Valentina N.
British Soccer Camp Experience in Bucharest
After a few weeks of reflection, I feel ready to share my honest experience with the British Soccer Camp in Bucharest, Romania. I traveled all the way from Florida, USA, and had high hopes based on their well-organized website and clear communication before booking. I was so excited, in fact, that I extended my children’s registration from one week to two. We rented a property near the camp specifically for this purpose. The first week began on a positive note — we received a welcome email with instructions, including what to bring. However, I soon discovered that lunch wasn’t included and the camp charged approximately $15 per day per child, which is expensive by Bucharest standards, where kids’ meals in restaurants typically cost under $10. On Day 1, my children brought their own lunches, yet I was still charged for meals. The staff claimed my kids ate lunch provided by the camp, but my children, who are native English speakers, were told the food was “extra” and offered freely. This felt unfair and likely stemmed from a language barrier. The first week concluded well — certificates were given, and the kids were happy overall. Unfortunately, Week Two was not good. There was no welcome email, and I felt excluded, as if we weren’t part of the program anymore. It turned out the main organizer had left town, and a local representative was left in charge. Due to high temperatures, they shortened the camp hours from 4:00 PM to 2:00 PM — but in practice, children were often finished by 12:00 PM. From noon onward, they were taken to a restaurant where they sat with no structured activities — just unsupervised screen time. My kids even reported bullying incidents. When I began checking in at the field myself, I found only one adult supervising two groups of children, including my 7- and 9-year-olds. The supervisor admitted they were short-staffed, saying some coaches didn’t show up. This was a safety concern. When I addressed these issues with the camp’s leadership, the response was dismissive: “If you’re not happy, you can take your kids.” I asked about a refund, and they vaguely said, “Yes,” but could not explain how. Eventually, they sent a refund to my Romanian friend ( $120–$125) for that second week. No one could process a refund to my U.S. bank. Moreover, the facility lacked any backup plan for rain or extreme heat — no indoor space, no extra activities, no flexibility. And while this camp charged premium prices, it failed to deliver basic standards like proper supervision, structured programming, and included meals/snacks. For comparison: my kids also attended a military camp and Dinamo sports camp in Bucharest — both cost about $150/week, included lunch, snacks, and full-day programming (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM). In contrast, this camp charged more for significantly less, and left me feeling disappointed and misled. I sincerely hope the organizers take this feedback seriously and improve their staffing, safety, communication, and structure for future families.