Camps International Reviews

Name: Camps International
Address: Unit 10 Kingfisher Park Headlands Business ParkSalisbury Road, Ringwood
Rating: 4.11

4.1 Rating 620 Reviews

78 %

of reviewers recommend Camps International

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About Camps International:

Camps International are experts in sustainable student travel, offering life-changing school expeditions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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Phone:

01425 485390

Email:

info@campsinternational.com

Location:

Unit 10 Kingfisher Park Headlands Business ParkSalisbury Road
Ringwood
BH24 3NX

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125

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

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“My daughter like many others was due on a trip to uganda this year, we set up the direct debit to pay monthly. Then covid hit, communication from camps has been shocking always passing the buck to someone else. Our school cancelled the trip because of our concerns and camps ridiculous advise to carry on paying as trips still planned to go ahead!! We have now lost over £2000 and now being advised by the school that the insurance does not cover covid and will have to try and get the money through the county courts”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thanks for getting in contact. We are sorry to hear that you have been unhappy with our communication. We can assure you that the safety of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been closely following the advice of the Government and FCDO. Our objectives remain to put safety first, mitigate financial exposure to everyone and ensure that all who wish to travel with Camps are given the opportunity to do so. We have been working with schools to create several different options for our 2021 expeditions and each school will have made their decisions. We recommend contacting them for an update on any outstanding monies, otherwise please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we'll do out best to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“My daughter was booked to go Cambodia this July through her school. All along myself and CI remained hopeful she would be able to go Even if it was to a back up destination. Camp have always been honest and upfront regarding the situation and every time I have had concerns I have always come off a call feeling reassured and informed .We were just offered a good will refund of all funds paid but my daughter really wants this trip of a lifetime so we are really looking forward to moving on from covid and she will be hopefully going to Kenya in 2022 on an open trip ,the staff have already reassured me that the good will refund will also still stand next year if circumstances haven't improved. Everyone has been lovely to deal with and despite the difficulties of the year we have faith the trip will be unforgettable.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Ann, thanks so much for leaving us a review. It's great to hear that you've had a positive experience with us and that your daughter is looking at travelling with us again. We hope to welcome her to Camp Kenya in 2022! All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“We delayed a Cambodia trip for our then 16 year old in 2020 for year. Total lack of meaningful information from the company, just waffly emails now and again with no options or substance. The school has formally cancelled the trip as there's no chance of the trip going ahead as it's clearly not safe or practical but despite this camps international won't budge their position or compromise in anyway. We are trying to claim from the school's insurance but potentially we'll lose the 50% we paid upfront, (in the order of £2500) which camps international will keep. Very dodgy unethical company. Avoid.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

“AVOID AVOID AVOID! This company are thieves!!! They are refusing to refund hiding behind whatever legislation and terms and conditions they can refusing to cancel a trip to a red list country putting the onus on school to cancel then pulling the terms and condition card. The communication has been appalling, what I find really strange is they are too scared to work from there office or answer phones because of Covid but more than happy to take your children to a red list country. They do not care about your childs safety they are only interested in your money, ethical company!!! They don't even know the meaning of it absolute cowards!!!”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

