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Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park – Discounts, Offers, Facilities, Reviews and Location (2024 Guide)
**Whitecliff Bay Discount Code: Save 10% via this link with discount code ISLEGURU10 (expires 31/12/24) + cheap ferry travel**
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is one of the most popular caravan parks on the Isle of Wight.
It's near a sandy beach, it's got a huge range of accommodation and most importantly...it was visited by Shane Ritchie for a Channel 5 guide to caravanning. Shane stayed in the Rockstar accommodation in part of the park called Itchycoo Park, but there are other villages with romantic names like Tribeca and The Pines.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is also an award winner. It won Silver at the Tourism South East awards in the Holiday Park Category in 2018, 2019 and 2022. It also won Gold at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2022.
Here are our thoughts on its location, facilities, accommodation and value for money.
It's near a sandy beach, it's got a huge range of accommodation and most importantly...it was visited by Shane Ritchie for a Channel 5 guide to caravanning. Shane stayed in the Rockstar accommodation in part of the park called Itchycoo Park, but there are other villages with romantic names like Tribeca and The Pines.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is also an award winner. It won Silver at the Tourism South East awards in the Holiday Park Category in 2018, 2019 and 2022. It also won Gold at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2022.
Here are our thoughts on its location, facilities, accommodation and value for money.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is jam-packed with things to do...and it's next to a sandy beach
Where is Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is in Bembridge on the East coast of the Isle of Wight.
The adjacent beach is one of my personal favourites on the Isle of Wight, yet we rarely visit because it’s a lot of faff to get to unless you are staying at the holiday park. Incidentally, we lost a pink child’s shoe there about four years ago – please drop me an email if you find it.
The adjacent beach is one of my personal favourites on the Isle of Wight, yet we rarely visit because it’s a lot of faff to get to unless you are staying at the holiday park. Incidentally, we lost a pink child’s shoe there about four years ago – please drop me an email if you find it.
The cafe overlooking the beach at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
There’s a ridiculously steep slope to get down to the beach, but if you can cope with that then you’ll be able to be use an idyllic sandy beach which doesn’t get too busy. We manage it with a pushchair and a lot of puffing and panting.
Outside of the park is the posh village of Bembridge, which has a harbour and a lifeboat station that is open to visitors. Bembridge beach is good for dog walking all year round and the village has a handful of shops (and the UK’s oldest working phonebox…). Bembridge featured on a Channel 4 series with Penelope Keith in 2018 where she went fishing with a local seaman and it was also named as the UK's Village of the Year in 2019 by Countryfile Magazine.
Fifteen minutes away by car are Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin, which are busy bucket-and-spade resorts with sandy beaches. Ryde’s got seafront playgrounds for toddlers, a beachside swimming pool and a bowling alley. Sandown’s got a big all-age playground, a kiss-me-quick pier and a dinosaur museum. Shanklin has an amusement arcade, seafront minigolf and some nice seafront restaurants.
The Isle of Wight is not huge, so you could get absolutely anywhere from Whitecliff Bay within about 50 minutes, as long as you don't get stuck behind a tractor or stop to admire the view at Brading Downs.
Outside of the park is the posh village of Bembridge, which has a harbour and a lifeboat station that is open to visitors. Bembridge beach is good for dog walking all year round and the village has a handful of shops (and the UK’s oldest working phonebox…). Bembridge featured on a Channel 4 series with Penelope Keith in 2018 where she went fishing with a local seaman and it was also named as the UK's Village of the Year in 2019 by Countryfile Magazine.
Fifteen minutes away by car are Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin, which are busy bucket-and-spade resorts with sandy beaches. Ryde’s got seafront playgrounds for toddlers, a beachside swimming pool and a bowling alley. Sandown’s got a big all-age playground, a kiss-me-quick pier and a dinosaur museum. Shanklin has an amusement arcade, seafront minigolf and some nice seafront restaurants.
The Isle of Wight is not huge, so you could get absolutely anywhere from Whitecliff Bay within about 50 minutes, as long as you don't get stuck behind a tractor or stop to admire the view at Brading Downs.
