Sun Ј9.50 holidays no longer value for money?

A question about : Sun Ј9.50 holidays no longer value for money?

Before I start, I would like to clarify I do think they are value for money and we have saved money again this year. For the past 3 years we have used this site to save AND get a holiday in the Easter holidays as we now have school age children!

My query is that last year and this year we have seen the hidden charges sky-rocket. We ALWAYS pay the Ј17.50 upgrade and then ring up the park and pay a further Ј60 or so which usually gets us a large van and heating and often a 3rd bedroom. This Luxury Plus upgrade often has no heating, hardly luxury but the extra Ј60 is worth it however last year it did not get us any and we were told there was a further one on top of that when we arrived!

This year we asked and was told the extras would be almost another Ј200! The costs are getting to a point where the word value is questionable. We have paid and saved money BUT it has cost more than other parks in the area are charging NOW directly on their website for the same date. Annoyingly, we didn't get our first or second choice parks and both are cheaper to pay directly right now than where we are going instead!

What I find infuriating is that you are trapped. Cancelling costs money and you are not told the full cost until a few weeks when the documents arrive. By then finding a better, cheaper park elsewhere is just tough luck! The parks know you are locked in and seem to be charging more and more profiteering out of people booking through the Sun.

Has anyone else found this? Am I missing something? It is so annoying knowing I could have got the park I wanted for the same date paying full price now AND saving money than paying more for one I wanted much less!

Best answers:

• I'm not sure they represent good value if you shell out for a load of upgrades. I went to Italty with my missus last year, paid the ~Ј40 and that was it. We were quite happy with out little caravan, which had air-con, decking and a BBQ.
• Of course if you are paying for all sort of upgrades then it's not going to be value for money is it?
  We pay Ј130 for a week in Europe every year. Can't get much better than that!
• All the extras are listed you select the park you want and it clearly states Јxxx for service charge, Јxxx pp for passes, Јxxx for linen.
  I've never upgraded but am sure those costs are also listed, as I believe I've seen them being offered when I book online?
  So I don't see how you don't know the full charge until a few weeks later when the paperwork arrives?
  We got stung many years ago as we booked during term time we could've got it cheaper and chosen the date - this was in the days before internet booking when you put four dates down and hope for the best.
  Put us off for a few yrs, but I always check what the park we want is charging before I book these days.
• Do your research
  Many of the parks etc. you can find cheaper - post upgrade costs - through booking earlier (e.g. 20 - 30% off if booked by end Jan) or through booking via private owners (but paying extra for entertainment passes)
• Even with choosing the luxury plus option for Ј17.50 per person it is still good value when comparing to booking directly with the park (Haven in this case obviously).
  If you are then ringing them up for a further upgrade, you can't really use that to say that the 9.50 holiday is bad value??