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

“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 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 years ago

“Sadly there is not an option to leave zero stars. Disgusted that CI refused to do the right thing and take the decision to cancel our trip to Kenya, instead insisting they feel the trip can go ahead safely. If things change they will cancel the trip 2 weeks before the departure date, after our children have had vaccinations, started malaria treatments and purchased expensive clothing and equipment, all of which will be useless. They refuse to provide proof of covid related insurance or any risk assessments, and will instead be keeping £2000 of my hard earned money. Awful company with disgusting morals, no interest in our children’s safety, just hiding behind their cancellation policy. Will never book with them again.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Claire, thank you for getting in touch. 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 4 years ago

“This company is disreputable & dishonest. My 15 yr old goddaughter was due to travel to Kenya this year. She has saved birthday/Xmas money & did a lot of fundraising to help fund the adventure of a lifetime. Due to Covid & Kenya being on the red list(& the fact that her school withdrew teachers to travel as custodians) it is clearly unsafe for children to travel. There are so many potentially dangerous situations (such as quarantine in a strange country) that make the trip untenable for a teenager. Camps International has refused to communicate with worried parents - and refuses to refund deposits paid claiming that anyone not sending their child has demonstrated ‘disinclination’ to travel. Their safeguarding is non existent & their only compromise is to defer travel to next year. As most of the young people across the UK planning trips this year will have left school by then - CI know that this is not a viable alternative. There are parents across the country trying to claim refunds. CI have lied about flights being booked etc & are clearly just ripping people off to the tune of £ thousands (average losses between £2 -£5k). Do not trust your child’s welfare to this company. They are clearly far more interested in money than child safety, and their insurances etc just don’t stack up! Beware.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in contact. We are unable to comment on individual travellers situations however we can assure you that we have been closely following the advice of the Government and FCDO and would never send anyone on expedition if it was deemed unsafe by these governing bodies. The safety and wellbeing of our travellers is our number 1 priority and we have been working with schools on several different expedition options that minimise the financial impact on families. 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 and long into the future. Stay safe, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“They don’t even deserve the 1 star. Emails not replied to asking for updated risk assessments and insurance policy documents, but sending email reminders regarding the the final payment deadline, when all of the countries this company deal with are either on the amber or red list. And then to top it off after doing my research, flights didn’t even exist that they claimed they booked last December!!!! This company has no morals and no integrity towards the safety of our children and are more than willing to risk their health knowing full well that children will not have been vaccinated against covid when due to travel, and it being highly likely that the people our children were going to help will also not have been vaccinated. This contract was entered into prior to the pandemic therefore i strongly suggest all parents, schools and anybody else who is aware of the appalling way this company is run, that they look into a frustration of contract, meaning the pandemic was unforeseeable by either party and should therefore make the contract null and void and our children’s money that they have worked so hard to fundraise be refunded back to them so that they can give back to the people that have helped in their fundraising efforts or be able to donate to other charitable causes, not be pocketed by this company. They are an absolute disgrace.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Mrs Breckenridge, thanks for getting in contact. We understand that this matter is currently being handled by the school and we can assure you that we will be supporting them throughout their insurance claim. If you would like an update on how it is progressing, we advise that you contact the school for more information. If you feel we are better placed to help, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will be able to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“Took our money and refused to refund it despite being fully aware they would not be able to offer the trip”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Suky, thanks for getting in touch. We are obviously deeply disappointed that your child will not be visiting our Camps this year and we have no doubt that you are too. However, 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 encourage you to speak directly with them regarding their decision to cancel the expedition. If you feel we are better placed to help, please email operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will discuss this further with you. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“Dreadful despicable company! They happily wait for schools to cancel so they do not have to pay the young people all of the money back they have raised and paid in advance for the trip. I hope after seeing all of these negative posts, others will be put off from getting involved with this company!”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. 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 do get in contact with us. Kind Regards, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“We signed up two years ago for a trip to Kenya in 2021. I wish I had done more due diligence on the company at that stage. They claim to be philanthropic and charitable but in fact they have been shown to be completely immoral in the way they have treated families and children who have saved for trips which clearly cannot happen. To claim that 50% of costs have been incurred and are non-refundable simply could not be true. We should not have to ask our hard up schools to refund this money to us. Their accounts show that the highest paid director earned £233k in 2019 - wonder what his earnings will be in 2020 or 2021? I do not trust this company and would never recommend booking with them.