Pontins Camber Sands, East Sussex, England
Hotel Information
Hotel Description:
Camber Sands offers an abundance of fun-packed games, quizzes and sports to enjoy each and every day. So, whilst the kids take part in exciting activities you're free to take a dip in the indoor heated pool or relax in one of the Centre's lively bars.Nearby Hotels Viewed by Other Travellers
Pontins Camber Sands Reviews
" Will never return !!!!!!! "
Submitted By: nightmareThe worst holiday me, my husband and two young children have ever had, and we have had many budget breaks in th UK with no problems.
The accomodation was so dated that as soon as I walked in I wanted to walk out ?
The Bathroom was mouldy, dirty and to top it all no curtain / blind at window so everybody walking by (as we backed onto road and parking bays) could see us having a bath !!!!!! All the flooring in the bathroom was lifting up and holding everybody who has stayed there - bodily hair. YUK ???
The carpet was dirty and looked about 50 years old.
At night our Kitchen floor was covered in slugs which were coming in under the cooker - absolutely disgusting.
At night I was woken by drunks shouting and even one night throwing up outside our door.
We didnt stay the full 4 nights we just wanted to get out of there, never been so happy to get home, we were really looking forward to going away together as a family, so disappointed - will never go again and would warn anyone else not to do so as well.
Advice: Hasting good
Activities:
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Pontins Camber Sands "
Submitted By: LinilinTAdvice: Camber Sands beach is nice
Activities: Avoid the Pontins restaurant
Good for: Beach
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Horrific "
Submitted By: gemmoni- Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:The Sun
" Another Great Pontin's Holiday! "
Submitted By: CanetoadHaving said that, we use Pontin's as a base more than anything else so we do get to escape. On this visit we had a freebie day trip to France thrown in, which we took advantage of and had a really good day out.
We did have a problem with drunks at three in the morning but if this happens you can ring the number on your room key. Security sorted it out and we had no more trouble. The doors not being childproof is a problem and I wish Pontin's would add chains at the top of the doors (as Butlins do) where the children can't reach them.
We didn't think much of the restaurant at Camber Sands. The staff seemed confused over what the specials were and the food was almost cold when it was served. We wouldn't go in there again. Other than that, we had the usual great time!
Good for: Beach
- Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" chavy and dirty "
Submitted By: sara990The kids didn't mind the evening entertainment, but It was repetitive. The blue coats do try their hardest so hats off to them. On our last night, a drunken brawl broke out between a load of chavs and tarts in the middle of the hall, and they were surrounded by families with young children. There was a distinct lack of security and the fight carried on down the stairs and outside. I was disgusted by this and feared for our safety. unfortunately, I would expect this behavior on an adults only weekend, but not a family holiday.
The gift shop in the main entertainment hall sells toy guns and plastic knifes – why??? This is terrible, but there were plenty of kids with these toys so obviously the parents couldn't give a toss.
Access to the main hall is up a flight of stairs. Not good for parents with kids in pushchairs or the disabled. After struggling up the stairs with the buggy, we did manage to find a small platform lift, but this wasn't advertised and really they need a proper lift installed.
Back to the apartments: you have to buy electricity! We were "lucky" in the fact our holiday was a newspaper deal so we were given ours for free, otherwise you have to pay! When we checked in, we were given the chance to upgrade in exchange for extra cash, and that would have given us our sheets, and a TV. A friend who has been to pontins before said that they never pay for sheets but always get them, so we decided to take the chance. When we got to the room, our sheets were all there and so was a TV!
Plus points:
• quite good activities for the older kids (quad bikes etc) and the younger kids enjoyed the kids entertainment in the evening
• A lovely sandy beach a short walk across the road
• A good fish and chip shop on the main road outside pontins
• the resort is full of rabbits in the evening – that's quite sweet I suppose
Advice: The caravan park next door is much nicer and has a nice swimming pool!
