La Manga

We stayed in our motorhome for 3 weeks in February/March. Our pitch on the edge of the site was level, quiet and overlooked mountains. We enjoyed many walks and cycle rides from the site through the National Park adjacent. Motorhome outings to Cartagena and La Azohia were enjoyable. On site facilities were very clean, if a little dated, and some extra maintenance is needed for 5 stars. The running machine in the gym remained broken for 3 weeks. The indoor pool was lovely, but a few tiles missing and the changing rooms needed updating. The on site shop is great. The meat and deli counter was well used by us.No need to go off site for shopping. The dog friendly area on the bar/restaurant terrace was not the best, but a short walk takes you to better locations. We used the restaurant once and were underwhelmed. If you walk through the site, you realise it is vast. The previously mentioned Spanish Holiday homes, in different areas from the touring pitches, are a feat of ingenuity, with the majority clean and well cared for, with friendly inhabitants to test your Spanish on! Hola and a smile worked well! All in all a positive experience and we will return at some time.

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This site really could not be easier to find, it is directly off the main duel carriageway to La Manga, albeit you have to go past it on the westbound carriageway for about half-mile to exit, cross-over and return on the eastbound carriageway. The site access is very easy and a security guard at the entrance will direct you to the parking area, while you go the check in. This also gives you the opportunity to walk the site and chose a different pitch if you're unhappy with the one allocated. The pitches are not over-generous - our 8m caravan has a little room front-and-back, but with the awning up we literally fill the width of the pitch. In the main you have to park your car in one of the plentiful parking areas. A good proportion of the site has chalet / static caravans / dwellings, some of which are quite scruffy and there is no uniformity to them, which makes the site look a little unkempt - I fully understand the "Shanty Town" comments in some other reviews. The site road does generate quite a bit of noise as vehicles tend to travel at much greater speeds then the 20kph limit. This would be a major concern if we were travelling with little ones. The site toilet and shower facilities are pretty basic - the shower cubicles are not really large-enough to dress within your cubicle. However, they are spotless, there is a team of cleaners that just rotate through the facilities blocks all day long. The site amenities are numerous - there's an excellent supermarket, an excellent bar and restaurant. Swimming pools (yet-to-open), tennis courts, paddle courts, basketball courts, children's play areas. At the bottom of the site is the beach, where the bar restaurant is located. From this point it's a short walk to Playa Honda or Mar de Crystal. In Cabo de Palos a couple of miles away there are several supermarkets, petrol stations and other shops - and a market every Sunday. The rally itself is brilliantly hosted, with loads of activities happening throughout each week. You can join in as many or as few as you like.

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We spent 2 weeks at this site in February this year, while the site is massive and is 50% static holiday homes of all different styles and age which does give some parts the feel of a "shanty" town however the Club pitches are in a separate block. Good size pitches, each hedged for privacy with plenty of shade if required, fresh water, electricity and grey water drainage on each pitch. The shower/toilet block was central to the block of pitches and was kept very clean with plenty of hot water. The site restaurant is on the beach so was about a 15 minute walk from our pitch but served good food, both English & Spanish cuisine at reasonable prices. Several villages are within walking distance and the local bus service stops just outside the site entrance, Trips to Cartegena and Cabo de Palos recommended.

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An enormous site, 75% occupied by permanently occupied pitches with static caravans hidden behind an large variety of 'structures', some actually bricks and mortar. The touring pitches are rectangular level and all separated by hedges and there a plenty of trees for shade. The touring pitches all have electricity, water and drainage and are separated from the 'shanty town' zone at the top of the site. It is is a long walk from that area to the 'beach' and the restaurant (which is ok). If you are thinking of using this site you should read up about the "Mar Menor"(the large salt water lagoon where this site is located) and the pollution issues. Personally I wouldn't use this site again.

