the knots. We stayed in a three bedroom, two bathroom lodge. The rooms are smallish but the feel is of comfort and welcoming. Usual self catering facilities and TV with DVD. We hired a travel cot and the staff brought it around within a minute of asking. The man put it up for us and left. You can hire Travel cots, hightchairs, bed sides all at an extra small charge. It cost us a tenner for the travel cot for the week. So far so good.
RECEPTION ----------------- Open 8 -9 every day.
Three people on the desk - friendly and efficient. Books to borrow - small library An Internet facility with one PC alloving free 15 minute sessions online. A board of up and coming events and details of the improvements to Sandy Balls.
SPA SHOP --------------- Open 8 - 7 except at 6 on a Sunday.
A typical Spa shop really with some camping gear and the usual conveniences available. Also DVD hire too.
GIFT SHOP --------------- 9 -1every day.
Usual souvenirs and Sandy Balls related stuff. Outside is a tourist information map and loads of leaflets of attractions nearby.
SOFT PLAY AREA ------------------------
Open all day and is ideal for small children from 2 up. Lovely and clean and lots of climbing and sliding encouraged with a ball pool. My son reaaly loved it and it wasn't busy so you could easily see what he was up to in there. Mainly laughing and not wanting to come out.
ARCADE AND FAMILY CENTRE ------------------------------------------- 10 -9 every day.
In here you will find some liitle rides for tots, 50 pence per time. A machine that takes you photo and does a characature for you. And also pool tables and table tennis. The arcade has several games and also those annoying Ten pence machines that tempt you and you think your money will push all the coins over the edge. Well you know the outcome of them, but does it stop us from forcing the money into the slots? Um....no!
GYM ------ 7 - 9 daily.
I didn't venture into the gym. Come on I was on holiday you know! But there is one there for you bods that like all that keep fit malarkey.
CYCLE CENTRE ----------------------- 9 - 5 Daily.
Again something we didn't do. There are plenty of choices of bike to choose from though and accessories, also trailers to hire for your little ones. There are some lovely tracks around Sandy Ball park to cycle on or walk around.
THE POOL --------------- Outdoor pool open 10 - 7 every day. Indoor pool open 8 - 8 with times for adult swimming only available.
Lovely sized pools and clean. The Toddler pools are litte and very, very warm. And we were in them most days. There is a lifeguard on at all times and also information up about behaviour to be followed. Also a notice to tell you were non swimmers are safe to go up to - as the pool is graduated. Green plastic chairs are dotted about for peole to sit in and also there is a sauna available through booking and a coin operated jacuzzi.
The changing rooms are ample sized and very clean. Cubicles available and showers, hairdryer and decent baby changing. 10 pence charge for lockers.
TEMPUS BEAUTY ------------------------- A place to go to be pampered. Lots of treatments available such as massages, facials and make up advice. Bookable through reception. I would have loved to have had a treatment but we were busy all the time with other activities and days out.
VALENCIAS RESTAURANT AND TAKE AWAY ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 - 10 except, Sundays, Wednesdays and Thurdays.
A restaurant offering Italian food. Didn't get a chance to try here out, as the days we went it was closed. Maybe the only gripe about the park.
WOODSIDE INN ----------------------- Open all day.
A pub atmosphere, you order your food at the bar. Good basic selection and good quality food. We ate there most nights.
TAKE AWAY ---------------- Open all day Found round the back of the woodside in an option to take away food. Mostly chips served with everything.
ACTIVITIES ---------------
There is a list of activities that take place on the park everyday including Woodland walks, Story telling, Badge making, playdoh, Jewellery making, Clay play, Kayacking, horse riding etc. Over thirty different activities in total. So there is plenty to do for all.
DAYS OUT ---------------
The whole of the New Forest is lovely and worth venturing onto and explore. Even just to see the horses walk free and roam the land. Beaulieu, Bucklers hard, Lyndhurst and Lymington are worth going to. Portsmouth is also higly recommended and Paultons park for the young ones to enjoy a ride or two. Christchurch and Alice in Wonderland park are also worth going to. Alice in Wonderland in particular for the two to twelve year olds. Lot's of fun and games there to enjoy. The whole area is an ideal base and ideal for a place like Sandy Balls.
To find out even more the website is
http://www.sandy-balls.co.uk/
CONCLUSION --------------------
Well we didn't find any balls or sand in the immediate area and certainly no sandy ones! So Sandy Balls certainly has a very quirky name and one that is easily remembered. Perhaps that is part of the parks success. I know we had a fantastic time and looking forward to returning at some point. I cannot recommend it enough to those with a young family and is ideal for youngsters.
So thanks for the read and now you know what it is like to be someone with a Sandy Balls fetish.
Shirley.
Pictures of Sandy Balls Holiday Centre
View from our lodge
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
This sounds very interesting, and I will definitely put it on the shortlist for next year,thankyou for sharing this as I didn`t even know it existed, great review also -DAZ-
shakeshake 07.07.2006 00:19
Legendary review, sounds like a great place to holiday
fairygirl12 06.07.2006 23:50
It's bound to be painful isn't it, and there is bound to be chaffing! Great review, Nicola
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