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Holiday Reviews > Holiday Parks > England > East Sussex > Pontins Camber Sands > Read Reviews
| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr D Murphy |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
PLEASE BELIEVE THE BAD REVEIWS, THIS PLACE IS TRULY AWFUL, DON'T WASTE YOUR HARD EARN'T MONEY BY PAYING OVER WHAT THIS PLACE IS TRULY WORTH, I WOULDN'T PAY 50p TO GO BACK TO THAT PLACE.
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO STAY AT CAMBER SANDS AS THE BEACH IS BEAUTIFUL AS IS THE COUNTRYSIDE, JUST DO NOT GO TO PONTINS CAMBER SANDS.
YES THE LINEN WAS CLEAN, THATS THE ONLY THING.
YOU'D PROBABLY BE BETTER OFF STAYING AT THE MOD CAMP NOT FAR OUT FROM PONTINS ON THE ROAD TO DYMCHURCH.
WE WILL BE GOING BACK TO CAMBER BUT TO STAY AT PARK RESORTS AS I PERSONALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO STAY THERE ERVERY YEAR AND HAVE NO COMPLAINTS.
THANK GOD FOR THE BUSES THAT GET YOU AWAY FROM PONTINS FOR THE DAY, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE BUS STOP IS JUST OUTSIDE THE CAMP, CHECK TO SEE IF THE RETURN FARE IS CHEAPER THAN BUYING THE DAY TICKET WHICH IS £5.00.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr L FADDEN |
| Overall
Rating: |
8/10 |
| Comments: |
Ok Here goes this review,
I really wouldnt pay much attention to the above reviews as you really have to appreciate what Camber Sands has. I appreciate that evryone has their own opinions but to describe it as a prison camp is far away from the truth.
I got my Holiday to Pontins through a deal with the MOD and booked up for a Mon - Fri at Camber Sands. I arrived and was directed to reception and was checked in quickly and given my welcome pack and made my way to my Classic Accommodation and was able to park easily. The room on arrival was extremely clean and did not smell damp or dirty. On the contrary I was apprehensive of what to expect having seen these reviews but was very pleasently surprised. The kitchen was well equiped, clean and I was able to cook meals each day and not have to rely on the Sands Restaurant which was equally clean and well equiped.
The bedding supplied was clean and recently changed and overall I had no problems with the accom. The bathroom had everything I needed and was clean and of a high standard.
During the holiday I visited the Nisa shop by the gate and it has everthing needed for self catering and not at rip off prices. The Queen Vic pub was clean and homely and very pleasant. The enterainment in the evenings was excellent and all the Lunars bar staff were happy and efficient. The Blue coats kept the evenings running smoothly and full of family entertainment which included everyone of all ages. The evening caberet was varied and of a high standard. The best Blue coats by far were Andi, Donna, Jiggly and many more. I would say the bar prices are not overly cheap so you may well decided to go to a local supermarket to stock up.
Overall I was impressed by Pontins Camber Sands and the team there, people please remeber that although it might not be as big as Butlins it has a very organised team and they are always there to run some entertainment. A holiday is just as much what you make it as what they do to make it fun and camber sands was a good holiday and I would go back again.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr J G Smith |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
I concur wholeheartedly with all bad reviews about the dirty disgusting rooms, only wish i'd checked this site before i went! Running battles by two drunken families outside our window raged on for nearly two hours on first night without a sign of any security, the door next to us was kicked in and windows smashed along whole block, my two young daughters aged 3 and 6 were petrified and very upset. When fighting moved on we snuck out and fled like the wind! Never again, you couldn't pay me enough to go, an utter disgrace to holiday parks the world over in every department cannot put into words just how bad this place is, unless you love slumming it please please please dont ever go there.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss M Wicks |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
Smelly, shabby and rundown. Staff unfriendly entertainment rubbish. Chalet dirty & smelly will not be returning.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Pontins |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs D Murphy |
| Overall
Rating: |
4/10 |
| Comments: |
We arrived on a Monday looking forward to a pleasant four day break. What a shock we got when we entered our "Classic" chalet. The windows were completely covered in both new and old seagull excrement, the smell was overpowering, the fridge did not work, the cooker came on of its own accord, one of the windows was hanging off, the front door had a hole in it, the walls and carpet were filthy, there were broken tiles in the bathroom and the shower had a large amount of mouldy deposits. Needless to say we decided to upgrade at the cost of a further £128-50p.
When we returned to reception, we were first informed that there were no "Club" chalets available and were only offered one when we stated that we would not be staying, being informed that this was definately the only one available.
