When it comes to booking a Haven holiday, the caravan you stay in is one of the most important decisions you can make. We stayed at Caister-on-Sea and stayed in a Gold grade caravan during the Easter holidays.
Living area & kitchen
In this caravan the living area and kitchen is quite open plan, and bigger than in any other caravan we’ve stayed in before.
The living area is at the front of the caravan, with the large french doors opening out on to the awesome outdoor area. Although the furniture can change between caravans, this one had a 2 seater sofa and 2 armchairs, as well as a coffee table and 2 small stools. There was plenty of places for us to sit in the living area, and it was really comfortable too.
The living area also has some quite clever storage. The coffee table has an open section as well as a cupboard, and there is additional cupboard storage underneath the TV. We had more space than we actually needed and didn’t end up using a lot of it.
This kitchen was also one of the biggest we’ve ever had, and the nicest. This kitchen had so much cupboard space, I think a family of 8 would even struggle to fill it all. We certainly couldn’t. Even so, it was nice to have options and to be able to separate anything we wanted to. We did, however, forget where things were a few times though.
We loved having both a dining table (4 chairs) and a breakfast bar with stools. This was a bit different compared to other caravans we’ve had in the past but the extra surface space was really appreciated. Erin was able to draw etc. at the dining table while we sat up at the breakfast bar to eat, if we wanted to.
Although you do get some kitchen equipment provided, it’s not always the best. Things such as knives are usually not very sharp and this time we didn’t have a bread knife. What we did have though was pots and pans, a cheese grater, lots of cutlery and of course, plates and cups etc.
Bedrooms
Haven caravans come with either 2 or 3 bedrooms, with the option usually to be able to convert the sofa into a bed as well. At the time of booking, we weren’t sure who was going to be coming on holiday with us so we booked the 3 bedroom caravan. There wasn’t much of a difference in the price when we booked so it was a good idea to have the extra room just in case.
Main bedroom
The main bedroom in this Gold grade caravan has a double bed, with bedside tables either side. Compared to the twin bedrooms, this one is quite spacious with a fair amount of space to walk around.
Opposite the bed there is a large wardrobe with plenty of space to hang clothes (hangers included). I really appreciated the amount of hangers that we got, as well as the fact that it was a full length wardrobe and the additional drawers inside. We had more than enough space to put our clothes for the week.
Extra in this room is a vanity area, with stool and mirror and a few shallow shelves. This space is ideal for getting ready in the morning and having somewhere to put make-up and hair care products. These kinds of extras show the difference between this and a budget caravan.
The main bedroom had an en-suite toilet, which was fantastic because it meant we weren’t always fighting for the bathroom in the morning. This is a life saver when you’re travelling with children!
Twin bedroom 1
This particular Gold grade caravan had two twin bedrooms, with the first being bigger than the second. This bedroom had 2 single beds, but a bigger size than in the other bedroom, and they also have headboards. The beds are next to each other, with a small bedside table in the middle.
At the end of the room, there is a mirror, and wardrobe with hangers and some drawers. The wardrobe isn’t full length so for adults, you won’t fit things like long dresses in easily. However, for children’s clothes the space is ideal and there was plenty of room in the drawers.
Twin bedroom 2
Of the two twin bedrooms, this one was quite a lot smaller. Inside there are two small single beds, next to one another. There is a very small bedside table in the middle but it really is tiny, and there’s barely any space to stand in between the beds.
As for storage space in this bedroom, there isn’t very much of that either. For smaller children, this is a suitable room but teenagers or adults might struggle, especially if they pack a lot! However, the room is comfortable enough and it’s a fine place to sleep while you’re on holiday.
Bathroom
Usually, one of the trickier parts of a caravan holiday is the bathroom situation. Even if you’re staying in a 3 bedroomcaravan, you only get one main bathroom. This bathroom was a decent size though, and was a space that’s suitable for a family.
The bathroom had a shower with folding door, a sink with quite a lot of storage space (cupboard, shelves and bathroom cabinet), and a toilet. The bathroom is much smaller than other accommodation areas in this caravan but we coped just fine and loved that there was so much space for our things.
You do not get any toiletries included in this self-catering caravan, but you do get towels if you stay in the gold grade option. Not all caravans offer towels so make sure you check this detail. I would definitely take some extra just in case though, because Haven’s towels aren’t huge anyway.
Outdoor area
With this Gold grade caravan, we had the pleasure of having an outdoor decking area. This was wrap around decking which meant it was at one side and at the front of the caravan. This was quite a luxury for us as we usually don’t have any kind of outside area at all.
One of the benefits of having outdoor space at Haven is being able to eat outside if you want to. The decking came with a table and 4 chairs and although it wasn’t the warmest, I made the most of it when I could.
Parking
Staying in a Gold grade caravan at this particular holiday park means having a parking space next to your accommodation. Our parking space was right next to our caravan, which was located in the Reedham area. Parking spaces are fairly large, with plenty of space to get in and out, and to unpack with ease.
Choosing your Haven holiday home
We paid extra to choose which caravan we stayed in and where the location would be. Haven Caister-on-Sea is quite a large site and as my Mum was staying with us too, I wanted to make sure we were close the main facilities.
Prices and locations available vary, depending on how busy a particular park is. This time, we paid £50 to choose our caravan but we have paid less in the past. As Gold caravans are already in a specific area of the park, we ended up staying really close to the main entrance, and also the main road. However, there was no noise really and the location was great. You can also upgrade your caravan but this does mean a higher additional cost.
Would we choose Gold again?
Although we loved our stay in this Gold grade caravan at Haven Caister-on-Sea, it isn’t a choice for all budgets. If you’re looking for a budget option, or a great value choice, this probably isn’t the one for you. We managed to grab this one at a great price, which was cheaper than a Silver caravan at the time.
We did get additional comfort here though, and it was fantastic for a few days away. It’s a great choice for families who want wonderful features, and one of the largest and loveliest caravans you can get. It made our time away even better than normal so this is a good choice if you want to indulge.
If the price was right, I would book Gold again but that would be a big deal breaker.
Read more about our holiday at Haven Caister-on-Sea
- Staying in a Gold caravan
- Where to eat at Haven Caister-on-Sea
