Sandy Balls Holiday Village

Líbí se We loved the campsite, ease of access the the facilities a short walk away. We made use of the I door and outdoor pool and the arcades.
We ate at one food place on site, was as expected nothing fancy but was reasonably priced.
The fighting cocks a half a mile walk which served amazing food and you sit and see the horses and donkeys.
We ventured into Fordinbridge by car and had a lovely paddle in the river and walk around.
First night was lovely as not as many tents on site and pitches were a really good size.
Staff on site were very Friendly and made us feel welcome. Pitches were marked out well so you knew where you could put your tent and car.

Nelíbí se Camping etiquette goes a long way, whilst quiet time not untill 2300, when a group are running around the camp screaming, swearing and running through people's pitches at 2230 it's a bit much. People had younger kids trying to sleep it was dark out and it was just rude and disrespectful to others. All, for having fun but there was no need for this.
The showers, only 3 and only 2 worked not great for first days open. Over all there was always toilet roll and they were clean enough, used worse.
Not everyone kept within there pitch and had guide ropes in walk ways/ driving areas or cars parked outside pitches again I the drive/wayways. Young staff on site who likely didn't want to ask people to move, this should be improved.

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se 10/10 - we absolutely loved our first time here and will be coming back again!

We made lots of lovely new friends, experienced most of what the site had to offer and the staff were so lovely and made everyone feel welcomed.

Highly recommend!

Nelíbí se The swimming could implement a booking system at the start of each day but I appreciate this may have been the case and didn’t work well so they changed it to what it is now.

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se Wow what an amazing site! Brilliant value for the facilities and entertainment set in a beautiful location and all of the staff were so chatty and friendly!

Nelíbí se The camping toilets got dirty quickly in the morning but that is the only bad point and they were quick to clean them again. It's a shame they can only open for 28 days, we would have loved an extra couple of nights but we unfortunately booked at the very end of the season 😞

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se The staff were really friendly and helpfull. The pitch for our tent was huge. Shower and toilet block clean and modern, lots of on site facilities with good size shop and deli. Really nice pools. The new forest is stunning and the site itself relaxing but still with lots to do !, overall we really had a good time and would go again

Nelíbí se NO real dislikes only suggestions , the camo field washing up area only had cold water so we needed to take a boiled kettle with us each time, and I would have paid slightly extra for an electric pitch. BUT WE LOVED OUR STAY

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se Had a great time camping here. Not far to walk to get to the centre of the resort for shop, pub and arcade. Staff were friendly. Good location for visiting New Forest or heading into Bournemouth. The air show was on while we stayed which is a must for anyone staying at that time of year.
Good level pitch which were marked out.

Nelíbí se You need to book early for swimming pool. We booked the camping pitch spare of the moment & pool was booked up. However we had lovely weather and headed to the beach, and Fordingbridge to splash around in the river and little padding pool in the playground.
While shower/WC block was bright & airy, could have had a few more cleans. I’ve used worst facilities, but there was room for some improvement. It was at the end of the camping session so might not have had the staff? Nothing I had to complain about, but would have been an extra bonus in my view if floor was cleaned daily.

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se Loved the value for money that you get with this site as the pitch fee includes access to the holiday park. The kids loved it as lots of activities for them to do (although most activities were at an additional cost but this was justified in our minds by the fact we weren't spending out on accomodation). The outdoor swimming pool was also really lovely and this is included in the pitch fee.

No campfires allowed however bbqs and gas stoves are so we managed to cook our meals on site every day. There's a shop on the holiday park open until 8 but its not cheap and does take as long to walk to it as you could probably drive to the local co-op. We did get some good deals on some reduced meat in there though one evening for our bbq. There was a large open field next to the site which was great for ball games.

The site itself was nice and tidy. Showers and toilets were kept clean and nice hot, private showers.

It's in a great location with loads of stunning walks nearby. Fordingbridge recreation ground is also a few minutes drive away which is amazing for kids and only cost the parking. Massive play area, outdoor paddling pool and a beautiful river to paddle in. The town itself was also very pretty and has a large co-op for all your essentials.

It's also only 30 minutes from Bournemouth beach and lots more in the area which we didn't have the time to explore. 25 minutes from Paultons park.

Nelíbí se It would be nice if there were a few more showers and toilets as only 3 in the female block which caused a bit if a queue which isn't ideal when you're trying to get out for the day.

The pitches are very close together but I think this is quite common on holiday parks like this.