Upon inspection of the upgrade chalet, we discovered that in almost all instances, it mirrored the first and so we refused it. Lo and behold, we were immeditely supplied with a key to yet another "Club" chalet, which had mysteriously materialised and although not perfect, found it to be in reasonable condition and so accepted it.
Due to the weather, we were able visit other coastal resorts and had a reasonably relaxed, if somewhat tiring stay.
Indidual comments:-
Reception:- No welcome, complete lack of smiling.
Arcade:- Should be re-named Dick Turpins.
Reastaurant:- Pleasant friendly staff, decent food but slightly over
priced.
Fast food:- Worst southern fried chicken that we have ever come
across. Completely tasteless, greasy and rubbery.
Bar staff:- Attentive, pleasant and industrious.
Entertainment:- Totally amateurish.
Blue coats:- Apart from Jiggly, appeared to be either totally de-
motivated or loved the sounds of their own voices too
much, which was definately not appreciated by the vast
majority in the bar complex, especially when they
continually repeated themselves via the use of
extremely irritating phrases.
We visited Pontins, Hemsby earlier in the year and
found the blue coats to be in a completely different
league to this sorry lot.
Camp shop:- Staff appear to suffer from schizophrenia but
reasonably well stocked and priced.
Security:- Gary, a nice helpful down to earth bloke.
We only gave it a four because our chalet was reasonable although over-priced.
Given it's location and size, there is no reason whatsoever why this place shouldn't provide a reasonably decent holiday for all visitors instead of being the joke that we and many others have experienced.
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| Board Basis: |
Room Only |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs S Holder |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
we had to wait to get our key so we used the bar and i stuck to the seat round by the window as it was so grimy.
the chalet was dirty and damp and the chairs were filthy and the sofa bed was a disgrace .
it looks like colditz and everywhere needs a lick of paint .
we left after two nights and will never go there again
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
joe joe |
| Overall
Rating: |
7/10 |
| Comments: |
well arrived back today ...had beautiful weather so helped a lot arrived on complex about 6.30 so we had no problem getting our keys found apartment which must admit was buget and very basic....had no problems cooking in kitchen came well prepared .....only problem was at night with the noise people coming back at all hours not concidering people sleeping shouting at top of voices just get off again and it started again ........so 3 nights later with no sleep it catches up on u....eary morning risers with iratating noisy children fighting on top floor doors wide open at 6.30 screeming and winging .....no concideration for anyone else at all i can see why english get bad name on holidays abroad .....it was a joke true about overweight children stuffing them selfs with junk food and no manners ......well can say i only stayed for weekend that was enough a week would of killed me .......entertainment was very good ....shop on site was not expensive compared to some places ive stayed good prices .......for wot i payed it was cheap accomadation for 3 nights kids enjoyed ......lovely beach across the road........must say rooms could do with re doing up and carpet had seen better days ....watched cleaner do rooms they took less than 10 mins to clean each room on day of depature.....we even got fed up with looking at dirty windows we cleaned them so please pontins employ a window cleaner and up grade the cleaning it had seen better days.....if you want people to return no wonder the prices were so cheap to stay i would pay any more there not worth it .....as they say u pay for wot u get....we had free electicity all weekend so that was a bonus ....would i return i think i would for a cheap break ........but if the weather was crap think i would of gone home early ......
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Select |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs G Day |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
diabolical thats how to sum this place up. our room was awful damp, mouldy, smelly covered in human excrement and spit in various places. and perculiar whight stains on the sofa bed. their was no way i was letting my family stay their im also 8 months pregnant not a suitable place for expectant mothers. in the complex it smelt like a toilet. when you go to book in you have to line up like you are at school to get your key. all the staff we came across were grumpy. i have never been to a place like it and will not be going back. but if you do find yourself in our position we ended up staying at a hotel called the place it was great. i dont live like a tramp so why would i like to holiday like one. pontins is a total disgrace to camber sands which is a lovelly place, in fact it is a total disgrace to the whole of the united kingdom.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs J Mwape |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
Pipo Please do not visit this place it's like a prison camp. Dirty, smelly and when you arive youre heart sanks . I went their and the rooms looked like the had not been cleaned for years.
the showers, i had to wear my shoes because i couldnot stand in that dirty bath.I know we all have different ratings please to not trust the good ratings its a damp you can not even send you own enemy.
the staff are not friendly beddings not changes no allocated parking as stated in the booking activty room is a damp of a damp. If you love yore kids please do not take them its a rip off.
Yake Yake
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Pontins website |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr S Fuller |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
I cannot comprehend how anyone can give this resort anything other than a score of 1.
My family stuck it out for around 3 hours before packing and leaving.
Wrote a complaint to Pontins (despite them publishing an out of date address for their head office in the current brochure) but are still waiting for any reply two months on.
