I Paid £412 for a Weekend at Sandy Balls Holiday Park, Was it Worth it? 

Sandy Balls Vacation Park has a popularity as one of many fanciest lodge and tenting parks in Hampshire. Should you choose a extra elevated out of doors expertise while you enterprise into the good outdoor, this could possibly be the place for you. Try my trustworthy evaluation earlier than you resolve…

In my expertise, most individuals in Hampshire have heard of Sandy Balls Vacation Park, nevertheless it’s notoriety stops on the borders. It felt like anybody native I advised that we have been going within the three week run up between reserving and arriving, had been or knew somebody that had however anybody else simply fixated on the title.

If it wasn’t ‘we’ve been there!’, it was ‘is that an actual place?! Why is it known as Sandy Balls?’ [laugh / giggle / snort]

So, simply in case you’re not from Hampshire – let me introduce you to Sandy Balls Vacation Park, simply on the sting of the New Forest.

In line with the web site I wanted to be ready to ‘escape into historic woodlands, open moors and wild heathland’. In line with my many buddies who’ve been previous company, I used to be in for an incredible time due to the good location and household pleasant vibe.

So, off we went.

The New Forest is just a 45-minute drive from our dwelling in Southsea, and Sandy Balls is round an hour. This was a simple to succeed in weekend, which given the proximity and low value of getting there, meant we may spend a bit of extra on the lodging.

However, was the £412 for a weekend at Sandy Balls value it?

Errr, why is it known as Sandy Balls?

In line with the Away Resorts web site, it’s title truly dates again to the reign of King Henry VII when ‘sandyballas’ – domed sand and gravel outcrops on its western boundary – first appeared on historic maps.

Should you go to Sandy Balls, you’ll be able to stroll as much as a viewpoint and lookout over these ‘sandyballas’ and see what they imply.

Evaluate: lodging at Sandy Balls

The three of us (me, boyfriend and toddler) stayed in a 6-person lodge at Sandy Balls. I wouldn’t truly recommend staying there as a 6 although. We had a beautiful room with a double mattress and en suite for the 2 of us. Reggie’s room had a bunk mattress in it, and a single too. So, 5 beds, and a big lounge the place the couch may pull out to be a mattress.

To be truthful, our room was spacious and did have a TV so in case you had 4 youngsters, they’d be alright, however not 6 adults. As I mentioned, we had our ensuite with a shower (nice for toddler) however there was additionally one other bathe lavatory subsequent to Reggie’s room.

The kitchen / diner / lounge house was large enough for Reggie to trip round on his scooter, and for us to calm down in on the desk and on the couch.

Reggie awoke actually early one morning and it was very nice to simply cuddle up on the large couch with a cover and watch some TV with the sound of the rain on the roof. We positively want a much bigger couch at dwelling. Anyway, I digress, again to the Sandy Balls evaluation.

Evaluate of the meals at Sandy Balls

Every lodge has a bit of kitchen so it’s straightforward to be self catered. We had all our breakfasts and lunches this fashion – utilizing the good stuff from the on website store. The store is stocked with yummy domestically produced delicacies, from jams, to fruits to meats. You received’t go hungry!

No complaints there.

I do, nevertheless, have complaints concerning the eating places at Sandy Balls.

There are two eating places at Sandy Balls, the Woodside Inn and Aubreys. I booked Aubreys for the primary night time, from dwelling. I’d already been warned by buddies that the eating places get actually busy and laborious to e-book so I wished our spot secured.

We turned up and only some tables have been occupied, though it was for a 5pm reserving. Toddlers hey?

In brief, the service was gradual and the ready workers appeared harassed, though it wasn’t busy. The meals was overpriced, for what it was. And the entire place was so scorching.

It wasn’t the eating expertise I wished for £20 a meal. Or that I anticipated from a spot like Sandy Balls.

The following night time we met buddies and went to the native pub xxxx.

After which, it was again at Aubreys for the ultimate night time. We didn’t notably wish to, however after wanting on the Uber Eats selections, and weighing up being late for Reggie’s mattress time, we determined to present it one other go. The Woodside Inn was apparently booked up, though didn’t appear it after we wandered previous.

