Sunparks Oostduinkerke aan zee

The indoor playground and water park were a real plus for our young kids, and the place is close to the Belgian coast. The bungalows are dated, but when something needed fixing or replacing, it was handled the same day. Remember to bring your own sheets, cooking utensils and hand soap.

The central area is good and the staff are nice, but I found the accommodation lacking compared with Centre Parcs in the UK, which is my main reference point. The houses need updating, offer little privacy from neighbours and have no oven. You also need to bring your own sheets and duvet covers, and watch your head in the upstairs bedrooms. The stairs looked terrifying for a toddler to use, though I'm fairly sure that's normal in Belgium and the Netherlands. There are playgrounds near the houses, everything is walkable, and the shop has enough for the essentials. The main activity centre has lots to keep kids entertained, with a good variety of things to do.

The kids had a great time, and the staff were lovely. The reception bar and restaurants were clean and modern, but the accommodation was disappointing. The rooms felt and smelled damp, were very dated and needed some care. Radiators were hanging off the walls, and we had to make our own beds. We stayed as a large group for a football tour, and it was nowhere near on par with Centre Parcs.

The pool was dirty and far too cold, and the indoor park and accommodation both need improvements to their cleanliness and quality. We left very disappointed because this wasn't what we'd expected. Rules around the pool were especially unclear. Staff seemed to apply different rules depending on the day and who they were dealing with. With long, loose swimwear or burkinis, some said it was allowed while others refused, even though we'd had no issues for several days. One staff member said outright that he chose which rules to apply and seemed to be looking for a confrontation so he could send people out of the pool. Honestly, you'd be better off driving a few kilometres further to Center Parcs.