Camber sands is quite simply the worst place imaginable.
Dirty, poorly maintained etc.
I cried with despair.
You work all year and save hard to enjoy your holiday.
The thing that really gets me is the way the images and descriptions in the brochure bear no resemblance at all to what the place is like.
I would not send my worst enemy.
Take my advice go to BUTLINS.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked IndependentlyThe sun media offer |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs C Townhill |
| Overall
Rating: |
7/10 |
| Comments: |
Pontins is not as bad as the reviews on this site read. We are two 30 something's with no kids looking for a cheap few days away. We took up the offer from the Sun news paper. 4 days cost us £90. We got cheap and chearful for this price. Yes you do have to que for your key in the "Fun Factory" but not for that long 30 mins (your on holiday - what's the rush)
Our appartment was Budget. The bad points - It did have a certain smell when you opened the door, but leave the door open for 10mins along with the windows, it will help. Floor could have done with a better hoover. Wardrobe and TV had a light layed of dust over them, I took cleaning clothes with me, so that sorted that one out. Doors and walls very thin, so you could hear every thing, especially at night, we took and used our ear plugs. Sofa bit old and dusty, so put over spare sheet they supplied us with. We were upsatirs on an end, the metal stairs case was very noisy with every one up and down them. The bathroom bit have a wee bit of mould, but then I struggle to keep mould under control in my own bathroom!
Good points - Loo, VERY clean, rest of bathroom good. Kitchen sink and oven VERY clean, rest of kitchen OK. We had a full size, clean fridge. Curtains new and clean. The whole room had been re-decorated (at a guess) 6 months ago, so nice clean and fresh.
The on site shop has every thing you need, not quite Asda prices, but not bad.
Drinks in the bars - prices were avarage. Pontins give you a few money off vouchers.
Parking good, even if it's not near to you appartment.
Camber Sands beach - fantastic !
Rye lovely for adults. Not much for kids.
Every child we saw seem to be having a great time, staff really do work hard to look after them.
So all in all for the price 7 out of 10.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
First Choice |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss A Non |
| Overall
Rating: |
4/10 |
| Comments: |
Me and my family of 4 ventured to camber sands for a quick getaway before the kids went back to school, I have a son 10 and a daughter 7
on arrival the site looked a little run down but what do you expect from a coastal resort just look at the surrounding areas, you have hastings which looks like its never been maintained since it was built, We arrived a little early as we expected to experience a little more traffic on the way, we went straight to reception to book in we were told that check in was at 4o'clock so we had a wonder round to check the place out, The kids headed straight to the playground outside the main builing so me and my partner got some soft drinks and sat outside watching, We eventually got checked in it was done very efficiently with different queues, i'd rather that than turn up and wait 20 minutes for them to look through everyones booking sheets to find mine, on receipt of our keys we headed for our accommodation, I've seen better but again what do you expect for the price you pay for the holiday?
After unpacking and having a quick bite to eat we walked around to find something to amuse the kids, we found an area run by pgl, the kids went away with pgl at the beginning of the year and were very excited to see them at pontins, so we booked them on as much as we could to keep them busy during the day, my son did quad biking 3 times he enjoyed it that much, the instructors were extremely enthusiastic and the kids had a great time messing around with them even when the instructors finished the session they kept the kids amused, you can tell they really enjoy what they do. my daughter is extremely scared of heights but one instructor i think her name was Bonnie, got her to go down the zip wire after a little gentle pursuation, she loved it and had another go with no hesitation, They do other activities such as snorkelling, trampolining, climbing and archery. all the instructors were professional and patient. you do have to pay for the activities its £5 per person for each activity which isn't bad we went to centre parcs last year and paid £18 for 1 go on abseiling. which my daughter asked to do as well got to the top and chickened out we could not get a refund and i wasn't allowed to take her go instead.
We then headed for the bars to see what entertainment was on that night, to be honest the entertainment mostly consists of acts embarrasing members of the audience or bluecoats running gameshows but still the kids enjoyed some of it especially the Bluecoat madness at the end of the night, which they could of done a few extra of.
We retired to bed and were rudley awaken by drunks coming back from the bars singing their heads off
The restaurant food was edible but it did depend on the time of day they must change their cooks at 2pm my advice is eat lunch after 2pm its much better.
Overall the holiday was ok, PGL really made the holiday worth while, i think if they weren't there i wouldn't go back but i've booked already for next year, just for the activities, hopefully over the winter pontins will make the effort.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs K Dodd |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
Hi we had the most amazing stay at pontins camber sands, me my husband, son 6 and daughter 1 1/2.
