If there’s one thing that changes when you become a parent it’s holidays.
Forget sitting back on a sunbed and sipping a nice cold drink – the fact is you’re going to be on duty from the minute you wake up to the minute you go to bed. Which some might say isn’t a holiday at all.
With a new baby in the house there’s only one thing I’m looking for when it comes to holidays this year: they need to be baby-friendly, involve a proper bed (for me!) and minimum disruption on the travel front.
Can it be done? Yes it can!
We kicked off the summer glamping in Sussex – which turned out to be the perfect family holiday – and having just got back from our second visit to Hoburne’s Devon Bay holiday park near Paignton I’m of the opinion that staycations like a Hoburne Holiday are the way to go. Here’s why.
10 reasons to go on a Hoburne Holiday
1. There’s no need to go on a plane. With seven holiday parks dotted across Somerset, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and the Cotswolds there’s no need to fork out for flights or cope with flying with kids. Just get in the car and within a few hours (depending on where you are in the UK) you’re somewhere like this.
2. They’re child-friendly. The parks and caravans are designed with families in mind, from travel cots to lockable gates on the decking around your caravan so you don’t have to worry about childproofing your accommodation once you get there.
3. The caravans are like a home from home. Think proper furniture with real beds, sofas and flushing loos (yes loos – we also had an en suite toilet in addition to the main bathroom). There are a variety of packages available from standard caravans to the platinum plus which sleeps 6-8 in one double bedroom, two twin rooms and a pull-out sofa. You’re guaranteed the caravan won’t be more than two years old and is a minimum of 12 feet wide, so really quite roomy! Oh, and bedding and towels are included.
4. They’ve got all the mod cons. From dishwashers and full-size fridge freezers to TVs in the bedrooms and fires with LED lighting, you could say our Hoburne caravan was better equipped than our own home! If you like gadgets then you won’t be disappointed. There’s also a launderette so there’s no need to go home with heaps of dirty washing and wet towels.
5. The leisure facilities. At Devon Bay the facilities are newly refurbished and include a heated outdoor pool and paddling pool, an indoor pool with a flume, an adventure playground, soft play, amusement arcade, Sky and BT Sports, crazy golf, a nature trail and three on site restaurants and cafes.
6. The entertainment. Children’s clubs and family entertainment run all day and into the evening including Tommy’s Tots for under-fives, Sammy’s Surfers for kids aged five to eight and Captain’s Crew for older children. There’s a different act on every night of the week in the club house starting with a disco for kids.
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7. It doesn’t matter if it rains. Because there’s so much to do at the holiday park it doesn’t really matter what the weather is doing. Devon Bay has the aforementioned indoor pool (complete with sauna and steam room for the grown-ups), plus there’s the soft play, amusement arcade and kids’ clubs which are all a lifesaver on rainy days.
8. You can swim every day. One of my favourite things about holidays is the chance to do things you don’t normally get the time or opportunity to do every day. For me that’s exercise, and at Devon Bay you can swim every day thanks to the large outdoor pool. There’s nothing like a half an hour swim every day before breakfast to set you up for the rest of the day.
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9. The parks are located in beautiful parts of the country – and there’s plenty to do outside the gates. From Bournemouth beach and the New Forest at Hoburne Park in Dorset to Babbacombe Model Village and Becky Falls at Devon Bay, there are a host of fun-packed family days out to choose from.
10. You can relax! There’s no need to shell out lots of money flying somewhere exotic: the most relaxing holidays we’ve had since becoming parents have been Hoburne holidays because everything is thought of. And if the kids are happy, the chances are you’ll be happy.
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Have you ever been on a Hoburne holiday? Would you consider it? I’d love to know your thoughts!
We were given a week’s stay in a platinum plus caravan at Hoburne Devon Bay in July 2017 free of charge in exchange for this review. Prices vary depending on the time of year, the type of caravan, the length of your stay and how far in advance you book, but for our trip for a family of five expect to pay around £1,600. For more information on prices click here. As always all opinions are my own and I would never recommend a company I don’t truly believe in.
Linking up with these fabulous blogs!
I would never have thought to stay in a caravan before. This is so different to what I would have expected though. UK based holidays seem to be a touch more chilled out, and this looks like a perfect place for a little getaway. #ablogginggoodtime
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