dunescape - Eco Holiday Home in Camber Sands

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2011-03-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again!

As the sun's been shining on Camber we've been charging about with pressure washers, paintbrushes, and cleaning/refreshing everything that doesn't move ready for another busy season.

One important task that has been neglected (shame on me) has been the creation of Dunescape's Access Statement. We are all of diverse abilities, and our Access Statement now helps people make up their own minds whether or not Dunescape is a suitable property for their individual needs.

Much measuring and pacing out later, the Access Statement is finally there on our website, just follow the link from the 'important info' page.

Meanwhile, I need to go buy some more ping-pong balls and possibly take a trip to the local vinyard for a spot of tasting and shopping. But falling asleep in the sun on the deck and strolling along the beach have proved just a little too tempting. It's a tough life here in Camber...

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T10:39:00.001-08:00

A long time since I posted. I think it happens to a lot of people... Autumn is a time when the evenings draw in and many of us sit and recover and regenerate from a busy summer.

But, refreshed and recuperated, it's time to look forward to 2011!

All but one of our bookings so far for 2011 are repeat bookings, which speaks volumes. So many people will be pleased to know that there are no big changes planned for the coming year. Possibly a minor kitchen refurb but that's about it.

In the meantime I shall leave you with a picture that some lovely guests from Germany kindly sent and allowed me to use on the blog. A super picture of their son on the sand dunes with Dunescape in the background. Happy thoughts of the sunny seaside days ahead.

Have a wonderful 2011 everybody!

Andrew

Busy busy busy!

2010-08-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of posting recently. It's one of those little things that, if you leave it too long, you don't quite know where to pick up. Time was better spent getting the house ready than simply writing about it, and then of course the season kicked off, and... now it's August!

Either way, there are some very big smiles all round. Everyone but everyone who has stayed this year has enjoyed their stay. Or at least, they've left some very kind comments in the guest book. I look forward to passing some of those on in the future sometime.

In addition to the nice comments in the guest book (which I cannot access at the mo because of course, a family is staying), we've had some lovely messages by email.

Most recently, Dr Karen said of her stay: 'We had a super time. Everyone was very impressed! My husband has already recommended your place to lots of his patients!'

Ian P signed off his email in July saying: 'Thanks again for letting us share your wonderful place'

Stephen T remarked in June: 'Just a quick note to let you know what a great time we had at Dunescape. Although the weather certainly helped, this week was everything we could have wished for. The house itself, and the location to the beach, is perfect. We've had a very relaxing holiday. Feel free to quote us on your website.'

But it's not time to rest on our laurels. As the 'back to school' banners appear in the shops (which I used to REALLY HATE when I was a kid on school holidays) it's time to start planning 2011, ready for the dates to be released early September. There's also the plan for a video, and to update all the photos on the website.

But in the meantime, still plenty of summer sun to enjoy!

Ping Pong anyone?

2010-03-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Feedback is a gift. We love receiving it. Last year, a family of very valued regular guests told us that a table tennis table would be nice. The dartboard had served its purpose and the garage was looking in quite a sorry state thanks to all the missed darts taking chunks out of the wall and floor!

So we listened, and in this instance felt that their suggestion was realistic and acheivable.

The dartboard has gone (booo!) But in its place the garage has been spruced up to assume a dual role as a games room, and the table tennis table has arrived (hurrah!)

It's a splendid full-sized table that folds away easily if guests prefer to keep their car in the garage.

Needless to say, as soon as it was assembled, a queue of neighbours formed to try it out...

Wow!

2010-02-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

It's amazing enough that five weeks of the summer holidays in July and August were booked out by 8th January. But the best bit of all is that the people who booked those five weeks had ALL stayed at Dunescape before.

Easter school holidays are also booked up, but May Bank Holiday, Whitsun weekend, and August Bank Holiday week are still available at the time of writing.

The decorators have finished and at last the smell of paint has gone. The interior is as bright as a new pin and the garage floor looks pretty cool too. We had the garage brightened up as it assumes a dual role for the coming season: somewhere to park the car, and somewhere to play on the new table tennis table when it arrives in March.

