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Sandy Balls Holiday Village - Reviews And Money Saving Tips 2024
Sandy Balls is a mid-sized/large holiday park on the edge of the New Forest. It is run by Away Resorts, which now owns about 25 holiday parks in the UK and has established a good reputation. That makes it one of the big players alongside the likes of Haven (about 40 parks) or Parkdean Resorts (about 65 parks).
Sandy Balls tends to be popular with people who are visiting Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park or those who want a few days exploring the New Forest. It isn't right by the beach, but it's only half an hour in the car to Bournemouth beach.
It's got a few advantages over rival holiday parks including the fact that you can arrive any day, whilst most rivals are less flexible.
Here's our guide to what to expect at Sandy Balls - and how you can save some money. We last visited a couple of years ago and had a great time, even if it was the middle of February...
Sandy Balls tends to be popular with people who are visiting Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park or those who want a few days exploring the New Forest. It isn't right by the beach, but it's only half an hour in the car to Bournemouth beach.
It's got a few advantages over rival holiday parks including the fact that you can arrive any day, whilst most rivals are less flexible.
Here's our guide to what to expect at Sandy Balls - and how you can save some money. We last visited a couple of years ago and had a great time, even if it was the middle of February...
Why is it called Sandy Balls?
Let's get this out of the way! Sandy Balls gets its name from Sandyballas, which was the old name for part of the local land that has dome shaped sandy rock formations.
What do customers say about Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Sandy Balls Holiday Village has good views and good reviews
At the time of writing, Sandy Balls scores a solid 4/5 on TripAdvisor and 4.3/5 on Google reviews (as of November 2023). On Hoseasons, it scores 8.5/10, which is pretty much the same. Between the three sites, there have been about 4000 reviews, so there's a lot to go on.
We've noticed that mid-sized/big and busy holiday parks like this one tend to get worse reviews than many simpler resorts which just offer accommodation and a swing. My hunch is that there is less to be annoyed about at a park if there isn't a swimming pool or activities - and you probably knew it was quiet when you booked.
Anyway, I would say that a score of around 4/5 stacks up pretty well compared to similarly-sized holiday parks in the UK.
I've spent a fair amount of time sifting through the reviews of Sandy Balls and have concluded that a) the vast majority of people love it and b) most of the negative reviews are about accommodation rather than facilities. That's not to say that most people didn't like their accommodation but the majority of negative reviews are about cleanliness or location of their particular accommodation. On the other hand, there are many examples of people giving five stars and praising cleanliness.
Hoseasons provides some useful data, as it splits reviews depending on where people stayed. Generally, the 'comfort' accommodation (i.e. the cheaper accommodation) get about 7/10 whilst the 'superior' accommodation gets about 8/10 and the most expensive accommodation (Zen VIP, Heartwood, Burst of Blue etc) gets about 9/10. Away Resorts has its own system of categorising its accommodation with the cheaper option being 'Classic' (£) accommodation and the more expensive grades being called 'Exclusive' (££).
To give you a flavour of the reviews, we've picked out a five star review and a three star review from TripAdvisor. As you can see, Away Resorts (which runs Sandy Balls Holiday Village) takes the time to reply to negative reviews, which is good sign.
We've noticed that mid-sized/big and busy holiday parks like this one tend to get worse reviews than many simpler resorts which just offer accommodation and a swing. My hunch is that there is less to be annoyed about at a park if there isn't a swimming pool or activities - and you probably knew it was quiet when you booked.
Anyway, I would say that a score of around 4/5 stacks up pretty well compared to similarly-sized holiday parks in the UK.
I've spent a fair amount of time sifting through the reviews of Sandy Balls and have concluded that a) the vast majority of people love it and b) most of the negative reviews are about accommodation rather than facilities. That's not to say that most people didn't like their accommodation but the majority of negative reviews are about cleanliness or location of their particular accommodation. On the other hand, there are many examples of people giving five stars and praising cleanliness.
Hoseasons provides some useful data, as it splits reviews depending on where people stayed. Generally, the 'comfort' accommodation (i.e. the cheaper accommodation) get about 7/10 whilst the 'superior' accommodation gets about 8/10 and the most expensive accommodation (Zen VIP, Heartwood, Burst of Blue etc) gets about 9/10. Away Resorts has its own system of categorising its accommodation with the cheaper option being 'Classic' (£) accommodation and the more expensive grades being called 'Exclusive' (££).
