Pontins Camber Sands reviews anyone?

Minxz

Hi, as I can't get the dates I need for the Sun holidays, I'm looking at Camber sands, laste July is just £95 for 3 of us for 4 nights!

I love the beach there, but don't know anything about the park. We usually go to Haven parks, so am doubtful Pontins will be as nice as the haven's we've been to, but for less than £100 for the school summer holidays is hard to turn down!

Has anyone been, and what did you think? I'm not bothered about evening 'entertainment'... but we do like decent indoor pools as my son is a little fish

Thanks!

Syman

I have stayed at Camber pontins 2 or 3 times (before they were sold off), last time about three years ago.

It Was an oldish complex and was in need of a bit of updating. That said, the rooms we had were generally clean and functional. Electricity was by token meter.

The entertainment in the main show bar was well planned, Bingo first, then party dances for the kids with the character shows. "Family" entertainment from visiting acts followed, finally more adult orientated stuff. My youngest always enjoyed the croc march and goodnight children section.

There is a second show bar which does karaoke and the like.

The restaurant is passable, IIRC it is a self service type thing where you take a tray collect your food then pay at the till. Quality was ok as you would expect from this type of place. There are also fried chicken and pizza takeaway places.

The swimming pool was nothing special, but again clean. It did get busy, espacially during the wet weather. We found the kids activities somewhat lacking too.

The bluecoats were always very friendly and helpful.

Not much in the immediate area other than the beach which in sandy and huge.

As i said, not been for a few years so may be way off the mark now.

wookie_2

Most recent reviews on trip advisor, dosent look too good , read and make your mind up....
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1752567-d607436-r122729811-Pontin_s_Camber_Sands_Centre-Camber_East_Sussex_England.html#REVIEWS

h007

I went on holiday there as a kid in the 80's.

went back there a couple of years ago and the decor in the chalets is exactly the same!!!
it was very run down

bex2012

I went there 5 years ago with a friend who was very pregnant. As she said she would be up and down a lot in the night, she decided to take the sofa bed. We pulled it out, she sat down... and fell through the bottom as someone had nicked all the slats! The toilet came equiped with an ashtray screwed to the wall.... The bath had about an inch of sand in it.... The windows were single glazed and mouldy... The seagulls were a pain in the backside.... If the weather hadnt been so nice (meaning we spent as little time as possible in the room), we would have turned around and come home.

Tarry

I believe the chalets are been done up at the moment It's what you make it. And not bad for July, after all, July is getting towards peak time. And the weather should normally be good meaning beach time

A holiday is what you make it, enough said, and no one goes away to spend time in their apartment/chalet

trubster

As seen on Watchdog!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2011/10/pontins.html

Aftr seeing this, I would NEVER use a pontins resort, especially with the "Couldnt give a ****" attitude shown from the resorts management

sarahjones4397

I live in Camber so maybe in a position to give you the rundown. Pontins was bought by the britannia group of hotels when it went into administration with promises of a disney style make over .

For the first time since the 70's the place closed over the Christmas period to enable workmen to start refitting some of the chalets. Whether this is just a lick of paint or a full refurb is anyone's guess and much speculation in the village!

I took my niece their last year on a day pass £5.00 and the swimming pool was barely passable. The evenings entertainment kept her happy Although the surroundings resemble that of a large village hall.

If you're happy to use pontins as just a base to go out and explore camber sands and beyond then I'd say go for it. The beach is lovely when it's not raining. A bit further away is the town of Rye which is very medieval and attracts a lot of tourists. In hastings which is about 20 minutes away the kids can enjoy the crazy golf which is one of the largest in the country, the aquarium and smugglers caves.

In Bodiam there is an old fashioned steam train with a thomas the tank engine theme and rowing boats for hire.

I hope this helps
Sarah

DorsetGirl_2

We stayed about 5 years ago on a Sun Holiday.

It was like a prison camp - the accommodation was awful. Plus we managed to get half board vouchers with it (I dont know how) and the food was inedible so we are so glad it was free as we stopped going after a day.

It is in a nice area, so if you are just looking for somewhere to sleep while you explore the area it might be okay, but otherwise its not the best place.

Tarry

sarahjones4397 wrote: »

I live in Camber so maybe in a position to give you the rundown. Pontins was bought by the britannia group of hotels when it went into administration with promises of a disney style make over .

For the first time since the 70's the place closed over the Christmas period to enable workmen to start refitting some of the chalets. Whether this is just a lick of paint or a full refurb is anyone's guess and much speculation in the village!

I took my niece their last year on a day pass £5.00 and the swimming pool was barely passable. The evenings entertainment kept her happy Although the surroundings resemble that of a large village hall.

If you're happy to use pontins as just a base to go out and explore camber sands and beyond then I'd say go for it. The beach is lovely when it's not raining. A bit further away is the town of Rye which is very medieval and attracts a lot of tourists. In hastings which is about 20 minutes away the kids can enjoy the crazy golf which is one of the largest in the country, the aquarium and smugglers caves.

In Bodiam there is an old fashioned steam train with a thomas the tank engine theme and rowing boats for hire.

I hope this helps
Sarah

Don't forget the castle and the grounds at Bodiam That's the whole part in going away in my eyes, exploring the local area where you are staying. If you are into Castles, not forgetting Dover Castle and the war tunnels. Good views on a clear day of France in the distance. There is a market in Rye on Thursdays, not so much this time of year, but moreso peak time. Rye is lovely and good to explore.

sarahjones4397

Tarry wrote: »

Don't forget the castle and the grounds at Bodiam That's the whole part in going away in my eyes, exploring the local area where you are staying. If you are into Castles, not forgetting Dover Castle and the war tunnels. Good views on a clear day of France in the distance. There is a market in Rye on Thursdays, not so much this time of year, but moreso peak time. Rye is lovely and good to explore.

I didn't want to sound like an unnofficial tourism officer for the area so I missed off a few places! Bodiam castle is lovely but if I were on a budget I would avoid paying to go in as it's only a ruin and not a patch on Lincoln castle which is a similar price.

A nice day out is a trip on the steam railway, a walk up to the castle at bodiam and then either a ride on the ferry or a rowing boat for a few hours.