“Disgusting service from camps international. Signed my son up to costa rica trip 2021 at a cost of £4500. Then global pandemic hit. Camps international refused to cancel even though it was obviously unsafe to travel. Their small print allows them to keep 50%of your payments and oh boy do they keep to their small print... They have made thousands of pounds including £2250 of my money, leaving kids and parents in limbo. I couldn't be more disgusted by this company.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Julia, thanks for getting in contact. We understand that this matter has now been resolved and you have already received a refund. If there is anything further we can do to help, please contact operations@campsinternational.co.uk. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Reading these reviews and the subsequent responses from CI should be a warning to all potential future travellers to avoid this company like the plague. I have tried on many occasions to have a sensible conversation with CI and have even involved my local MP however, they are only interested in their revenue and not the interests or more importantly the safety of our children. The latest saga is the travel insurance that I have been assured includes cover for Covid-19 however, when you read the documentation it is explicitly excludes cover for Covid-19. The fact they are now resulting to lies tells you everything you need to know about the organisation. Book at your own risk.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thanks for getting in contact. We can assure you that the safety of our travellers is our number one priority and we are closely following the advice of the Government and FCDO. Our objectives remain to put safety first, mitigate financial exposure to everyone and ensure that all who wish to travel with Camps are given the opportunity to do so. We have been working with schools to create several different options for our 2021 expeditions and the final decision is with each individual school. We recommend contacting them for an update, otherwise please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we'll do out best to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Totally unethical business. Lies, smoke and mirrors at every turn to keep the money rolling in. Zero customer service, vague communication and ignorant of valid travel concerns. Lots of accreditation’s that when you check are not worth the paper they are written on. Miss selling with a glossy sales pitch from the start. Do not believe their blurb. Continually ignore government advice and common sense. They have behaved terribly during the pandemic and shown no duty of care to the children due to travel with them. I wouldn’t trust them to organise a trip to the corner shop. Have cruelly taken my Grandaughters fundraising of over £2000 by using their unfair contractual terms and conditions to show no flexibility at all.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thanks for getting in touch. We're sorry to hear that you think our terms and conditions are unfair. We are continuing our efforts to be fair and consistent and adhere to our legal responsibilities under the PTR’s. We understand that your grandaughter and her parents are currently in communication with a member of our team regarding their cancelled expedition. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we'll do our best to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Do not even want to give one star ! Appalling behaviour !! School have been advised by government guidelines to cancel the trip to Peru as it’s on the red list. Camps international refusing to give a refund saying flights have already been booked, when another parent asked for flight details they were given flight numbers that don’t even exist !! Will never recommend anyone to go with this company as they clearly have no consideration for the safety of our children. They cannot offer the trip that we booked and paid for, so because of that we should be given a full refund!!! And trying to get a response from anyone that works there has been near on impossible!”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Nicola, thanks for getting in contact. We can assure you that the safety and wellbeing of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been working with schools on several different expedition options that minimise the financial impact on families and eliminate the need for further planning by travellers. This decision to cancel or defer is currently sitting with the school and we encourage you to contact them for an update on where the expedition currently stands. If you feel we are better placed to help, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we will be able to update you. Kind Regards, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Do not waste your money!! This company is refusing to repay all the children who can’t travel this year. There is no guarantee that any further trips will go ahead this year or next and if you do sign up and the trip doesn’t goes ahead you could find yourself loosing everything you contributed.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi James, thank you for getting in contact. The absence of clear guidance has created an extremely challenging operating environment for us and a worrying and stressful time for some of our travellers. We will continue in our efforts to be fair and consistent and adhere to our legal responsibilities under the PTR’s whilst also ensuring that we can continue to deliver exceptional experiences to the thousands of young people still booked on future expeditions with us. If you have any further queries please email operations@campsinternational.co.uk. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“No insurance for Covid 19, no adherence to Dept for Education official guidance, no care for the safety and well being of the students involved, no care for the mental health of the parents. They want your money and will lie every step of the way to squeeze every last penny out of you. The government are saying no foreign trips without very good reason. The DfE are saying no school trips, but Camps are calling it a “disinclination to travel” and are refusing to refund. Do NOT trust this conpany.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. We can assure you that we are following guidance from the Government and the FCDO for the proposed expedition dates and we will not be sending our travellers on expedition if it is deemed unsafe by either of these bodies. We have also been working with schools to eliminate any need for further planning and the decision to cancel or defer the expedition is currently with the school. We hope this help clears up any confusion but if you would like more clarification, please contact operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we will be able to explain our process further. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“A genuinely careless attitude to our children. No regard for their safety. Willing to send unvaccinated teenagers to Peru, a red flagged country with one of the lowest vaccination rates in South America, even against current DfE advice. When this was discussed with the company few weeks ago in a meeting organised by the school, they choose to ignore all parents and steamed rolled with their plans, booking flights and demanding further payments or all money last. Appalling behaviour, callous and careless, only one thing in their mind. Your Money.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Jon, thanks for getting in contact. We would like to assure you that the safety and wellbeing of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been following the guidance from the Government and the FCDO throughout the pandemic. We have been in close contact with all schools to give them the opportunity to cancel or defer the trip, and alleviate any need for further payments and planning. If you haven't heard the decision already, please contact your school for an update. If you feel we are better placed to help, please email operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will be available to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“You talk to schools, you organise through schools and then when we want to cancel as this is a school trip and under the government guidance it says school trips can’t go ahead - all of a sudden it’s not a school trip! Absolute joke!!! Your peace of mind policy, is not worth developer cost to write the html.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. We're sorry you are unhappy with our pre-expedition process. As the expedition is a school trip, the decision to cancel or defer is currently sitting with your school. We recommend you contact them for an update, otherwise please contact operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we will do our best to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“A bunch of con artists..took our children’s fundraising and their Savings for a trip that was never going to take place. They hide behind their Terms and conditions taking thousands of £ off us and other families! Return our money!!’”