49 Sandown Bay Holiday Center

The kitchen had the basics covered, with plenty of utensils plus a microwave, oven and fridge. They’d also left milk, bread, coffee, tea, butter, jam, sugar and salt. There are two bedrooms, one with bunk beds and the other with a king-size bed, and just one bathroom. A decent family place, awesome.

EDIT: Google seems to have mixed reviews for the park with reviews for random private chalets. My comments were about the park as I remember it in the 80s. For a short break now, I’d rate it well: the beach is a quick walk down the cliff and the setting feels quite private. I still wouldn’t pay £120 a night for some of the chalets. We used to have our yearly two-week holiday here. Back in the 80s and early 90s it was great, with a clubhouse, restaurant and shop. After the park was sold, the new owners at the time began selling chalets as timeshare homes, though they kept some and rented them out. We’d sometimes end up beside someone who’d bought their chalet and would moan about us kids. As more chalets were sold, we stopped coming. Everyone grew up, and the clubhouse, restaurant and shop all disappeared. It’s sad to see how much has gone. Maybe it’s still fine for a couple on a short break, and the beach is still nice. The cliff slips pretty much every year, as it did in the 80s and 90s, and it seemed to still be happening when I visited in mid-2018. There still seem to be routes down to the beach, or you can head into Sandown. The place is a shadow of what it used to be.

The bed was comfortable and the shower worked well. I enjoyed my few days here and would book again on my next visit, if it’s available. It’s easy to find, just inside the site entrance, and has everything you need apart from large towels.

The holiday park is nicely placed and has lovely views. Our chalet was clean and pleasant, with what we needed for a comfortable stay. Trudi, the owner, was really nice to deal with. We’ll definitely come back.