Park Holidays, St Osyth Beach

To whom that will need to take urgent action,

I stayed in number 48 caravan from Friday 21st of July until Monday 24th July.

As soon as I woke up on Monday with an intense itch it woke me up from my sleep - as I was scratching I noticed I had 11 large itchy bed bug bites all over my arms and 25 all over my stomach. At first I thought it could of been a flea bite or mosquito until I saw a bed bug inside my make up bag (my make up bag was next to the mirror on the little table and stall area not on the bed not once did i put it on the bed the bed bug was big enough to see so I think it’s the mother but the amount of bites I think she has defo laid her eggs after that I ran.

That was it get me out of here now.

During my stay I saw a number of mattresses being moved on the camp buggy’s each day by workers this is now clear that the whole caravan park is infested with bed bugs.

I have allergies to pets and some insects why I chose a caravan that wasn’t allowed any animals in. The amount of pain and itching I’m having from the bites as I am allergic to most things , I’ve now had to contact 111 for advice as I’m feverish.

I couldn’t speak to anyone this morning as when I opened my make up bag there was a bed bug inside my bag I just needed to leave as soon as possible I’m so disheartened by this experience to have paid to have been put at risk.

I have OCD and it’s really messed with me I’ve had to go to the laundrette and pay over the odds for two big Machine washes on high high heat and then 3 big dryers to dry all the things we took with us as it says online bed bug only die when being exposed to high heat. I’ve had to throw away things because I’m too worried I would bring them into my home brand new trainer's sizes 4,7,8, and 9 . It’s been an emotional nightmare I’m constantly paranoid they are still near us or on me and the itching is intense heat stinging up my arm.

It can take up to 3 days for the bites to appear I was on 17 today and now 2 more have come up on my stomach. I slept in the caravan on the sheets with full length pjs on every night and still managed to be bitten so badly.

Very very disappointed and dissatisfied I really think this should be a priority as so many families will be on there way to stay at the holiday park for the summer holidays not knowing what they are in for and could also have allergies like myself. It can take months and years to get rid of bed bugs. This needs to be shown to costumers and action needs to be taken seriously. We put our trust in you and you are fully aware as mattress’s where being thrown daily single and double mattresses.

I want to know what action you will be taking regarding this urgent cause for concern. And I am happy to contact health and safety hygiene standards agency.

Think of this as if it was your mother grandparents or children this is not nice. I’m in so much discomfort as I write this email.

A lovely small site positioned in a lovely area with plenty to do nearby and the walk along the sea front to Clacton manageable for most including those on a mobility scooter like myself. Van was great nice and clean. Shame the entertainment and restaurant did not live up to the 'park resorts' standards that we have previously experienced. Shambolic, poor, lukewarm and leaving you wanting more and not in a good way.

Park Holidays UK promise the earth then fail to deliver. Avoid like the plague.

We booked 4 nights in a bronze chalet this summer, travelling as a family of 2 adults and two young teenagers.

I imagined to be accommodated in a little pretty chalet, with a little area where you could sit outside, read a book. I did not expect 5 star as you generally get what you pay for.

However, I was unprepared for what we did get.

Firstly, the chalet looks like a converted toilet block, in fact, it must be that. The second bedroom in particular is so small that our teenage boys had very uncomfortable nights there.

The bathroom was filthy. Mould growing in the shower areas and the window, and the toilet was not the most fragrant.

We had cold showers for three days. The hot water did not work. I left a message with reception on the second day (one of your complaints cards you provide at the induction) to ask for a handy man to come in to look at it and fix it. No one turned up. We left on the third day, one day earlier than planned and paid for.

The double bed had bed bugs. We could not sleep as I was bitten ferociously. This is unacceptable and spoilt our holiday.

The outdoor pool looked nice, but a bit small.

The amusement area is not too bad, however, when my boys wanted to play in the playground when the sun had gone down, the flood lights were off. Maybe this was deliberate to deter older kids who were gathering there with cans of beer. That did not work, I am afraid, as 16-18 year olds were sitting on the kids swings with alcohol. I was concerned about my own teenage children being there without us.

Some of people were quite foulmouthed so it’s not a holiday for the faint-hearted.

All in all, we stayed for 3 days and nights and tried to be out and about as much as possible. We left one day early and had a much better time being at home. What a waste of money.

General holiday park complaints

01 - The holiday park large refuge bins were overflowing with rubbish & there were numerous carrier bags also full of rubbish left at the side of these large refuge bins which would attract vermin being not covered up.

02 - The roads around the interior of the holiday park were in darkness, we also overheard in the reception an owner complaining to the male receptionist who filled out a form that she had complained for months but nothing had been done to rectify this problem of road lighting, there seemed to be a pile of dockets hanging on the wall of complaints & quite a backlog of work to be carried out.

