Best holiday park in Wales named — it scores higher than Bluestone and Haven

Wales Online

3 days ago

Best holiday park in Wales named — it scores higher than Bluestone and Haven
A survey asked respondents to rate UK holiday parks based on factors such as cleanliness, the quality of their accommodation, the variety of free activities on offer, and the overall value for money.
Forest Holidays cabins in Beddgelert — their holiday parks scored highly in the survey
(Image: Handout )
A survey conducted by Which? to determine the best and worst UK holiday parks has seen three Welsh parks topping the charts.
The survey was filled out by 1,700 Which? members who were asked to evaluate their experiences at UK holiday parks and resorts. Participants were asked to rate aspects ranging from park cleanliness to accommodation quality, the range of complimentary activities available, and the overall value for money of their holiday.
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Forest Holidays, which operates 13 locations in total including two in Wales, secured second place with an 80% score, outperforming major brands like Haven and Butlins. Known for its countryside lodges and unique accommodations such as treehouses, Forest Holidays has parks in Beddgelert, nestled in Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, and Garwnant in Bannau Brycheiniog.
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Customers praised the quality of the accommodation and cleanliness, although it only received a three-star rating for value for money.
Bluestone visitors can enjoy the Blue Lagoon Water Park
(Image: Western Mail )
Another Welsh winner was Bluestone Wales, located in scenic Pembrokeshire. Bluestone, known for its luxury lodges and cottages, also scored highly for the quality of accommodation provided.
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While Bluestone earned high marks for the variety of children's activities and entertainment on offer, it also managed to secure a three-star rating for value for money, resulting in an overall score of 77%.
Potters Resorts, offering all-inclusive holidays with locations in Essex and Norfolk, has topped the UK chart. Although it's an adults-only resort for most of the year, children are welcomed during the summer holidays in Norfolk.
Potters achieved a remarkable 87% score, earning five-stars for the quality of facilities and accommodation, and a perfect score for the range of complimentary activities available.
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Despite being the priciest among the parks surveyed by Which?, the cost at Potters includes all food and drink, a variety of activities from pickleball to archery, and evening entertainment touted as 'West End' quality. This earned the resorts a four-star rating for value for money.
Pontins in Prestatyn Sands closed in 2023
(Image: Daily Post Wales )
Pontins, on the other hand, finds itself at the bottom of the chart once again, having also ranked last in 2024. The brand currently operates only one holiday park open to guests, the adults-only Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-Super-Mare.
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Their other two parks in Burnham on Sea, Somerset and Pakefield, Suffolk are temporarily shut to accommodate construction workers.
With a mere 56% customer satisfaction score, Pontins managed just two-stars in most categories. Despite being the least expensive option, customers still felt they received poor value for money.
One disgruntled Tripadvisor user didn't mince words about their Pakefield park experience, stating: "Worst place I have ever visited, chalet was old unkempt and dirty, holes in sheets beds pushed together with terrible matress and pillows, to shower you had to keep pushing a button in, it leaked all over the floor".
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Another visitor voiced their dissatisfaction, remarking: "Rooms are shabby and quite dirty. Dirt on the baseboards, cobwebs in the corners and behind doors, our shower curtain had pink mold growing along the bottom seam, clearly not laundered between guests."
Yet, amid the negative feedback, some holidaymakers shared positive sentiments about Pontins. A satisfied guest commented: "We went beginning of October had a brilliant week! Food was great swimming pool was really good and for the price you really can't get any better!"
Entertainment at the parks was also praised, with one reviewer enthusing: "The Bluecoats show Vegas was amazing! They are all so talented and are always doing some activity or joining in on the dance floor and having a laugh or chatting with people."
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Away Resorts have a holiday park at Barmouth Bay
(Image: Getty Images )
Away Resorts, sharing the same score, operates 25 parks across the UK, including sought-after destinations in the South West and the Isle of Wight.
Away Resorts received just two stars for value for money, despite providing a broad spectrum of accommodation options from caravans and glamping to luxury lodges. They also performed poorly for customer service, though managed three stars for cleanliness and accommodation quality. They have two parks in North Wales; Golden Sands and Barmouth Bay.
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Center Parcs emerged as the most popular holiday park provider in the survey, managing to score 69% meaning it was tied with Haven. While it performed well for its facilitoes and accommodation quality, it received disappointing marks for the range of complimentary activities available and overall value for money.
It ranked as the third most costly option, trailing behind Potters and Warner Leisure Villages, which caters exclusively to adults.
One Which? member commented: "Very expensive for what it is. Accomodation excellent, apart from the oasis pool, everything was extra. Staff were very helpful and the children enjoyed their stay. I will not be going back."
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Haven, operating 38 parks throughout the UK, matched Center Parcs' percentage score, though they managed three stars for value for money. Which? readers awarded them two-star ratings for food and drink offerings and the selection of complimentary activities available.
Best and worst holiday parks in the UK - ranked
Pontins, Largo Leisure, Away Resorts, Park Holidays, Butlins, Center Parcs, and Haven have been approached for comment.