How can I get a discount and special offers at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
Here are four tips and tricks to save money on a Whitecliff Bay holiday:
- Check the Away Resorts offers page. From time to time, we've seen discount codes and we'll add any that we hear of at the top of this page.
- Don't arrive on a Saturday. Booking a seven-day holiday which starts on a weekday is usually much cheaper at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park. When we searched for holidays in summer 2024, we found that a family of four could save £300-£400 over a week by avoiding weekend arrivals. The ferry is usually cheaper during the week as well. The saving is less significant outside of peak times.
- Book a large caravan/lodge instead of two smaller ones. If you don't mind getting cosy and you're travelling with others then sharing a caravan for eight people is a good value option. When we checked for holidays in summer 2024, a 'value chalet' for four people was £984 whilst a 'value caravan' for eight people was only £250 extra. That's a whopping saving of more than £700. Of course, you'll be living in close proximity and will probably hate each other by the end of the week but you'll be able to afford to eat out more.
- Hire a privately owned caravan rather than booking direct. Several of the caravans at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park are owned privately and they're available to rent via sites such as Booking.com. The advantage of booking via the owners is that you can see photos and reviews for the actual caravan you're booking. Owners set their own prices too so you might bag a bargain. One downside is that you won't get the ferry discount if you don't book via Away Resorts (see below). Another negative is that you have to pay for a guest pass if you want to use the holiday park's facilities.
Can you get a discount on the Isle of Wight Ferry with Whitecliff Bay holidays?
Now that's a great question!
Yes, you can. One of the best things about Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is that they'll book the ferry for you and usually at a considerable discount.
For example, I looked up the cost of a holiday in August 2024 and found that Away Resorts were offering the return Red Funnel ferry with a car full of passengers for just £92. Red Funnel quoted me £252 by booking direct - that's almost three times as much (although do check our ferry discounts page, as there's often a money off promo code for Red Funnel). Meanwhile, Wightlink would have charged me £281 if I booked it direct with them.
It won't always be a saving of more than 50% off, but the savings can be considerable.
You'll see the ferry booking option as an add-on when you start making a booking.
Yes, you can. One of the best things about Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is that they'll book the ferry for you and usually at a considerable discount.
For example, I looked up the cost of a holiday in August 2024 and found that Away Resorts were offering the return Red Funnel ferry with a car full of passengers for just £92. Red Funnel quoted me £252 by booking direct - that's almost three times as much (although do check our ferry discounts page, as there's often a money off promo code for Red Funnel). Meanwhile, Wightlink would have charged me £281 if I booked it direct with them.
It won't always be a saving of more than 50% off, but the savings can be considerable.
You'll see the ferry booking option as an add-on when you start making a booking.
What facilities are there at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park has enough onsite that you needn’t leave the park for a few days, although I personally wouldn’t get on a ferry and then spend the week on a holiday park.
Most activities are included in the booking price, including swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), soft play, table tennis, an adventure playground, table tennis and entertainment during the day and evening. There are seasonal things like an outdoor cinema too.
Some activities cost extra, such as the bike hire, archery and crazy golf. This video shows a lot of the activities:
Most activities are included in the booking price, including swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), soft play, table tennis, an adventure playground, table tennis and entertainment during the day and evening. There are seasonal things like an outdoor cinema too.
Some activities cost extra, such as the bike hire, archery and crazy golf. This video shows a lot of the activities:
You might prefer the warmer waters of the indoor swimming pool at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
Does Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park get good reviews?
Reviews of Whitecliff Bay are about average for this type of busy holiday park. Reviewers on Google give it about 4.2/5 whilst TripAdvisor's score is 4/5.
It scores about the same as Landguard and Lower Hyde in Shanklin which are two comparable holiday parks on the Isle of Wight – they both score 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
Nodes Point in nearby St Helen's scores 4.3/5 on Google Reviews, which is marginally higher but probably not enough to sway your decision.
It scores about the same as Landguard and Lower Hyde in Shanklin which are two comparable holiday parks on the Isle of Wight – they both score 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
Nodes Point in nearby St Helen's scores 4.3/5 on Google Reviews, which is marginally higher but probably not enough to sway your decision.
