So the whole family have birthdays in Summer, except for my 6yr old. Hers is in June, and we don't enjoy camping in winter with kids. She complained that everyone else gets to go away for their birthdays, why not her.

As a compromise I booked a chalet at ATKV Goudini this past weekend, which also happened to be the 1st weekend of the school holidays.

Never having been to an ATKV resort before I was kind of expecting something like Warmbaths used to be in it's heyday. I was also interested to see the campsite since everyone on the forum seems to rate them. Of further interest is the fact that by W.Cape standards, their camping costs for non-member are VERY expensive, so I was curious about what would justify the extra cost.

1st off, I was very surprised to arrive at Reception to find a big parking area, but nothing really convenient if you have a caravan attached (I had a trailer). Not a huge drama, but if a number of campers arrived at the same time things could get interesting!! Just seems a strange oversight.

To get to the chalet, we had to go past the caravan park. Hmm. If I had the caravan....I would have turned around and gone to Montagu. No way would I pay to stay there, especially given the high cost. I understand that Rawsonville is hot in summer and so trees are essential. I also understand that trees cause issues with grass, but I still don't expect to see a glorified parking lot. Basically grey brick slabs, brown mud and green trees. In addition, the hedges/trees have not been cut back to allow a caravan to get in close to them. A number of spots you would have to park almost in the middle. There were some very nice grass sites at the bottom, but those had no shade at all.

I did'nt get a chance to look at the ablutions so I can't comment on those.

The chalets were very nice and well equipped, with one glaring exception...no heaters. Fortunately we took one just in case but our friends did not...and they froze!

The facilities themselves are stunning, with the exception of the indoor pool which is dank, dingy and smelly, with paint flaking everywhere. The only complaint I have about the outdoor pools is that there were a few tiles missing along the edges. The kids playground was ok, but some equipment was broken. The shop is well stocked and the prices fair.

Did'nt eat at the restaurant but had a look at the flyers and the prices seemed ok.

It's been many years since I was at any sort of resort with an 'Entertainment' programme, so the noise level was something of a surprise! Big speakers were set up by the pool and from 16h00 or so on Friday until 22h30 was just incessant noise. It started again at 10h00 on Sat until 22h30. To add to the general noise, every other chalet occupant wanted to listen to their own music, so there was a multitude of cars with doors/boot open and the volume turned up so they could hear their own noise, rather then the resort noise.

Any other resort I have been to, that level of noise is the exception, and you can have a word with the management and hopefully it gets sorted. You could'nt do that here, since it was management making the most noise!!!

Not sure how loud it was in the caravan park as the speakers were facing the opposite direction and had changerooms behind them, although they were moved on Sunday morning. The policy is that there is no noise after 11, and they are very strict on that....but jeez, by that stage it past being amusing. The units around the pool must have gone home deaf! 

Would I go back again?...................Maybe, but only as a last resort and then I would insist on a chalet as far away as possible....maybe.

The only ATKV i have not been to.

Hi Andrew,

I was in Montagu this last weekend at Badensfontein, Montagu (see later under seperate thread) in my caravan and thank goodness I had a heater AND electric blanket cos it was freezing.

It was so quiet we were the only ones there, so peaceful and quiet, but even the birds disappeared due to the cold.

@ Alan...very jealous! Learned my lesson about chalets a few years ago. I took my cadac gas one, as well as my oil one! Would have loved some quiet...but my kids loved the pools and supertube.

Thanks Andrew. I have been looking for somewhere to go in the next month or so and was considering Goudini as I camped at AKTV Hartenbos in January 2013 and it was well run and very nice. Will probably go to Montagu as they have a heated indoor pool now.

@ Alex, they do indeed, and it's very nice! Otherwise The Baths in/near Clanwilliam are supposed to be very nice.

Name and shame where did you go?

Deon, I suspect the people complaining about high costs of camping have not compared with parks upcountry. I constantly compare with family that camp up there, and prices here are consistently lower (with one or two exceptions). 

Have never been to Tietiesbay since I have been hearing stories of the loud parties since I moved to the Cape in 1998. 

I have been very lucky so far, the only other time I experienced that level of noise was when I made the mistake of booking in at Palmiet over Easter.

Never did understand the idea of blasting music in a campsite. It just contradicts the entire point!!!