Haven Holidays, The Orchards

Our daughter booked us a 4 day stay as a birthday present for me. We arrived to find our caravan was very clean and welcoming. The caravan had 2 bedrooms, the main bedroom included an onsuite shower room, as well as all the normal appliances the kitchen had a dishwasher and washing machine and the lounge area had an electric fire set into the wall which when switched on appeared like a real wood/coal fire.

As our visit was in early november the camp was very quiet which suited us. We spent time in the amusements arcade which we enjoyed, we also enjoyed food from the burger king kiosk. The shop was well stocked.

All staff on the camp were friendly and pleasant, we had a small problem with a loose tap in our caravan which we reported to staff in reception who assured us this would be dealt with quickly. The maintenance guy arrived shortly after, he was friendly and quickly fixed the tap.

We had a very nice relaxing 4 days and are planning to return to this camp next year. We would highly recommend this holiday park to our friends and family.

Just come back from an enjoyable 'Sun' weekend break. We upgraded to a superior plus (similar but not quite a nice as deluxe plus). The caravan was dry, clean and comfortable. We went last weekend in October and it was freezing, but we left the fire in the front room on the whole time and the heaters in the bedrooms on until we went to sleep. Place stayed warm the whole time. We were as far away as you can get to the centre which was a bit of a pain we had 2 14 year olds with us who could walk up by themselves but the 8 and 12 year old had to wait for us. Entertainment was ok - we didn't get down there too early, I think you either need to be there at 5 o'clock or wait for the younger kids to go we got there at 7.30 and managed to find a seat for 11 of us. All the staff seemed friendly and helpful (perhaps this was because they'd all be going home soon). Entertainment team worked hard and were freindly. All in all and good break for 5 of us for £180 can't be bad. There are a lot of bad reviews but this isn't a 5* hotel in the carribean it is a campsite in Clacton!

Worked a summer season in reception a couple of years ago. Sun readers were pressured to upgrade their caravan on arrival, and even though they paid extra they ended up with the same caravan.

Management rude to customers and staff alike.

Avoid.

my daughter paid for me and my husband to go to the orchards for a 25th wedding anniversary present so ordered a prestige caravan for us.when we got there, although you are allowed an earlier book in ,we had to wait because someone had torn down the curtain rail but if we had waited the full time we wouldn't be in until about 4.30 so no bonus there then. we had a long walk to the caravan with luggage trying to find curlew so by the time we got there we had the hump and wanted to go home!!! but opened the door and calmed down only to find the oven was bust and someone had stolen the dvd player .this caravan had been badly treated but it was clean considering it was only 6 months old i was pleased however at how polite and helpful the staff were and voted the repair guy my hero.that aside i found the site really peaceful with wild life visitng around the caravan (FEEDING DUCKS AT 6 AM) .i read the reviews before i went and started to worry but i will recommend this site more for adults than kids the one only downside i found was the 'them and us' attidude of some of the owners not all but enough to annoy.

Just come back from a 4 night break 19th july till 23rd july with my family and must say altogether was disapointed , i have 2 girls age 2 and 5 and i dont think this place is that child friendly , i was annoyed you cant take buggy closes to the dance floor as there are 2 section to sit in my oldest daughter loves dances so i had to either leave her to dance or let my youngest just fall to sleep in my arms . i felt staff in main bar were not very polite but staff in mash and barrell were lovely . There is not alot of choice of food places to eat , and down other end of the camp site there is a pub and little cafe the lady in the little diner was very rude . beach outside park and surrounding area is a dive not good for kids well anyone ,but must say the entertainment was great . will not be returning back to this camp site . We have been to one in weymouth and that was much better , clacton pier is lovely and beach and rides for kids were really good , i would return to clacton but not orchards ,

holidaying alone with my 5 grand children aged 6 to 12 even thou it rained for 3 of the 5 days we were there it was a fantatic holiday food in the mash and barrel was great as were the staff helpful and patient entertainment both day and night was great and i must add as all staff were extreemly helpful from maintaince to reception i will definately be rebooking agan next year in fact im looking now for avainabilty

have been going to haven sites for about 6 years now. if you can tolerate the rude, ignorant people that seem to visit these sites and dont get sucked into havens money making machine you can have a good, cheap holiday exploring the local area. i found the caravan clean & spacious. the entertainment was rubbish, as usual, having to get a seat at 5pm any later or you wouldn't have a chance of seeing it.

the facilities were small, shabby and staff didnt give one. food was chips, chips and well, chips.

was woken at night by a fight between a couple in which police attended..classy !!

best to take your own food & drink. plan days off site. i dont think i will be using haven again, id rather book a week in a small quiet camp where i can really relax. havens a bit like your local town centre on a friday night,execept you cant escape !

The Orchards is awful.have been to some haven parks which are good, eg great yarmouth, but do not book a holiday here. staff rude and unhelpful beyond belief. unhyginic and dirty. tatty and run down. caravan was nice and the area is beautiful but dont book here

the orchards was a definate experience....not a good one though!! the cleanliness was really bad,toilets was not regularly cleaned they were in fact discusting, the whole place was grimey and dirty and i would recommend no one go there unless they really had to!!! they really need to do some major refurbishment and hygeine inspections!!!

worst holiday ever at Haven Holidays, The Orchards. very expensive including activities. pedal gocarts £10 a hour and in very poor condition, food, beer prices, club was dirty. swimming pool closes at 5pm every day so you are forced into arcades or club to spend even more money. caravan dirty. staff very unpolite and not very unhelpful. would not recommend haven to anybody. have complained but just been fobbed off. very unprofessional. my advice dont go.