Overall our stay at Sandy Balls was a great one with us staying at one of the Caravans within Larch Row. The accommodation was a decent size for 3 adults and an infant and generally was a great stay (the caravan was tired in places but this is likely down to previous usage).The Sandy Balls site itself was excellent, with the Alpacas, Swimming Pool, Restaurants, Soft Play etc, all great additions and was really good to help keep our young daughter entertained.Reason for only 3/5 is down to an issue we had with our gas/hot water the day prior to our departure, we awoke to find that we had no hot water and the gas hob didn't work, speaking to an out of hours representative, they advised the wider park had issues but they'd do what they can, which true to his word arrived to take a look but couldn't solve the problem and advised someone would raise a ticket to fix this.We returned from our day out to find it still wasn't working, after ringing reception we was told someone was on there way over, but after 2 hours still not attendant and we needed to go get our daughter her dinner.On the day of departure we still had no hot water or gas meaning we had to leave with no shower etc which wasn't a great experience.If the above hadn't happened or we got the problem solved more timely, this would certainly be a 5/5 review, and we will still look to come in the future.
Sandy Balls Holiday Village - Reviews
What guests say about their stay at Sandy Balls Holiday Village, rated 4.0 out of 5.
- Sleeps up to 10
- Pets 2
- Hot Tub


Photos & lodge info
Visitor Reviews of Sandy Balls Holiday Village
40 reviews from guests who stayed at Sandy Balls Holiday Village.
The accomodation needed a better clean. Too many cobwebs, toothpaste spashes in the bathrooms and bad smells of dog on the couch and under one bed.
Sofa bed could do with changing as not comfortable at all
10 of us sharing for 1 week. Furniture good. Beds comfortable. Outside furniture good. Good cooking facilities.
The lodge was in very poor condition and not worth the premium price we paid!
Good family break
Fantastic location. If we had decided to stay on site it would have covered all our needs. Lovely quiet site with plenty of privacy between lodges.
Lodge was not cleaned properly. Empty coke bottle and dog toy found under beds. Dog hairs on carpet and badly stained kitchen sink. Fridge/freezer not working properly (maintenance called and gave it a boost). Requested pillows for very uncomfortable bed settee. Never arrived. Bad smell when on outside decking. Discovered waste pipe from kitchen sink was disconnected. Large soggy mud patch with swarm of small black flies found outside under kitchen sink (been going for some time) Maintenance fixed next day
Caravan had everything we needed for your holiday . It was very clean and was happy with everything . The dog welcome pack was a nice touch . We had a lovely relaxing time .
I was a little worried as we booked a pet friendly caravan even though we didnt have any pets as it was the cheapest option available. Actually the caravan was perfectly clean, in good condition ans a fab location on site.
Cabin great but carpet stained and nets tatty
The lodge felt as though it would benefit from a good deep clean and some TLC. Not sure I agree with a long pile rug in the living room, we didnt feel comfortable putting our 7 month old on it to play. Dishwasher and washing machine a nice touch. One of the double bedrooms had a mattress which didnt fit on the base. Mattresses would benefit from being replaced. 3 bathrooms but all with a shower, a bath wouldve been useful with 2 kids but not the end of the world. Thermostat didnt work so heating impossible to turn off. In-lodge WiFi was very good.
Really enjoyed it all, wished wed had more time and the weather was just perfect.
Everything was excellent, however, there were a couple of small things that would have made our stay perfect. The kitchen was not very well equipped with some items which we believed were a necessity. There were no chopping boards so had to use a plate to chop vegetables etc, there were no oven gloves and so had to use a bathroom towel instead, there was only one baking tray and no roasting tins/dishes to use in oven, there was also only one small frying pan. There were lots of bare cupboards with not a lot of kitchen/cooking stuff!Lodge a little tired around the edges like rusty radiators etc.
Such a lovely comfortable place to stay. The additional features such as comfortable settee and our own little balcony made our holiday extra special. We had lots of space to store our things, and found everything clean and in excellent order. Lots of utensils and things in the kitchen to make cooking and baking a delight, and the dishwasher and washing machine were a lovely surprise too. We all absolutely loved it, thank you. Would highly recommend.
Almost 5 star rating just found floor a little grubby. Rest was very clean and tidy.Everyone friendly.Great time overall.