To give you a flavour of the reviews, we've picked out a five star review and a three star review from TripAdvisor. As you can see, Away Resorts (which runs Sandy Balls Holiday Village) takes the time to reply to negative reviews, which is good sign.
This is one of hundreds of five star reviews on TripAdvisor for Sandy Balls Holiday Village
A small number of reviews give one, two or three stars on TripAdvisor - such as this one
How much is a Sandy Balls holiday?
As you probably realise, holiday park prices vary wildly depending on when you visit. A midweek break in winter is given away for next to nothing whilst a week in August can cost several times more.
We usually compare prices for peak time visits because that's when most people want to visit and it offers a useful worst-case-scenario of what you'll pay. In our comparison for August 2024 holidays in the New Forest, we found that Sandy Balls was one of the mid-priced options at £1256 for a family of four. We searched for a seven-day holiday in early August in the cheapest accommodation available and carried out our searches in November 2023. Other options included Oakdene Forest Park (£869) and Shorefield Country Park (£995) whilst Blackwood Forest Lodges (£2245) were more expensive.
We usually compare prices for peak time visits because that's when most people want to visit and it offers a useful worst-case-scenario of what you'll pay. In our comparison for August 2024 holidays in the New Forest, we found that Sandy Balls was one of the mid-priced options at £1256 for a family of four. We searched for a seven-day holiday in early August in the cheapest accommodation available and carried out our searches in November 2023. Other options included Oakdene Forest Park (£869) and Shorefield Country Park (£995) whilst Blackwood Forest Lodges (£2245) were more expensive.
How can I save money on a Sandy Balls?
With a bit of tinkering and flexibility there are several ways to save money on a Sandy Balls holiday:
- Arriving on a weekday can save you a bit of money. Holiday parks like Sandy Balls have a bottleneck on Saturdays and Sundays when most people come and go, so they drop prices on other days to encourage you to be flexible. For example, we searched for a week's holiday in mid August 2024 and found that a family of four staying in a 'Knightwood with hot tub' could save £55 by booking Friday to Friday instead of Sunday to Sunday. Curiously, arriving on Monday was the most expensive option - it cost £199 more than arriving on Friday.
- Try booking a larger accommodation unit rather than two small ones. This may not work for you, but we've found that accommodation for six, seven or eight people is much cheaper per person than accommodation for four people. For example, in August 2024 we found that a pet friendly Superior Wooden Lodge for four people was £1259 whilst a Burst of Blue property was £1397 for seven people.
That's £45 per person, per night versus £28 per person, per night. I will admit that fitting seven people into one property may be a bit tight, but the saving would allow you to eat out a lot more or spend more time out on day trips. - Generally speaking, you are better to book as early as possible at Sandy Balls. There is a 'last minute deals' section on the Away Resorts website, but you'll find that the cheapest and most popular accommodation gets booked up quickly. If you leave it too late, you'll be left with minimal choice and might end up paying for an upgrade that you don't really want or need (such as an extra bedroom that you won't use).
- A sneaky way to save some money is to hire a privately owned caravan or lodge at Sandy Balls. Many of the units at the site are sold to individuals who are then able to rent them out on Airbnb when they aren't using them. It takes a bit of effort to find them but we've done the donkey work so you can search on this link for Sandy Balls properties on Airbnb.
- Look for Sandy Balls discount codes and special offers. We always include promo codes at the top of this page when we've got them but it's also worth checking the offers page on the Sandy Balls website. Sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of the page as well!
Of course, you'll also save yourself a lot of money by avoiding school holidays but I'm pretty sure that you'd guessed that already. Pointing out the difference in prices would just annoy you, wouldn't it? Anyway, if you don't have children at school - avoid visiting during the school holidays!
Is Sandy Balls Holiday Village in a good location?
It depends what sort of holiday you are after.
Unlike many other holiday parks in the New Forest and Dorset, Sandy Balls isn't right next to a beach. If that's what you're after try Shorefield Country Park near Lymington (20 minutes walk to the beach) or Haven Rockley Park in Poole (two minutes from the beach).
