Hopton Holiday Park

2 readers found this review helpful

My family & I stayed here in September having collected tokens from a national paper. Having stayed in caravans before I wasn't expecting luxury accomodation but basic cleanliness as a minimum. Upon opening the caravan door we were immediately hit by the smell of stale urine which was coming from one of the bedrooms. We called recieption, it was shut. Let a message with the overnight number, was never called back. Next day spoke to reception - no apology and evidently when we returned from our day on the beach no visit. Called reception again - shut. Same the next day. Thankfully we didn't need the room because you couldn't have slept in it, it was foul. The smell (and evident lack of cleaning that must've occured prior to our arrival) and stunningly lack of customer service ruined our whole holiday and I would never stay in a Haven again.
Is a shame however because apart from the major chavvy 'welcome' it is a nice park with good kids facilities and with an good beach. Shame they have no respect for their customers

Firstly I would like to state that:
a)I have been on many family seaside holidays and loved them.
b)I am not serial Mrs Moaner, and
c)I did not expect the Ritz when arrived at Hopton holiday villiage.
I did however expect basic cleanliness, which I didn't get. The floors had ground in grime, and the last resident's hair was still in the shower plug.
More unforgivable was when going to the kiddie entertainment early evening, that one of the 'entertainment' crew was grumpy with my 3 year old daughter and made her cry-on her birthday!
Entertainment was a loose description anyway, the team were lack lustre and looked like they had been hauled possibly from the local Mall.
More unforgiveable than that was the terrible food poisoning we all came down with that night having eaten at said on-site resteraunt. You've got to worry when you place your order and the food turns up almost immediately.
Once we were feeling better, we headed to the amusements arcade which didn't have a great deal for small children. Everything just looked shabby, tatty and a bit down at heel. In my opinion, if you're looking for a more exciting seaside holiday, head up the road to Hemsby.
I've read many good reviews for this place. All I can say is,they were obviously very lucky. If you decide to discount this review at least take my advice and avoid the resteraunt.

1 reader found this review helpful

booked the second level caravan as we were taking our dog, we had to pay an additional £40 for this and presumed it was for extra cleaning, no chance, dust was present on the plates , food from the previous persons was still laying about, plus all the body wastes in the shower room, toilet was awful and blocked twice, the place stunk, we told reception who sent the cleaner, we left her to it, and left a couple of traps for her, the place was the same when we returned, the park is very clean and sales led, they really do push the ownership on you, even calling the week before we left. entertainment was so bad people left, bar not to expensive, london prices, staff were helpful in the main areas, and the pool area a pleasant place to sit, if a seat is available.
we left early as we were all scratching by the 5th day. ( honestly )and are now on antihistamines, not sure if it was the bed bugs or the mold that caused this

3 readers found this review helpful

we went for 3 nights and had an abolutely superb time we have 3 children who are 6 4 and 18 months and they really really loved it the swimming pool was excellant the arcades were brilliant and we all loved the entertainment the food was good quality and very well laid on the time flew and we were sad to go on the monday morning gt yarmouth is only a short drive away overall very very good it would have been 10 out of 10 except the caravan could have been abit cleaner but we was hardly there so it didnt really bother us.

3 readers found this review helpful

Booked a last minute holiday here for the last week in July and got a good price. Absolutely fabulous time had by all, great for kids of all ages, indoor and outdoor pools, both heated and indoor splash area. Great location on the beach, for a peaceful early morning walk, playing with the kids and an evening stroll as well...added bonus of seeing a seal one morning hunting for breakfast! Ate in the restaurant quite a lot and while you had to wait for the food at busy times it was always lovely. There was plenty for the children to do on an evening, with two play areas, the rides and amusements to the entertainment. We stayed in a standard caravan, and yes the carpets had seen better days.....but then again people probably don't treat them with the same respect they do their carpets at home!!!! Yes I had a quick clean in the bathroom and kitchen when we arrived....but then I do everywhere I stay for peace of mind!!!! Would definitely recommend this site to anyone, staff all friendly, great site, great activities and great location and easy enough for get about off the site.

5 readers found this review helpful

This was our second visit to Hopton, and our fifth with Haven so we knew what to expect. We booked early to get a good deal on a top end (Platinum) caravan - which was on Mentmore - a good location, with a short cut through to the main complex (via some steps in Troon). The caravan was great, large, clean, with the benefits of double glazing, central heating, and well equipped. The park itself was very clean, we saw plenty of litter pickers and gardeners around. Check in was quick, and we got into our caravan earlier than advertised.
The main complex has a lot of arcade machines - including a few rides for younger kids (we have a 4 year old who loved them - 2 goes per night cost less than my pint) - plus 2 bars, a nice swimming pool (the splash zone was a bit chilly). Outside is a small "crazy" golf course, and they were building a new play area for kids. Plus bowling, archery, all weather pitches, outdoor swimming in the summer. There are two other play parks for kids, and a pitch and putt on site. There are also various activities during the day run by the Funstars - some cost, some don't. We tend to go off site during the day so didn't try any.
Character breakfasts / meet and greet / post show photos offer a chance to get a photo with the characters (what happened to Merlin?!). They are sales gimmicks - it's a business after all - you can always say no to the kids demands for something. We took plenty of photos without feeling pressured into buying one.
We only saw the early entertainment for younger kids - character shows with a disco (same CD!) afterwards. The shows repeated over the week, which hasn't happened before - and the Christmas show was a bit odd in May! We can't comment on the later stuff - expect bingo though.
The beach is good for sandcastles (no rock pools) - although the "steps" route down is fairly steep with small steps - there is a slope route as well. Nearby Gorleston offers a great beach which has less of the arcades etc. that Great Yarmouth has.
Pettitts is good, although not cheap for a family (where is these days?) - buy tickets from reception for a discount. Africa Alive is even more expensive - we used Tesco Clubcard vouchers there otherwise probably wouldn't have bothered.
We didn't try the nearby Chinese places (at the entrance to the site - a take away and a restaurant), but did like the Harvester on the way into Lowestoft - and our friends liked the Toby Carvery nearby. Supermarkets are easy to get to with a car.
I wouldn't pay "school holiday" (or brochure) prices for these holidays, but they have been fun for our daughter over the years. The top end caravans we've had are very good - compared to other places we have tried - but we appreciate that the are also expensive - which seems to be the trend with a lot of the holiday parks. We've got a tent now for summer holidays.

