The first time we went on a Haven holiday was this time last year when on our mission as 2013 ambassadors we visited Rockley Park in Dorset. We loved it so much that we then decided to save up tokens in the Sun (I found it difficult to buy such a newspaper but we enjoyed Haven so much and the deal was so great we decided it was worth it) so that we could try out the Haven in Caister which isn’t too far from where my Mum lives!

Again we loved it. The weather was awful and the park isn’t the prettiest but the facilities and enjoyment factor for the children just made it another super break. When the deals came out again we booked to go back to the same park and in April we went for a few days again. It’s an easy park for us because my Mum and I don’t drive but we could get there using buses from Norwich which was quick, easy and cheap and like I said, the facilities (not to mention the wonderful beach) are so great that why wouldn’t we want to go back?!

Our third trip was just as awesome and we even got a bit of a sunny day which made it all the much more fun on the beach. The children love every element and from the swimming to the evening entertainment they were charmed once again. I did mention in that last post about Caister that the evening entertainment isn’t really my thing. We go for an hour for the children to have a play and that’s about my fill I’m afraid but then it’s horses for courses and loads of people looked like they were settled in for the night and absolutely loving that element of their holiday! We came away from Caister again wanting to go back!

And lucky old us because having been chosen as 2014 ambassadors as well we had another trip to look forward to in June! This time at Hastings and on the Combe Haven Park. We’ve just come back and if we were in love with Haven before then we’re positively dilating love hearts in our eyes now!

We’d done Haven. We KNEW Haven! But we didn’t know it like this!

So the caravans we’ve stayed in in the past have been from the Standard Plus, Superior and Prestige ranges. At Rockley Park in the Prestige it was really lovely and the other times it’s been smaller but clean and adequate with everything we needed. Standard Plus was absolutely fine but we’d probably upgrade in the future if we could.

This time we were staying in Prestige again but it was far superior to the one at Rockley Park somehow (which was pretty luxe anyway)! We had a balcony, a much larger and more sumptuous living area and even a third bedroom which was very welcome although it did smell of smoke despite the caravan being ‘no smoking’. It was fine as we aired it but it’s annoying that the guests before us couldn’t have read the very clear NO SMOKING signs! (When we left the staff were mortified and very apologetic but it really wasn’t their fault!)

The décor was more homely and the kitchen was bigger than ours at home! Beds super comfortable and for five people we were definitely not on top of each other! It could cope with 7 easily I think!

Our caravan!

This park, like Rockley but unlike Caister, is very pretty and on a hillside. We had a magnificent view and because we were at the top it meant we didn’t have to walk up and down hills all the time. They said they always try to accommodate if you say you have mobility problems which is good to know.

The Live Lounge area with the arcade, evening entertainment and Mash and barrel restaurant is opposite the amazing swimming pool and the views if you eat outside are just lovely – especially with a sun set!

We had a meal at the mash and Barrel which was just super yummy! The children ate practically all of theirs followed up by character ice creams (they LOVE the Haven characters) and we had gorgeous calamari and prawn cocktail followed by steak (cooked perfectly my Mum said) and fish kebabs. My chocolate brownie for desert was super yummy and finished the meal off perfectly! It IS fairly pricey but then the food is good quality with big portions and cooked well so I’d say it’s absolutely worth a visit!

Our lovely meal at the Mash and Barrel restaurant!

And I mentioned the pool didn’t I! Oh WOW! I mean we were lucky with the weather and could take advantage of sitting outside on sun loungers but even if the weather is bad then the indoor pool is great! Both pools have great children’s areas and I found it fab to do lengths (or widths rather) in! And the fish bowl slide is AWESOME! You do have to be 1.4m to ride it but it is quite literally the fastest flume I’ve ever been on so I can see why! One thing which could be improved is the flooring outside! I think perhaps it wasn’t laid properly or needs more resin on it but at the moment the stones are vicious under foot!

Swimming paradise!

The activities in the pool like the Turbo Paddlers and the Aqua Gliders (which Florence knew she loved from before) were at very reasonable times of the day and we could choose late in the day and early which meant the days were free for other sun based activities! And Florence did a swimming lesson each morning which she thought was excellent. Jimmy did the FREE water confidence classes and got loads out of that too but I think he really would have liked a go on the boats so it’s a shame they don’t allow a younger one to have a little trial for a few minutes.

Florence loves the water activities!

We had beautiful weather and made the most of visiting the local area. We took a half an hour stroll to St Leonards which on a hot Saturday afternoon was deserted! Miles of stony beach just for us! How good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Leonards!

And after getting a bus back (it’s up a massive hill) we know that they run frequently even if they are a tad pricey! £2.60 for an adult single! The bus journey did show us that Asda is very close by and we also found a Lidl to do our shopping in as we wanted to have a BBQ!

The children loved every second and I have to say so did we. Like I mentioned before, I’m not wild about staying up in the Live Lounge with the children but here at Combe the 6-7 slot was a little more exciting than at Caister and although it did follow the same format it was somehow a little more interesting for me. An hour is enough for us thought the children would have stayed longer! The Fun Stars team work very hard and are actually really very good at it too and we loved that they came around the pool with the characters in the day time!

Evening entertainment!

And then there’s the rest of the park and all it has to offer! Another bar area with a soft play (though very small), the pitch and putt (we didn’t try it but it looked ace), the sports dome (it was too hot to investigate) and both the parks not to mention that both days we were there Combe Haven hosted a FREE BBQ with burgers for anyone who wanted one! Pretty awesome and Florence made light work of hers!

Playing at Combe Haven!

We had an amazing trip and we loved Combe Haven. I don’t think any of the parks we’ve visited are completely perfect but they all have elements of perfection and reasons to keep going back. If I was to create my perfect park from the three I’ve been to I’d have the indoor pool and soft play at Caister, the outdoor pool at Rockely, the staff, caravan, parks, restaurant from Combe and a combination of the aesthetically pleasing Rockley and Combe combined with the beach from Caister… Don’t want too much do I!

What’s very apparent from all is that they are all excellent value for money and even on a rainy cold day (we have been to Caister in October remember) you can fill your days with fun. I am a massive Haven fan and we definitely want to go back!

Some of our favourite photos from Combe!

I am a Haven ambassador and as such this particular trip was complimentary in return for an honest review however I have written about the trips we have paid to go on as well. We are genuine fans of Haven.