Issues to do at Sandy Balls

I assumed it was going to be Centre Parcs vibes. I imagined a timetable of issues to go to, and an epic swimming pool for my cash. Sadly not. This, was the ‘toddler playground’.

I used to be additionally stunned at how fundamental the swimming pool was, particularly the altering rooms. As I say, I’d been at Butlin’s in Bognor the week earlier than, for the day, and the services there far outranked the pool at Sandy Balls.

I wasn’t anticipating the world, however a slide or two would possibly’ve been good. Oh, and the water was actually chilly. So chilly, everybody within the pool (about 5 others) complained. There have been two smaller swimming pools on the high, and I imply small, like a paddling pool – and all the children stayed in there.

Not my Reggie although, he simply stored wanting to leap within the chilly pool so muggins right here to be there to catch him.

The delicate play was soiled. There was a minimum of half an inch of mud, together with discarded meals wrappers down the again of it. A few of it was held collectively and patched up with duct tape.

There was an arcade, the place Reggie discovered this prepare at £2 a time. He completely cherished it. On the Sunday night time Ben met Little Alex Horn off Taskmaster in right here, received a photograph and every little thing.

There have been actions, however all of them value and have been a bit of superior for Reggie. Assume, a slime workshop for £12, or strolling an alpaca for £25.

We did truly wish to hire bikes someday nevertheless it was beginning to rain and Reggie was NOT joyful after we trialled the bike, so we quickly ditched that concept.

Issues to do close to Sandy Balls

I really feel I ought to level out that it was raining at Sandy Balls the weekend we went. Additionally, my expertise was the meat within the sandwich of a time out at Butlin’s the week earlier than, and staying at a Parkdean resort on the Isle of Wight per week or two after. The comparisons have been inevitable. I’ll write about these experiences quickly to match.

You’ve received all of the delights of the New Forest in your doorstep at Sandy Balls, and it’s near Dorset too. The right location.

Peppa Pig World isn’t far in any respect from Sandy Balls, about 25 minutes within the automobile.

Longdown Exercise Farm is a good cease close by in case you’re coming from the east. It’s excellent for little ones. We’ve been a couple of occasions – Reggie loves a go on the diggers and tractors there, in addition to a fast go to to the animals.

Sandy Balls Evaluate

So, what’s my Sandy Balls evaluation in spite of everything this chat for 1500 phrases?

Negatives Sandy Balls

I assumed the shared areas have been run down, as in, the swimming pool, the delicate play and the eating places. The altering rooms for the swimming pool have been worse than my native leisure centre ones within the 90s (good previous Burton Meadowside). While you’re paying greater than the same old for a lodge or campsite, you anticipate higher than the same old services. I used to be actually upset by this, particularly as we would have liked it due to our wet Might weekend.

They actually need to spend money on new delicate play tools (a minimum of even, give it a clear and patch up the duct tape), and spend fairly a bit on that swimming pool.

I’ve mentioned all I have to on the eating places, however they may positively be improved.

Oh, simply remembered – the place was my lodge entrance furnishings? I’d’ve cherished to sit down out listening to the rain among the many bushes. As an alternative, I needed to sit on the ground.

Positives Sandy Balls

The lodge was a lot better than I assumed it was going to be, particularly as we’d booked the most affordable out there. Loads of house for us three and two bogs is at all times appreciated.

The examine in was welcoming – though I’d confused issues by reserving it underneath Vicky FlipFlop which *SHOCK* isn’t truly my surname.

I’d like to say the kindness of the bike store man, who understood when my son had a meltdown and apparently didn’t wish to go on the bike that he’d been so enthusiastic about two minutes earlier than.

Sandy Balls is in an awesome location, which is its foremost promoting level.

I’d positively return to Sandy Balls, however perhaps in a yr or two, when Reggie can trip a motorcycle and we are able to discover the native space extra, with out being tied to his nap.

I hope they’ll have up to date these shared areas by then too!