What’s the difference between Haven and Haven Hideaway Holidays?

The colder months are coming to an end and summer is just around the corner. Yes, you can go on holiday the whole year round, but there’s something a little special about those that are taken in summer. These are the ones that create the kind of family members that last a lifetime.

If you’re looking to take a holiday in the UK, there’s a good chance that you’ll have come across Haven. As the largest privately owned caravan park in the country, Haven was established all the way back in 1954 and has provided great holiday experiences ever since.

If you’ve tried to book a Haven holiday recently, you may have seen Haven Hideaway being mentioned. Haven Hideaways see guests staying in the same great holiday parks and enjoying the top standards that the company offers, but they offer a slightly different experience.

In this article, we’re going to explore Haven Hideaway meaning. By the end you’ll know exactly how to answer the question, “What’s a Haven Hideaway?” and you’ll be able to decide if these offer the right holiday choice for you and your family.

If you’re looking to create amazing family moments this summer, keep reading.

What is Haven Hideaway?

Not so long ago, Haven used to have a holiday option that was known as Haven Stay. They also had another option known as Haven Stay + Play. The former of these has been rebranded and is now known as Haven Hideaway while the latter is simply known as Haven Holiday.

So, what do you get with these two options? If you opt for a Haven Holiday you get a choice of accommodation on the site where you stay. As well as the accommodation, you also get a pass that gives access to all of the free activities that the park has. This means that, for no extra charge, you can enjoy things such as the on-site swimming pool and the evening entertainment. You’re also given the option to pay for extra activities such as archery and wall climbing.

A Haven Hideaway holiday, in a way, takes things back to basics. You still get a choice of top-quality accommodation, and you can make use of the restaurant, but that’s as far as things go. Haven Hideaways don’t give access to things such as the swimming pool nor do they allow you to pay extra for the additional activities.

The suggestion is that Haven Hideaways came about as a result of the pandemic. There was a boom in staycations but people were still wary of mixing with others too much. A Haven Hideaway meant that you could still enjoy a beach holiday but you had more chance of keeping yourselves to yourselves.

What you ultimately get with a Haven Hideaway is a holiday that represents great value. It allows you to use the holiday park as a base and then explore everything else that surrounds you.

Haven Holidays vs. Haven Hideaways

We’ve touched on the Haven Hideaway meaning, and how it differs from a standard Haven Holiday, but let’s have a look at this in a little more detail.

If you book a standard Haven Holiday, you and your family are given something called a Haven Play Pass. This pass is what gives you access to some of the great activities and facilities that Haven is known for. You get to make use of the pool, take in some great entertainment and pit family member against family member with the likes of crazy golf.

While a Play Pass gives you access to a great range of activities, what it doesn’t do is give you an all-inclusive holiday. Yes, there are plenty of things that are included with your pass, but activities such as minigolf and wall climbing are going to cost you more.

Haven is more than open about these extra charges and you can find all the details on its website. It’s worth noting that Haven parks vary from one to the next. If you see an activity mentioned, you need to check that it’s available at your park of choice.

If you find yourself staying at one of the larger Haven parks, you’ll find that there’s enough on-site to keep your family entertained for the whole week. The number of activities on offer means that you really don’t need to venture far unless you choose to.  So why would you choose a Haven Hideaway?

Haven Hideaways provide a holiday where you’ll probably want to explore. It could be that you just like the idea of wandering to the closest beach or you may want to get out there are really get to know the area. If this is the sort of holiday that appeals to you, the Haven Play Pass is properly of little value.

A look at the cost of Haven Holidays vs. Haven Hideaway

If you’re looking for a great value holiday then a Haven Hideaway may be the best option for you. If you look at booking a week away with your family, this option is likely to save you anywhere between £80 and £300. These savings are certainly significant, but remember you don’t get access to the facilities when you benefit from these prices.

If you want to know exactly what you’d stand to save, you’d need to go through the site and the process of booking. That’s because it depends on the time of year that you’re going away as well as the Haven park that you choose.

While we can’t explore every possible booking option, we can provide you with a couple of examples so that you have some idea of what to expect:

Haven Devon Cliffs – a weeks break in August, with the cheapest accommodation, would cost £678 for a Haven Hideaway and £888 for a standard Haven Holiday

Haven Lydstep Beach – a week in September would see £693 being charged for a Haven Holiday and £603 for a Haven Hideaway

It’s worth bearing in mind that the difference between the cost of the two options is much more in the summer months. It’s less significant if you look at booking an autumn break.

Do Haven Hideaways really save you money?

There’s no getting away from the fact that a Haven Hideaway represents great value for money. However, whether or not you’ll save money really depends on the type of holiday that you enjoy. If you want a holiday where you can use a pool most days and enjoy an evening out, you’ll spend more trying to do this off-site. However, if these things just don’t appeal then it makes sense not to pay for them.

If you want to explore nearby attractions, these can quickly mount in cost. However, that’s not an issue if you’re getting the holiday that you want. That’s really the whole point of Haven Hideaways: you get to create your own holiday experience and you’re not tied to the site.

It’s worth taking a look at what’s on offer in the area of the country that you’re visiting. You can have a great value holiday if you just love time on the beach and taking walks while taking in stunning scenery. These types of holidays can be enjoyed on a much tighter budget and they still offer the opportunity to create some lifelong memories.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are some frequently asked questions about Haven and Haven Hideaway Holidays.

What free activities are included with a Haven Holiday?

With a standard Haven holiday, your pass gives you access to a host of free activities. These include:

• Beach Explorer
• Swimming
• Day and evening entertainment
• Bug hunt
• Nature Trail
• Treasure Trail

What facilities can I use with a Haven Hideaway holiday?

With a Haven Hideaway break, you can access:

• Launderette
• Shop
• Restaurant
• Takeaway
• Shop
• Arcades

Can I enjoy Haven facilities before check-in?

Yes. If you find yourself arriving on-site a little early, you can make the most of the facilities on the park while you’re waiting for your accommodation to be ready. Remember, you’ll only have access to the things that fall under your holiday type.

Final thoughts

When you trying to decide between a standard Haven Holiday and a Haven Hideaway, much depends on what you want from a holiday. Just as important is the time of year that you’re planning your break. If you explore off-peak holidays the truth is that you might as well pay for the standard break and benefit from the pass. That’s because the savings from going without are minimal.

It’s very different if you take a look at the bigger Haven parks, especially during the height of the summer. The truth is that the savings here can be hugely significant. By opting for a Haven Hideaway, you could find yourself paying £200 less. This money can then be used to tailor the holiday to what you and your family want.

It’s worth remembering that a standard Haven Holiday doesn’t mean that you get to do everything on-site for free. Many of the activities attract extra fees and these can quickly mount up.