Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay

My family and I have just returned from what we can honestly say was one of the best holidays we have ever had. We booked a last-minute short break with Away Resorts, Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight.

I have never used this company before and honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The price was amazing – see current prices here. Here’s a brief account of our stay.

The booking process was incredibly easy. We booked online and added our 10% May discount. Importantly for us, we could bring our dog. We have a new Poochon Puppy! The cost was an additional £35 for the dog. Furthermore, the website was really easy to navigate.

Booking the ferry through Away Resorts was significantly cheaper than booking with the ferry company direct.

Upon arrival at the resort, we headed to the reception area to collect our keys. We were greeted by an incredibly friendly and welcoming member of staff. We were given our keys, a map and lots of information regarding the week’s events and entertainment.

Our Chalet

We booked a value chalet and we honestly weren’t expecting much. We thought as long as we had a relatively comfy bed to sleep in, that would suffice. When we walked into the chalet, we were very pleasantly surprised.

The chalet was spacious, clean and cosy. We had a full kitchen complete with cutlery, crockery, pots and pans. 2 bedrooms, one with a double bed and the other with bunk beds. Bed linen, duvets and bounce back pillows were provided.

All the beds were very comfortable. Each bedroom was complete with a wardrobe and a bedside table.

The bathroom comprised of a bathtub with a shower, toilet and sink. Simple but that’s all we needed!

The chalet was also fitted with a decent TV with free view. A dining table with 4 chairs and a comfy sofa.

We also enjoyed a small balcony area – this was a great place from which to star gaze in the evenings!

The chalets, caravans and lodges are all well spaced out so there is ample space around your own accommodation. We benefited from a lovely lawn at the front and side of our chalet.

One sweet touch was a cardboard pot which contained some essential bits, e.g. pot towel, washing up liquid and a cloth. The pot also included a pencil with some seeds in the end. The pot instructed us to take it home with us and plant the seeds from the pencil. So that we will always remember our holiday!

Location

Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay is ideally located on the East side of the Isle of Wight. The resort lies on the coast. It is a bit of a steep hill, but there is a beautiful beach at the resort.

The Isle of Wight is so small that the resort is no more than 40 minutes away from any of the attractions. Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay was the perfect base from where we did all of our exploring of the island.

Entertainment and the Site

The first evening we spent under the stars! We enjoyed an outdoor cinema event. Blankets and chairs were provided as we snuggled down to watch Pete’s Dragon. The cinema was set up close to the bar/restaurant making it easy to keep refreshed as we enjoyed the movie.

The second evening we spent inside the main bar (The Culver Club). There was a live singer followed by a disco. The DJ allowed us to make requests as we enjoyed a good old boogie.

The third night we once again spent inside The Culver Club. We enjoyed (and won) a game of bingo! The evening also included a live singer, a disco and also a games night. We haven’t laughed as much in ages! It was an amazing evening of entertainment which the whole family thoroughly enjoyed.

We spent most of our days exploring the Isle of Wight. However, we did spend some time at the resort during the day. The resort boasts an outdoor and indoor swimming pool. The outdoor pool was closed during our stay but is open in the warmer summer months. The indoor pool was fabulous. The changing rooms were immaculate and we particularly enjoyed the rainfall showers. The indoor pool was lovely and warm. My daughter and I really enjoyed the slide.

The resort also has its own crazy golf course. There is also a small amusement arcade on-site and 2 children’s playgrounds.

We enjoyed an evening meal each night in the Nab Bar. The food was delicious and reasonably priced too!

There are plenty of activities going on throughout the day such as archery and crafts. The resort also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as The Family Festival and Dino Weekend. A list of events can be found here.

Disabled Visitors

There is ample parking at the resort. As we have a disabled family member, it was essential we were able to drive from chalet to bar, to restaurant. The map included in the welcome pack makes it very easy to find your way around the resort and roads and footpaths are clearly marked.

A Dog-Friendly Resort

I could not believe just how dog-friendly Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay is. Aside from the indoor pool, we took our dog everywhere on site with us.

We took our dog to eat with us at the Nab Bar each evening. She also came along with us to watch the entertainment in the Culver Club each night. The staff were more than welcoming not only to us but to our dog. Most members of staff would bring our dog a doggie biscuit (found on the bars) and make the time to say hello to our pooch.

The Staff

It might sound cliche, but what does make Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay one of the best holiday destinations is the staff. From our arrival to checking out, every member of staff was kind, courteous and welcoming. Simon on the bar always greeted us (and our pooch) with a smile. Charley, Lottie and Jack were the greatest entertainers who gave us all so many laughs and treasured memories. The security staff made us feel safe and were always on hand to answer any questions. The kitchen staff and the servers were always pleasant and friendly. The food was amazing and was served incredibly quick!

It feels apt to end this post with a huge thank you to all the staff at Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay. To the cleaning staff, the security team, the entertainment staff, to the bar and kitchen staff who kept us fed and watered. And to the reception staff who greeted us with a smile.

There is absolutely no doubt we will be returning for another holiday very soon!

For similar posts, see my Adventures Category.