Frequently Asked Questions
Being well informed before booking helps give real peace of mind. Please see below for all your questions about booking a Beside The Sea Holidays property, and for further help, just get in touch.
How far is Camber Sands from London?
Around 65 miles from central London, roughly an hour and a half to two hours by car, depending on traffic. It’s an easy drive down the A21 through the Weald and into East Sussex, with the big skies and open marsh telling you you’re nearly there.
Is there a train to Camber Sands?
Camber village doesn’t have its own station, but Rye is just five miles away with good rail links to London (around 90 minutes to London Bridge or Charing Cross). From Rye station you can grab a taxi to the cottages (around £20) or catch the 100 bus, which runs through Camber. A car makes things easier, but it’s genuinely doable without one.
Is there parking at the cottages?
Yes. All our properties include off-road parking, so you won’t need to worry about finding a space after a day at the beach.
How far are the cottages from the beach?
Most of our cottages are a five to ten-minute walk from the sand, and a handful are even closer. Each property page tells you the exact distance so you always know before you book.
Are dogs allowed on Camber Sands beach?
Yes, dogs are welcome on Camber Sands all year round. Between 1 May and 30 September, they’re restricted from the main designated bathing area, but there are signed dog-friendly stretches on either side with plenty of room to roam. Outside those months, the whole beach is yours. Sandy paws guaranteed.
Is Camber Sands beach safe for swimming?
Camber has a gently shelving sandy beach that’s generally great for swimming. There are no lifeguards on the beach, so keep an eye on younger children and check conditions on the day. On a calm summer’s day it’s glorious.
Is there a shop near the cottages?
There’s a Premier convenience store in Camber village for basics. For a bigger shop, Rye is five miles away with a good supermarket and a lovely high street. We’d recommend doing a proper food shop before you arrive so you can settle straight in.
What restaurants are close by?
In Camber, The Owl is a firm favourite for a relaxed pub lunch. Rye is five miles away and punches well above its size for food: independent restaurants, fresh fish, proper pubs and cosy cafés. Our digital guide book covers our personal picks, sent to you before your stay.
What is there to do near Camber Sands?
The beach is the obvious answer, and on a good day it needs very little else. Rye is a wonderfully preserved medieval town worth at least half a day. Dungeness is a short drive for something more otherworldly. There are brilliant walks along the Royal Military Canal and across Romney Marsh. And a fish and chips supper watching the sun go down from the dunes is hard to beat.
What is the difference between White Sand and Coastguard Cottages?
We look after properties across two lovely developments. White Sand is a contemporary collection of cottages on the edge of Camber village, finished to a high spec with modern kitchens, en-suite bathrooms and gardens backing onto open salt marsh. Coastguard Cottages at Jury’s Gap are a set of beautifully restored 1875 coastguard cottages right on the coast road at the quieter end of the beach, a little more character-filled, with a genuine sense of history. Both are roughly five to ten minutes from the main beach.
Is it cheaper to book directly with you?
Yes, in most cases. When you book through us directly at besidetheseaholidays.com, there are no OTA service fees added on top. You also get direct access to us before and during your stay.
What to expect on arrival?
Before your stay, we’ll send you a digital house book for your property. This online guide is packed with our personal recommendations for places to eat and visit, as well as all the practical information you’ll need: door codes, parking, Wi-Fi details, and how everything in the cottage works.
Check-in is from 3pm (unless we’ve confirmed an alternative time with you). If you need anything at all during your stay, just get in touch. We’re locally based and always happy to help.
How can I be sure the home I am due to stay at will be clean?
Every cottage undergoes a thorough professional clean between each stay. Our dedicated housekeeping team follows a detailed changeover checklist covering every room and surface, from freshly laundered bed linen and towels to gleaming kitchens and sparkling bathrooms.
With over 1,000 five-star reviews, our cleaning standards consistently impress our guests. If anything isn’t quite right when you arrive, let us know straight away and we’ll sort it out.
What should I do when I leave?
Check-out is by 10am, which gives our housekeeping team time to prepare the cottage to a high standard for the next guests.
Before you leave, we’d be grateful if you could:
- Strip the beds and leave linen and towels in the bathroom or by the washing machine
- Give the cottage a general tidy: wash up or load the dishwasher, put bins out if it’s collection day
- Open a few windows to air the property if the weather allows
- Let us know about any breakages or maintenance issues so we can sort them before the next guests arrive
Thank you for taking care of the cottage. It really does make a difference, and our housekeepers appreciate it.
