Sean - time to take the blinkers off:-
Camber has 7 miles of Blue Flag award winning beach. It has the only sand dune system in East Sussex and is a valuable habitat for many different animals and plants.
Carry On Follow That Camel was shot on location here during the early months of 1967 when Camber Sands doubled for the Sahara Desert although filming had to be stopped several times because the dunes were covered in snow!
The Place at the Beach in Camber won best UK rural hotel in Sunday Times Travel Magazine awards in 2009.
Saltcote Palce B&B is Rye is rated number 3 in Europe on Tripadvisor.
Rye golf course isn't bad either!
The Place at the Beach? Have you been there? The setting is a concrete nightmare. Yes, the beach isn't far, but hanging round the hotel as a beach joint doesn't cut it. Saltcote isn't near a beach, not at least what I would say near if I have to drive there. My last time in town I stayed at the very pleasant
http://www.willow-tree-house.com/ No parking worries and a short walk across the river. As I say, if we are talking kids, Rye wouldn't make my short list of places for a beach holiday, but I have a lot of time for the area - only, I like to consider the entire country rather than merely the southeast - tee hee.
Carl
I would stay in Old Hunstanton if given a chance. The beach is right there and town is 10 minute walk tops. Le Strange Arms Hotel is decent, but needs a bit of freshening up. Perhaps Best Western has spruced it up a bit as I don't recall them owning it when I was there. The Lodge is another option. Slightly further out is Caley Hall Hotel, but I have never stayed there.
The golf is good. Hunstanton is very close by and a very friendly club. Brancaster is down the road 15 minutes. You could ask if it is okay to play in the am then have your family come off the beach to have lunch with you. When I was there there were kids, bare feet and dogs all over the place - very cool.
Ciao