Pontins, Prestatyn

I need to start this review by saying that the chalet was so much cleaner than the ones at Southport last November, but that is one of the few stand out positives.

According to my paperwork, I was supposed to hand one of my vouchers in at the gate, as there was no-one on duty there I just carried on in.

Not being able to check in until 4pm I had delayed my arrival to just before and parking was a nightmare, not because I can't park (I can) but earlier arrivals had just abandoned their cars anywhere within the parking area.

I went to Reception to check in, as per my paperwork, to be greeted by a Bluecoat and told that check-in was now in the Fun Factory, the room formerly known as the Ballroom.  I made my way round and it was chaos.  But this was down more to the clientele than the staff.  In fact, if I hadn't spent the best part of 5 hours in traffic jams I may well have turned round and gone straight home again.

Kids were being allowed to run riot, whole families seemed to feel the need to queue instead of just one person, everyone was more concerned with what was on their phones than what the staff were saying to them.

When I eventually made it to the front of the queue I was dealt with very efficiently and off I went to find my chalet.

I had booked a studio apartment so I knew that I was not going to get a palace but the room was tiny.  The location was excellent, away from the main road around the site but still only a couple of minutes walk back to the main facilities, but the apartment really was a disappointment.

The double bed took up pretty much all of the floorspace and this only looked more after I put on the fluorescent 100% polyester bedding, which were at least clean this time.

The kitchen consisted of a sink, a draining board which was home to the microwave, a small area of work surface which housed the kettle, a cooker and fridge.

The bathroom was larger than the kitchen and featured a fantastic shower, another plus point, which nearly blasted me into next door it was so powerful.

I ventured into the Queen Victoria pub, every Pontins has one, on the first night, thanks to the 'who can scream the loudest' competition that was being held I did not visit again, but again this was the clientele rather than the staff.

I attempted to buy some chips from Captain Cod's shop on the second day, after more than 10 minutes of queueing in which only one person was served I gave up.  On the last day I attempted to purchase a meal from the restaurant, but the pay up front rule, the state of the tables and the noise put me off, so at least there was no food poisoning this time. I would have tried the Indian/Chinese takeaway in the Queen Vic if, again, it hadn't been for the noise.

Whilst there is not much that can be done about the clients, I do have some suggestions for the apartments for future refurbishments or quick wins now.

• Move the microwave, it needs it own space to allow the draining board to be used.
• Put toasters back in the chalets, I was losing the will to live using the oven to toast my bread.
• There needs to somewhere to sit and eat, a breakfast bar at least.
• Fit a towel rail in the bathroom, I had to hang my towel over the shower rail.
• Bring back the £1 electricity cards, the complimentary £1 card I received ran out Saturday evening, I had to purchase a £5 card for the rest of the weekend of which I spent just over £1.
• Stagger the check ins more, instead of Club at 2pm and everyone else at 4pm, try 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.
• Install cameras above the tills, I witnessed some money being palmed, very inexpertly.

If I ever want a base for a few days in North Wales I would stay here again, but I certainly wouldn't stay here for the amenities.  And I would take my own bedding, or at least a sleeping bag.

Presthaven Sands - North Wales

I have just spent a weekend at this Haven site and it is fantastic.  Fantastic to the point I have been looking into how much it would cost to buy a caravan here.

It is located just off the A548 and it is huge.  The main building is a mile and a quarter from the entrance, driving up I did think I had missed a turning somewhere, but then the buildings appeared in the distance.

Check in was easy although the standard of accommodation I had booked meant that I couldn't actually get into my caravan until 4pm, but the more expensive the caravan, the earlier you get access.

In the main building you will find the pub - the Mash and Barrel (WiFi is available in the pub and on the terrace outside), the Carousel Bar and the Live Lounge, where the entertainment takes place.  There is the usual amusement arcade, plus Burger King and Papa John Pizzas.  As it was sunny, sitting on the terrace of the pub was fantastic. 

There are two free to use cash machines in the main building.

Also in the main building, although only accessible from the outside, is the Cooks fish and chip shop.  

Set slightly back from the main building is a large Spar shop.  Refreshingly, having stayed on various holiday parks, the prices in the shop did not appear inflated.  

There is another free to use cash machine at the side of the Spar.

Way back by the entrance, there is a further pub.

There is a leisure complex with an indoor pool, an outdoor pool which was closed as the main season had ended, a jungle gym and an indoor sports court.

Outside there is an aerial play area, think Go Ape but smaller, and a Go-Kart track.  There is also archery, darts, pedal kart hire and bike hire.  There are several play areas too.

Some of these activities are chargeable.

The bars are expensive, but that has been the same at every holiday camp I have visited, but offers are available which can work out better than buying one drink at a time.

I chose a Superior caravan, it was a Rio Mk III, and it was lovely.  It was a 2 bedroom - one double and one twin - the seating in the living area could be converted to a further 2 beds.  There was an en-suite toilet and washbasin in the double bedroom as well as the main shower/toilet room.

The gas hob/oven was twice the size as the one I have at home and there was plenty of seating and storage.

The numbering of the caravans was a little confusing, the park is split into areas which are all named and numbered.  It took me a while to find my van, in the end I just parked the car in one of the many parking areas and walked around to find my van, it turns out that I was driving in circles around it.

Although I was quite a way from the main building, I was very close to a beach access, which was great although when the sea goes out here, it really goes out.

  

The only drawback was that toilet rolls were not supplied, so it was a quick dash to the Spar to get some!

I was here as part of a club weekend so had special rates, but I will definitely be coming back by myself and paying the full price (I paid per person, however standard rates are per van).