However, Sandy Balls is close enough for a day trip to Bournemouth beach, if you don't mind a half hour drive. Plus, you get the advantage of being in a leafier and more rural setting with nice views. There are trees throughout the holiday park and it has more of a Center Parcs look to it than most seaside holiday parks.
We also like Sandy Balls because of its proximity to Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park. It's only 20 minutes away, which is about our limit after a day at a theme park. Marwell Zoo is 40 minutes away and the ferry to the Isle of Wight is 45 minutes away (although I'd recommend a separate holiday because I love the Isle of Wight). There are some other ideas of local things to do on the Away Resorts blog.
Unlike many other holiday parks in the New Forest and Dorset, Sandy Balls isn't right next to a beach. If that's what you're after try Shorefield Country Park near Lymington (20 minutes walk to the beach) or Haven Rockley Park in Poole (two minutes from the beach).
However, Sandy Balls is close enough for a day trip to Bournemouth beach, if you don't mind a half hour drive. Plus, you get the advantage of being in a leafier and more rural setting with nice views. There are trees throughout the holiday park and it has more of a Center Parcs look to it than most seaside holiday parks.
We also like Sandy Balls because of its proximity to Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park. It's only 20 minutes away, which is about our limit after a day at a theme park. Marwell Zoo is 40 minutes away and the ferry to the Isle of Wight is 45 minutes away (although I'd recommend a separate holiday because I love the Isle of Wight). There are some other ideas of local things to do on the Away Resorts blog.
What is there to do onsite at Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Sandy Balls is a mid-sized/large holiday park which covers about 120 acres. For those of us who can't think in acres, you might like to know that an average Center Parcs is about 400 acres whilst Butlins in Skegness is about 200 acres. Roughly speaking, Sandy Balls is similar in scale to a mid-sized Haven holiday park - although they do vary in size quite a lot.
The facilities at Sandy Balls are grouped together into a nice little village near the entrance.
There are two swimming pools at Sandy Balls - one indoor and one outdoor. Both are simple swimming pools and they don't have the slides and flumes that you get at some holiday parks (check out some of the best holiday park pools). However, they are fine for a quick dip and the indoor one has a jacuzzi.
There are a couple of restaurants to choose from at Sandy Balls, as well as an entertainment building with a bar.
Guests can also use a couple of playgrounds, both of which are more modern than most that you get at holiday parks. There's also a soft play area.
A lot of people hire a bike from Sandy Balls so they can cycle around the woodland but there are lots of other organised activities. When we checked, options included:
Sandy Balls also has outdoor cinema screenings and puts on entertainment shows for adults and children.
Obviously, you pay extra for a lot of the activities. As a rough guide, you will pay £15 for 45 minutes of archery, £23 for a group alpaca walk and £9 for a slime workshop (prices correct as of 2023). You can see the full list of prices on this Sandy Balls activities page.
The facilities at Sandy Balls are grouped together into a nice little village near the entrance.
There are two swimming pools at Sandy Balls - one indoor and one outdoor. Both are simple swimming pools and they don't have the slides and flumes that you get at some holiday parks (check out some of the best holiday park pools). However, they are fine for a quick dip and the indoor one has a jacuzzi.
There are a couple of restaurants to choose from at Sandy Balls, as well as an entertainment building with a bar.
Guests can also use a couple of playgrounds, both of which are more modern than most that you get at holiday parks. There's also a soft play area.
A lot of people hire a bike from Sandy Balls so they can cycle around the woodland but there are lots of other organised activities. When we checked, options included:
- arts and crafts such as slime workshops, glitter globe making, pottery painting and tie-dye crafts
- quirky things like alpaca walks, segway rides through the forest and catapult building
- sports such as archery, disc golf and laser shotguns
- fitness classes such as yoga, zumba and Nordic walking
Sandy Balls also has outdoor cinema screenings and puts on entertainment shows for adults and children.
Obviously, you pay extra for a lot of the activities. As a rough guide, you will pay £15 for 45 minutes of archery, £23 for a group alpaca walk and £9 for a slime workshop (prices correct as of 2023). You can see the full list of prices on this Sandy Balls activities page.
The village square at Sandy Balls is home to most of the facilities
There are two simple swimming pools at Sandy Balls holiday village, including this outdoor pool
Outdoor cinema is a popular activity at Sandy Balls
What are the caravans and lodges like at Sandy Balls Holiday Village
The range of accommodation at Sandy Balls holiday park is much better than a lot of resorts. These sorts of parks are no longer limited to caravans, although that's still an option if you're looking for a holiday on a budget.
