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Depends what you want.

We go to the larger sites if we're going for a week because the kids are kept busy, but for a weekend we go to the smaller sites as even my kids can keep themselves occupied for 2 nights!!!!

Depends what you're looking for.

If you want a poor person's Centre Parcs go to Haven et al.  If you camp because it's a break from all that and you want peace, quiet and a ging-gang goolie camp, then avoid!

Take care

R

I agree with Merry. I like the idea of the larger parks but can't get past how they look on google sattelite maps. I like the smaller sites because they are more personable and you are looked after by the owners at most. It's also more expensive for the larger parks.

My best suggestion would be to research the area and plan on outings and walks and quality time playing family games. You have an advantage that your 2 girls have each other.

I have a 14 year old and a 3 year old so they are obviously opposites. We've never had onsite entertainment and we have always had a great time.

Best wishes

My 12 year old has said she hopes it is raining so we can all sit about in the tent and read and play board games. We've booked sites with pools for our next trips which she will also love.  Although sometimes I would rather not bother with the pool as I don't like to feel tied to the campsite and that this is the source of entertainment. 

We've never been to the really big parks and I wouldn't choose to go to one. We've always found smaller sites really pleasant some with excellent facilities and some a bit less luxurious but always with the necessities. We mostly choose where we stay on location.  Particular places we want to visit nearby, a stunning location or a handy village.  We don't tend to hang around the campsite much during the day, too busy sightseeing etc., hence the reason we do not like too many distractions on site.  We like a pleasant relaxing environment to come back to.

I was sent a voucher offering £150 off a "Haven Holiday" but it is not for us. If you take The Times, last week the hotel review was on Butlins at Bognor. Suffice to say the review was not favourable and in my view the two organisations are on a par.

But if you want a gigantic booze up with all that that entails then Haven could be the place for you. I have a camping friend who will not go to Haven because it is "full of drunken Northerners" the irony of his alchohol consumption and his thick Liverpool accent goes miles over his lovable head 

And before anybody starts my mother was from Stockport. So there.

We used to go to Shell Island when I was a kid and I remember the toilets were a bit evil then,  and that was back the very early 70's...The toilet block there is the cause of my over zealous attention to campsite washrooms now...( I'm having a flashback as I type...and post traumatic stress). My partner thinks I'm barking but I have set up the family with the most sophisticated rituals for using the facilities and they all stem back to those days on Shell island. Of course times may have changed, and other large sites may have a better regime for cleaning.

We always choose smaller sites, the campers tend to be more considerate and don't leave the facilities in a state and it's easier for staff to keep on top of them. Playparks, bars, pools etc can be the source of noise late at night and if they're not on site you haven't got to worry about the kids asking to go on them all the time. You can relax more and have more family time and an afternoon at a park somewhere off site or a walk to a cafe becomes a free/cheap treat.

One of the best sites we stayed on was a farm in Helston where the two loos were in a bike shed and the showers in the barn with only an old tractor and a rickety bit of wood propped up against it to protect your modesty. The only other facilities were lots of grass and the organic produce... I was a swingball champion by the time we left!

Quote: Originally posted by DaveP65 on 22/5/2008

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Thanks for that, was thinking about toilet facilities and stuff like that. Was reading a review of Shell Island that said toilets could be a bit evil.

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