Perran Sands Holiday Park - Haven

Perran Sands Holiday Park mainly draws families to its grassy grounds, which are perched above the sea in quiet Cornwall. The property is owned by the UK's Haven chain, which runs various holiday parks of different sizes and levels of luxury. This particular property has an easygoing atmosphere, starting with the small, white reception building with several hanging, flowering plants outside. Inside, a couple of black leather couches flank a shelf of tourism brochures, while another cozy fabric couch sits beside a window -- this decor, while pleasant enough, is not indicative of the modern, hip styling found elsewhere. Reclaimed wood furniture, wood-paneled walls, and gray stone patios lend the restaurants and bars a fresh and youthful vibe, furthered by quirky touches such as vintage license plates, chalkboard menus, metal chairs, and decorative wall-mounted rowing oars. There is plenty of outdoor patio space where guests can eat and drink while taking in the sea air and bucolic views. Swimming pools and sports facilities, particularly the multipurpose court, could use updates, however. 

The park is set in Cornwall and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Although somewhat isolated, the property allows guests to become fully immersed in the slow-paced, seaside lifestyle. The beach is under 10 minutes away on foot and there's a Morrisons supermarket 15 minutes away by car. More beaches, surfing, and shops are found in Newquay, about a 15-minute drive away. The bio-domes at Eden Project are 35 minutes away. Flambards theme park and Bodmin Moor are both about 45 minutes away by car. Land's End is an hour away. 

This holiday park offers a fun assortment of units, from trailers (known as caravans in the UK) to more rustic tents. Two-, three-, and four-bedroom trailers are available, with options ranging from Standard to Platinum; all have full kitchens and parking space. There are no real decorations, just crisp white bedding in the bedrooms, and brownish curtains. Deluxe Caravans are the middle category, and offer full kitchens with modern appliances, light wood-laminate furnishings and floors, carpeted living rooms with dining tables, electric fireplaces, and flat-screen TVs. Small bathrooms have walk-in showers.  Guests can also opt to stay in the property's modern tented units. Yurts have simple wood furniture and tropical-print textiles while Geo Domes come with comfy brown couches and carpeting and spacious Haven Supertents have thick red curtains separating bedrooms from living room areas. All tent-type lodgings have microwaves, mini-fridges, kettles, toasters, and stoves or hot plates.

There are multiple places to eat and drink at Perran Sands. Funky Fish Restaurant serves fish and chips, Surfbay Restaurant and Bar offers burgers, barbecue, and a good beer selection, and the Dunes Bar pours beers, wines, and cocktails. In the same complex there are also a Papa John's Pizza, Cheers-themed bar, laundromat, and grocery store that some guests have found a bit expensive. The Funworks Amusement Arcade has lots of arcade-style games, while the Live Lounge hosts on-stage entertainment such as live music and kids' shows. There's a small gym with cardio and weight equipment, but guests may want to skip the clinical space in favor of the outdoor options: mini-golf, go-kart rentals, and surf lessons are all on offer. The multipurpose sports court looks dated, as do the outdoor and indoor pools that are connected via a large slide that leads from the outdoor area into the indoor pool. There are also some natural sand dunes on the grounds for guests to play on. Wi-Fi -- while free -- is only available in some of the common areas.