Advice: Pontins at camber sands needs to be demolished – it's so old and needs a serious cash injection
Activities:
Good for: Beach
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" never ever again "
Submitted By: gingershazcheck in like queueing up for your dinner card at school.
impression of the site...horrible
chalet omg where to start kitchen no kitchen cooking equitment,so called lounge broken chairs sofa bed with a big dip,big hole in the unit cobwebs in most corners. dirt under the units
bedroom 1 graffiti all over the beds
bedroom 2 broken windows,smashed wardrobe no hanging bar,graffitti in the draws and big nail sticking out of matrees that could pierce my daughter.
bathroom mold over the ceiling and thick black mold over the shower unit
bedding quilt spelt of vinegar not mild but strong
outside chalet high step and cracked pavement,not disabled friendly
nighttime to dark to see steps tripped many of times.
bluecoats didnt see many in the day if we did kds would say hi and bluecoats ignored them.
at night they did shows and couldnt sing.
grass areas full of pot holes and dirtys cigarette butts everywhere
bar area i actually saw children buying booze
food area was over charge for chicken meal by eight pounds.
hotdogs had offer 2.99 for hotdog with drink,daughter asked for it just got the hotdog,guy says you have to buy drinks seperately had t stand for 30 mins to argue finally got drink then we saw him take the offer down.
3rd night daughter had break down she felt like a prisoner she 16 and couldnt get of site
notheing for her to do fiver for each pgl activity which is a rip of for how long you get.
the only thing that kept us there was we were with friends and we made our own entertainement.
the only good thing was night time was the manager who kept this rowdy family under control he kept going to chalet to make sure they were all in bed.
im use to hemsby where i been going for 15 years it saddens me that it shut and they kept camber open.
also if you look in brochure says club and classic free electric what a joke we were in classic and paid or was my chalet budget???? for the state it was in makes me wonder now
Advice: love the coast line especially rye
Activities: we did the bus from hasting to dover loved it
Good for: Beach
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" verry good "
Submitted By: pamelabetGood for: Beach
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Pontins camber we enjoyed anyway "
Submitted By: RozzBut a holiday is what you make of it I spent 300 on 4 night in the classic 1 bedroom for 4 of us
The accomdation is very clean apart from a little mould in the shower
nothing to worry about the linen was white and clean ( every one was moaning about the sofa beds take a blow up matress)and where we were was very quiet apart from kids playing football during the day which my children joined in.
Elecrticty was cheap we managed to get through about 2.50 for the 5 days, kitchen was fully equiped and clean
My son was very bored not much for a 16 year old to do had go home anyway to collect exam results.
the book of vouchers came in handy 3for2 on beer and VK etc and we bought the Zens and flo cups refills were only 69p for pepsi
we partipated in a few activties ballet school and family tresure hunt etc they were fun
PGL activties were brillant the go-karting was 2.50 ago.
The swimming pool was packed well organised the life guards were very strict no splashing and diving, my kid didn't like the pool much they said it was a bit cold
The sercuity was very strict yes but the man was doing his job my 13 daughter wanted to nip to the shop but they would'nt let her out, but i suppose its for her own safety but the kids could wander around the camp at there own leasure the arcade , crazy golf,
Entertainment those blue coats are brillant they do a incrediable job the blue coat show was amazing, quizzes bingo,
we didn't eat on the camp it looked over priced there is cafes on the seafront that are reasonable priced. The supermarket is expensive we went to Hastings for the day bus every hour outside the camp and stocked up in Iceland
The girls and i had a lovely time it was clean and quiet apart from the seagulls. its not for the over 14's but a a cheap family holiday its all right
Good for: Beach
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Never Again!! "
Submitted By: Explorers1. Whole entertainment complex is run down and dated. Dirty and depressing. Needs knocking down and rebuilding.
2. No evening entertainment to speak of - the blue coats try their best but it is very low budget entertainment - quizzes, bingo, competitions.
3. Chalets!! Don't even go there! Filthy, dated - I am so glad we did not have to cook in there! The sofa 'bed' was just so uncomfortable - we slept on the floor instead!
4. Amusement arcade - open most of the day to encourage you to spend your hard earned cash.
5. Kids entertainment - okay if you want to spend extra on PGL activities - otherwise the soft play area is a joke so are the slides into the pool. The only thing the kids really wanted to watch - the Scooby Doo show - was cancelled.
6. Restaurant - like a run down school canteen - breakfast was okay but evening meals were a bit of 'pot luck'.
Overall - don't go there! We had a very cheap 'Sun Holiday deal' - I feel very sorry for people who paid full price! We will not be going to Pontin's again!
