Comments on: Bluestone - A Pembrokeshire Gem ! http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/ Hotels & Holidays in Wales Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:37:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Roy http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-131 Roy Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:59:13 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-131 Back home after 4 nights in Bluestone. We are regular visitors to Center Parcs and this was a great week. People should expect teething problems and it would appear that these are being ironed out. Plenty of work still going on and plants/shrubs/trees are not going to mature for a long while yet. My 14 and 12 year old boys would return there next week despite the 300+ mile journey. (Center Parcs is barely an hour away). To say that the staff were clueless is a little unfair from my perspective. To say that the shops were expensive is true but for pity's sake, Haverfordwest is 10 minutes away with all the shope you could need. Back home after 4 nights in Bluestone. We are regular visitors to Center Parcs and this was a great week. People should expect teething problems and it would appear that these are being ironed out. Plenty of work still going on and plants/shrubs/trees are not going to mature for a long while yet. My 14 and 12 year old boys would return there next week despite the 300+ mile journey. (Center Parcs is barely an hour away). To say that the staff were clueless is a little unfair from my perspective. To say that the shops were expensive is true but for pity’s sake, Haverfordwest is 10 minutes away with all the shope you could need.

]]> By: Edel http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-122 Edel Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:27:17 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-122 Just returned from a bluestone break, and it fell far short of the claimed 5 star luxury. We were never informed beforehand that it had only opened 3 weeks ago, and from our experience, it opened away too early. No discounts or compensation offered to us for the inconvenience. Trips promoted on the website are not actually available when you go to book. Spa is not open. Aqua centre is nice. Gym not fully functional and very few classes available yet. Shops inadequate and over priced. Catering mediocre and expensive. Occupancy currently about 50%. Staff nice but clueless. Avoid the place until you see improvements. Just returned from a bluestone break, and it fell far short of the claimed 5 star luxury.
We were never informed beforehand that it had only opened 3 weeks ago, and from our experience, it opened away too early. No discounts or compensation offered to us for the inconvenience. Trips promoted on the website are not actually available when you go to book. Spa is not open. Aqua centre is nice. Gym not fully functional and very few classes available yet. Shops inadequate and over priced. Catering mediocre and expensive. Occupancy currently about 50%. Staff nice but clueless. Avoid the place until you see improvements.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-121 Dave Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:02:50 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-121 Folks Yes I was there. Yes we were given a 25% discount on the weekend price and yes we were given £100 vouchers on arrival at the gate house and yes we were offered a further % discount if we re-booked in 30 days. Yes we had free bikes for the weekend and yes there was a McFly concert to listen in from Oakwood. By my calculation I got a cracking 3 nights for £250. Yes - talking to others they had problems such as waiting too long to be served food, plumbing in the lodges; but this was far from fawtly towers. The staff were really trying to make sure you left Bluestone with a smile on your face. Perhaps we were lucky given it was the first weekend and you were not. Its now been open sinve the 18th July so perhaps there are others out there that can either confrim my beleif that the service will get very sharp or remains below par. It is certainly booked solid to the 25th Aug and I cannot get a slot in the Oct half term. Folks

Yes I was there. Yes we were given a 25% discount on the weekend price and yes we were given £100 vouchers on arrival at the gate house and yes we were offered a further % discount if we re-booked in 30 days. Yes we had free bikes for the weekend and yes there was a McFly concert to listen in from Oakwood. By my calculation I got a cracking 3 nights for £250. Yes - talking to others they had problems such as waiting too long to be served food, plumbing in the lodges; but this was far from fawtly towers. The staff were really trying to make sure you left Bluestone with a smile on your face. Perhaps we were lucky given it was the first weekend and you were not. Its now been open sinve the 18th July so perhaps there are others out there that can either confrim my beleif that the service will get very sharp or remains below par. It is certainly booked solid to the 25th Aug and I cannot get a slot in the Oct half term.

]]> By: Debbii100 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-120 Debbii100 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:27:52 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-120 Have just returned from short break there with family (two kids 14 & 12)and would agree with James, Liz and Matt. We were appalled. Although the accommodation was at least complete (and certainly by far the best bit of the whole experience)it lacked mirrors, coathangers and drying facilities, along with instuction booklets for the equipment contained within. The rest of the site was to say the least still a mess and it was obvious that it was all a bit of a rushed job to get things ready. All this not helped by the weather(3 days solid rain). So the paths became streams washing any loose mud and topsoil straight down the hill to almost outside out front door. Although pool open (best part). There was no sign of any other activities. Bikes had just arrived however, if you have young children bear in mind that if you are located at the bottom of the hill, it is a very steep ride up! There were only 5 shops open (Bakers, Grocers, Clothing, Toys & Gifts and an Art Gallery) all very expensive and selling limited ranges. We were given no discounts or vouchers and during our stay could not locate anybody to complain to! We are bitterly disappointed since we were so looking forward to it especially since the write up on the site made it all look so good. We were also left with two very bored children. My feelings are that Dave may well be being paid by Bluestone for his write up or living in cloud cuckoo land. Anyway you have been warned I would give Bluestone a miss for this season anyway and go to CentreParc or Oasis. Have just returned from short break there with family (two kids 14 & 12)and would agree with James, Liz and Matt. We were appalled. Although the accommodation was at least complete (and certainly by far the best bit of the whole experience)it lacked mirrors, coathangers and drying facilities, along with instuction booklets for the equipment contained within. The rest of the site was to say the least still a mess and it was obvious that it was all a bit of a rushed job to get things ready. All this not helped by the weather(3 days solid rain). So the paths became streams washing any loose mud and topsoil straight down the hill to almost outside out front door. Although pool open (best part). There was no sign of any other activities. Bikes had just arrived however, if you have young children bear in mind that if you are located at the bottom of the hill, it is a very steep ride up! There were only 5 shops open (Bakers, Grocers, Clothing, Toys & Gifts and an Art Gallery) all very expensive and selling limited ranges. We were given no discounts or vouchers and during our stay could not locate anybody to complain to! We are bitterly disappointed since we were so looking forward to it especially since the write up on the site made it all look so good. We were also left with two very bored children. My feelings are that Dave may well be being paid by Bluestone for his write up or living in cloud cuckoo land. Anyway you have been warned I would give Bluestone a miss for this season anyway and go to CentreParc or Oasis.

