Haven Martial Arts Holidays
Are you an instructor thinking of arranging a martial arts course with Haven Holidays? Take a look at this FAQ below for more information.
How many students would he need to attend to make the course worthwhile?
A ‘Group’ booking at a Haven park can be as few as five units of accommodation or a ‘sole use’ event that takes over the entire park and uses ALL the accommodation!
If you want to have exclusive use of the venues it’s likely that you will need to agree to hire a minimum number of units of accommodation - but the actual numbers depend on the park you have chosen and the date of your event. Chances are that they will be more flexible in April or October than July or August!
And, whilst the primary aim of arranging a course at a Haven park might be to encourage students to improve their standards and focus on the sport – don’t forget that it’s a fun environment that all the family will enjoy. The invitation to attend doesn’t have to be limited to the individual who will be taking part on the course – partners, mums and dads and kids can come along too. Non-participants will have a good time enjoying the facilities and entertainment.
What range of accommodation would be available to them?
Haven Holidays have a range of accommodation available from the more basic and economic ‘Standard’ and ‘Superior’ units to the plush ‘Prestige’ and ‘Platinum’ holiday homes.
And they are all very comfortable! If you’ve never stayed in a caravan before you are likely to be surprised – you’ll also find they offer far more flexibility in terms of space and accommodation than a hotel and make an ideal choice for groups.
Expect a spacious lounge, well appointed kitchen and dining area, two or three bedrooms, shower and loo. The higher grades of accommodation are wider, with more space, outstanding quality fittings and stylish interior design. Whichever option you choose all gas, electricity and unlimited hot water is included in the cost.
A number of Haven parks have chalets and apartments available as well and these are often popular with group bookings.
All grades of accommodation are available to group bookings – subject to availability on your chosen date and destination.
Are there any age limits?
There are no age limits which makes Haven especially popular as the event can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike. The only stipulation is that there must be one responsible adult over the age of 21 in each unit of accommodation – and Haven can’t accept bookings from single sex parties.
Do you have any disabled facilities?
Yes, all the venues have disabled access and facilities. There are several adapted holiday homes in a choice of grades at most parks. These are fully accessible for wheelchair users with ramps, wide sliding doors and converted shower room and loo. They are suitable for sleeping four to six people.
What kind of training facilities are available?
Several parks, including Hafan y Mor in North Wales, Blue Dolphin in North Yorkshire and Combe Haven in Hastings have indoor sports venues that are ideal for martial arts.
Others make use of their entertainment venues which are spacious, well lit and have stages which are sometimes suitable for demonstrations by instructors.
It’s best to keep an open mind when choosing a park for its training facilities.
One group who have regularly booked Devon Cliffs, near Exmouth, for a residential karate course divide their training between a local sports centre and the long stretch of sandy beach directly next to the park, saying ‘training on the shoreline is really uplifting, although we occasionally get caught out by the incoming tide! Fortunately the beach is so close to the park that even if we get wet it really doesn’t matter – no-one has far to go to reach their accommodation!’
Every group has different needs and requirements – and the parks themselves vary in terms of the venues that are available for training and demonstrations so you’ll need to discuss the best options with the Specialist Sales department.
Do you have any gym facilities?
As a general rule Haven don’t have gyms – but a number of Parks do offer limited facilities. Devon Cliffs has a superb spa with a small gym attached. It’s more for pampering than a serious workout but it does make a great place to relax and unwind.
What kind of food is available?
One of the key selling points of organising an event or training course at a Haven park is the flexibility of their food offering. he parks are primarily self-catering – which means that attendees are not restricted by fixed meal times and menus. Many people prefer to prepare their own meals - specially if they have special dietary requirements, need an abundance of protein, fruit and veg or carbs! ut if you want to eat out there are plenty of options available on all Haven parks with traditional take-away menus, cafe style eating or the new Mash and Barrel cafe-lounge-bars that offer all day menus and a Carvery. Recently Haven have introduced Papa John’s Pizzas and Starbucks coffee houses to a number of their parks. Hafan y Mor in North Wales and Craig Tara on the Ayrshire coast also offer dinner bed and breakfast with an ‘eat all you like’ breakfast and a choice of three course evening menus.
