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For everyone who loves a particular site you'll probably find someone else who hates it and vice -versa.People need to really decide what they want from a site and choose carefully, reading between the lines of reviews if you can.What we want from a site is peace and relaxation so even if a site has brilliant reviews it might not be what we're looking for

I agree and think people should read the reviews more objectively. Just because Soandso who you don't know from Adam had a great time there it doesn't follow that you will. I've known the best of friends go on holiday together and fall out because for one or either it doesn't suit their 'ideal'.

We are all individuals and expect and need different things from a site. Read beyond the comments such as "Great site, thoroughly recommended"  etc

Quote: Originally posted by Anne Frick on 23/8/2006

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Angie,

I'm sure the site I mentioned near Merthyr allows dogs and children but it is a basic sites (facilities in a portakabin, but clean), but there is no kids playground however plenty to see nearby. Can't remember the name but if you enter Merthyr Tydfil you should find it.

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theres one or two thataway...theres one in cyfartha castle

theres a really nice one in Aberdare (suprisingly) darevalley country park look on rhondda cynon taff website there...

now theres another which we went too have a nose at...and came straight back out... it was awful cant remember that name

and another which springs to mind is Grawen camping and caravan park

an the a470 pass merthyr onto Brecon road you have a few beauties there too...

Dear Sian

We at Sandy Balls are truely sorry that you did not enjoy your holiday with us and that you found us to be expensive, as I do not have all your details I am unable to contact you personally, so at the risk of sounding defensive I would like to answer your concerns.

The cost of your pitch- we are a large site that at this time of the year have up to 3000 visitors on site to manage, for this we have around 270 employees, we offer 2 restaurants, a large leisure centre with 2 pools & a gym, an on site Spar, 2 play parks, games room, a soft play area for children & organisied night entertainment.

but best of all we offer access to a 100 acres of private forset & 400m of the River Avon for your pleasure free of charge. 

Blocked pitch drain - At this time of year as one party is leaving another is ready to pitch so we do rely on campers to report faults, we have 300 pitches which we don't always get a chance to check before the next party arrives, if faults are reported and nobody responds then please request a manager so we get the opportunity to correct our procedures.

Bored children- We try to cater for children through our activities & play parks,however as hard as we try we don't always get it right to suit everybody, for this reason we urge visitors to fill in our site questionaires which has a section on suggestions to improve for holiday.

The leaking toilet - We did have a problem in one of our blocks, however this was not dirty toilet water it was fresh water from a line that had to be temporary repaired so that we did not have to close the block at its busiest & inconvenience our visitors, unfortunately the temporary repair had to be repeated a number of times as it didn't always hold.

As I have said above please take this response as one of concern rather than one of defense & we at Sandy Balls are deeply sorry for your bad experience. Unfortunately Andrew Howe is away on holiday and is not aware, at this moment, of your letter.

Should you wish to contact me directly you can do so on 01202 651203 or on brett at sandy-balls.co.uk

Regards

Brett Turner

Site Services Manager

I just wanted to add that we spent the Bank Holiday at Sandy Balls and I wasn't particularly looking forward to it as it was to be our first time on a big, commercial site.  We were going with friends who had visited before and wanted to go again. 

After reading the above and knowing what some of these large sites can be like, we did feel a bit apprehensive but I would like to say it was great!  The club wasn't my cup of tea at all but the kids had a bop.  The bar was good for a beer (and they had my favourite ale!).  We stayed on the overflow field and it was fine (apart from all the toilet cubicles containing sinks which meant you sometimes had a bit of wait if you just wanted to go (!) and not do your full ablutions).

We hired bikes and had a fantastic ride out and generally had a really good time.

Yes, it was an expensive site - £87 for three nights (gulp) but the facilities are good and you swim for free (unlike some other parks we have stayed on - Ruda!!).

Deb x