Pontins, Camber Sands, Day Pass - is it worth it?

[Bananalanacake]

On Holiday in Camber Sands in 2 weeks. I know you can pay to get into Pontins if you're not staying there and was wondering if anyone else has done this and is there enough to do? Looking on Google Maps I see loads of chalet blocks but not many play areas. I am taking 2 DDs ages 5 and 7. I'm lucky to have generous PIL who are renting a lovely house next to the beach, it's their holiday too and I don't want my DDs driving them round the bend all day so I need other places to go (We will be going on the mini train from Dungeness one day). Any suggestions gratefully received.

Don’t know sorry but giving this a hopeful bump for you.

Have you looked on the Pontins website? It lists the facilities but also other things to do in the area like a small zoo.

I would hope that lots of chalets will mean lots of other children for them to play with!

Pontins at Camber sands is the biggest dump going. Im not exaggerating when i say its an absolute hell hole! Its filthy, run down, awful staff and full of feral children and drunken chav parents. Please don't waste your time or money.

It gets some horrendous reviews on trip advisor
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1752567-d607436-Reviews-or10-Pontin_s_Camber_Sands_Centre-Camber_Rye_East_Sussex_England.html#REVIEWS

You literally couldn't pay me to walk into a pontins;their trip advisor reviews are horrendous.I've also had friends go there for a holiday;every single one cut their holiday short.The pontins camps should be shut down.

Went to camber sands last year and drove past the Pontins many times and it looks shockingly bad, because it looked so bad I googled how much it cost to stay there and discovered that bedding and electricity is charged as an extra! I think it is designed for very very low income families - hope that helps!

This is true. I was there, in fairness 10 years ago, but OMG, filthy hell hole. It was a £10 weekend break that some friends thought would be a laugh. You sure get what you pay for.

I went there about 10 years ago and I wouldn't go back if they paid me. It was a filthy, run down hellscape. The only way to improve it would be to bulldoze the lot and start again.

Don't do it. Read the most recent reviews on TripAdvisor and pay close attention. They aren't lying.

Is it possible to pay to use the pool at the ParkDean resort that is a little further along?

I'd avoid at all costs!

i love camber sands, spent many summers there at my relative's bungalow. Agree Pontins used to have a terrible reputation. I think we probably stayed at the other end to you, but be careful with the sea when it comes in as there are some areas of sand that can get cut off and people get into difficulties.

Have a look at this:

This chap on YouTube - Walk With Me Tim - goes round staying at and reviewing the holiday parks and hotels that have terrible reviews.

I’ve watched a few including Pontins and Butlins and, quite honestly, it makes for utterly depressing viewing. I don’t know how they get away with it.

No no no no no no no.

It's a shit heap.

Don't do it.

Dymchurch has a kids fun fair and the beach is decent, parking also ok. You're in reach of Hastings and Bexhill.

My kids always liked a walk around rye, there's an old fashioned sweet shop and you can climb the bell tower to the top of the church, seals in the harbour.

We go to camber a lot. Last time we were there we swam with a seal about a metre
away from us.

Be warned the beach gets crazy busy, go straight to the lifeguard tent and get wristbands for the kids. Look at the tides, you could be a mile away from the sea or everyone on the beach cramped into the 2m before the dunes if it's high. Only swim in the lifeguarded sections. There are tips and the tide is fast.

It was honestly disgusting when we went about 10 years ago and I would Never Ever go back. There was a massive bogey wiped up the bedroom wall, the kitchen was filthy, the bedding was dirty, mouldy bathroom, it stank. It was honestly absolutely disgustingly grim.

Oh and The Pilot Inn at Dungeness is worth a meal or two. They have a great garden and there is a big elephant slide for the kids.

God, no. It’s hell on earth.

And one more thing, get a windbreak!

I was going to link this!

OP it's worth going into Rye with them. Lots of quaint shops, walk by the river and fish and chips lunch and at the top of the hill there is a huge green and park (IIRC! But Google maps can confirm!)

Also before you go have you familiarised yourself with the tides around that area? If you haven't it's something very important that you do.

I wrote a long post but it disappeared - the beach will be rammed, go to the RNLI point by the cafes and get wristbands for the kids. Check the tides. The sea could be 2m from the dunes or a mile away. When it moves it moves fast. Do not go outside of the lifeguarded areas.

I stayed there for work once, I wouldn't recommend it.
The tides are pretty dangerous, there have been a lot of deaths so take a lot of care in the water.
I really like the area as a whole though.

Rue also has a free museum

Honestly, it’s an absolute shithole. So is the one in wales. Never seen such a rundown place full of adults swearing, drinking and smoking weed round kids (both camber sands and Prestatyn!).

I stayed there during a music festival on site and it is truly an absolute dump. The music and cheap beer was great but chalets are horrible and I can't even remember any activity type play areas for kids.

Oh my goodness i just watched the first 2 minutes of that you tube vid. It's like a 50s Soviet style gulag.

It need to be demolished if you ask me.3

Been to Camber Sands a few times, when we had a motor home and stayed in the park resorts site. Pontins looked absolutely dreadful, very dilapidated. The Beach at camber is Sandy, but when windy you get sandblasted.