Sandown Forum: island view holiday park

hi dekkerb how was island view holiday park ? can i ask a few questions ? clobo0304

Hi Clobo

Back from a lovely week on IOW and very lucky with the weather. Happy to answer any spefcific questions on Island View -it was a bit of a curate's egg -good in parts. Have to say though if we returned to IOW (as I would like to in the future) would stay somewhere else.

Cheers

Derek

hi thanks for your reply ,what exactly did you not like about it ? can you hire tennis rackets while you are there and was it as close to the beach as they say ? thanks clobo

Hi

We didn't play tennis so not sure on the rackets front - I would say unlikely though.

What didn't we like? The unfriendly/brusque attitude of the warden on arrival was not a good start. Remember to take your own towels by the way. The kitchen floor was dirty, you couldn't use the washer/dryer & dishhwasher at the same time (a pain when kids going to beach/pool regularly), kitchen poorly designed,the shower head not held to wall properly such that it danced around soaking the whole baythroom several days running, Tv channels appeared random and we got interference from somewhere, we had paid extra for a hottub which was dirty before we used it and not very bubbly and in a graden overgrown with weeds with no path/decking from houre to hot tub (consideration in anything other than dry weather). Finally we had a number of power cuts towards the end of our holiday. You may think these are all very minor drawvacks and I would agree. However, the attitude of the warden at the outset made us sfeel we could not highlight any concerns during our break. Feeling uncomfortable in this way does not make for a relaxing holiday. If you have a bungalow wthout hot tub thre is no garden at all and tiny front patio.

Let me give you some positives. There is a path from the site to the beach clearly marked. The beach is lovely, very famly orientated with a few kiosks selling beach gear at very reasonable prices and also a cafe.We went to this beach several days. The bungalow is spacious, especially the living/dining area. The furniture is principally atrtactive solid oak -plenty of storage (& coathangers so need to bring your own), you can park right outside your bungalow. Location near beach is a big plus. Finally the pool could be accessed any time and the kids loved it.

Hope this helps. Altghough we wouldn't choose to stay here again (the Savoy complex down the road was much nicer) it didn't spoil our holiday.

Let me know if wany to know anything else but if not have a great time.

Derek

hi thanks for your honest review a bit worried now as were taking my mum with us and she can be a bit particular but will just make the most of it .we will be out a lot sightseeing so hope we dont see too much of the warden.(why do people do jobs like that if they dont like people ?} glad to hear about the beach and pool as these are important to us on holiday i will let you know how we get on and i will report this to hoseasons if it happens to us thanks again clobo

Where would you stay next time? Thanks. Marlyne

We have stayed in a chalet in Sandown. It looks a bit butlins on the outside but on the inside it is spotless , modern and very well equiped. Cant beat the price for four people. The chalet we stayed in is owned by a family not the site. You can see their previous guest comments on their website here www.iowaccommodation.com hope this helps

The Colwell Bay area is fab been twice this year (and many times before that)!!

Must tries for food are: Colwell Bay Inn - new owner, real ales (including local) and great, tasty, value for money food. We only went on our last day and wished we'd gone earlier.

We thought that the Highdown Inn (between Totaland and Freshwater Bay) had gone down hill since our visit in June and I'd previously given it great reviews on here so very disapointed in that.

The Sun Inn at Hulverstone is great, views over countryside and sea and good value food with real ales and wine list.

The pub in the centre of Freshwater, The Vine is also a good bet for pub food. Again great value for money and immense portions. Does get very popular with locals and holiday makers alike!

If you like a cream tea then there is an amazing place at the foot of Tennyson down, and also accessible (by road and public footpath) from the Needles (by car it's the road to the Needles after the roads converge from Freshwater Bay and Totland). We walked up Tennyson down from Freshwater Bay on a very windy day and a home made scone and clotted cream was just the ticket when we got to the other side!!

Other gems further afield are The Hambrough, in Ventnor - a michelin starred restaurant with rooms where the food is excellent value for money -think it's £20 for two courses!!!) and lovely views over Ventnor Bay. There is also a great pub in Ventnor called the Volunteer. It is more of a locals pub, but they made us very welcome all the same.

We always stay at Colwell Bay Holiday Park by the way.

I can't wait to go back to this fabulous island again next year!!!!!

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