Response from the Club:

We`re sorry to read that you weren`t happy with La Manga. The campsite is very large with a number of cabins for rent to tourists plus many static units used by permanent residents, although touring pitches do still account for over 60% of the campsite pitches. First impressions when initially driving through the campsite may surprise some members as the main road goes past the permanently sited residential area before reaching the touring pitch side. The residential area has a large variety of adapted static vans which may look haphazardly built upon. The touring area as you say, is separate to the residential area and has well sized pitches separated by hedges for privacy or shade.
The campsite does have a loyal following amongst members, who return to the campsite every year, especially in winter to enjoy the facilities and entertainment on-site and in the local area.
We cannot avoid the well publicised environmental issues experienced by the Mar Menor in recent years but understand that the local authorities are investing in a cleaning operation alongside various environmental initiatives in an attempt to secure the future of the lagoon. We will continue to keep the situation under review whilst we continue our partnership with this popular campsite.

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We were thinking of booking this site for a couple of months, as one of the hosted winter long stay options for early 2023. We were nearby in April 22, so decided to stop. Thank goodness we did. The site is dreadful. As we drove in to choose our pitch it looked exactly like a shantytown. The site is supposed to be all year, but the shop was shut (possibly for siesta, but I wouldn't expect it to be, no other on site shops have shut at lunchtime) it was so appalling we just drove straight out. When we went to reception to explain they didn't seem surprised. Another couple were doing exactly the same. I have been totally put off any club winter sites if this is the standard chosen for over winter hosted sites. It was 22euro a night, so more expensive than other sites too I think the club really need to reconsider their license. We have never had a bad experience of a club site in the UK and all the sites in Spain have been great, but this was shocking.

Comment from the Club:

We`re sorry to read that you will not consider La Manga for our hosted holiday in Winter 2023 based on this short experience in April. Whilst over 60% of the campsite is formed of touring pitches, it is true that the first impressions when driving through the campsite may surprise some members as the main road passes an area of permanently sited residential units before reaching the touring pitch side. The residential area has a large variety of adapted static vans which can look haphazardly built upon. The touring area is separate to this area with well sized pitches separated by hedges for privacy or shade. In winter our members enjoy the indoor pool and the activities that the hosts organise in the pool bar building which is conveniently located close to the holiday pitches at the top of the campsite near to reception. The bar by the lagoon is a popular spot to socialise with others on the hosted holiday or the local residents as well as the restaurant which serves good quality well priced food. It`s not uncommon for campsite shops to close for a few hours each day to give their staff a break, especially if they have limited staff available. Based on our 2022 Winter holiday feedback the shop was a good size, well stocked and at prices comparable to the local supermarkets.
We`re pleased to hear that otherwise you have had a good experience with Club sites and are happy with our other European partner campsites and perhaps you can consider our other hosted winter holiday at nearby Alannia Costa Blanca.

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WARNING: Despite what it may say on the web-site or in Venture Abroad, when we arrived last week (May 2019) they were adamant that they did not and would not accept Overseas Site Night Vouchers. The site itself is spacious and clean (actually eerily empty when we were there!) but is a bit out on a limb and off the beaten track. We would certainly not consider going there again.

Response from the Site: 

We are sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your stay. We must stress that this was a misunderstanding, and a staff training issue. Please be assured we do accept the vouchers.