Why don’t you provide a brochure?
We try to be as eco-friendly as possible, which is why our office is paperless and all our literature is online. The property portfolio is constantly evolving and, because all of our literature is solely digital, web visitors can have peace of mind that the information they are viewing is completely accurate and up-to-date at all times.
How do I know a property is right for me?
We personally visit every property in our portfolio so we can be confident the homes meet the standards our guests expect. Our written descriptions, photos and location details are accurate representations of what you’ll actually find when you arrive. The photographic depictions of each property on the Beside The Sea Holidays website. If, after viewing the site you still have questions please feel free to contact us to speak to us.
Can I have an early check-in and later departure?
Arrival and departure times are set so that housekeepers have ample time to ready the house to a high standard for the arrival of each guest. There are occasions when it may be possible for arrival and departure times to be adapted such as during quieter times of the year but each request is at the discretion of Beside The Sea Holidays and taken on a case-by-case basis. Any such request must be raised and confirmed in advance.
What is the minimum stay at your properties?
Our minimum stays start from three nights, with the exact minimum varying by property and time of year. For most of our portfolio, short breaks are available throughout the season. You’ll see what applies when you search your dates on the booking page.
For self-catered properties, what can I expect as a standard inclusion of the rental?
Every property comes with a set of basic supplies to make your stay comfortable: bed linen, towels, tea, coffee, store cupboard essentials (such as cooking oil, sugar, salt, pepper), toilet roll, cleaning products, refuse bags, dishwasher tablets and tea towels. Some properties offer additional items, just check with us for specifics.
Can I request additional services for my stay?
Of course! We are happy to assist with the provision of extras at your chosen property, such as mid-week cleaning, delivery of groceries and such from external suppliers for you. Please note that we will generally require you to contact us with at least 7 days notice to investigate additional services for you and we cannot guarantee that a service will be available.
What happens if I cancel a booking?
Cancellation of a booking is a termination of your contract with the property owner; because of this, we have to treat your instructions to cancel your accommodation as your final decision. Following receipt of your cancellation we will immediately make the dates available for re-sale. For more information refer to the client Ts&Cs.
What happens if the property I have booked becomes unavailable?
Firstly, please rest assured that it is extremely unusual that we will need to change your accommodation booking once we have accepted it. If however your booking is changed for any reason, we will tell you as soon as we are able. On very rare occasions, circumstances outside of our control may mean that we have to move you to an alternative property, but if we are unable to provide an acceptable alternative accommodation you will be entitled to cancel your booking with us and receive a refund.
What is Truvi?
Truvi is the guest screening and verification platform we use to protect our owners’ homes and give our guests peace of mind. When you book with us, Truvi runs a quick verification process. It only takes a moment and helps ensure that every stay is a positive experience for guests and homeowners alike.
It’s just one more way we look after both the beautiful homes in our portfolio and the wonderful guests who stay in them.
What is the cautionary deposit?
Beside The Sea Holidays properties are much-loved private homes and our owners have lavished much time, effort and investment in creating beautiful spaces for their guests to enjoy. It is therefore the reason your payment card has been pre-charged a £200 cautionary deposit which protects the owners, their personal belongings, and the beautiful homes they share with guests. The cautionary deposit is your acceptance that you understand that you are responsible for the property during your stay and that if damage does occur, you will be accountable for covering the cost of repair. Our owners do understand that accidents happen, therefore usually do not seek recompense for minor damage (which as a guide we define as breakages to glasses, plates etc). We do ask that that you notify us should any damage happen so that it can be remedied in time for the next guests. The cautionary deposit is only taken if there has been damage or if the property has been left in an unsatisfactory state.
What is (and when will you apply) an auto-payment?
To offer valued clients a simple and stress-free experience when booking with us we have introduced an auto-payment service. This facility enables guests to choose whether or not to instruct us to automatically take a payment when it becomes due. We will only take an auto-payment when specifically requested, and on the due date; of course, your payment details will remain secure at all times. Provided that funds are available when we request payment, auto-payments do not incur administration fees.
Is the price of my booking fixed?
Yes. Unless there are any changes or amendments to your booking, the price of your accommodation will not be subject to any surcharges once you have paid the deposit and we have accepted the booking. Credit card surcharges are excluded from this guarantee but we do provide other ways to pay.
Do you offer holiday insurance?