Looking at the website I think it's time to update the photos. There is a lot more art on the walls now, and of course there is the swanky new games room/garage to photograph. And another two bookings came in this weekend... it's all go, but it's all good.

New Year, Fresh Paint

2010-01-04T01:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping that 2010 is a good year for everyone.

Here at Dunescape we have the decorators coming. The interior of the entire house is to be painted from top to bottom... from the main bedroom ceiling down to the garage floor. There is a lot of packing and sorting to do, but it should look nice and fresh for the coming season.

Speaking of which, we've had three bookings this year already, but if that isn't fantastic enough, two of those are repeat bookings.

Anyhow, the Camber sun is shining and the sky is bright blue. Time for a crafty walk along the beach I think...

Coming back again and again

2009-11-04T03:46:00.000-08:00

Bookings for 2010 are already coming in, so despite the bright blue Camber sky and the sunshine outside, it's time to start getting the booking forms out. Although I foresee a crafty kitesurf on the agenda later this afternoon.

J&S with their son D have just booked their fifth break at Dunescape. Fifth! That's not bad when you consider that 2010 will be our third season. Dr M and her family popped down twice from the West Midlands this year, taking an autumn break as they enjoyed their time in May so much. Not forgetting V who brought her family for a week in August 08 so booked up to stay for two weeks in August 09.

It's lovely that people want to keep coming back.

Light of my life. Or rather, of the kitchen

2009-11-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

There was only one light fitting in Dunescape that wasn't fitted with energy saving lamps, and that was in the kitchen. Four 50W halogen lamps making a total of 200W.

Now they have been replaced with 5W LED lamps. With two hour's use a day, that should save enough energy for over 60 tanks of hot water, or more than 2,000 cups of tea. Splendid!

Visitors from Germany

2009-09-22T01:17:00.000-07:00

Recently a lovely family from Germany stayed at Dunescape.

It was nice to receive a little email on the eve of their departure:

'It´s time to say good-bye ! We will leave tomorrow at 6:30am. We felt very well here, we enjoyed our holidays and loved the furnishings in your house. Everything seems to be bright and friendly. Best wishes, A'

Camber rocks!

2009-08-25T05:51:00.001-07:00

There are a few things that make Dunescape a little different. One of the major differences is that we regularly stay here ourselves, at least once every six weeks. During the winter we're here practically full-time so the place very rarely sits empty, and that's a comfort to those people who would not normally rent a holiday home because of the 'ghost village' effect an empty property has on the local community out-of-season.

The good thing about staying regularly is that we can attend to all those little jobs that accrue over the period of just a few weeks. Right now the washing machine is on overdrive washing the sofa covers, dining seat covers, curtains, and anything else that we can get into the drum. Light bulbs need replacing, and stocks of welcome pack items, toiletries, and our eco cleaning supplies all need replenishing.

Plenty to do, but there's also plenty of time to get out kitesurfing too :-)

Dunescape 2010

2009-08-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

Is it next year already? Well, almost.

After an amazingly successful season in terms of both number and visits and happiness of the valued guests who stayed, it's time to look ahead to next year. We'll be taking bookings from this coming weekend.

We're not into the business of early booking or last-minute discounting. Call us old fashioned, but we don't think it's fair on the people who pay the regular prices. We prefer to charge a fair price from the beginning and that's it, end of story. Respect for our guests is far more important than a making a quick buck. The earlier you book, the more chance you have of securing the dates you want. Simple, really!

Welcome to Dunescape!

2009-08-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

Dunescape is a holiday home to rent with a subtle difference. To start with, the house is a modern eco-home incorporating such features as solar water heating, geothermal space heating, and a grass roof. Continuing the eco theme, we provide only natural cruelty-free toiletries, use only natural cleaning agents, and we take great care to make sure that nothing we use has been anywhere near an animal lab. Even the cotton bed linen is organic.

What has delighted our guests most of all is the location of our holiday home - right next to the beach at sunny Camber Sands, near Rye in East Sussex.

Why not take a look? Visit our website at:

http://www.dunescape.co.uk/

We've started a blog to keep guests past and future up-to-date with goings on at Dunescape, to let you know how others have enjoyed their stay, and of course for a bit of insight into the everyday goings-on into the running of a holiday home.

We hope you enjoy having a read through.