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch, We understand that this matter has now been resolved with the school and we are obviously deeply disappointed that you will not be visiting our Camps this year. If there is anything else we can do to help, please don't hesitate to get in contact with us. Stay safe, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“It is clear that Camps have a strong history of leading amazing expeditions. That was clear from the quality of previous reviews and the experience of participants. However they have not behaved openly or responsibly during this pandemic. How can anyone think it is reasonable to force children into making payments/ paying for vaccines, kit etc to go on a trip that is not safe. How can they justify not producing insurance documents/ itineraries etc. How can they justify putting flights on the traveller gateway and telling students they have paid for these flights - when these flights DO NOT exist. There has been poor leadership here - and the impact this will have on the very communities that camps is meant to support is likely to be devastating. Camps really missed a trick here They have upset so many schools and parents, likely affecting their future partnerships with schools. With better communication, support, flexibility and understanding they could have worked with families to cancel trips and to look at ways people could fundraise or pay into the charitable side of the organisation instead of making all their customers feel like they have simply stolen their money.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. Throughout the pandemic we have been working closely with each school to establish several different options that minimise the financial impact to families and eliminates any need for further planning. These options are sitting with the school and we advise you to contact them to discuss the expedition if you haven't already received an update. In regards to the communities we work with, please rest assured that we are continuing to support our local crew and partner communities globally throughout this time and long into the future. If you have any further queries, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and we'll do our best to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“Do not use this company- they have behaved disgustingly and cannot be trusted! They know parents will not send their children to a red list country and so continue to press for final payments and be inflexible with their original ( pre pandemic) T&C’s! They cannot provide the correct documentation and so parents and schools are being forced to cancel losing the monies paid- Camps international getting rich on our children’s hard earned fundraising money and charitable donations - absolutely beyond belief they should not be allowed to trade in the educational travel sector!”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. We are sorry you are disappointed with us and we can understand your frustration surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. We would like to assure that we have been closely following all guidance given from the Government and the FCDO and all our safety procedures and documentation are up to date and complete. 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 do not hesitate to contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“Poorly managed company, poor decision making throughout the pandemic. Would not recommend at all.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thanks for getting in touch. We are sorry that you are disappointed with the management of the company. We understand the frustration surrounding our 2021 expeditions but we can assure you that all decisions made have been in line with guidance from the government and FCDO. If you would like to discuss your complaint further, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will be happy to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“We were expected to pay the final amount of over £2000 for Borneo by the beginning of May and were pointedly reminded by email. However no guarantees or reassurances were made about the travel arrangements or Covid implications. The school spent days trying to get answers and a delay to the final payment. In the end the local MP, education authority and council were involved and council lawyers agreed to deal with Camps to seek a full refund. We have been assured that council insurance will refund us if the case against Camps is unsuccessful. Such a frustrating and disappointing display of poor customer service from Camps International. No transparency, communication or honesty about the reality of the pandemic situation.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. We would like to assure you that we have maintained close communication with schools leading up to the payment deadline and continue to do so with those schools that are yet to make a decision on their expedition. The decision to cancel or defer the expedition is sitting with the school and we encourage you to get in contact with them to discuss this further. If you feel we are better placed to help, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and our team will be able to update you. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“Camps have behaved despicably throughout this pandemic and schools should avoid using them In the future..... they cannot provide evidence of an updated Covid secure insurance policy , an updated risk assessment including covid protocol , there are no itineraries showing they can deliver the promised trips and they cannot provide us with details of who is our schools expedition leader ( probably because they have been unable to carry out the relevant staff training procedures) some flights listed on the gateway do not exist and they are scaremongering schools and staff to pull out of trips for safety reasons hence losing all the children’s hard earned fundraising money as well as charitable donations! It is absolutely disgusting that they are getting away with this! They have shown no flexibility during this pandemic and pushing continually for payments but other communication is poor! They cannot prove that they are planning for the safety of our children. The have no morals and to top it all at the end of the cancellation letter that they send telling you that they are keeping your child’s fundraising money they ask you to make a donation to their charitable foundation... I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them ! Avoid this company at all costs they are completely untrustworthy!”