Of course, prices fluctuate depending on when you travel, how long you stay for, and which upgrades you choose. However, we did a test price comparison for a week's holiday in early May 2024 for four people outside of school holidays.
We found that the 'classic' accommodation was all around £600+ for the week, with the 'comfort' range being cheaper than the 'superior' or 'luxury' caravans and lodges.
Meanwhile, the 'exclusive' accommodation was more like £850+ depending on a) how many people it accommodates and b) whether it has a hot tub. The most expensive options were the 'Indulgent Lodge with hot tub' and the 'The Knightwood with hot tub' whilst The Esme and The Heartwood were at the cheaper end of that range.
It's worth noting that some of the more expensive accommodation can sleep many more people - so you might be able to afford an upgrade if you travel as a larger group.
For example, the Superior Comfort Lodge was one of the cheapest option for our price comparison at £652. However, it only sleeps four people so you're paying £23 per person, per night. Meanwhile, the Heartwood Plaza with hot tub was
£1111 but it sleeps seven people so it costs £22 per person per night if you can fill it up with people. That's a lower price per person per night for much posher accommodation and a hot tub.
- the cheaper option is usually the 'classic' accommodation at Sandy Balls, which includes caravans and woodland lodges. There are various sizes that sleep 4-8 people and some of the lodges have hot tubs. You can choose from 'comfort' or 'superior' or 'luxury'. It's worth noting that a 'luxury lodge' at Sandy Balls isn't their poshest accommodation - it's actually a mid-priced option. That may explain why some reviewers weren't happy with their 'luxury lodge' - they may have assumed it was the poshest of the posh.
- the more expensive option is called the 'exclusive' accommodation. There are various types, but they are generally much wider and more spacious than a caravan and many more of them have hot tubs. They've got names like The Zen, Vista, The Heartwood and The Knightwood. You also get things like towels included, earlier check in times and 'welcome goodies' with these properties.
Of course, prices fluctuate depending on when you travel, how long you stay for, and which upgrades you choose. However, we did a test price comparison for a week's holiday in early May 2024 for four people outside of school holidays.
We found that the 'classic' accommodation was all around £600+ for the week, with the 'comfort' range being cheaper than the 'superior' or 'luxury' caravans and lodges.
Meanwhile, the 'exclusive' accommodation was more like £850+ depending on a) how many people it accommodates and b) whether it has a hot tub. The most expensive options were the 'Indulgent Lodge with hot tub' and the 'The Knightwood with hot tub' whilst The Esme and The Heartwood were at the cheaper end of that range.
It's worth noting that some of the more expensive accommodation can sleep many more people - so you might be able to afford an upgrade if you travel as a larger group.
For example, the Superior Comfort Lodge was one of the cheapest option for our price comparison at £652. However, it only sleeps four people so you're paying £23 per person, per night. Meanwhile, the Heartwood Plaza with hot tub was
£1111 but it sleeps seven people so it costs £22 per person per night if you can fill it up with people. That's a lower price per person per night for much posher accommodation and a hot tub.
The upgraded accommodation at Sandy Balls has funky designs - such as this Esme property
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This accommodation is called the Zen and it has the option to upgrade to one with a hot tub
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Conclusion
If you want a week in a woodland setting with plenty of activities but don't want the scale of Center Parcs then Sandy Balls Holiday Village is a very good option. You can come and go from the site easily and there's enough at the park to fill a good chunk of time if you don't want to explore very far.
It can be a cheap holiday if you go for the most basic caravan or it can be much posher and more expensive if you hire an 'exclusive' property with a hot tub.
It isn't a great choice for a seaside holiday but the beach is close enough for a day trip and the proximity to Paultons Park/Peppa Pig World is a big plus point.
It can be a cheap holiday if you go for the most basic caravan or it can be much posher and more expensive if you hire an 'exclusive' property with a hot tub.
It isn't a great choice for a seaside holiday but the beach is close enough for a day trip and the proximity to Paultons Park/Peppa Pig World is a big plus point.
Woodland cycling is a good activity to try at Sandy Balls
Images are from Away Resorts.
