Dawlish Sands Holiday Park, Devon (Valley Caravan Park (Polzeath))

Member Name: sandscratcher

Product:	Valley Caravan Park (Polzeath)
Date:	15/07/09 (148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good beach

Disadvantages: Sub standard caravans

Dawlish Sand Holiday Park, Dawlish, Devon. Following a weeks stay at this holiday park I would like to inform any person thinking of staying there of what we found in our so called 'Silver Plus' rental caravan.

The lights in the main circulation area consisted of one light only with none of the others working at all, this was rectified 3 days after complaining.
Electric kettle with a defective switch.
Portable Appliance Testing labels not on various electrical items including the defective kettle so I assume no testing carried out.
Dining table only sat 4 in an 8 berth caravan.
Double mattress threadbare, worn and dirty, springs were only covered by the mattres lining as all padding had long disappeared.
Bedding dirty and old.
Insufficient crockery for 8 people.
Seating and carpets dirty, stained, old and dingy.
Decor old, dirty, dingy.
Curtains did not meet in the middle.
Blind would not adjust, broken.
Shelving trims, some missing allowing bare MDF to show through.
Bathroom cupboard door missing.
Stools unstable resulting in children and adults overbalancing on them.
Shower drain hole blocked and when I cleared it as the staff did not a bad smell emitted from the drains.
Gas boiler gave insufficient hot water.
No toaster, received one on the 3rd day of the stay.
Waste bin suitable for 2 people but not for 8, constantly overflowing.
Wad of chewing gum found stuck beneath the food preparation area.
Caravan door locks on both doors not working correctly giving rise to concerns regarding their operation in case of a fire in the caravan, would they work or not?
Power points in the childrens bedroom at waist height with no blanks fitted in to prevent inquisitive children poking their fingers or other foreign objects in.
Handle of the bedroom window came off leaving the window locked and unable to open.
The club house was very crowded with the tables and chairs just pushed together blocking access to move around the seating area easily
and in an emergency would prove difficult to evacuate.

All of these points reported and some were dealt with but not satisfactorily, complained to the site manageress at the time and in writing to the head off ice but no reply. The caravan bore no resemblance to that shown in the on site brochure and I would warn anybody to be on their guard concerning the brochure and what is actually provided.

For the price charged we expected a caravan fit for use, clean and in good order but actually received a sub standard caravan with the attitude of ' we have your money now take it or leave it'. I will never take my family to Dawlish Sands Holiday Park again nor any venues run by Park Holidays.

Summary: A holiday experience to be avoided.