]]> By: Matt http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-111 Matt Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:59:18 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-111 Also stayed for the first week. It was not ready, but we were fairly compensated with discount and vouchers. Staff were great, facilities after a bedding down period, will be good. Don't be put off by the advertised prices, there will be discounts galore for the foreseeable, just bear in mind that once you get there, alot of activities are extra, eg bike hire, archery, driving range etcetc Also stayed for the first week.
It was not ready, but we were fairly compensated with discount and vouchers.
Staff were great, facilities after a bedding down period, will be good.
Don’t be put off by the advertised prices, there will be discounts galore for the foreseeable, just bear in mind that once you get there, alot of activities are extra, eg bike hire, archery, driving range etcetc

]]> By: liz http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-109 liz Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:45:38 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-109 Agree with james. Arrived 18th July as paying guests - more like guinea pigs. Lodge well-designed but furniture thrown in 5 minutes before we arrived. Dust everywhere, lots of snags - eg leaking sink, bathroom door won't close etc. Place a building site and technical problems closed the pool for 3 out of the 7 days we were there. Unfinished roads and paths, landscaping still to be done, catering was dire. Great concept but opened two months early I think. Agree with james. Arrived 18th July as paying guests - more like guinea pigs. Lodge well-designed but furniture thrown in 5 minutes before we arrived. Dust everywhere, lots of snags - eg leaking sink, bathroom door won’t close etc. Place a building site and technical problems closed the pool for 3 out of the 7 days we were there. Unfinished roads and paths, landscaping still to be done, catering was dire. Great concept but opened two months early I think.

]]> By: James http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-102 James Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:46:28 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-102 who is this guy Dave? i do not think you were really there? tiles coming off pool and £1500!! Prices have been slashed and for good reason so there is no way you paid this. who is this guy Dave? i do not think you were really there? tiles coming off pool and £1500!! Prices have been slashed and for good reason so there is no way you paid this.

]]> By: Dave Penlington http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-101 Dave Penlington Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:06:32 +0000 http://blog.visitwales.co.uk/105/bluestone-a-pembrokeshire-gem/#comment-101 Stayed there for its openning weekend on 18th July. Building trouble delayed the openning from June and Bluestones had to forgo their rehearsal soft opening. They need not have worried. The logdes were fantastic with luxury detail right down to the royal dalton dinnerware and super comfy beds. The Preseli mountain view vista was only eclipsed by the similes carried by the staff. The Bluestone pool was great with its hot tubs, many slides and wave making machine. Great for the kids. The leisure centre had a fully equipped and new gym with all sorts of sporting activies. The central village had high quality shops and a pub. The spa was not open when we were there. Expect the level of service to get sharper over the next couple of months. There was some teething issues but not to be expected. This place will be an absolute gem for Pembroke, particularly as it backs on the Oakwood Theme park. They are even talking about a snow dome for next year. I think there biggest challenge will be to keep the prices affordable and not too expensive - £1500 per week high season. Gets my vote anyway as a luxury getway. I will be back Stayed there for its openning weekend on 18th July. Building trouble delayed the openning from June and Bluestones had to forgo their rehearsal soft opening. They need not have worried. The logdes were fantastic with luxury detail right down to the royal dalton dinnerware and super comfy beds. The Preseli mountain view vista was only eclipsed by the similes carried by the staff. The Bluestone pool was great with its hot tubs, many slides and wave making machine. Great for the kids. The leisure centre had a fully equipped and new gym with all sorts of sporting activies. The central village had high quality shops and a pub. The spa was not open when we were there. Expect the level of service to get sharper over the next couple of months. There was some teething issues but not to be expected. This place will be an absolute gem for Pembroke, particularly as it backs on the Oakwood Theme park. They are even talking about a snow dome for next year. I think there biggest challenge will be to keep the prices affordable and not too expensive - £1500 per week high season. Gets my vote anyway as a luxury getway. I will be back

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