we want to go back (Sandy Balls Holiday Centre)

Member Name: Loopy27

Product:	Sandy Balls Holiday Centre
Date:	26/03/01 (1786 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: clean, beautiful, well maintained

Disadvantages: not the cheapest place to camp

I have just returned from a 5 day stay at Sandy Balls New Forest Country Holiday park. It was lovely. The weather wasn't so good and the foot and mouth restrictions stopped us from taking full advantage of the new forest, but even with this in mind, we had a great, relaxing time.

Sandy Balls holiday centre is situated in Godshill, near Fordingbridge on the north-west edge of the New Forest within 25 acres. and is made up of lodges, caravans and facilities for tourers and campers. We stayed in a lodge. Our party consisted of myself, my husband and our two year old daughter. The lodge was warm, clean, well stocked of plates, pots, pans, cutlery. It also included a fridge, oven, microwave, hoover a sofa-bed, a double bed, and a bedroom with two-single beds (we had one removed so that we could easily put the supplied cot (for £10) in the bedroom. The bathroom had a bath with shower and each bedroom had a closet with some hangers, and a small dresser. The television, though smallish, for those who wish to watch tv while amidst this lovely scenery has satellite channels.

When the weather is nice we took advantage of the deck, my two year old loved running from the lounge, out the french windows onto the deck and round to the kitchen door. There was also a bbq outside which we didn't use.

The facilities around the site included cycle hire (which was closed while we were there), and stables - £15/hour (which was also closed). The Activity Centre had a huge room with a soft toy and ball pool play area for toddlers which we couldn't get my daughter out of, and Forest Edge Leisure Centre has a swimming pool with two small triangular kiddy pools, steam room, jacuzzi, a gym, toning tables, massage. There are charges for the cycling, riding, toning tables and massage.

There were swimming lessons for children and toddlers/babies. The swimming sessions for parents and tots (3 months - 4 years) costs £2.00 per session (2 hours) and
was on twice a week while we were there. We didn't take advantage of this and just took our daughter in when we wanted - there were no restrictions on that.

The site also has a well stocked Spar shop,Valencio's pizza restaurant, Woodside pub/inn restaurant, a gift shop, laundry facilities, shower blocks, and recycling and refuse sheds. In the Woodside pub we had three meals, including a child's meal for £14 and the plates were so full we couldn't finish it.

We paid £175 for 4 night, 5 days in a forest lodge which included £10 for cot hire and £10 for high chair hire. This of course is one of the cheaper times of year and goes up from there. You can check out the site and all the prices, lodges on their nicely done website:

www.sandy-balls.co.uk


I would highly recommend this site and we want to go back. I'm sure if my daughter could, she would also say it was great - she loved the pool, the soft play area, the walks every morning, the birds and Sammy squirrel (who visited for her rich tea biscuits every morning and evening). Everyday it was "outside Mummy, Daddy" and the wellies would go on. What more recommendation could anyone need.

Couldn't check how many pitches there are - as the website wasn't working yesterday but check the site for the various types and numbers of accommodation.

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