First Camp Orsa

After staying at several First Camp sites in Sweden over the past four years, including First Camp Orsa, I’ve noticed a pattern: the company makes use of beautiful natural settings while seeming to keep operating costs low. At Orsa, that came at the cost of a disappointing guest experience. The pool area’s nearby toilets were regularly dirty and smelled unpleasant. In the restaurant, tables often hadn’t been cleaned between guests, which added to the hygiene concerns. Food was another problem. The only option by the pool was a small kiosk with basic snacks, mostly hot dogs or similar, and the wait was at least 45 minutes because it couldn’t handle the number of visitors. The bistro near reception was the only real alternative, but that could also mean waiting 45 minutes or more. Leaving the pool to eat meant queuing again to get back in, since staff counted people entering and leaving to manage capacity. That was frustrating and inefficient, especially for families with children. The staff seemed to be mostly young students working summer jobs, which is understandable, but many appeared inexperienced and slow, and there weren’t enough people to keep things moving. It affected reception, food service and cleanliness. The setting is undeniably beautiful, but poor cleanliness, food service and staff training made our experience disappointing. I hope the company puts more into managing the guest experience. A few changes could help: clean and check busy toilets and dining tables regularly; increase the kiosk’s capacity and improve its menu, or bring in food trucks during peak summer; make pool entry easier with timed slots, online bookings or wristbands; and have more staff during busy hours, including experienced team members who can train summer workers on service and hygiene.

A really nice campsite with all the essentials. The lake is especially good for swimming since the water stays shallow across a large area.

There’s plenty of room for caravans, plus a range of places to stay. The camp has a lovely beach, boating, mini golf and lots of games for children. Check the dates, though, as some activities close on 1st of Aug. A nice summer holiday spot in Dalerna.

The campsite itself is nice, especially outside the season. But check-in took ages and was really frustrating, even when the place was fairly empty. They had a trainee at reception without a competent employee backing them up, so there was a lack of knowledge and overview. If the camp wants to be high class, management shouldn’t compromise on staff quality, even out of season.