Pontins and Parkdean have finished at the bottom of a league table of the UK’s best holiday parks. The Which? survey of more than 2,200 stays also saw Aria Resorts, which has a holiday park at Moffat Manor, named the best choice for Scotland with a top score of 85%.
Budget brand Pontins – owned by Britannia, the hotel chain rated as the UK’s worst nine years in a row in Which? surveys – propped up the table after scoring just 59 per cent overall. One guest described it as a “dull, dingy campsite”, while others complained of cobwebs, musty smells, sticky furniture and stained mattresses.
While Parkdean, which has parks across Scotland, also languished at the foot of the table with a score of 68% despite scoring well for cleanliness and accommodation.
Pontins scraped just two stars out of five for accommodation – the worst in the survey. It got the same rating for its entertainment and kids’ facilities, its signature attraction. But others had an “amazing” time and said the trip brought back childhood memories.
The final table:
Haven and Park, the other holiday park firms to have Scottish locations, also finished close to the bottom with scores of 68% and 71% respectively.
Customers at Haven's Craig Tara Holiday Park, near Ayr, in Ayrshire, recently slammed the “disgusting” state of the “luxury” apartment they paid £126-a-night to stay in.
Potters Resorts, which has two locations, in Norfolk and Essex came out on top overall for the whole of the UK with an impressive customer score of 88 per cent.
Other well-known brands such as Centre Parcs and Butlin's finished mid-table with their consistent approach across the board.
Guy Hobbs, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “The UK has an incredible variety of holiday parks and resorts. Holidaymakers can choose from those bursting with slides, swimming pools and activities for kids, or opt for a luxury stay in a safari lodge with hot tub.
“Our survey saw smaller, family-run resorts triumph over the biggest names, so there is no need to go for the most expensive option to have a great experience.”
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