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Thread: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

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    Registered User Spiky Steve's Avatar
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    Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Prompted by people's critism of our national treasures I'm asking Is Britain unique in having holiday camps?

    As far as I am aware Australia does not have them. America? Anywhere?

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Spiky Steve View Post
    Prompted by people's critism of our national treasures I'm asking Is Britain unique in having holiday camps?

    As far as I am aware Australia does not have them. America? Anywhere?
    nope no holiday camps in Aus - I find them a bizarrely fasinating concept - and really stuggle to fathom the attraction...

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps


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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Yliander View Post
    nope no holiday camps in Aus - I find them a bizarrely fasinating concept - and really stuggle to fathom the attraction...
    It's a weekender for kids.
    You should try a dance weekender

    Acually I was sat in a caravan park with some parents at Coff Harbour trying to explain holiday camps. The mums were in awe thinking they were spoilt with a small outdoor pool and a room with a few toys.

    The thing is Australia does have the weather.

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Spiky Steve View Post
    Prompted by people's critism of our national treasures I'm asking Is Britain unique in having holiday camps?

    As far as I am aware Australia does not have them. America? Anywhere?
    Think they still have them in the US; can I use the film "Dirty Dancing" as an example of one?

    (cue lots of females swooning over Patrick Swayze/jokes about watermelons)

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    I suppose summer camp in America is the definition - you know, the sort of thing that turns up in any number of American teen horror films like FRIDAY THE 13TH.

    I do think Pontins is pretty secure.

    best
    johnnyman

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by johnnyman View Post
    I suppose summer camp in America is the definition - you know, the sort of thing that turns up in any number of American teen horror films like FRIDAY THE 13TH.

    I do think Pontins is pretty secure.

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    Not sure this sort of camp qualifies as it's kids only? Interesting that we don;y have much of them here though.

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    Registered User Twirly's Avatar
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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Spiky Steve View Post
    Not sure this sort of camp qualifies as it's kids only? Interesting that we don;y have much of them here though.
    Used to go camping with the Guides when I was young, that's probably the nearest we have.

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidB View Post
    Hmmm. The next dance weekender?

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Spiky Steve View Post
    Prompted by people's critism of our national treasures I'm asking Is Britain unique in having holiday camps?

    As far as I am aware Australia does not have them. America? Anywhere?
    In Scandinavia we tend to have private comfortable holiday homes either (or both) near a beach for watersports and/or fishing or near a mountain resort for wintersports and/or hillwalking. I must admit I found the British holiday camps phenomon very bizarre after encounter with Blaze last year (seeing all the non-dancers holidaying at the same resort). I wouldn't call it a treasure, but each to their own

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    Cheeky by nature Little Monkey's Avatar
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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Monika View Post
    In Scandinavia we tend to have private comfortable holiday homes either (or both) near a beach for watersports and/or fishing or near a mountain resort for wintersports and/or hillwalking. I must admit I found the British holiday camps phenomon very bizarre after encounter with Blaze last year (seeing all the non-dancers holidaying at the same resort). I wouldn't call it a treasure, but each to their own
    And Haven holiday camp is luxurious compared to Pontins where the Southport weekender is held!!

    Nah, I can't see the attraction, either. If I had a family I'd much rather hire a holiday cottage or go camping (as in wild camping, not in a caravan in a caravan park!). British holiday camps seem like the ultimate nightmare holiday to me! Unless it's a dance weekender, that is.

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Spiky Steve View Post
    Prompted by people's critism of our national treasures I'm asking Is Britain unique in having holiday camps?

    As far as I am aware Australia does not have them. America? Anywhere?
    Well yes, Australia does have a holiday camp - just a bit more upmarket...

    Lindeman - Australia - Club Med

    There are also camp retreats, normally run by religious groups, with on-site accomadation, halls, activities etc. , which you can book for dance weekenders...
    In fact... they are used for dance weekenders

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin View Post
    Well yes, Australia does have a holiday camp - just a bit more upmarket...

    Lindeman - Australia - Club Med

    There are also camp retreats, normally run by religious groups, with on-site accomadation, halls, activities etc. , which you can book for dance weekenders...
    In fact... they are used for dance weekenders
    Hmmm is suppose they have this kind of thing in Spain.

    Thanks for this though as it could come in useful.

    Steve

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Little Monkey View Post
    And Haven holiday camp is luxurious compared to Pontins where the Southport weekender is held!!

    Nah, I can't see the attraction, either. If I had a family I'd much rather hire a holiday cottage or go camping (as in wild camping, not in a caravan in a caravan park!). British holiday camps seem like the ultimate nightmare holiday to me! Unless it's a dance weekender, that is.
    Without them you wouldn't have so many options for dance weekenders.

    The great thing about this world is that there are many options to suit all.

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    There are lots of Club Meds around the world, mainly filled with French/Germans.
    There are (were?) camps in France and Germany. Companies such as Mark Warner and Sunsail cater for the same market in the UK.

    I used to go to Pontins when I was a young, about half of the camps are full board and have kids activity programmes, where parents are expected to abandon their 5-16yr olds for the day. I remember sailing, archery, golf, karting, cycling, singing... The other half of the camps are self-catering and just have chalets and a big dance hall. Southport is one of those. I have to admit that I didn't used to see the point of these

    Butlins has free funfairs at most of their camps and flashy activity pools. However, they bus people in for the day as well as let the inmates use the equipment. Centreparks is like Butlins, but you have to pay for every activity and remember that if you don't book things immediately you arrive, you won't be able to do them. Warners are (mostly) adult only camps, some are on the chalet+main hall model, but most have activities such as golf, shooting and fishing included.

    There are many kids-only holiday clubs in the UK, but I can only think of Camp Beaumont and PGL at the moment.

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    Re: Is Britain unique in having holiday camps

    Quote Originally Posted by Spiky Steve View Post
    Without them you wouldn't have so many options for dance weekenders.
    Er, and I said I can't see the attraction apart from when it's a dance weekender. If other people like spending their holidays at holiday camps, good for them, and I'm grateful for having them as handy weekender venues.

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