Golden Sands (Golden Sands Holiday Park)

Member Name: steven milloy

Product:	Golden Sands Holiday Park
Date:	21/07/03 (736 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: GOOD BEACH, WEATHER ON EAST COAST, SKEGNESS 15 MILES AWAY

Disadvantages: FENCE AROUND FACILITIES, TATTY SWIMMING POOL, IN GENERAL DISREPAIR

We travelled down from Ayrshire in Scotland to Golden Sands holiday park. The holiday was booked on the Internet and cost £234.00 for one week in a 3- star six-berth caravan, including entertainment passes.

A 2pm check in is possible for holidaymakers who have booked higher spec accommodation. our check in time was 4pm. Therefore, when we arrived at around 1.30pm we had plenty of time to explore the park. We had a go on the crazy golf to kill time. We noticed that the go-carts are next to the crazy golf and that the price is a hefty £4.00 for five minutes or as quick as you can do 18 laps of the cramped course. After the golf we went to collect our linen. This procedure was a departure from our previous experience at Devon Cliffs. At golden sands we were asked for a £10.00 deposit whereas at Devon Cliffs the linen was already in the accommodation in time for our arrival with no deposit required. We then headed to the falcon room to join the queue for check in. At 3.15 the queue had already started to form and although the haven operatives seemed ready to start checking people in, they nonetheless twiddled their thumbs and made everyone wait till the clock struck 4pm. The line of people waiting to check in snaked round the entire room, out into the lobby and still further outside as far as Harry Ramsden?s. We pitied those at the end of the line as check in for them would not be 4pm - more like 5pm.

We found our caravan easily enough. Although there is space beside each caravan to park a car it is often badly rutted and not level. I had to make sure my vehicle was facing the correct direction to avoid underside damage on the uneven ground. Upon entering the caravan we immediately noticed the smell of stale cigarette smoke. The refrigerator was off so we turned it on; it took a while to cool down though. At around six years old the caravan was showing it?s age in terms of décor and wear and tear. The shower unit was very unpredictable alternating be

tween scalding and ice cold.


Haven has erected a fence around all of the shops and entertainment. This means that you have to walk through the shops/amusements to reach the entertainment venue, pool, go-carts, crazy golf and adventure play area. We found this tedious in the extreme as we could see the fence had been an after thought to force guests to traipse through the entire slot machine area. On two occasions we simply entered via an open fire exit, saving ourselves five minutes. The prices at the bars are astronomical - £2.40 for 568ml of cola!

The park has a very 'run down' feel to it. We felt that the carpets were very dirty and the general décor was tatty. The swimming pool is in need of a major overhaul. When we visited it (just once) we found that a third of the main pool area was cordoned off due to unstable tiles falling into the water. A non-returnable 20p is required for the lockers. My Fiancee told me that the female changing area was dirty and the locker keys were mixed up. The water slides (x2) were both off when we were there. Rust and peeling paint were in evidence everywhere.

Elsewhere in the park Haven seem to be understaffing. Even basic things like the toilets next to the quayside diner were neglected. I sought out a manager to complain about urine one-inch deep, no soap, broken hand drier, urine on floor and blocked toilets. The toilets adjacent to the Everydays shop were disgusting with no toilet rolls or soap and were cramped and poorly lit. Everything has a neglected feel to it.

I was wary about leaving my vehicle too close to the roadside, as children were play tennis, football and with Frisbee's just feet away. Security guards were very much in evidence and we witnessed them helping sort out the usual alcohol fuelled rows. We noticed that there is a CCTV system throughout the park. Many of the caravans were privately owned. Haven prominently display and promote the idea of 
9;own
ing your own', although there is no way we would consider this option at this park.


The town of Mablethorpe is much better than the Haven Park, although most things seem to close down at 6pm. The co-op supermarket is reasonable for groceries. All the gift shops are similar and all sell the same sort of items. Please pay a visit to "Dave's" award winning restaurant, it's well worth it. (We recommend the steak pie) There is a fun fair at the beach that opens at 12pm and closes at 6pm. We would have liked to visit this in the evening. The beach is excellent, very clean, plenty of space so that you feel that you are not on top of your neighbours.

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