Traditional UK Seaside Caravan Holidays Still Popular into 2012 Say Haven

Seaside fun with Haven Holidays

Haven Holidays recognise that more and more families want to embrace all the simple pleasures of a seaside break just like the ones we all loved as kids.
Our guests are leaving the TV and computer games behind them and re-discovering all that’s great about the great British holiday’ says Britain’s favourite seaside holiday operator. ‘With so many families opting to stay in the UK in preference to overseas travel we’ve noticed a real nostalgia for seaside breaks. Building sandcastles on the beach, skimming stones in the sea, fish and chips, crab-fishing, games of beach cricket and jumping over waves with your trousers rolled up. Timeless family fun within easy reach on Haven’s 35 UK holiday parks.’

The holiday company, who have parks in some of Britain’s favourite locations around the British coast added ‘Feedback from our customers suggests that top priority for Mums and Dads is a holiday where the family can spend time together away from the stresses of everyday life. This means more family activities, plenty of new experiences for kids, lots to do whatever the weather and most of all, easy access to the beach.’

Haven caravan holidays offer the freedom for families to choose how to spend this precious time together. If exploring rock pools is top of your agenda there’s no compulsion to join in with the action-packed agenda of entertainment and activities – but if your kids are looking to try something new, want to make new friends in the kids’ clubs, love the buzz of the entertainment or can’t resist the lure of the swimming pool then it’s all available. And better still, there’s loads included in the cost.

Plans for Haven family holidays 2012 include an action packed indoor Sports Complex at Craig Tara complete with a climbing wall, indoor multi-sports, golf simulator, a jungle themed soft play area and a café where parents can relax and kids can refuel. There’s a new golf course opening at Primrose Valley and several parks have responded to the increased popularity of camping and caravanning by making their touring facilities even more attractive and user-friendly.

Splashing in the water always keeps the kids happy, in fact it’s hard to get them out of the pool. Every Haven park has indoor heated leisure pools and next season there will be new and super-enhanced water-based attractions at several parks, including a lazy river at Reighton Sands, a lovely new outdoor pool at Wild Duck and plenty of family splash-fun at Kiln Park with slides and an outdoor dancing water play area.

Eating, drinking and evenings out are always a big part of the holiday experience and a number of parks are enhancing their restaurants, bars and cafes. Caister (Britain’s first ever holiday park) will have a brand new contemporary ShowBar whilst customers at Devon Cliffs and Riviere Sands can enjoy a yummy cream tea in their new beach cafés and at Devon Cliffs have the added joy of breathtaking views over Sandy Bay. But what about the weather?

‘Whilst we like to think the sun always shines on a Haven Holiday, the truth is, from time to time we do get some rain!’ said Haven. ‘Our advice is to pack your favourite wellies and waterproofs as well as buckets and spades and let the kids enjoy a bit of puddle jumping”

Kids Clubs are free of charge and cover all ages with Haven’s perpetually cheerful FunStars encouraging youngsters to have a go with messy mornings, arts and crafts, music and movement sessions, B Fit with Rory the Tiger, Circus School, Wildlife Detectives and of course beach activities including volleyball, rounders, shoreline treasure hunts and rockpool scrambles. Older kids can find their way with Orienteering and learn how to spin plates and juggle – whilst old-fashioned fun, with skipping and twirling hoops is back on the agenda.

Hard to please teenagers will learn graffiti arts and urban skipping to the pulsing beat of hip hop as well as being set challenges using mobile phones and digital cameras.

Other activities include Coke FC football (free of charge); archery; fencing and tennis (with mini versions for tinies at no cost); golf; fishing; Learn2Bike; Learn2Swim (it’s free!); climbing walls and roller-blading. Facilities vary from park to park so visit the Haven website for further details. Some activities can be pre-booked and paid for with an Activity Pass.

Many Haven customers own up that the sea air and comfy holiday homes tempt them to spend cosy evenings in their caravans prepare a meal together and sit down as a family with a nice bottle of wine followed by a game of cards or a bit of star gazing… a great way to wrap up the day! But the entertainment venues are great fun! Families can look forward to early evening shows that will have the kids spell-bound – or up and dancing; there are family discos and party time; stageshows and the Ultimate Star Performer; Rock ‘n Roll Bingo (bingo with attitude!); star names (including several X Factor contestants); stand up comedy and the ever popular pantos, circus and wrestling.

And in recognition of the economic climate, prices have been kept at a level that people will love too. Next year thousands of prices have been reduce to encourage early booking with Spring breaks available from as little as £149 for three or four nights – and seven night summer holiday breaks from under £500 for a family of up to six.

Click on www.haven.com or call 0871 230 1900 for info.

Touring boost for Haven Holidays

Camping and touring with Haven Holidays

Investment by UK holiday experts Haven into improving facilities for its touring holidaymakers would appear to be paying off according to the results of the 2011 AA Quality Awards for Caravan Camping.

