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LIKE A BALLER
I copied Man United star Harry Maguire’s Haven holiday – from the WAG-worthy caravan to Make-A-Bear classes
And how you can book it for yourself
MANCHESTER United ace Harry Maguire stunned holidaymakers last month, when he showed up for a family break at a Haven holiday park in North Wales.
Despite being on £190,000 a week, he shunned the typical footie holidays of Dubai and Ibiza for Presthaven Beach Resort near Prestatyn - where 4-night holidays cost from £49.
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Harry, 31, and his family, including wife Fern, stayed in a plush Diamond Lodge, costing from £495 for four nights, and enjoyed an action-packed few days doing things like swimming, roller skating and a high ropes course.
Like most other Brits, I was surprised to hear that a well-paid footie star stayed at a Haven holiday park, and couldn't resist going down to copy his holiday - so last weekend my six-year-old daughter Mabel and I holidayed exactly like Harry Maguire.
Not only did we stay in a Diamond Lodge like the Man United star and his family, but we signed up for the same activities he did.
The caravan was definitely celeb-worthy. There was a huge marble kitchen with all the mod cons, as well as a matching bathroom and en-suite.
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With hipster lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows and a 40-inch TV, it was nothing like the caravans of my childhood. I was shocked that you could even fit a giant corner sofa and eight-seater dining table inside.
And I felt a bit like a WAG doing my make-up over the matching his ‘n’ hers sinks in the chic en-suite the next morning.
Our first stop on Saturday was the Make-A-Bear class where a friendly instructor taught the kids how to create their own cuddly animal from Haven’s Seaside Squad.
Mabel excitedly picked Annie the Elephant, then stuffed her tummy with foam, popped a pink heart inside and permanently fastened her zip.
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It was a really cute session with games, singing and dancing.
Afterwards, we wandered up to the Creative Studio to paint a ceramic cup and a unicorn. They’re fired in the hot kiln each weekend and cooled just in time to be picked up on Monday morning.
Inside the stunning Gold Caravan at Haven Kent Coast including ensuite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe
You could spend days trying all of the activities in the studio from slime-making to sand art.
There are even Christmas-themed sessions where you can make a cuddly reindeer or decorate a festive plate.
My little one’s favourite craft was foam clay modeling. She loved covering a ceramic animal with brightly-coloured, sticky beads.
We refuelled with a quick chow mein lunch at Chopstix and to Mabel’s delight, we grabbed ice cream and candy floss from the neighbouring Seaside Shack for pudding.
Guests can use facilities like the soft play, fun pool, mini-golf and parks for free, while activities with specialist equipment like bikes and roller skates come with a small fee.
We hired a two-person bike and had great fun exploring the site and cycling down to the wide, sandy beach.
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While she still had plenty of energy afterwards, I'm not a match-fit footie player, so she ran around in the soft play, while I sat and watched with a cuppa from Costa.
There’s a full schedule of evening entertainment with family-friendly pantomimes, discos and games - and harry Maguire joined his family for an evening of bingo.
But my little one was finally shattered from her action-packed day of activities, so we switched the electric fire in our lodge on and cosied up on the sofa in our PJs.
We ordered meals including a Papa John’s pizza using the Haven app, which delivers anywhere on-site for no extra charge.
There were plenty of eateries to choose from including Burger King, a traditional fish and chip shop and a family-style pub.
On Sunday, we joined an aqua jetting class where you grab onto a handheld jet and whizz across the water.
It looks really tricky, but Mabel, who was the smallest child in the group, was happily zooming around the pool with everyone in minutes.
In each session across the weekend, I noticed that the staff took care to ensure quieter kids felt included.
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Haven Holiday Costs
IF you were thinking about going to Haven this summer, here's a helpful breakdown of the costs.
Accommodation
- Standard Caravan: £150-£300 per week (off-peak) / £400-£700 per week (peak season)
- Luxury Caravan/Lodge: £400-£600 per week (off-peak) / £800-£1,200 per week (peak season)
Food and Drink
- Self-Catering:
- Groceries: £50-£100 per week (depending on family size and preferences)
- Eating Out:
- On-site Restaurants: £10-£20 per meal per person
- Local Restaurants/Pubs: £15-£25 per meal per person
Activities and Entertainment
- On-site Activities:
- Swimming Pool: Free (included in holiday cost)
- Kids' Clubs: Free (included in holiday cost)
- Evening Entertainment: Free (included in holiday cost)
- Paid Activities (e.g., mini-golf, bike hire): £5-£20 per activity
Transportation
- Driving:
- Fuel: £30-£60 (depending on distance)
- Public Transport:
- Train/Bus: £20-£100 per person (depending on distance and time of booking)
Extras
- Travel Insurance: £10-£30 per week
- Souvenirs/Gifts: £20-£50
Estimated cost for a family of four for one week:
- Off-Peak: £400-£800 (accommodation) + £200-£300 (food) + £50-£100 (activities) + £50-£100 (transportation) + £50-£80 (extras) = £750-£1,380
- Peak Season: £800-£1,200 (accommodation) + £200-£300 (food) + £50-£100 (activities) + £50-£100 (transportation) + £50-£80 (extras) = £1,150-£1,780
Please note that these are approximate costs and can vary based on specific locations, personal preferences, and time of booking. Always check the latest prices and offers directly with Haven or through a travel agent.
Haven has clearly put huge consideration into designing activities that kids love and that’s why, for us, this trip was better than any fancy cruise or all-inclusive holiday abroad.
And thanks to our stylish caravan, we didn’t even need to miss out on that luxury vibe.
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