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Joanne, thanks for getting in touch again. We understand your frustration surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and know that you are currently in contact with our team to resolve this matter. Please contact operations@campsinternational.co.uk if you have any further queries. Thank you, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“I have helped my granddaughter raise funds for this amazing trip that she was so looking forward to.....however, as a family we have been very worried in the past months that Camps continued to say the trips would still go ahead! My granddaughter is only 15 and the thought of her in a country under the strain of covid and the thought of maybe her having to quarantine in Kenya was making me very anxious..... I cannot believe what Camps have put my family through with all the stress and worry and then to top it off because the school deemed to say that they felt it was unsafe Camps cancelled the whole school off the trip and they have all lost their deposits of over £2000 each !! It’s absolutely disgusting and Camps International should not be allowed to provide these trips to schools in the future! They should be ashamed of themselves!”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. We are obviously deeply disappointed that your granddaughter will not be visiting our Camps this year and we have no doubt that she is too. However, as you mentioned your school has considered the current circumstances and challenges faced by both them and yourselves and has made this difficult decision, with your best interests in mind. We will be supporting them through the cancellation process to help minimise the financial impact to travellers and their families. If we can help you further, please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will do their best to help. Kind regards, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“From the “sales pitch” by a Camps International representative right through to online zoom meetings in the months leading up to expedition, Camps International will claim that the safety of their students - our children - is of paramount importance to the staff, management and owners of Camps International. If there is anything that shows the safety of their students - our children - could be compromised in any way, the trip will be cancelled and refunds given. Earlier this week, the department of education set out a recommendation that international trips for schools do not go ahead during this academic year. That in itself sows an element of doubt over the safety of their trips. Is this enough for Camps International to cancel their trips and to refund the students that have raised thousands of pounds in fundraising to go on expedition? NO! Are Camps International cancelling trips - organised by and for schools - on the basis of a recommendation by the Department of Education? NO! Is this an organisation that you should trust the life of your child with? NO! Is this an organisation that you should trust with upto £5000 of your money with? NO! Now, do you want to travel on an expedition organised by Camps International? I didn’t think so.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in contact again. We can assure you that the safety and wellbeing of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been closely following the advice of the Government and the FDCO. We have also been working with schools to create several options that alleviate any need for further payments and planning. If you have any queries then we encourage you to contact your school otherwise please feel free to contact us and we'll do our best to update you on the schools decision. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Signed up to trip of a lifetime before covid hit. Now in the horrible situation where having to wait to the wire 7/14days before travel (travelling 6thJuly )to know if the trip is going ahead and potentially vaccinating our children unnessarily, in the hope the correct decision is made and the trip is cancelled and funds refunded . My 18yr old has had the most disrupted 18months since signing up to this 'trip of a life time as has her fellow travellers. These kids deserve a break and to know sooner rather than later what on earth is happening so they can plan for the rest of their future.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. We can assure you that the safety and wellbeing of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been working with schools on several different expedition options that minimise the financial impact on families and eliminate the need for further planning by travellers. This decision to cancel or defer is currently sitting with the school and we encourage you to contact them for an update on where the expedition currently stands. If you feel we are better placed to help, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we will be able to update you. Kind Regards, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“The lack of consideration to the physical and mental health of our young people is astounding. In one zoom meeting a parent reported the impact on her family of a close friend dying from Covid... minimal acknowledgement from the CI rep and back to fundraising! There seems to be complete disregard for the local Kenyan communities that they visit too. How can our children enter Kenya safely without Covid vaccinations.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Emma, thanks for getting in contact. We can assure you that the mental and physical wellbeing of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been working closely with schools to minimise the financial impact to families and eliminate any further need for pre-expedition preparation. The decision to cancel or defer still currently stands with the school and we encourage you to contact them for an update. If you feel we are better placed to help, please don't hesitate to get in contact with us via operations@campsinternational.co.uk. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Don’t book with this company. They are refusing to cancel our child’s trip to Kenya this summer despite. Kenya and the backup location Tanzania are both red list countries, Camps International will not cancel until 6 weeks before the trip but expect us to pay out additional sums on a visa and vaccinations which need to be done eight weeks before travel - shame on you. Appalling service and a complete lack care and concern for the welfare of our children. Our school will not be using them again and I suspect many parents and schools will feel exactly the same.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi, thanks for getting in contact. We would like to assure you that the safety of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been closely following the guidance of the Government and the FCDO. We will not be sending anyone on expedition if it is deemed unsafe and we have been keeping close communications with schools regarding this. If you would like an update on where your school expedition currently stands, we encourage you to contact the school. If you feel we are best placed to help, please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will do their best to help. Kind Regards, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Just No! Abysmal communication, they expected us to pay the final balance despite not providing details on their insurance, risk assessments, or clarify responsibility for quarantine and PCR tests. They are a money pit, and unfortunately it seems to line the pockets of the owners, not the charities that they market themselves off. They are delusional, the staff towing the line saying the trips may still happen up to a week before departure. Do they not realise the stress and mental issues this causes their 15/16 year old clients, many who are also going through their gcse’s! A long rant, so going back to my original statement - JUST NO!”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Sarah, thanks for getting in touch. We are sorry that you feel our communication has been inadequate. We can assure you that we have been doing our best to update parents where we can via our website. The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had a significant impact on every single one of us, but for some, especially in developing countries, the social and economic impact is hugely magnified. Please rest assured we are continuing to support our local crew and partner communities globally throughout this time. If you have any further queries, please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will be happy to discuss this further. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

“Poor service. Poor communication. No support whatsoever in this Pandemic. Thinking about their money more than the welfare of our children going on their expeditions.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Stephanie, thanks for getting in contact. We are sorry to hear that you are unhappy with our communication. We would like to assure you that the safety of our travellers is our number one priority and we have been closely following the guidance of the Government and the FCDO. We will not be sending anyone on expedition if it is deemed unsafe and we have been keeping close communications with schools regarding this. If you would like an update on where your expedition currently stands, we encourage you to contact your school in the first instance otherwise please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk if you feel we are better placed to help. Kind regards, The Camps Crew

Posted 3 years ago

Camps International is rated 4.1 based on 620 reviews