Christmas Cottages on the Isle of Wight

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Jason - Verified booking

  On arrival the house is impressive.

  It’s obviously spacious and well designed. However, the initial impression didn’t last long. Our excitement at arriving was massively tempered when we saw there were dead plants in plant pots in several of the bathrooms and the garden the planters were all dead. Plus the garden area was really dirty - there were cobwebs and plant waste around the garden and the patio had stains across it as well as there being food waste left on the grass. Obviously we are aware there was a drought in place but leaving entire planters with dead and dusty planters added to the unloved and shabby look of the garden area. And then there was no welcome pack at all. Not even a packet of biscuits or pint of milk. The kitchen is impressive looking, however there weren’t enough plates, cups and crockery settings for all of us, given that with a dishwasher you should have a minimum of 2 per person. Because whole drawers were given over to the owners spices and sauces and etc it felt very much as if we were in an Airbnb rather than a dedicated holiday home. All the things above made the place feel much less special and to be honest we were all pretty disappointed. However the biggest issue was the ‘fourth bedroom’. This was not actually a bedroom. It was an office with a pull out double bed which was like sleeping on a rock. The room was not furnished to be a bedroom - there was no bedroom chair, no dressing table or mirror and nowhere to put a suitcase. You couldn’t even pull the blinds down without standing on the rock hard bed. My daughter had to sleep there and even sleeping with three duvets under her we had to go and buy a mattress topper to make it a comfortable room. This is not a proper bedroom and she slept badly all week. My mother in law, who had paid for this trip as an 80th birthday treat to her family, was bitterly disappointed and felt like we’d been let down. To add insult to injury on the last three days the neighbour was having work done and the fence/gate was taken down so that our dog had to be guarded when in the garden and the noise and dust from power tools meant it was impossible to sit in the garden during the day. We loved the location and the size of the house but we did come away feeling very ripped off. When we communicated with your company initially about this booking, we were told that the owner sets the price, but I do feel that your job as agents is to mediate and to check that the house is good value. For around £600 a night for a three bed with ‘add on’ bedroom, I can tell you that this is not good value. For that rate we expected it to be slick and luxurious rather than a basic level. The fundamental principle of a good’s night sleep should be met as a minimum. When you are stretching yourself to afford something this special it is so disappointing to walk into a home that felt like it had been uninhabited and unloved for months. To then be unable to guarantee a proper bedroom for one of the party was really unacceptable.

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• Kate - Verified booking

  Sadly wouldn’t recommend Sykes as a holiday company as they cancelled my booking on the Friday before I was due to arrive on the Monday, hence the last-minute booking of P5 Whitfield.

  Sykes were a nightmare to get hold of on the phone and the alternative recommendations they emailed me were in Wales and Scotland, despite P5 Whitfield and others still being available. A stressful time! P5 Whitfield itself was easy to find and there was good communication from the owners in regard to arrival. The house was warm when we checked in which was very welcome. The kitchen was well equipped for basic cooking, although a number of pieces of crockery felt sticky and maybe weren’t completely clean. The accommodation was comfortable enough but did feel a little tired in places - frayed carpets, bed frames coming undone, and the mattresses felt as though they could do with an upgrade. The en-suite shower room was unusable for the first day or so as it was smelling rather unpleasant! The door had to kept closed to prevent the smell from impacting the bedroom too much. I alerted maintenance and they came in to the property on the second day and the smell did improve for a couple of days, but by the final evening it had reverted to being rather pungent again. The kitchen sink was also very slow to drain as the week went on and also began to smell a little, so potentially there is a bigger drains issue going on. All in all though this was a convenient place to stay for exploring the island and especially easy to walk into Yarmouth. The Needles are close by, as are lovely walks and views around the south of the island. We also hired bikes and enjoyed a gentle cycle with lots of wildlife spots, including birds of prey. An enjoyable week overall and I would stay again.

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• Sara - Verified booking

  We were greeted by a bad smell like drains or sewage.