And special arrangements can be made to provide early breakfasts, packed lunches or even a celebratory Gala Dinner. Again, it’s something to discuss with the Specialist Sales team.
Do you cater for special diets?
It’s best to confirm any details at the time of booking. There are always vegetarian menu choices but any special dietary needs should be discussed in advance to see if the park can accommodate your requirements.
What kind of insurance should the instructor have for the event?
In order to use Haven facilities for sporting events the instructor would need to provide proof of a minimum of £5million of Public Liability insurance. They would also need to arrange any additional insurance relevant to their particular sport.
This isn’t an area where Haven can provide advice so it’s best to speak directly to your insurance company or agent.
However - Haven can offer personal travel insurance and cover against cancellation in the event that any member of the party is unable to travel due to sickness, redundancy or jury service.
How easy it to travel to your locations?
Haven have 34 holiday parks around the UK so you have a fantastic choice. There are parks that have easy access to motorway links and some that are very accessible by public transport. But it’s a case of weighing up which parks have the facilities that best meet your requirements, the location that is most convenient for your participants and whether or not access by train or bus is important to you. Some regular event organisers change venues every year just to give people a change of scenery!
Do you have any special arrangements with travel companies?
Haven have negotiated a 10% discount with National Express – but if you have a lot of people travelling together it’s worth talking to local coach companies as well. The parks have ample free parking suitable for cars and coaches.
Do you have conference facilities?
Conferences are generally held in Haven’s entertainment venues. Haven parks have large ShowBars or Live Lounges with seating for hundreds plus modern stages with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The venues can be made available for exclusive use and can provide excellent daytime and night-time facilities.
What other activities do you have that the course participants can take part in?
Wow! The list is endless! Anything that Haven guests can enjoy would be available to course participants – provided the booking is during the normal opening times of the park. More limited facilities would be available out of season. There are heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools – many with flumes, slides and other fun-packed pool features such as SplashZones – Haven’s safe water play areas for little children. And there’s a full programme of extra pool activities including Aqua Jet Extreme, Water Walkerz and ‘It’s a Knockout’. Look out for sports courts, tennis courts, golf courses, climbing walls, bowling – even fishing or horse-riding if you’re looking to try out something different. Haven offer coaching in archery, fencing, football and other sports, so non-participants on the course don’t have to feel left out when it comes to activities! All Haven parks offer a full programme of entertainment – evenings are great fun and very much a part of the experience. There’s music, dancing, stage-shows and professional cabaret.
Are there any 'day out' activities that participants can take part in?
Whilst Haven don’t actually organise day out activities they are happy to advise on what’s available in the local area. All the parks liaise with their local tourist offices and attractions and there’s always loads to do locally. Check out castles, theme parks, outdoor activities, watersports and other attractions that might be suitable for your group.
Do you have creche and babysitting facilities?
Kid’s clubs on offer include Little Cubs for 1-4 year olds and Club R & B for 5-11’s. The clubs are run by Haven FunStars and are great fun. All the activities are included in the cost – kids can join in with arts and craft activities, games, competitions, music and dancing. There’s even a session to decorate cakes and cookies – but they are NOT babysitting facilities. Parents can get involved or relax over a coffee and watch the activities – but leaving them is not an option!
Do you have children's activities that the children can do whilst the parents train or enjoy themselves socially?
Haven offer family holidays and it’s a great environment for kids although they don’t offer supervision for children. There’s loads for kids to do but they make it clear that children remain the responsibility of the parent at all times. And most of the activities are aimed at children, including the sports and leisure programme and sports coaching. Kid’s love it! What’s more, children of all ages are genuinely welcome offered in the evening venues allowing families to enjoy a night out without the need for babysitters.
For more information about booking a group event or training course a Haven Park contact Haven Specialist Sales on 0871 230 1911 or visit www.havengroups.co.uk/mrt
