De Bakke Santos

The chalets have useful basics like a small kitchen with cutlery, a refrigerator, TV, microwave and coffee maker, plus outdoor seating where we enjoyed coffee or dinner in the cool breeze. They're spaced apart for privacy, and the setting is safe, quiet and a little outside town, with nice views at sunrise and sunset. The location right on the beach is the best thing about De Bakke Santos. The markets, restaurants and other places are far away, so getting to them is a task without a vehicle. Parking was no problem for us. The bathroom was very small and was never cleaned by staff. Towels and bed linen were supplied at check-in, but the chalet wasn't cleaned and the towels weren't changed. There was no ceiling fan, air conditioner, washing machine or iron, which was disappointing. We still had a very pleasant stay and would recommend it to anyone looking to relax away from the crowds.

The way the staff handled this left our family stressed, embarrassed and feeling unwelcome. The manager gave little more than a hollow apology, while the front desk staff member laughed, showed no empathy and kept referring us to the terms and conditions. We were even told staff don't explain the rules and just assume guests read the fine print. We had booked eight nights at De Bakke Santos for four adults, three teenagers and an infant, and clearly gave our group size. After payment, we were told that number was acceptable. But on arrival, we were suddenly asked to pay extra per person. Then family members who had driven 4.5 hours to join us were told only one extra guest could stay at the campsite. The only option offered was another site at a much higher rate with a minimum stay, despite nearby campsites standing empty. We expected better from a well known resort. The poor communication and lack of professionalism and empathy were really disappointing. We wouldn't stay again or recommend it based on how this was handled.

Guests shouldn't end up in this situation after following the booking process. We gave our group size when booking our eight night camping stay at De Bakke Santos, and it was approved after we paid. On arrival, unexpected per person charges came up. Later, family members who had been invited on the basis of that approval and had travelled 4.5 hours were told there was a strict guest limit per campsite. We hadn't been told about that beforehand, and they were turned away. The alternative was to pay more for another campsite with a minimum stay requirement, even though neighbouring sites were visibly empty for days. Management acknowledged the miscommunication but made no meaningful effort to fix it. Staff leaned on the fine print instead of taking responsibility for unclear communication. The whole experience showed poor systems, little transparency and inflexible service. I wouldn't recommend De Bakke Santos to families or groups who expect clear communication and fair treatment.

We drove 4.5 hours to see family staying at De Bakke Santos and were turned away. The campsite had been booked and paid for eight nights, and the group size was approved ahead of time. But when we arrived, staff said just one additional guest was allowed, with no exceptions. Nobody had told us that beforehand. They suggested booking another campsite at a much higher price, with a three night minimum, even though there were empty sites nearby. That felt unreasonable. Staff were dismissive, repeatedly pointed to the fine print and said they don't explain the rules to guests. There was no empathy or attempt to accommodate us after such a long drive. The lack of courtesy and clear communication left a very poor impression. I wouldn't recommend visiting or staying there if you're travelling with family or joining people already booked on site.