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We were meant to stay 6 nights here but we lasted one. We are fairly traditional caravaners who like a decent pitch, clean facilities and to be close to the beach/town. To be fair this does have all that and if you are looking for somewhere where you have everything on site, and you do not wish to move for the duration of your stay, then this could be the place for you. The site facilities are all in the centre of the site going down in a line one after the other and the pitches are in sections on each side. This site is massive and walking from reception to the beachfront is close to a mile. The reception and shop are at the top, the pool and bar in the middle followed by the football pitch and then finally the restaurant and beach. In between these sections are 2 maybe 3 big car parks - there are literally vehicles everywhere! The pitches come in 2 size and the bigger 100m are in the front sections closest to the beach, but do not expect to be in the front line or indeed to have a sea view from your pitch. As previous reviews said the white gravel and hedges provide privacy, but you are going to be looking over permanent plots which range from static caravans to metal huts to park homes in all stages of cleanliness and use. Some owners have even created 2 floors and have sun terraces. The smaller pitches back away from the beach but are not so close to these array of park homes. The beach looks lovely and tropical with palm trees but you are on a salt lake so you can walk out for miles up to your knees and it gets no deeper and the water is muddy so it is not ideal for swimming. Lots of water sports on offer but we did not try. The bar/restaurant was nice and we listened to a good solo singer perform which was pleasant, but the flies were horrendous and constantly landing on you or your food. We left the restaurant at 11.30pm and went back to our caravan and were kept awake until 2am by lots of screaming kids still playing football. Then in the permanent caravan pitch behind us their dog was barking at anything that moved and then opposite us in the one of the huts 2 men sat outside and talked until 4.30am. It was the night from hell. The next day we went up to reception and said we were moving on very early they asked no questions and gave me a refund without being prompted. It’s big, busy and noisy. It did not feel like a campsite.

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We stayed here January to March 2018 - caravan pitches in certain areas and ( paid for ) wifi ok, restaurant good. Overall this large site is scruffy and areas of the permanent setups look like a shanty town you would find in Africa in the 1960s. The toilet blocks are 30 years out of date and badly maintained, although the cleaning staff work tirelessly to try and keep them clean. Can't really say anything else, except to avoid it.

Response from Site: 

Thank you for your feedback in relation to your stay at Caravaning La Manga. We have taken on board your comments in relation to our sanitary blocks and this year we have made some significant improvements. We have changed the heaters in the blocks and we have improved the hot water capacity. We are also going to be changing the washing machines in each sanitary block.

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Stayed for a couple of weeks in March 2017 on the plus side we found the staff excellent, the shop well stocked, the restaurant excellent and the location great on the minus side it does look a bit tired. The statics reminded us of a shanty town and the site does need some money spent on it. we had one of the larger pitches which in common with a lot of Spanish sites isn't that large. Overall we had a pleasant time just wish it wasn't a scruffy.

Response from Campsite:

Dear andrew12,

Thank you for your valued feedback. I will take on board your comments and advise my staff of your positive feedback. We are currently looking at our Camping strategy for 2018 and beyond and some reinvestment in certain areas is part of this plan. We very much look forward to your next stay with us. Best regards. Maria Martinez 

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We've stayed on this site 3 times now and nothing changes as far as we can see. On the plus side, it has a decent supermarket, a good restaurant with a lovely view of the Mar Menor, friendly reception staff and security and good size, mostly private pitches. The negatives are that there are no places to sit by the outside pool, no umbrellas and therefore it doesn't entice you to use it, and the sanitary facilities which may on the surface be cleanish but if you look properly they're are really not and the reason would appear to be their age. The blocks could do with being knocked down and rebuilt and new drainage put in as at times, the smell from the grills in the shower cubicles is unpleasant to say the least. Also these days, you expect to have room to take your clothes into the shower and hang them up so they aren't likely to get wet rather than effectively expecting you to leave the on a bench outside the cubicle and suspend all modesty when you have to come out to get dressed. As we have said before, there is a CCC rally for 6 months of the year which must bring in a generous sum to the campsite, so you would think that they could improve on these facilities. We've also mentioned this before, but the tennis courts need resurfacing. It has the potential to be a super sight and even the permanent residential buildings are not an eyesore as far as we are concerned, they simply add character. We visit because its location suits us but it could offer so much more.

Response from Campsite:

Dear Daisy Duke,

Thank you for your valued feedback. I will report all this and more back to the maintenance department who we are planning to reinvest and improve certain areas of the camping for next year. 

I very much hope to see you back staying with us next year. Best regards . Maria Martinez.

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