Kingsdown Park

The Friday family quiz in the lounge was great, and the pool looked lovely, though we didn’t use it. The setting is pretty, with three pubs a short walk away, but the routes are steep in either direction. The Zetland Arms on the beach has delicious seafood and wine, and the Rising Sun is a lovely little pub. You can also walk to the bus stop for Deal, Walmer Castle or Dover. We stayed in chalet 106, set back behind other chalets. We could hear the sea from the decking and just about see it from the sofa. It worked as a good space for a family break, but it needs some love, and we had to clean everything before using it. The owner doesn’t open the lounge every day, which was a shame. It wasn’t the standard plus chalet we’d been led to expect. The rear decking needs repair, and the outdoor furniture wasn’t usable. We reported that during our stay, but nothing was done. The website photos don’t show the decking as it really is. The BBQ was very dirty. The bathroom needs attention, and the tired shower cubicle can come off its runners if you’re not careful. One downstairs bedroom had a broken light above the bed, while the upstairs twin room had no main light. We found spare bulbs, but none fitted.

The grounds were well maintained, and our host was lovely. We did have some problems with the heating.

The views were amazing, and I enjoyed the pool and park. It’s a lovely place with a beautifully maintained site.

We enjoyed our stay and would recommend it. Chalet 13 is a detached lodge facing the sea, though the trees and shrubs only leave a slight view of it. It was clean and well equipped, with a large living area, a small galley kitchen and a downstairs bedroom and bathroom. Upstairs were two more bedrooms and another bathroom. There’s a small seating area on the green side and a larger deck with seating on the sea side. The beds were comfortable, but the stairs are very steep and have no handrail on the top half. The upstairs bathroom is extremely small, and the low ceilings in those rooms could be awkward for taller guests. The website doesn’t make it clear that there’s only one way on and off the site, via a very steep road. Anyone with mobility issues will need a car to get around locally, and taxis were hard to book when we visited. The pool looked nice but was so busy that we didn’t use it. The bar only opens on around six evenings during the summer holidays, when there’s an event, and the reception shop is small and very basic. We couldn’t try the crazy golf because heavy rain had left the course waterlogged.