The club house complaints

01 - The entertainment was to a very poor standard compared with other holiday park resorts that I have visited over many years, in fact the worst that I have ever seen, asking the adults in front of the children to shout out 'bunny bogies' for the bingo win & talking about blowing off is no way to educate children & the entertainment staff should really know better.

02 - No body asked us for our club passes on the door on all the holiday stay & we just walked straight into the club house.

03 - The condition & general appearance of the club house was tired looking with cigarette burns on the tables, sticky un-cleaned tables & parts missing from the stage, far from what is described on your promotional material your club house was certainly not as quoted 'a stunning club venue'.

04 - There was a smashed window in the amusement arcade exit door.

05 - Children were running wild, smashing & moving the arcade game machines around which we witnessed with not one member of staff in sight to stop this unruly behaviour & also the damage to your amusement machines.

06 - On one night we noticed a baby crawling alone in the arcade area.

07 - The caf in the club house was open on the Friday night but for some reason was closed on the Saturday night.

Swimming pool complaints

01 - Friday 04th September 2009 - The pool was closed when we arrived early & we were informed by the receptionist that it would open again within the hour this pool remained closed & did not re-open.

02 - There was a dangerous clay pipe broken with jagged edges which could cause injury on the outside of the swimming pool around by the outside water slide area on the corner of the swimming pool by the rear outside doors.

03 - Sunday 06th September 2009 - One of your female lifeguards was texting on her mobile phone while walking along the concrete tiled stepping stones at the children's end of the swimming pool while her colleague a male lifeguard was just looking on, not a very safe way to act, especially having the important position as a lifeguard.

04 - There was nowhere to put your clothes & keys apart from the chairs

05 - The main centre round under water tiled area was sharp on the edges of the tiles & could cause injury.

06 - The whole pool area looked very tired and needed a good clean & some much needed maintenance.

07 - There were not enough pool ladders & the only one did not have enough steps to exit the pool safely.

08 - Monday 7th September 2009 - The pool was closed when we arrived for the adult morning swimming session hour & as we had to vacate the caravan by 10:00am we did not return to see if the pool had opened but on leaving the campsite around 9:45am we did see swimmers in the pool.

The reception & shop complaints

01 - Milk purchased from the shop was off

02 - People having to wait so long in the shop to pay that they gave up & left their purchases behind on the shop counter & went elsewhere to shop.

03 - From my observation of the reception & shop it looks like your staff are under trained plus cannot cope with running the reception & shop & also handling the numerous complaints which are just piled onto a clip to the wall.

Caravan accommodation complaints

01 - Friday 04th September 2009 - I reported to the receptionist on duty

shortly after checking into our caravan that we were short of

(1) X double duvet, (1) X double duvet cover, two (2) X double sheets,

two (2) X pillows & two (2) X pillowcases, I was informed by the receptionist that all this linen would be delivered to our caravan within the hour, they only delivered part of the missing linen, my wife chased after him while he was about to drive away to say that we were still missing some linen, he said that he would get the missing linen sent over, we waited & waited but this did not arrive so I went over to the reception only to find out that it was closed that made my extremely annoyed at being let down

Later in the evening I happened to see him in the club house & approached him to find out what had happened to our missing linen, he said that he would get them left behind the bar later in the evening, when I asked behind the bar they did not have a clue what I was talking about but finally after calling another member of the bar staff we found the linen, what would have been the situation if I had not spotted him in the club house, how do you expect guests to sleep with no linen? This is just an appalling service & there should always be enough linen & crockery etc for this six (6) berth silver caravan that was booked as a six (6) berth caravan with enough notice to two members of your staff about the extra guests.

02 - The toilet wash hand basin hot tap would not turn off also the whole tap moved around & was loose.

03 - One lounge recessed light bulb was not working.

04 - The front door entrance recessed light bulb was not working

05 - The main bedroom wall heater was not working

06 - Only 4 bowls & 5 side plates, there should have been enough for six (6) people

07 - Some of the pillowcases were stained.

08 - Broken glass was found outside the caravan on the grass area by the caravan steps that we cleared up.

09 - No inventory for the caravan was taken on arrival of departure.

10 - Why did the cleaning team not notice & report all these problems?

I cannot comment on your other holiday parks which hopefully should be of a much higher standard & I see that my complaints have now totalled six pages which is not very good for any company to have to receive & I can only comment on my short holiday break at your St Osyth Beach Holiday Park which I hope you agree should have been an enjoyable short break, I do not like to waste my valuable time having to write these complaints but thought that you should need to know about our recent experience at your St Osyth Beach Holiday Park.

DON'T BOTHER TO TAKE YOUR CAMERA TO THIS HOLIDAY PARK! 0/10