Filthy

Pontins Holiday Park in Prestatyn, Wales was once a thriving tourism hotspot, but now it lies dormant and soulless after it was closed permanently in November 2023

Countless memories were made by families up and down the country at Pontins Holiday Park in Prestatyn, Wales.

A once thriving tourism hotspot with its own private beach, swimming pools and playground — but now the “filthy hellhole” lies completely dormant, and a shadow of its former self.

Having been open since 1971, the park closed permanently back in November 2023, and speculation would continue to swirl about future plans.

There have been rumours of redevelopment into a new attraction, or perhaps to be knocked down for flats and houses, but no decision of any substance has ever truly been made, and it has been left to rot away.

Photos emerged over the years, showing an overgrown, sad and dilapidated site with run-down buildings dotted throughout.

News of the park’s unexpected closure hit the local community hard. Britannia Hotels, who owns Pontins, had not only brought the shutters down on the Welsh site, but also its Camber Sands park in East Sussex.

Local residents spoke to North Wales Live earlier this year where they explained what they would like to see done, with Pete Davis, who owns a cleaning business that once operated at Pontins, saying: “It ought to be used for something. I think it should be a holiday camp again. The council could issue a compulsory purchase order (to help that happen).”

Another agreed, adding: “It’s empty and I’d rather it was a holiday camp again. We moved here in 1973 and it was never any trouble to us.

“I don’t want it knocked down for more houses as I don’t feel there are enough doctors’ surgeries and schools, not enough infrastructure to support them.”

But a grandmother-grandson duo labelled it a “decrepit” and an “eyesore”, saying: “It’s quite decrepit and an eyesore for the local community. Something needs to be done. It should be reborn as a holiday camp or used for modern apartments.

“Something needs to be doing to it otherwise it’s going to become a drug den or a place for flytippers.”

The people are not the only ones who wish to see change at the abandoned holiday camp, with the Mayor of Prestatyn, Cllr Adrian West, adding: “I want to see the site brought back into some form of productive use again.

“For it just to be lying idle is doing nobody any good. I would not want it used for some sort of industry, given that it’s right next to the waterfront.”

He added how Pontins Prestatyn holds the keys to bringing life back to the town’s streets, increasing footfall which would be a mega boost for shops, as well as increasing the number of employment opportunities in the area.

But not everyone is upset the park has brought the curtains down after more than half a century of operation, with one Tripadvisor review admitting: “Thank god this rancid filthy cesspit has shutdown. Awful, worn out and really dirty. and it needed knocking down years ago.”

A second under added: “As time has gone by all the rooms are filled with mold, vomit, worse than a dog kennel. It looks like a garbage dump,” while someone else confessed: “There are no words to describe how awful this place is. A prison cell would be preferable to the chalet.

“The areas outside are overgrown, potholes in the car park, pavements cracked and overgrown. Concrete on stairs broken, support for stairs rotten, nails sticking out.”

An experienced flight attendant has revealed the one thing to avoid doing on airplanes if you don’t want to risk sharing other people’s bodily fluids and germs

A flight attendant who shares her adventures in the sky on social media has provided some insider advice on what passengers should definitely avoid while onboard.

Natalie Magee has been flying for 20 years so certainly knows what she’s talking about. She’s seen the good, the bad and the very ugly during her time looking after airline travellers.

However, there’s one particular freebie that Natalie recommends refusing, especially on shorter flights because the risk of getting up close and far too personal with other people’s germs is horribly high.

Zooming through the clouds can often mean that it gets a bit nippy at times in the cabin, particularly if flying at night when the sun has gone down. So passengers may need a blanket to keep warm and cosy.

Complimentary blankets used to be provided by airlines on most flights for chilly customers but these days because of cost-cutting and environmental concerns it’s usually only international, long-haul and first-class passengers that they are available too.

You may not think that’s such a bad thing though when you discover what could be found on them either. According to Natalie, hair, food, bodily fluids and mould could all be lurking in the folds of the material.

She says travellers use them to wipe their nose, clean up spills and even to catch their toenail clippings but that’s not all. “Probably one of the grossest things I’ve seen is someone using blankets to change their baby’s diaper,” Natalie, who is from Colorado, US, told Travel + Leisure.

That wouldn’t be such a problem if they were laundered after every use but that doesn’t always happen, according to the expert. “Most airlines have contract cleaners that take the blankets off after international flights and wash them in hot water, then seal them in plastic bags to be reused,” she explained. “However, on domestic flights, I’ve had blankets on my flights that we are instructed to just refold and put back in the bin.”

As a general rule she says if they aren’t in a sealed bag, they aren’t sanitary. So if you are someone who feels the cold when flying or needs to be covered to have a snooze, she recommends taking your own blanket. This way you know it’s clean and you won’t be snuggling up with someone else’s germs or illnesses.