Very run down. We were put right at back of site - no signal of any kind. Heating fullBlast on arrival (was 26 outside!) then got turned off completely. Looks in need of love on the inside. Nothing shuts or locks
We had a really lovely stay here. The accommodation felt more like a hotel than a typical self-catering place, which was very impressive. The welcome pack was a nice surprise - with tea, coffee, milk, apple juice, sweets, biscuits and bubbly - such a thoughtful touch! Each room had a smart TV and personal internet, making it super convenient. We stayed in the pet-friendly area, which was almost br and new and spotlessly clean. No dog hairs like we've experienced elsewhere, so that was a huge plus for us. Overall, very happy with our visit!
Great trip, would definitely do again.
Overall, we had a great stay. The caravan was spacious and ideally situated, which was perfect for us. The only minor issue was a faint dog smell, but the staff responded quickly and sorted it out. No biggie really, wed come back again!
Excellent - really clean and everything you need even Netflix!
The place was pretty warm during the day and no wifi at all, which was a bit annoying. Still, it did meet what we needed for the trip.
We recently booked one of the new Bluebell lodges where the old campsite used to be. Honestly, theyve done a fantastic job with the decor and facilities - its a really comfortable place to stay for a few nights. The lodge had great amenities, including WiFi and a 55-inch smart TV in the lounge, plus a TV in both bedrooms, which was handy. The master bedrooms bathtub with ensuite was a real treat, although we never quite cracked how to get the mirror TV working. The kitchen was well-equipped too, with a good oven, microwave and a slimline dishwasher. Wed definitely stay again!
Great lodges except bathrooms not as shown in pictures. Our bathrooms were dated but ok.
Just a few issues with a broken sofa and split shower hose. Both resolved quickly. Asked for an iron, but didn't get one. Couldn't get oven to work and no instructions for any appliances which would be useful.
Overall, we had a decent stay. The sofa was broken and the shower hose split, but both got sorted fast, which was good. We asked for an iron but didnt receive it. The oven was tricky to use without instructions, which wouldve helped.
Absolutely loved our stay here, the lodge really had everything we needed!
Excellent only down side is accommodation was not available until 1630, but we made use of the excellent facilities whilst waiting
Really enjoyed our stay overall. The facilities were top-notch, though waiting until 4:30 for the room was a bit of a pain.
Really impressed with how everything was arranged, made our stay super easy and comfy.
Great restaurants, helpful for coeliacs
We had a lovely holiday at Sandy Balls. Our Superior Lodge was very clean, well-equipped and welcoming.
Checking-in dealt with very efficiently. A nice relaxing week
Excellent location in beautiful surroundings.
We got upgraded which was a very pleasant surprise and it was lovely and clean all in all very pleased but was very upset that the outdoor pool was closed when asked to open and it was warm outside they staff was very rude and unhappy to do so
We had a truly wonderful time at Sandy Balls and the New Forest. Our lodge was lovely and clean, beds comfortable and the doggy welcome pack was a lovely thought. Lovely site , deep in the woods, gave a relaxing start to every day. I would definitely go back there. Staff in the shop were lovely.
Perfect place for families
This was my second visit because I loved it so much the first time. Stayed in a cabin this time. Slightly disappointed that there was no WiFi, considering the price but otherwise lovely.
The site, facilities and staff (apart from one who was very unpleasant) are all excellent. However, I have Coeliac disease and although there is an acceptable gluten free menu, there is a misconception (not just by yourselves) that gluten free = vegan or vegetarian. We are neither! We eat all meats,eggs, cheeses etc, it is just conventional grains mostly that we have a problem with, so don't need vile vegan cheese included in our options. Vegan and Vegetarian are a lifestyle choice. Coeliac disease is an illness that can cause bowel cancer or worse. so we would like the same choice as others. It really isn't that hard nowadays!
The campsite is great. The children loved the activities, they did Archery Laser air rifle and walking the Alpaca's. We swam everyday and the pool was great. It was a bit difficult booking the outdoor pool and it was fully booked by the time we worked it out! The lodge we stayed in was very comfortable. Although more than one baking tray would have been good and sharper kitchen knives.
The staff were fantastic from the restaurant, welcome staff to the rangers they could not be more helpful, they made the experience.
We’ll be back soon ?

