“Do not book this holiday house if you value your money and your precious, family holiday time.”
If you have already booked, then I would seriously consider transferring the booking to another holiday let.
Maybe my standards are too high but I have been holidaying with Sykes Cottages for years and stayed in some wonderful homes, three and four ticks, not necessarily all perfect but well maintained, clean, comfortable, inviting, offering many comforts including more than one TV, more than 1 main bathroom for the number of bedrooms and inhabitants, sometimes a hot tub, use of a swimming pool ...
If you have already booked, then I would seriously consider transferring the booking to another holiday let.
Maybe my standards are too high but I have been holidaying with Sykes Cottages for years and stayed in some wonderful homes, three and four ticks, not necessarily all perfect but well maintained, clean, comfortable, inviting, offering many comforts including more than one TV, more than 1 main bathroom for the number of bedrooms and inhabitants, sometimes a hot tub, use of a swimming pool and sauna and even a BBQ hut.
I have sent a detailed complaint with photos to Sykes twice and had the standard email receipt and nothing since. This house is nothing as advertised, the photos on the website are dated and I wish I had paid attention to the fact that the last review was May 2023! Comments in the visitor book are questionable, to say the least.
We left early but not immediately because due to physical and mental health issues with some members of my family (we were five and a dog), we couldn't just turn around and go home.
This house is dated and riddled with damp, black mould, signs of dry rot, dirt,cobwebs and clutter everywhere...over 100 mugs and cups in one cupboard!!! Yes, it is surfaced cleaned but maintenance is long overdue and one bathroom for 10 people, assuming 2 use the en-suite is not practical and the result of the state of the bathroom, plus the shower is actually dangerous (not a mixer, so scorching hot with unreachable taps once on, as the panel is siliconed into place).
The outside area is a builder's yard!
There is only one smoke alarm.
There are not 3 double beds (zip and link style) but 1 divan and the others are singles pushed together with gaps and different heights.
I could go on but basically, this holiday was our annual family holiday of three generations and it was a total nightmare, like a TV holiday swap programme from hell. I can't undo the experience and as a family we can't arrange another until next year, even if we are financially able to, due to commitments. I didn't contact the owner directly to complain about the state of the house, as nothing could be resolved in the week that we were there.
I did contact him on the first night via text, to ask about the back door key, which was not in its' allocated place and he said he would contact the cleaner and let me know. By 11 pm I had heard nothing, so barricaded the back door, which was unlocked, with the dog's lead and two paddle boards, confident that our dog would let us if an intruder should turn up. I was given the whereabouts of the key the next evening and found it odd that the owner never asked if everything was satisfactory during these communications! With all past Sykes Holidays, whenever I have contacted cleaners or owners regarding an issue, they have always asked if everything else is OK. I can only surmise that he didn't want to hear my honest answer.
This house should be pulled out of circulation and renovated. It needs a completely new bathroom and in my opinion, catering for up to 12 people, it needs an additional bathroom.
Needless to say, I won't be booking another holiday with Sykes Cottages, as they haven't responded to my complaint.