Natalie has previously shared some of her many in-flight “peeves” and the most annoying things that passengers do. Along with parents changing babies on tray tables, people walking to the toilet barefoot and clipping their toenails while on board, she reveals one of her biggest pet hates is also hygiene related.

In a TikTok video she said she hates it, “when people don’t shut the bathroom door or leave the bathroom a mess. Also when you can hear it flush but not the sink so you know they didn’t wash their hands.”

Despite the niggles of life in the air with total strangers in a confined space, she reckons most flight attendants think of the aircraft as their own domain, which is why they want people to treat it well. “We would love it if people treated the space as their home and were tidy and respectful,” she said.

Natalie also believes it makes such a difference when passengers are polite and kind. “Honestly, when people say ‘thank you’ when they are getting off the plane (it is really great),” she reveals. “Or when they take the time to look at us when we are doing the beverage service and say please and thank you, we really appreciate it. I also like people who help others with their bags, especially mums and the elderly as we can’t always help everyone when boarding.”

Lucy Hylton, 39, says the hotel she stayed in was ‘filthy’ and had broken furniture, and that they resorted to eating out half the time they were there

A Manchester family have been left devastated after their £12,000 luxury getaway to Jamaica turned into an ordeal they describe as a ‘nightmare’. Lucy Hylton, 39, recounted the horrendous conditions at the five-star resort where the buffet was ‘filthy’, with broken furniture – forcing them to dine out for half of their stay.

Upon arrival, they found dirty rooms, one of which had such a bad odour that it was nearly impossible to breathe in. With a young child in tow, the Hyltons were further troubled by relentless fire alarms throughout their stay.

Lucy and her husband, Zata Hylton, 30, splurged £6,000 on a two-week all-inclusive vacation at Royalton Negril, Jamaica, to introduce their four-month-old son Leo to his Jamaican relatives.

Joining them, Lucy’s parents Sheila Hoy, 69, and Graham Hoy, 68, also invested £6,000 hoping to delight in their grandson’s first overseas experience, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The five-star resort promises to give guests a “luxurious experience, mouth-watering gourmet meals and superior, friendly service at every turn”. But Lucy said: “It was a nightmare from check in.

“Our room was dirty,” she continued. “Mum and Dad’s room was horrendous. It stunk so bad you could barely breathe, the shower door was broken, the couch was broken, and the TV was broken.”

The buffet’s condition, with its unkempt floor and damaged fixtures, stunned her further. “The floor was dirty. It was unbelievable” she added.

Lucy recounted the holiday nightmare, detailing the appalling state of their accommodation: “The grills were thick with grime, and the microwaves looked like they’d never been cleaned.”

Despite opting for an all-inclusive package costing £6,000 each, the family chose to dine out: “We would never usually eat out because it was all-inclusive, and we paid £6,000 each, but we were scared to eat from the buffet, so we ate out seven times.”

She also described a distressing incident involving her son Leo: “On the second to last night, the fire alarm was going off at 11pm.. “We thought they might be testing it, even though it was a weird time. The fire alarm in the room next door was going off constantly.

“Our fire alarm was going off every ten minutes from 1 am to 5 am. They came and removed the bit that makes the noise, which is dangerous.”, she added.

The situation escalated, affecting the entire family: “Leo was screaming so he had to wear ear defenders, and we sat on the balcony until 5am. Some issues are small, but together they’re a problem. Because we were stressed, Zatar and I were arguing.”

Her parents were also affected by the ordeal: “My mum and dad were desperate to go home from day three.”

The trip was meant to be special, as they had saved for a year to introduce Leo to his relatives.

Their booking was made through TUI, who informed them two months before the trip that the hotel was downgraded from their platinum collection, yet assured that the expected five-star facilities remained unchanged.

Following their complaint, the family’s rooms were cleaned, and they were offered an alternative room. They were also offered complimentary beach cabanas with waiter service and a discount voucher as goodwill gestures.

The couple has been battling for a refund from TUI for the cost of their hotel stay but claim the travel company has refused to budge.

Lucy expressed her frustration, saying: “They said there’s nothing they can do. Their response is disgusting, but I’m not shocked by it. It was our first family holiday, and we were so looking forward to it, but it was horrible.

“I felt terrible for my mum and dad, and I felt responsible because I’d recommended it. My husband is so upset because I’ve got a stale taste in my mouth for Jamaica, and that’s his home country and my son’s heritage.

“He had high expectations of introducing Leo to his family.”

“I’ll never use TUI again, “she added. “TUI is the only company that flies from Manchester to Jamaica.”

This trip marked Lucy’s fourth visit to the hotel, which she claims has deteriorated since her last stay in 2021.

She complained: “I’ve always said Jamaica is the best Caribbean island, the people are friendly, it’s authentic and there’s loads to do, but this has put me off.”

TUI declined to comment when approached by Manchester Evening News.