Pontins - Prestatyn - My holiday camp hell (Pontin's)

Member Name: maria14

Product:	Pontin's
Date:	19/01/09 (133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: At least we weren't staying a week

Disadvantages: Overpriced, sticky floors, uncomfortable beds

As a child we holidayed most years at the Mablethorpe holiday camp near Bridlington. This was in the 1970's, and these holiday camps were the best as far as we kids were concerned.

Each family had its own chalet, which, as I recall, lacked for nothing. Days would be spent riding two seater bikes around the other chalets whilst arguing with my sister about which way to go, or swimming in the pool. Nights were spent in the entertainment bar, where we tried to make sense of the dodgepot comedians and wondered what our parents were laughing at.

It was great, and so when my children got a chance to play at a national chess championship at Pontins in Pretatyn, I did not hesitate to sign up. I was confident that the accommodation would be basic but comfortable accommodation and the kids would have a great time.

Suffice to say I will NEVER EVER stay at Pontins EVER AGAIN. The kids did have a great time, but I continue to have flash backs and my back is still not right.

I booked the 'Klassic Plus' accommodation. It cost us £220 for weekend, but this included fees for the chess tournament. This was not the cheapest accommodation available. I can't imagine how bad that would have been.

The accommodation blocks reminded me strongly of the time I spent in East German before the wall came down. Grey concrete two storey blocks facing in on each other, so as to discourage subversive activities.

Our accommodation was to sleep 5. It was a first storey flat made up of a twin room, a single room and a settee that opened out into a sofa bed. There was a toilet and shower, and a tiny sitting area and an even smaller kitchenette. In the sitting room was a television and a table, which was too small for us to sit round together.

There was enough room for 3 of us to sit together on the sofa. Anyone else had to sit on the dining chairs. The sofa collapsed in the middle as soon as we sat on it. It did not fair any better as a bed, as when we opened it out, it would not straighten. This meant you had to sleep at a forty degree angle, either with your feet up in the air, or your head. Your choice.

Incredibly I opted to sleep on the sloping sofa bed, because the beds were so uncomfortable. You could feel every spring. It was actually painful.

The kitchenette was fitted out with a variety of mismatching glasses, plates and cutlery. There were only three bowls so we had to take in turns to have breakfast. There was also not enough knives.

Worst of all, the lino on the kitchen floor was sticky underfoot.

The electricity worked on a meter, and our Klassic Plus package included tokens. We didn't have to buy anymore. There were switches on the wall of the kitchenette marked 'oven', 'shower' etc. Unfortunately the oven and the shower shared a switch so you couldn't have them on at the same time. We discovered this when I tried to grill toast (there was no toaster) whilst the children were taking a shower.

There was a huge conference hall in which the chess tournament was taking place. Hundreds of children were there from schools all over the country.

The only way to get to the hall was through the amusement arcade. This appeared to be the key attraction as far as the kids were concerned. Flashing lights, very noisy, free money coming out of game machines. As far as my children were concerned, they had died and gone to heaven. This place cost us a fortune and there was no avoiding it.

There was a separate block for the swimming pool which was again reminiscent of Post War Eastern Europe. A large rectangular pool with no adornments filled with HUNDREDS of kids.

The food hall was very basic, and not at all cheap, but the food was OK. The site shop was well stocked but expensive.

To be fair, children do love these types of holidays. They make loads of new friends and enjoy the freedom of exploring the park.

My children managed to win some of their matches and we found a fantastic Indian Restaurant in Prestatyn itself.

But I have nothing good to say about Pontins. The accommodation was atrocious and this was not a cheap holiday by any means.

Summary: They should market this as a Communist Russian Theme Park