Advice: Traffic is horrendous at times
Activities: Go to Ashford, Kent for great cinema and restaurants
Good for: Beach
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" BE WARNED !!! DONT WASTE UR MONEY. "
Submitted By: 1happypafter driving 3hrs and 30mins ,we finally reach our destination ,with what one can only describe as shock and horror!!!
if the drive was shorter we would of drove round and gone straight back out the gate.
the buildings can only be discribed as something from times past (1950s)and the smell in the room was muskey,the bedsheets that we paid for were clean but the rest of the room was not (dirty window sills and windows so dirty u could barely see through them).
after putting our bags down and without unpacking we decided to give it ago and look round,it was about 8.30pm when we arrived ,which was such a blessing,glad it wasnt 8.30am.
the restarant was closed at 8.30 so we queued for a burger,the staff were somewhat slow and gave you the impression they did not want to be there ,(i somewhat felt for them,prob on min wage and not treated too good.)overpriced and overcooked burger.
anyway lucky for us we went back to our room early to watch a film ,just like being at home(but without the comforts).next day thought this will be better as joe pasquale was too entertain us tonight ,we went too the beach which was lovely,well just before the sandstorm started (which i cant blame on pontins)we had a really lovely meal in the pub near the beach and then headed back to see good ole joe.
i asked the barstaff what time he would be performing and he said it was thursday just gone,GREAT!!!! website showed he was performing sat 29th,LIARS.
we then decided too have a few drinks too numb the pain!!! which was really expensive,went to bed got up at 7.30am and ran out of the place as fast as are little legs would take us a day early!!!!,read this and be warned ,wish we had read reviews.i will be writing a letter to pontins,but prob put there complaints all in 1 bag never too be read,why would they when idiots like us go and make them a fortune.(very large bag).
Advice: beach
Activities: inn on the beach ,lovely food.
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" never again "
Submitted By: ddavidsonAfter a journey of almost 3 hours i wasn't prepared for what greeted me: the smelly filthy accommodation, the whole entertainment area was like the black hole which I never went near again and i only visited the 'Fun Factory' (what a joke of a name) once to collect my key on arrival. My daughter wanted to go home,but my grandsons (bless them!) didn't know any better and wanted to stay so we had to endure 4 nightmare days and escaped first thing Friday morning. The poor man at the information desk was struggling to cope with people complaining but said he could do nothing about it.
The whole place is a disgrace and I wish I had never gone. It was daylight robbery, be warned don't go near the place unless you are happy living in a hovel .
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Room Only
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Old, Dirty, Decrepit, and Politically Incorrect "
Submitted By: pontinssuckswhilst there were almost no features of the location that i would state were nice it must be said that although the entertainers have no talent they still attempt to entertainer the mass numbers of holiday goers, and as well as this the beach is fairly pleasant. and the star act of the week (practically the only decent entertainment of the week) was joe pasqualie however even his performance was short (though very good).
Advice: Don't go there!
Activities: barley any... however Hastings is close by.
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" one flew over the cuckoos nest "
Submitted By: holiday from hell- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Vile heat and smell "
Submitted By: Pontins sucks badlyFast Food- Bad, Dusty, some spotty erk serving you in no uniform, also smells. 3/10
Restraunt- Lacks in veriety and smells also. 4/10
Pub- Had to ask for glasses, sticky tables, hot, dirty, smelly, outrageous prices 2/10
Games room- Morrisons skittles and table tennis and pool, but hot and sticky, and really bare 2/10
Reception- only one hatch open, 90's decor in the form of a ship. 4/10
Chalet- Stinky, someone had piddled in my wardrobe, but green outside was a great addition 3/10
Beach- Bit windy but ok 5/10
Don't gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Advice: Don't go to bexhill or camber
Activities: Sightseeing- the exit sign
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently






The classic ground floor chalet wasen't to bad,the bathroom had mould,otherwise clean apart from you couldn't see out of the windows for lack of cleaning.I dont stand no nonesence I checked the cupboards for cooking aquipment, and went straight to the housekeeper office to get what I wanted. I strip the beds to check for clean bedding,and pillows, as the time before when we went to Pontins we had been sleeping on the sofa bed with a duvet that was covered in stain where some one had thrown up all over it.Didn't know till we was leaving as I always stip the beds. as for the food well it was cold I saw one of the girls that was serving the food, scratch her head,and on handing a meal of chips etc: to a person spilt the chips over ,picked them up with her fingers and put back on the plate, Made me feel sick, the person recieving the food said nothing about it some people just dont care. On complaining many times I was told there was going to be a big change taking place all around the camp as its been taken over by another company later in the year.so I thought I would just take a look at the reviews now hoping to see some improvement,but on reading what I just have, clearly that is not the case. I think its about time the health inspectors were called in that place..Im just waiting for a phone call offering me a chalet at a cheap rate,and I will tell them where to stick it.
But while peopls still go there,and they are taking your hard earnt money, nothing will change. So that was the start of our 4 day.. break so beware do take note of all these reviews.
Good for: Beach