The company’s 23 parks which cater for touring caravans and campers recorded an average 6% increase on the ratings given in 2010, meaning the average score for Haven rose to 81%.

Over the past year, Haven’s investment into its touring facilities has led to a number of improvements being rolled out across its parks, such as a new heated shower block at Marton Mere, near Blackpool; a brand new shower block at Craig Tara on the Ayrshire coast and an improved pitch development at Lakeland Holiday Park in the Lake District.

And with even more new developments currently planned for more parks over the coming months, don’t be surprised if the popular holiday company experiences another ratings spike at next year’s awards.

Hafan y Mor, in North Wales has become increasingly popular with touring holidaymakers and will benefit from an enhanced touring area with thoughtfully landscaped pitches and an attractive new amenities block. And in keeping with their strong eco-ethics the new touring block at Perran Sands in Cornwall will be planted with a ‘living roof’ amongst other features to minimise its impact on the environment.

Campers and caravanners will also be able to enjoy a whole raft of new facilities on the Parks including new and improved swimming pools and water play areas, venues, bars and cafés as well as the lively programme of entertainments and activities available to all guests.

Visit www.haventouring.com or call 0871 230 1933.

Children’s fitness and weight a concern for teachers

A nationwide survey conducted by the Haven Fun & Fitness campaign has shown that 87% of early years professionals are concerned that under- fives are not getting enough physical activity. And 84% of respondents believe that more children are becoming overweight, highlighting concerns that many of the toddlers in their care are becoming ‘couch potatoes’.

NHS Change4Life recommends raising children’s heartbeats to ‘faster than normal’ for a minimum of 60 minutes a day to prevent storing fat, which can lead to later life health problems resulting from obesity including diabetes and cancer. Making physical activity enjoyable from a young age encourages children that it’s fun to be fit and helps them to meet these guidelines naturally.

Little girl using Fun & Fitness equipment

Naomi Woodstock, Haven Fun & Fitness campaign manager comments: “early years professionals are in a unique position to help children to be more active. Pre-school or nursery can often be the only place where a child can run around freely and we want to support those who are making a difference to young children’s physical development.”

Now in its fourth year, the Haven Fun & Fitness Sports Equipment Giveaway campaign was set up to help make fitness fun for young children and to help early years setting provide exciting physical activities. The indoor and outdoor sports equipment given away through the campaign is specifically designed for under-fives to provide the stimulation and variety young children need to stay interested and engaged.

“We were shocked to see how many early years professionals are concerned about the rising numbers of inactive and overweight children. The Fun & Fitness Campaign makes a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of young children - we really hope as many pre-schools and nurseries as possible will register and benefit from the scheme,” said Ms Woodstock.

The 2011/12 Haven Fun & Fitness campaign is now open and pre-schools and nurseries can register for the free sports equipment. Just visit www.havenfunfitess.com and follow the instructions on the website. Registrations close on 31st January but places are limited!

The search for the UK's sportiest tots has begun!

Lilly May, Sports Tot 2011 winner

The Haven Fun & Fitness campaign Sports Tot of the Year Award is looking for the UK’s sportiest pre-schoolers. The campaign which provides free sports equipment to help encourage under-fives to have fun getting fit is looking for youngsters who show promising sporting talent.

Naomi Woodstock, Haven Fun & Fitness campaign manager explains; “we’re passionate about promoting physical activities for all under-fives. The Sports Tot of the Year Award allows us to seek out exceptional youngsters and provide them with the opportunity to improve their potential.”

The Sports Tot of the Year Award is looking for youngsters who will be an inspiration to other children, parents and early year’s practitioners. These children will demonstrate the benefits of getting involved in sports from a young age; the confidence it can bring; the co-ordination which develops as well as the enjoyment of being physically active.

In recognition of their sporting potential, the winners will receive a year’s professional coaching in the sport of their choice. And to help inspire other children to get active their pre-school will receive a big box of fun, age appropriate sports equipment for everyone to use!

Parents, relatives and early years practitioners can nominate any child (with parental consent) under the age of five who shows signs of special sporting talent and who would benefit from additional coaching or lessons. From skills on the pitch to gymnastics the winner can be involved in any physical activity; they just need to demonstrate exceptional sporting potential!

Registration is easy, just log on to www.havenfunfitness.com, click on the Sports Tot Award link and fill in the entry form. Last date for entries is 27th April. The 2012 UK Sports Tots of the Year, (one girl, one boy) will be announced in May.

“Many of the UK’s sporting heroes, from Rory McIlroy to Andy Murray, demonstrated their exceptional talent before they had even started school. We hope to recognise and reward those children who could be the UK’s next sporting inspiration and support them to reach their full potential” says Naomi Woodstock.