Pontins Camber Sands Featured On BBC Watchdog Tonight. Advise Please!

Julesiep

Whilst I did not have a really bad time at Cambers Sands Pontins I certainly will not be going back. The accommodation was not as dirty as what was featured last night but it was by no means clean and very dated. The blocks are awful looking and we were disturbed by the kids playing football on the grass between the blocks all day and evening. The shower and cooker can't be used together and we had to single beds not a double and the room faced the "football pitch" outside. I did not use the entertainment as I use my accommodation as base to see the area but did go to the the kids play park once which was by the pub and there was broken glass around it so we did not allow our daughter in there. The staff looked like they receive tons of complaints a day so we never saw a welcoming smile.

I really enjoy Haven and get as good a price through the sun deals as I paid to Pontins direct. So will not be going back.

busiscoming2

We went on a Sun holiday to Camber a couple of years ago, seeing it on Watchdog proved to me nothing has changed!!!
We only stayed the one night and put it down to experience, but I did write to the Sun saying we had been on some of their other promo holidays and the standard at Camber was just dreadful. We stopped going on Sun holidays after that!!!

I can't believe Pontins haven't made any positive moves to refurbish these apartments.

sparrer

busiscoming2 wrote: »

We went on a Sun holiday to Camber a couple of years ago, seeing it on Watchdog proved to me nothing has changed!!!
We only stayed the one night and put it down to experience, but I did write to the Sun saying we had been on some of their other promo holidays and the standard at Camber was just dreadful.
I can't believe Pontins haven't made any positive moves to refurbish these apartments.

We did the same last year, I take Sun holidays as I'm not wealthy (on a pension) but expected at the very least a clean bath for my money, and the slug or snail trails across the carpet in the morning were too much to want to spent a second night.

Tompointers comments sum up the 'entertainment' area, I love a good time as much as the next person and often take my grandchildren away to holiday camps, and while I appreciate everyone's standards are different I won't be taking them to Camber.

Most of the places I've stayed with Sun are fine, this was not!

leveller2911

I live 5 miles from Pontins and TBH I wouldn't let my dog stay there. It has suffered from lack of real investment for the last 2 decades at least, the last so called "face lift" was a token effort.

The general view of the locals and people who work there is that its better off being levelled and re-built.

I would also point out that during the summer months when the population around Camber can swell to thousands there is very little Police and Ambulance cover for the area so don't expect the Police to turn up for at least an hour or more. The Ambulance service is just as bad ,the nearest ambulance station is in Rye (3 miles away) it has 1 ambulance which at night may well be stationed in Hastings 13 miles.

There is NO excuse for dirty/filthy accomadation ............

Tarry

The Police and Ambulance staff I'm sure try their best though? Camber is classed as a rural location really? You are right about Camber swelling to large numbers, people come from MILES to go to the beach.

EycplUK

Have worked at Camber Sands and, truthfully , its ten times worse behind the scenes ! Hygiene is laughable and forget about customer service !
All you need to know is when the new staff intake is given the induction meeting the main advice is .........
"The Customer is Never Right "
Never admit nothing is wrong !
So do yourself a favour ............... Go somewhere else !

leveller2911

Tarry wrote: »

The Police and Ambulance staff I'm sure try their best though? Camber is classed as a rural location really? You are right about Camber swelling to large numbers, people come from MILES to go to the beach.

I'm sure the front line Police & Ambulance staff do try their best like you say.
The truth is in the summer months say from May- September Camber 10,000 people, Rye 5,000 all the surrounding villages 20,000 (educated guess) so for a total of around 35,000 we have 2 police cars and 1 ambulance to cover. The Ambulance station at Rye use to have 2 ambulances 24 hrs a day, now its down to 1 for 12 hours a day and the Police station shuts at Rye at 5pm...

The point I was trying to get across is if your in the area and need either of the 2 services don't expect them to arrive quickly...

In 16 yrs Ive called the Police twice 1st time it took them 1.5 hrs as they didn't know where our village was , 2nd time 2 hrs..

The reason I mention the emergancy services is because in the summer months many of the calls they receive are from Camber Sands.

Rural area? Yes but with 35,000 people we should expect more cover than we receive.


Quite often in the summer months the Police put road signs up saying "Camber closed" the ice cream sellers and cafes must make a packet, not to mention the car parks...:D

frisbee

Just got back from pontins southport and it was dreadful, booked through sun holidays, we will be sticking to haven or park resorts in future.

Tarry

leveller2911 wrote: »

I'm sure the front line Police & Ambulance staff do try their best like you say.
The truth is in the summer months say from May- September Camber 10,000 people, Rye 5,000 all the surrounding villages 20,000 (educated guess) so for a total of around 35,000 we have 2 police cars and 1 ambulance to cover. The Ambulance station at Rye use to have 2 ambulances 24 hrs a day, now its down to 1 for 12 hours a day and the Police station shuts at Rye at 5pm...

The point I was trying to get across is if your in the area and need either of the 2 services don't expect them to arrive quickly...

In 16 yrs Ive called the Police twice 1st time it took them 1.5 hrs as they didn't know where our village was , 2nd time 2 hrs..

The reason I mention the emergancy services is because in the summer months many of the calls they receive are from Camber Sands.

Rural area? Yes but with 35,000 people we should expect more cover than we receive.


Quite often in the summer months the Police put road signs up saying "Camber closed" the ice cream sellers and cafes must make a packet, not to mention the car parks...:D

yes, the shops in Camber are extremely busy. You often hear police cars/ambulances/coastguards in the summer heading towards Camber don't you? To get to Camber from Rye you often have to go the back routes and they are often quicker.

singingsister

Oh gawd, I'm now worrying what I'm letting myself in for!

To be completely honest, my friend won the 5 day holiday in a competition but we're considering not going. And it's not even that if we get there and it's cr*p, we can go to a local hotel like someone suggested as we just can't afford to do that.

I know you shouldn't look a gifthorse in their mouth and all that but with a young baby going with, hygiene and general cleanliness is really important to me. I'm not expecting sparkling accommodation or anything but a general level of cleanliness would be lovely!

I've stayed at Haven a few times and have never had any problems. I know Pontins is sometimes classsed as the "cheap mans Butlins" but standards are standards.

I'm really concerned about what to do now! I'm was really looking forward to my break away.....but now I'm not so sure!