5 readers found this review helpful

I was one of the many! who complained about a very! dirty caravan. Ok so you don’t expect a 5 star hotel but there is an acceptable level of cleanliness and both the caravans we had fell very short of this and to the level of heath risk in my opinion. Dirty floors, carpets and lino were filthy, the shower and toilet were covered in other holidaymakers hair and were just grim. I found the little card “Your caravan has been cleaned by” very amusing.
We too decided to bite the bullet and clean it ourselves. I was particularly disappointed with the staff’s attitude was made to feel like just another complaining customer. (We were not alone) I was also left standing in the reception with three tiered and hungry children while the staff continued booked in new guests. It wasn’t until I asked for the manager that things got sorted and was issued another caravan.
Haven cleaning issues aside, Hopton was really nice. The camp had lots to do and the entertainment team were brilliant !!
There is a small theme park called Pleasurewood Hills just five minutes away. A bit pricey at £50.00 for two adults and a child (other two went swimming at the camp which is free) .
Gt Yarmouth is also really nice, clean lots to do and we can also recommend the Sea life center. A tip, buy your tickets at the Haven office and you get a big discount.
Eating wise, there is a nice restaurant “pub style” on the camp that also does breakfast, a Chinese and a great! fish a chip van, there is also a burger van for “fat” food. On the main road into the camp there is also a really nice pub, which dose food and as mentioned ASDA just up the way.
Over all we had a good time. I just wish these holiday companies (it’s not just Haven) would realize that clean accommodation and good service equal happy customers, after all we work very hard for our holidays and spend most of the year looking forward to them.

5 readers found this review helpful

The Park itself was great for Kids, nice pool, good entertainment and the park itself was clean however yet again with Haven we had Caraven cleanliness issues. The first Caravan (First of three in the same holiday) hadn't been cleaned and we open the door to a babies nappy sitting on top of a full bin. We went straight back and complained to five five other families doing the same. After a 45mn wait was given another Caravan , this was as bad and back we went again, third Caravan had been cleaned but to very poor standard. Old food in the sink, other peoples pubic hairs all over the bathrooms and although the floors had been swept they hadn't seen a mop for for months, worry as this was the start of the season. It was a case do it ourselves our go home so it was straight down the shop for some disinfectant.
Caravan aside the resort was nice enough, most of the other guests were families but as most Caravan parks had it's fair share of Hoody Saxo VTS bass box driving Chavs and not forgetting the full arm tattooed don't look at me I'm a gangster brigade..
There is a large ASDA just down the road so don't waist your time bringing food. There is also a pretty well stocked and priced Spar on camp.
Great Yarmouth is ten minutes away and was great, nice clean beach, lots to do and I can recommend the Sea Life center.
In all it was a nice break but Haven really need to sort the cleaning out.

6 readers found this review helpful

It is a holiday park and not a 5* hotel!
I booked a 4 day break in half term for myself and my two children, we had a super plus caravan that was clean, comfortable and could not be faulted, the beds in the childrens room were a little small, but we found a sofa that pulled out into a double sofa bed on the second night that was very comfortable and provided an extra double bed...so I was left in the childrens single bed that I managed not to fall out of (unlike my 9 year old daughter!). The staff in the shop, reception, entertainment, booking sporting activities were fab...and they were only young people, my son had half an hour of archery on a one to one for £5.00..how can you complain about that!
I would suggest take your own pillows, and I know we went in october so I guessed it might be a little chilly, so we had sleeping bags to sleep in with the duvets over the top of us...we were snuggly and warm and just put the fire on in the morning.
We didn't eat out on the site because I took alot of food with us, I am gluten free and have one child with peanut allergy so cooked in the caravan with great cooking facilities and we managed for 4 days!!!!! and live to tell the tale!!!!
p.s people are always happy to complain rather than compliment..its the world we live in!
hope you enjoy your stay at hoptons like we did..and don't forget your 2 pence peices for the horrible little addictive machines they have in the amusements! you can't avoid them!

3 readers found this review helpful

My elderley parents, my husband and i booked this site via The Sun £9.50 holidays and we had a totally brilliant time, it was not one of our choices but we are so gald it was offered to us as a different choice. The accomodation we were in was spotless clean, spacious and in a lovely spot. We were in a 3 bedroom standard and if these caravans are anything to go by the more modern ones must be fantastic. The only fault we had was that the passes can work out expensive, £17.00 per person for 3 nights, we decided against these as we would not use the pool faclities etc. There are 2 great pubs that do great food just outside the holiday park on Warren Road. The closest one is within walking distance while the 2nd one is a bit further, ok to walk to if you are more of the younger generation, (my parents are in there late 60's to early 70's) we chose to drive but only a few mins away.
Great Yarmouth is spotless clean there is plenty to do, a fairground for the children, model village, arcades, waxworks and a beautiful beach to mention a few.
We would highly recommend the Hopton Holiday village and score it 9/10.
WELL DONE! to all the staff involved in making our long weekend pleasureable, you were all polite, pleasant and very helpful.