Resort Review: Keeping the peace

In an attempt to reacquaint the family, associate editor Diane Evans heads to Haven for a long weekend.

It’s difficult to find a balance when holidaying with teenagers and kids. One wants money, independence, a shop (for sweets and energy drinks – please tell me they’re all the same) and wifi while the ‘children’ want activities, live entertainment and parental involvement. Never the twain shall meet.

In desperation to spend a long weekend as a family (our desperation, clearly not theirs), we headed off to the Caster-on-Sea Haven park near Great Yarmouth which offered sports, crafts, indoor swimming pools, evening entertainment and a well-equipped base camp where we could meet in between. It came pretty close to ticking all the boxes.

The communication ahead of our stay was impressive – a letter of introduction and information with a contact name and a text on arrival day with a contact number and best wishes for our journey – but unfortunately it went downhill from there as did the family relations inside the car. We arrived at dinner time on the first night to be raced through the check-in. It’s a bit more confusing than it needs to be with activity passes in one place and entertainment passes in another but we soon got the swing of it and familiarized ourselves with what was on offer.

Okay, no wifi. Or at least if there was, it was only in a corner of the main restaurant and intermittent at that but despite us all initially feeling bereft, in the end it was a welcome absence. We even started talking again.

The kids had signed up for various activities from crafts to shooting and archery, and when there wasn’t something planned, the boys managed to melt through countless coppers on the coin machines while my daughter tried in vain to clasp a soft toy with a claw designed not to grip.

The evening entertainment was also good with my daughter captivated by the energetic dancers and singers completing countless numbers with wide smiles across their faces. We even took part as a family in the evening quiz but the audience participation required by the in-house comedian was a step too far for my teenage son. By the time I turned around, he had disappeared.

Although there was plenty to do on-site, the park was close enough to Great Yarmouth for us to venture into the town one afternoon for some kiss-me-quick seaside entertainment. A walk along the seafront and a bag of chips later and we were ready for a return to the park and another night of cabaret entertainment. Quite where the dancers got their energy levels I don’t know but my young daughter was grateful as she joined them on the dancefloor.

The static caravan accommodation was clean, comfortable and surprisingly spacious for a family of five. We were located close to the crazy golf which was fairly crazy, swimming pool which includes a slide and beach complete with a giant deckchair which made for great photographs.

At the end of our short stay we were definitely more relaxed than when we arrived. Despite the shrugging of shoulders from our eldest, all the kids seemed to enjoy the experience and freedom it allowed. Perhaps the restaurant facilities could provide some healthier food and maybe employ more staff to reduce the bar waiting times but all were pleasant and helpful.

However they were minor details and didn’t overshadow our few days on the Norfolk coast. If you’re looking for somewhere to de-stress and where the kids have plenty to do, a Haven park could be just that.

http://www.haven.com/