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.

Please don't waste your money. I've never been to a worst dump in my life. Utterly horrific. I'm not exaggerating.

I’ve been. Trying not to be snobby but PP are right, it’s grim. There are many better places to go in that area.

Rye nearby is lovely and there's a pool there at the sports centre. Great hot chocolate / milkshake cafe called knoops and a childrens playground just down the hill from that. Nice walk to Camber past the sheep / lambs. Pontins looks horrific whenever I have walked by...

There are much better places nearby to have a day out - Hastings is in easy reach and has loads for the kids to do - funfair, crazy golf, seafront play area, free museums, fishing huts and of course the beach. There is a good play park at the bottom of Rye and the best chocolate drinks/ice creams at Knoops just up the hill from there. Take care in Camber like others have said.

I would go to Rye, Dymchurch and have a day in Folkestone as there's a sandy beach, shingle beach, harbour area with cafes and restaurants, coastal park, Victorian prom. The Rare Breeds Centre is a brilliant trip for kids your ages too.

Thanks for the advice and links everyone. I'm well aware of their reputation, I almost want to go there to see if it's really that bad. I am on holiday with DH"s family, mil and sil make Kim and Aggie look like slackers so they wouldn't stand for a dirty room, thankfully Fil is well off and happy to rent a large house next to the sea. I'm looking for day out suggestions and wondered if they have a large playground. Will also go to Rye and Hastings. Will look into the rare breeds centre. I also know about the rip tides and insist an adult goes with my dd"s to the sea.

It really is awful- bloody shame too as nice location. They should clog the land and let Haven or Butlins redevelop it

We weee at parkdean a few weeks ago

there’s a small council run playground in camber itself

Rye salts, the park on the left as soon as you enter Rye has a lovely playground

If you've got an Irish surname I'd cross Pontins off the list. They don't take bookings from people with Irish names.

I still shudder at the 24 hours we spent at Pontins Camber. It takes shit to a whole new lower than a snakes bollocks level.

Haha it's not changed then. Shocking.

My mum booked us a mega cheap weekend there over 20 years ago now. Was only an hour or so drive and thought it would be a treat.

Needless to say. We went home before we'd unpacked.

I posted earlier in the thread but have returned to give some context. I went with my gym to a fitness weekend there. The corrugated roofs on the "chalets" meant that you got zero sleep due to seagulls bouncing on and off of them from the early hours. The chalets were revolting. The walls paper thin. Bathroom grubby. The ballroom had carpet that was so dirty your feet stuck to it. The whole place stunk of stale beer.

On the last day a few of us went for a walk along the beach and we could see a commotion in the distance and a large "something" on the beach. There was an appalling vomit inducing stench. An absolutely enormous dead fin whale had washed up and a lot of people wondering what to do with it. I've never seen anything like it in my life. It was an experience for sure!

Love this review

We had a 4 dayer in 2004 - my H went home after 2 days - filthy and just awful- makes Butlins look like 5 star in Marbella