Beside The Sea Holidays does not offer holiday insurance, however we strongly advise you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation costs and your stay in the Property. A good travel insurance policy is likely to cover cancellation of your booking due to most reasons genuinely beyond your control; some insurances even cover cancellation due to adverse travel and road conditions. This is an attractive feature as neither Beside The Sea Holidays nor the Owner will be liable for events outside our control that prevent you accessing the property. We also strongly recommend that your insurance policy covers you for personal liability claims just in case accidental damage is caused during your stay.
Here are some suggestions as to where you may find travel insurance, we are not allowed to recommend any particular policy, so please check these out for yourselves.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance/
https://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/travel-insurance
www.trailfinders.com/insurance.
Do you accept dogs at your properties and what constitutes a pet-friendly property?
We understand that you might not want to leave your four-legged friend at home when you’re looking for the perfect escape, and we encourage our owners to accommodate pets at their properties wherever possible. Our owner’s homes are not standard rental properties and for this very reason the pet accommodation charge reflects this. The number of dogs that can be accommodated will vary dependent on the property size and owner preferences, so please check the details on your preferred property page where you’ll also find additional accommodation charges detailed. If you have a pet other than a dog you’d like to accommodate, just let us know and we’ll do our very best to cater for your requirements. We welcome responsible pet owners at the properties that we market, and request that you take good care of the home in which you holiday, our pet Ts&Cs detail all the need-to-knows in this respect. Whilst the majority of properties within the portfolio have outside space for your dog to enjoy, we cannot guarantee that dogs won’t be able to escape from those with enclosed gardens.
Why do you ask for feedback following our stay?
We’re confident in the quality of the properties that we market, but it is very important to us that you provide us with honest feedback at the end of your stay. This ensures that both Beside The Sea Holidays and our property owners are maintaining the quality of the properties that we market, and implementing any suggestions that might serve to improve the property and facilities on offer.
Would I receive a discount if I booked well in advance or if I wait until the last minute?
Neither. Our properties are very popular year-round, and although booking in advance will not mean that you receive a concession on the standard tariff, you will at least have the pick of the dates available at the property of your choice.
Why is it necessary for you to know the ages and occupation of my group?
Aside from it being an insurance and health and safety requirement that we know who is staying at a property in the instance of fire, Beside The Sea Holidays properties are private homes and owners do like to have an idea of the breakdown of your group. Due to the nature of certain properties, some might have specific property restrictions in place. Any such restrictions will be listed on individual property pages.
Am I permitted to have guests visit me at the property?
Friends are able to visit you in the property with prior written agreement from Beside The Sea Holidays. However, friends are not allowed to stay overnight unless they have been pre-notified to us on the property Booking Form as members of your party. This is an insurance and health & safety issue and is non-negotiable; clients will be asked to vacate a property if they do not adhere to this condition of their stay.
What age is an infant in order to be classed as a ‘babe-in-arms’?
We class ‘babes-in-arms’ as very young children who cannot toddle or walk and have to be carried. Since it is generally acknowledged that children begin to stand and take their first steps from about 9 months, we describe any infant under the age of 12 months as a ‘babe-in-arms’.
What do you mean when you describe a property as ‘baby-friendly’?
We describe a property as being baby-friendly when an owner has indicated that they are willing to provide facilities such as a high chair, cot, stair-gate or similar facilities. A child-friendly property does not mean that the property has been otherwise adapted in any special way and you will still need to exercise sound parental judgement in taking care of your little ones! Please contact us if you have any questions relating to the provision or use of equipment at your chosen property.
Will there be Wi-Fi/broadband at the property?
All of our properties offer broadband. However, broadband speed and service is variable and can vary, especially in remote or rural areas where it may not operate at speeds to which you are accustomed. Where a property page does state that broadband is available, neither the property owner nor Beside The Sea Holidays warrant that the service will be available constantly. It is provided for recreational and not for business use. We are unlikely to accept a booking that is wholly reliant on the uninterrupted provision of Wi-Fi; if this is likely to cause an issue for you, then please contact us before confirming your booking.
What do I do if something doesn’t seem quite right at the property?
We work closely with our property owners to ensure that they make every effort to ensure flawless, perfect stays at their properties but very occasionally, things may not meet our own exacting standards. If this is the case we want you to let us know as soon as possible and ideally within 24 hours. This will enable Beside The Sea Holidays to investigate the issue and to do our very best to take any remedial action necessary. If you do not tell us (or the owner or housekeeping team) the issue cannot be addressed and we will assume that everything is perfect for you.