  We located it to be the shower within the bedroom.The whole idea of a shower plonked in the corner full view of the room and onto carpet is an odd one.We had to buy bleach to try and get rid of the smell. It would last for a day and then the smell was back. The other shower cubicle was incredibly small no room to bend down to pick up soap without banging your head Also we have photos showing the green gunk growing inside and the hairs. The sofa in breakfast room had lots of feathers dust and rubbish under the cushions .The one dining chairs legged wobbled and my child fell off it only to discover screws are missing from underneath. The cups and plates had rings and food remnants on them. We were told car parking was good with on road parking available or a nearby carpark that was reasonable.We had to pay £65 for a week on top of what we had spent for the house.!! We were misled by photos that showed the beds to be further apart and we're convinced there were 2 double beds.The one photo shows a pine frame with no other bed in site convincing us if was a double instead the beds are so close it was hard to squeeze between them. As expecting an old house we expected thick old walls deadening noise instead it travelled really badly. We could hear next doors talking baby crying and every word or noise the kids said. when upstsirs . The door knob mentioned in a previous review is still very much broken causing a child to get locked in the bathroom causing a panic. We loved the view thought it was well equipped and we're grateful for the welcome bits. Thankyou

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• Antoine - Verified booking

  From the moment we drove up to 19 Clatterford Shute, we were in love.

  Nestled in the outskirts of Carisbrooke, this medieval, thatched cottage is a gem. The charm of the rustic beams and original features had us marveling at every turn, offering a perfect blend of history and comfort. The entrance hall, with its half-vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, instantly made us feel at home. The living/dining room was cozy and inviting, providing the perfect setting for our family evenings. For quieter moments, the snug room with a well-stocked library was a delightful haven. The kitchen, equipped with a marvelous AGA range, was a delight for our home-cooked meals. We relished our meals, whether in the dining room, the garden patio, or the inviting living space. The bedrooms were tastefully appointed, each offering its unique charm. The master suite, with its vaulted ceiling, king-size bed, and en-suite shower room, was our personal retreat. The extensive garden, with its idyllic pond, was a joy to explore. The two storage sheds were indeed handy for storing our bikes. The convenience of the utility room with laundry facilities was also a thoughtful touch. The location was perfect for our family. We loved our walks to the iconic Carisbrooke Castle, the charming village, and the lovely Castle Street Ford. Newport, Cowes, and the coastal towns of Ryde, Shanklin, and Sandown were easily accessible and offered plenty of activities. Overall, Cloud Castle was the perfect base for our Isle of Wight break. We left with beautiful memories and look forward to returning to this delightful cottage. Highly recommended!"

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• Lenka - Verified booking

  What an amazing gem the Cloud Castle Cottage is!

  Absolutely gorgeous location within walking distance to the historical motte-and-bailey Carisbrooke castle, exceptionally beautiful, listed building with thatched roof, super clean, spacious, and full of character to accommodate young children and teenager for one of the most amazing holidays, ever. It was perfect! The back garden has manicured lawn to play all day or relax with glass of local sparkling wine. The cottage interior is stunning, shaker countryside kitchen with large Belfast sink and magnificent Aga, which was fabulous experience to use for any cooking, truly inspiring and surprisingly very easy to use for our first time. Loved it !!! Master bedroom is furnished with beautiful period bed, all very comfortable and decorated with stylish antique furniture and crystal chandeliers in bedroom and bathroom. I must say, I have really enjoyed the fabulous traditional bathtub after all day with the children. The cottage itself is surrounded by stunning countryside and wonderful paths for walking and exploring. My children absolutely loved the time spend on the nearby Sundown and Shanklin beaches or exploring the infamous Garlic farm where we have stopped for delicious family lunch which I highly recommend visiting. I wish we would stay few more days; four days is just not simply enough, and I would highly recommend staying for longer, there is so much to see and visit. One of the best holidays, ever. Thank you so much and hopefully we will be booking soon!

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