Pros

  • All caravans (trailers) have kitchens and separate bedrooms
  • Many caravans have sea views
  • Quiet location on the Cornish Coast -- the on-site pub faces a public, sandy beach
  • Indoor and outdoor swimming pools -- the outdoor pool has an adjacent waterslide
  • Miniature golf, archery range, and arcade games
  • Evening entertainment geared at families
  • On-site surfing and stand-up paddle-boarding school
  • Numerous restaurants, some serving regional specialties
  • Free parking and Wi-Fi in some areas
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Cons

  • Some facilities are run-down and don't have bed linens
  • Past guests have reported bedbugs and other cleanliness issues
  • Wi-Fi only available in part of the property (it's free)
  • In a secluded area, a mile outside Hayle
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Bottom Line

Budget travelers with children in tow make up the majority of guests at the Riviere Sands Holiday Park, an affordable vacation trailer park located on the coast of rural Cornwall, a 20-minute drive from Saint Ives. All of the units at the park are stand-alone trailers, known as caravans in the United Kingdom. Decor is old and dated, but all units have separate bedrooms, dining areas, and furnished kitchens. There are tons of activities for families on-site, including two pools, mini-golf, archery, and game rooms, as well as a few dining options for those who don't feel like preparing their own meals. Note that Wi-Fi, while free, is limited to a couple of common areas and past guests have reported bedbugs.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Riviere Sands Holiday Park – Haven

Scene

Budget-friendly trailer-style lodging popular with British families

This budget holiday park consists of caravan (trailer) lodging and a series of indoor and outdoor common areas. It's popular with British families on a budget who want to be near the sea on the picturesque Cornish coast. Park grounds are colorful and scenic, and the atmosphere is generally relaxed, peaceful, and aimed at young families. There's not much in terms of a lobby, but there are chairs and sofas just outside the main building as well as a picnic area with benches overlooking the sea. The pool area can get crowded with families during the day. Trails to the water and along the coast link straight from the park, which is very handy.

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Location

On a rural road near the Cornish town of Hayle -- 20 minutes from St. Ives

The Riviere Sands Holiday Park is located on the coast of Cornwall, off a rural residential road, a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive from Hayle. There is one convenience shop across the road from the park, but, for most non-resort dining and shopping ,it's best to go into Hayle, which also has the nearest train station. St. Ives is a 20-minute drive away. Heathrow Airport takes just under five hours to reach by road.

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Rooms

Run-down trailer houses, known as caravans, with bedrooms and kitchens -- some have sea views

Lodging at the Riviere Sands Holiday Park is in trailer-style units, known as caravans in the United Kingdom. Interiors are dominated by light wood laminate and dated motel-style furniture. Caravans range from small Standard units with two or three separate bedrooms to two- and three-bedroom Prestige and Platinum Caravans that have extras like DVD players and early check-in. All caravans come with TVs, living rooms, kitchens with refrigerators and microwaves, and wood-paneled bathrooms with stall showers. Higher-end units come with bed linens. Prestige and Platinum Caravans are available facing the sea and these have gorgeous views over St. Ives bay. There's no Internet access in rooms, but free Wi-Fi is available in select common areas. Note that past guests have complained of bedbugs and other issues with cleanliness in the caravans.

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Features

Numerous on-site activities include game arcades, pools, archery, and surfing

The amenities at the Riviere Sands are geared towards families with school-age children. There's a playground with a play structure and a tire swing, miniature golf, an indoor archery range, and a couple of arcades -- one of which has a pool table. The on-site theater hosts stage shows and special children's plays (known as pantomimes in England). There are two pools: one indoor and outdoor. The outdoor pool has a slide but it doesn't land in the water. There's also a school on-site that teaches surfing and stand-up paddle-boarding. The park also runs a pub down the road with a beautiful seaside view and plenty of outdoor seating space. Restaurants include a fish and chips shop, the casual Coast Cafe featuring regional fare, and the Bluff Inn, which serves full breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Wi-Fi is free in some public spots. Parking is both free and ample at the Riviere Sands.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Riviere Sands Holiday Park – Haven

Scene

Budget-friendly trailer-style lodging popular with British families

This budget holiday park consists of caravan (trailer) lodging and a series of indoor and outdoor common areas. It's popular with British families on a budget who want to be near the sea on the picturesque Cornish coast. Park grounds are colorful and scenic, and the atmosphere is generally relaxed, peaceful, and aimed at young families. There's not much in terms of a lobby, but there are chairs and sofas just outside the main building as well as a picnic area with benches overlooking the sea. The pool area can get crowded with families during the day. Trails to the water and along the coast link straight from the park, which is very handy.

See More Scene

Location

On a rural road near the Cornish town of Hayle -- 20 minutes from St. Ives

The Riviere Sands Holiday Park is located on the coast of Cornwall, off a rural residential road, a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive from Hayle. There is one convenience shop across the road from the park, but, for most non-resort dining and shopping ,it's best to go into Hayle, which also has the nearest train station. St. Ives is a 20-minute drive away. Heathrow Airport takes just under five hours to reach by road.

See More Location

Rooms

Run-down trailer houses, known as caravans, with bedrooms and kitchens -- some have sea views

Lodging at the Riviere Sands Holiday Park is in trailer-style units, known as caravans in the United Kingdom. Interiors are dominated by light wood laminate and dated motel-style furniture. Caravans range from small Standard units with two or three separate bedrooms to two- and three-bedroom Prestige and Platinum Caravans that have extras like DVD players and early check-in. All caravans come with TVs, living rooms, kitchens with refrigerators and microwaves, and wood-paneled bathrooms with stall showers. Higher-end units come with bed linens. Prestige and Platinum Caravans are available facing the sea and these have gorgeous views over St. Ives bay. There's no Internet access in rooms, but free Wi-Fi is available in select common areas. Note that past guests have complained of bedbugs and other issues with cleanliness in the caravans.

See More Rooms

Features

Numerous on-site activities include game arcades, pools, archery, and surfing

The amenities at the Riviere Sands are geared towards families with school-age children. There's a playground with a play structure and a tire swing, miniature golf, an indoor archery range, and a couple of arcades -- one of which has a pool table. The on-site theater hosts stage shows and special children's plays (known as pantomimes in England). There are two pools: one indoor and outdoor. The outdoor pool has a slide but it doesn't land in the water. There's also a school on-site that teaches surfing and stand-up paddle-boarding. The park also runs a pub down the road with a beautiful seaside view and plenty of outdoor seating space. Restaurants include a fish and chips shop, the casual Coast Cafe featuring regional fare, and the Bluff Inn, which serves full breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Wi-Fi is free in some public spots. Parking is both free and ample at the Riviere Sands.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Full Kitchen

  • Gameroom / Arcade

  • Kids Allowed

  • Kids Club

  • Laundry

  • Pool

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.