Isle of Wight Recommendations?

[nunheadmum]

You all came up trumps so quick on my Kings Cross query, thought I'd try with my summer one.

We're considering the Isle of Wight for summer. Ideally looking for somewhere with pool, other kids around (ours are 6 + 4), reasonable accommodation (decent mobile homes fine).

Some of the places I've found so far look a bit tired, which sort of confirms our impressions of the Isle of Wight from our last very brief visit......bought a Cappuccino and it was a Nescafe packet!!!! But have heard so much about how good it is, I think we may have missed something. Don't mind a bit old fashioned but not tired and dirty.

Anyone know of any gems or which areas are best?

[redjam]

I'd highly recommend Vintage Vacations (www.vintagevacations.co.uk). They have a field full of super-cool old Airstream trailers. We went there with a bunch of friends and had a fab time with the kids running in and out of each other's trailers all day and long evenings round a campfire for us after they'd gone to bed. There's no pool - it's all very rough and ready and you have to be into the dodgy 50s aesthetic - and I'd imagine if the weather was crap then the holiday would be doomed, but we had a brilliant time. I think they have other properties on the Isle of Wight too.

[sunnysideup]

..and the owners used to live in east dulwich.

[Carbonara]

I love the Isle of Wight as long as we can avoid the resorts around Ryde. Bits of Sandown and Old Shankliln are lovely, and then from there to Ventnor and round to Yarmouth is lovely. Ryde is definitely Cappucino sachet territory.

However the S and W are much less developed, away from lots of the attractions kids like, and don't have holiday parks with pools. Great beaches, though. What about this company? http://www.islandviewholidays.co.uk/?vlsrc=gaw&gclid=CPzm_b2C-64CFS4NtAodSzY7xw (looks expensivey).

It's a small island, there's a great bus service all the way round the coast, maybe find a holiday park with a pool and then explore wider afield from there?

Or check out places here: http://www.islandbreaks.co.uk/accommodation/caravans-and-chalets

[beababies]

very sweet!

http://www.isleofwightcampers.co.uk/

xx

[SilverSurfer65]

I can recommend Island View Holidays at Rookley, and it's not expensive. We went there a few years ago with foster children, and we are going again with another foster child this year.

It's just outside Newport, which is almost the centre of the Island, and everywhere is easy to get to.

So much to see and do on the I.o.W, and all the children we have taken in the past just love it, and can't stop talking about what a great holiday the Island is. We used to stay in West Wight but that site has closed down now, but the other Island View Holiday site is next door, although that is bungalows and costs a bit more than the Rookley site.

Enjoy!!!

[ang]

we're trying the west bay club near Yarmouth. I think it looks good but you never can tell ...

[The Nappy Lady]

We have friends on the island and had a fab break there in October school hols.

Can't help with accommodation as we crashed with them but had loads of excellent family days out - grab me in the playground or PM me if you want to know more.

Xx

[Smiler]

I didn't like it much, was like stepping back in time with respect to attractions, accommodation, food etc, and the ferry crossing is a silly price. Don't really get what it has to offer over, say, Dorset or other places on south coast, to justify the greater expense of getting there.

Did like a couple of seaside pubs though!

[prickle]

Yarmouth is rather sweet though low key. Good ice cream I remember. The beaches round there are quite good. Enjoyed going on a chairlift over the Needles.

Ferry helps you to pretend you are going 'abroad'!

[nunheadmum]

Thanks everyone! The places you've suggested certainly sound better than those my hubby found. The Vintage Vacations sound brilliant but I suspect probably more fun either on our own or once the kids are old enough to appreciate it. Some of the parks sound more like it.

Thanks Molly - I will def catch you in the playground. (Sorry, just had silly picture in my head of the two of us playing 'catch' in the playground in and out the other mums!! And that's before I hit the Friday night vino!!)

Smiler - I'm a bit worried that I'll be with you on this one. We had a very brief visit a few years ago, cut shorter than planned due to hubby's dad taking ill. But what I saw didn't really inspire me - steep hills in Ventnor, howling winds and crap coffee. I'm hoping that we just didn't do the place justice and we'll fall in love with the 'old fashioned' side of it. Or at least the kids will, after all, if they're enjoying it, chances are we will......as long as there's a decent pub!