We like pontins as my husband used to go as a child i used to go to Haven
We have only ever been to pontins prestatyn but was a little bored so thought we would venture out a little, we stayed for 7 nights Friday to Friday, we arrived about 10am in the morning from Warrington Cheshire, and we had a little walk aroung the complex and then went swimming until we could receive our keys at 4pm, once receiving our keys we went to find our apartment it was lovely and clean the entertainment was just fantastic every one works so hard, my children always had something to do, my daughter was absolutly amazed by all the different characters especially croc, she loved it.
Considering we went to Turkey for a week in May and paid double the cost of this holiday, us and the kids enjoyed Pontins 100% more.
Go to Pontins if you want all round fun obviously the place could do with a bit of a touch up, but how can you complain when it is cheap to go, you need to go with the attitude of just having the best time what ever,and making the most of every minute that you there, that is what we did and it works.
Oh yeah my Husband won the sponsored snooker competition so we have been invited to attend a free finals weekend at Prestatyn in November and i can not wait.
While we were there we booked again to go next year it was £20 to book but they give you £20 ponins pounds back that you can spend any where, and also when you arrive there next year they give you £100 pontins pounds for spends, how can you beat that.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss N Farrow |
| Overall
Rating: |
8/10 |
| Comments: |
My Mum, me and my two children (aged 3 & 5) stayed at Pontins for a long weekend at the end of August and we had a great time. I was very worried about going after reading the reviews but we didn't encounter any major problems. Our Classic chalet was spotless when we arrived, the kitchen and bathroom were very clean, the living area had wooden flooring which was dust free and looked like it had recently been mopped, the curtains looked new and the kids bedroom was fine. I took my own chair bed from home so me and my Mum could have a bed each but the Pontins' sofa bed was fine, it was bit worn around the edges but the mattress and pull-out mechanism looked new. The areas around the chalets had well kept gardens and staff were constantly going around clearing up the rubbish and emptying the bins etc.
We only went to the entertainment in the eve at the Fun Factory but the kids loved it and me and my Mum enjoyed it too, I would imagine that it could get a bit repetetive after a week but for the weekend it had lots of variety. It did get warm in there but we sat near the air con units which was fine and I never experienced any funny smells etc!!
The Pontins staff were very lively, helpful and I think they do a great job considering the hours/wages. We especially liked Alice.
I would advise anyone to travel by car because it is in the middle of nowhere but the beach is very good and we spent a lovely day there on the Sat when it was v hot. We also ventured in to Hastings and went to the Bluereef aquarium and went along the seafront which the kids loved.
On a final note, when we reported to reception that we only had 3 dining chairs and we needed clean bedding (my 3 yr old wet the bed) the extra chair and bedding was delivered within the hour. My one complaint would be that the kids beds do not have waterproof mattresses but luckily I took my own cover.
Overall, I thought the holiday was good value for money but you have to accept that the site is a bit worn out in areas and keep an open mind. I would say it is more suitable for primary school children than teenagers.
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| Board Basis: |
Self Catering |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2008 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Booked Independently |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss A M Vale |
| Overall
Rating: |
1/10 |
| Comments: |
OMG....Ok so when we arrived we walked in and got hit by a really damp smell.
The floor looked as though it hadnt been hoovered in a year!
When we pushed our beds together (as we didnt get a double room) The walls either side of the beds were very very mouldy and just black. Also same with the curtains in our room and the kitchen.
The 2nd bedroom wasnt too bad but was still damp.
The sofa...well....It was a sofa bed but id say it was from the 1900's. When you sat down on it you just sank in the middle and revealed the metal frame so felt as though you were sitting on a metal frame rather than a sofa.
The kitchen...Ill give it its do's it was respectable and equiped fairly well but still the whole set was bizarre. You had to put in Electric, you couldnt have the Shower and the Cooker on at the same time. It had a hot water heater!
The Windows looked like theyd never been cleaned since they were put in. And they were very very thin.
There was no privacy i.e a simple thing such as Net Curtains, so everyone who walked by our upstairs appartment could just look in a nd see evrything. So spent the whole day practically with the curtains drawn.
The whole 'When you check in' was TERRIBLE it was like being back at scholl, we had to go into the main hall and cue up in alphabetical order (going by surnames).
Absolutly disgusted with that! I know they cater for a mass amount of people but that really wasnt nice.
The main complex was drab, unmaintained, they have guards on the entrances that look more like big ole butch Bouncers! Scary i imagine for kids.
They had nothing for our lil boy who is 4. There was 1 adventure playground and a crazy golf course.
We spent most of our time either in the towns surrounding the area or in the pool...which was superb but i feel very very over crowded and being pregnant i was very concerened about being knocked around.
Very very disappointed will definitly NOT going back!!
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