What's the accommodation like at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
Whitecliff Bay has caravans, chalets, lodges and glamping (posh tents).
In our price comparisons of holiday parks and glamping on the Isle of Wight, Whitecliff Bay was somewhere around the middle - not the cheapest, but certainly not the most expensive.
A week in August for a family of four started at £879 in a chalet (2024 prices), whilst glamping was £917. We searched in October 2023.
In our price comparisons of holiday parks and glamping on the Isle of Wight, Whitecliff Bay was somewhere around the middle - not the cheapest, but certainly not the most expensive.
A week in August for a family of four started at £879 in a chalet (2024 prices), whilst glamping was £917. We searched in October 2023.
If you want to upgrade there are lodges with hot tubs at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
Prices vary hugely depending on the time of year (school holidays are much more expensive, which won’t surprise you…). If you visit in September 2024, you could get a week at Whitecliff Bay in a chalet for more like £350. This is off peak but when the facilities are open. Off peak when facilities are closed drops to as little as £238.
These kind of holiday parks are best value if you travel in a larger group and fill up a 6 berth or 8 berth caravan. If you fill up a caravan you could have an August holiday for about £20-£25 per person, per night.
These kind of holiday parks are best value if you travel in a larger group and fill up a 6 berth or 8 berth caravan. If you fill up a caravan you could have an August holiday for about £20-£25 per person, per night.
Is camping available at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
Yes, camping is available at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park but it's quite basic and only available during July and August 2023. There is no electric hookup, but you do have access to a shared block of toilets and showers.
When we checked, it was £413 for a 'no-frills' pitch for a week in August 2024 for a family of four. That includes access to the resort's facilities including the swimming pool and kids' activities. It also means you can take advantage of Whitecliff Bay's hefty discount on the Isle of Wight ferry. The ferry discount could save you more than £100 at peak times, making the camping better value.
Previously, Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park had a larger camping and touring site with electric hookups but this ended in early 2022.
When we checked, it was £413 for a 'no-frills' pitch for a week in August 2024 for a family of four. That includes access to the resort's facilities including the swimming pool and kids' activities. It also means you can take advantage of Whitecliff Bay's hefty discount on the Isle of Wight ferry. The ferry discount could save you more than £100 at peak times, making the camping better value.
Previously, Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park had a larger camping and touring site with electric hookups but this ended in early 2022.
Basic camping without an electric hookup is available at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
Can I hire a caravan direct from an owner at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
Another great question! (Ed: alright, we get the idea...)
As mentioned earlier, some of the accommodation at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is owned privately and advertised on sites such as Booking.com
For example:
When we searched, the cheapest caravan available was several hundred pounds cheaper than going direct but that won't always be the case.
As mentioned earlier, some of the accommodation at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is owned privately and advertised on sites such as Booking.com
For example:
When we searched, the cheapest caravan available was several hundred pounds cheaper than going direct but that won't always be the case.
Can I bring my dog to Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
Some of the accommodation at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is dog friendly - just click the relevant box when you search and it will show you which ones. You have to pay an extra £20 for a pet.
Is Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park a good choice for an Isle of Wight holiday?
Whitecliff Bay is a good choice if you're looking for an action-packed holiday with a family. It's similar to Haven and Parkdean Resorts holiday parks in terms of offering a busy programme of things to do - most of which is included in the price.
I would say it's not a good choice if you are a couple looking for a quiet week away from it all. It might be OK outside of school holidays, but expect to be sharing the swimming pool with lots of families. It's also not such good value if you just travel as a couple, as the chalets/caravans are for groups of 4 to 8 people.
Whitecliff Bay allows pets at the park, which is either great news or a bit annoying if you don't like dogs...
See our guide to other holiday parks on the Isle of Wight
I would say it's not a good choice if you are a couple looking for a quiet week away from it all. It might be OK outside of school holidays, but expect to be sharing the swimming pool with lots of families. It's also not such good value if you just travel as a couple, as the chalets/caravans are for groups of 4 to 8 people.
Whitecliff Bay allows pets at the park, which is either great news or a bit annoying if you don't like dogs...
See our guide to other holiday parks on the Isle of Wight
Where can I get a quote for a holiday at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park?
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