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Lesley, thanks for getting in touch. We can assure you that the safety of our travellers is our number one priority and all safety documentation and risk assessments have been completed. We are unable to comment on individuals school's situations however we understand that a member of our operations team has recently been in touch with you to discuss the points you have raised furtherr. We hope that they were able to clearly explain our pre-expedition procedures with you however, if you would like anything explained further please don't hesitate to get in contact with us again and we will do our best to help you. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“When will camps be refund those that have already paid the full amount I’m guessing they will go bust first or find some other legal loop hole to get out of it The school has cancelled our trip and is paying half out of its funds no school is ever going to let it sell the trips again so camps will be left with little else’s but to close”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi, thank you for getting in touch. We are obviously deeply disappointed that you will not be visiting our Camps this year but we understand that this matter has now been resolved and you have received a refund. 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 will continue to support our local crew and partner communities globally throughout this time and long into the future. If you would like to discuss anything further, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will do their best to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“We were given a fantastic presentation from Camps at the school and both my children wanted to go, blinkin eck I wanted to go and shortly after making a few payments we were all affected by the global pandemic. Camps then showed there true colours hiding behind Government guidelines and terms and conditions stating and sending emails basically demanding payment refusing to cancel the trip even though we all know its not going to happen. the children won't be vacinated won't be prepared and due to the pandemic won't have fundraised so parents and family have stepped in to pay. We were told IF ITS NOT SAFE THEY WONT GO yet KENYA IS STILL ON THE RED LIST and they are due to go in July. Camps hid behind the terms our money is spent already they state all the time if you cancel before the 1st May you lose 50% of the trip they should be stating after you sign up your liable for 50% upto May 1st and if you cancel you don't get a penny back !!!! They state on their webpage ETHICAL trips but theres nothing ethical about this company. The trip of a lifetime has turned into a nightmare that has cost me and my family nearly £4000 Common sense should have been used terms and conditions aren't written with a global pandemic in mind, it's not safe for the trips to cancel they should have done the right thing and cancelled or defered not leave it to the last minute forcing parents to cancel losing money so Camps can keep it poor communication poor customer service really poor company The CHILDREN promised trips of a lifetime are the ones that have lost out!! Avoid this company”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Gareth, thank you for getting in touch. We can assure you that we have been working in line with advice from the Government and the FDCO in regards to our expeditions and the safety of our travellers is our number one priority. We will not be sending anyone on an expedition if it is deemed unsafe on the particular dates. In regards to the payment deadline, we had been working closely with schools to relieve the financial pressures and the decision to cancel or defer the expedition ultimately sat with them. As we are unable to comment on individual travellers situation, we advise that you get in contact with the school to discuss the available expeditions options if you are still unhappy with the outcome. If you feel we are better placed to help, please contact us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and one of our team will be in touch. Kind regards, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“This company and everyone associated should be deeply ashamed with themselves. There is obviously no moral compass, and it’s a pure money making scheme.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Absolutely disgusted with how we are being treated. We signed our daughter up to the 2021 trip to Kenya before Covid but Camps International are still expecting us to continue on the same terms. This is really unfair. We do not want to pay any further money as not sure we will get it back, as no matter what happens we do not think it is safe to send any child to a Red list country this summer. Therefore we have lost the £1,900 we have already paid. Wouldn't want any other family to have to go through this ordeal but looking at the many poor reviews it looks like there are a lot of families affected. Our daughter was really looking forward to the trip but we wouldn't want her to go with CI next year in view of how they are treating us now.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Vicky, thank you for getting in contact. We have been working with schools to provide options to alleviate any need for further payments and planning. This decision is still currently standing with the school and we encourage you to contact them to discuss these options further. If you would prefer to speak to us, please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and a member of our team will be happy to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

“I don't doubt CI have, in the past completed a lot of good work but the way they are handling the bookings etc for this year's trips is awful. How CI expect the unvaccinated children to travel to pandemic hit countries is totally irresponsible and the CI management have shown their true colours. It has been known that the Government will be making the decision on International travel around the middle of May, so why not delay the last payment until after that: because CI want as many as possible to panic and cancel losing what has been paid until now. A disgrace.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Hi Simon, thank you for getting in contact. We can assure you that we are closely following the advice of the Government, FCDO and the DfE and will not be sending any travellers on expedition if it is deemed unsafe for the proposed expedition dates. We have also been working with schools closely to minimise the financial impact to travellers and their families and the decision to defer or cancel the expedition is currently with the school. We advise that you contact them for an update otherwise please email us at operations@campsinternational.co.uk and our team will do their best to help. All the best, The Camps Crew

Posted 4 years ago

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