There's no playpark on site unless you go quite far into the holiday park around the lodges but it's a bit of a walk. It would be nice if there was one on the camping field.

The indoor swimming pool was very grimey and in need of modernisation. The leisure centre changing rooms and showers were also in the same state. We stayed in the outdoor one as this one was much cleaner and well maintained. You have to book the swimming sessions in advance and these get booked up weeks before your stay. We did manage to go in last minute though a couple of times if others don't show for their session.

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se The arcade on site...WHEN you get there.

Nelíbí se This campsite is not ON Sandy Balls. If you are expecting to be on site with the amenities a short walk or safe bike ride away DO NOT book. It is down the main road. I have many happy memories of camping at Sandy Balls as a child and was really excited to take my own children many years later. I remembered my time cycling to the shop to get my Dad a newspaper. I was excited to see all the extra facilities since my time there. However we arrived to check in to be told to wait in the car as the campsite was overloaded and not ready for us. The first alarm bell was, 'there are cars holding up traffic on the road'. We were told to wait for 8 minutes which turned into 25. Eventually I went back inside to ask for an update and was then told we could go. So we had to turn around and go back on the main road for 500m and turn right. This was we found out our field to camp in. Not a good start. It was pretty full already. No pitches laid out, just rows of tents ahead of us. We then were told by the young man there to pitch up anywhere and let him know where. Our children like cricket so we thought lets go along the trees to the right opposite others and have a bit of space to play in front of us. My husband began to set our large 8 berth tent up whilst I took the kids back INTO Sandy Balls to check things out. So we hopped on the bike and cycled back along the main road. 45 minutes later I return to a tent that is up, well done hubby, and then the young man saying that where we were was not a pitch and we had to move. Sorry...you said pitch anywhere? Obviously we called management, another 30 minutes later for them to walk to us we complained about the lack of information about it being Sandy Balls. Explained the council stopped camping on site in 2018? Why was this not clear on the website? We managed to get £30 vouchers in compensation to use on site. Ironic. Anyway, we did move, tent back down etc. to another pitch and then went into site for some food. Well, where to start. The restaurant is done up wonderfully, but the chefs cannot keep up with the small and overpriced menu. Over £40 for a decent bottle of wine, £17 for a small and boring caesar salad & cold chips which we sent back and never got again. Then the kids meal deal was labelled wrong on ALL of the menus and was overcharged, yet that is my fault? (£10.45 for main, dessert & drink). Back along the main road to the tent which we then had to push the bikes with head torches as pitch black and dangerous.
Then the campsite facilities, 2 portaloo blocks for what could be 300 people. 3 toilets & 3 showers in each. Safe to say there were queues. Luckily we made the most of it and once in our pitch we were happy and cycled a lot through the New Forest. BUT we did not have the experience we wanted. We wanted to use the amenities and have a nice chilled break. This was not it. Will not be returning and nostalgia of what was a lovely site has gone. If you want to escape to the New Forest into a field with no amenities, which this was, this is there are plenty more available to you within the New Forest.

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se We chose to camp at Sandy Balls because of all the extra facilities we would be able to use on site. Swimming pool, arcades, kids clubs etc.
Our younger ones loved the kids disco in the evenings and the campsite itself was perfect. Basic but had everything we needed.
The price seemed a bargain, we paid £144 for a family of 5 for 4 nights.

Nelíbí se The only negatives were no hot water for washing up, although we filled our washing up bowl from the adjacent shower block. Also the walk from the campsite to swimming pool etc was about 10 mins away.

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se This was our first time camping. The staff on site were very friendly and helpful, the site was clean and we saw cleaners in the shower block in the mornings. They had a freezer for ice packs we could use on site. We used the entertainment which the kids loved and we paid for a couple of activities alpaca walk was a winner for my children. We managed to do swimming top tip if you haven’t booked, turn up 10 mins after the hour if people haven’t shown up you can go swimming, we did this and got in straight away! The arcade was good fun too and the children enjoyed spending their pocket money here.

Nelíbí se Having to book for swimming and cost of activities on site are a little expensive. No wifi and bad phone signal (became a problem when I’d forgotten what time I’d booked an activity for and tried to look this up). The site shop was a little pricey but there are local shops close by which I will use next time.

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu

Líbí se Clean toilets and showers
Very respectful fellow campers - quiet by 10pm
Level pitches
Friendly staff

Nelíbí se No hot water for washing up

Doporučit přátelům Navštívit znovu