Villas In East Midlands

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Lesley - Verified booking

  Bear lake lodge We have been away with Sykes at least 12 times and 4 times in the last 2 years and never had need to complain, ever.

  If it hadn't had been for the beds then we could have dismissed the rest, but that made everything else seem so much worse and built up a pattern of uncleanness which we couldn't dismiss. The property is in a nice setting and some bits were spotless, so we wonder if something has gone wrong or someone has got distracted and forgotten some of their chores. The settee doesn't look much but is a recliner and very comfy. It is very peaceful, you can hear a pin drop at night. Plenty of hot water and the heating is very efficient. This may be a one-off, but we won't be coming back to find out. We never saw the owners, and we would have said something if we had. We didn't want a confrontation on their doorstep and then stay for the rest of the week and if they had offered to sort some of our issues, the trust had already gone with the way they left the place for us. Dog smell upon entering. Bedding crumpled, smelly and used tissue between sheets. Pillows smell of a grufty old man's unwashed head. Had to buy new pillows, febreeze and cleaning stuff. 3 mattress protectors on 1 bed and bottom1 ripped to shreds, top 2 stunk and 3rd was ripped but had to leave on. Bathroom soap, used, in basket and wash puff suckered to wall. Round foil top off something stuck to the mouldy shower curtain which had obviously not been cleaned. What is the rusty old cabinet about? There were still stuff inside that we didn't even want to touch and it was rusty inside and out. Oven trays disgusting but couldn't get oven to work anyway, thankfully Front door does not close properly or lock after sun has been on it all day. Had to force shut from outside and use patio doors. Used whole bottle of Febreeze, zoflora and pack of wet wipes to clean place for 2 hours before we decided if we were going to stay. Mattress overlaps bed about 6 inches on width. Knob on end of bedstead broken. Pull light switch above bed cord is snapped 1ft from ceiling. Not a smart TV and even if it was it would need the Internet to work as a smart TV anyway. No WiFi. What is with the Amazon firestick remote control on the windowsill, i got my hopes up? Signs saying dogs on lead and no dogs allowed around the pond yet owners jack Russell runs around unaccompanied and owner walked 3 dogs around the pond off lead all way around. As you can imagine, we left 2 days early, very disappointed

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• Karen - Verified booking

  We had an absolutely fabulous holiday.

  The photo did not do it justice; the lake was absolutely beautiful and right next to it. We enjoyed sitting out in these peaceful surroundings and watching the wildlife, ducks, ducklings, a heron, squirrel etc. I suffer from MS and am in a wheelchair. I knew that it would be ok for disabled, from the disabled entrance, but I was absolutely amazed by the no. Of disabled aids there were. Grab handles in shower, it was a wet room, a relaxer recliner chair in living room, which is what I have at home. The doorways were just wide enough for my wheelchair 16” seat, to get through. All it needs to be advertised as suitable for disabled people is another grabrail on the wall to the side of the toilet and lower beds. The beds were far too high for me. We were able to visit Chatsworth House which had excellent accessibility for me and lots of lovely people to help us get round. We went to Haddon Hall, which is totally inaccessible to wheelchairs, I had to wait in garden whilst my family looked around it! We loved Derbyshire and would certainly come back here again.

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• Andrew - Verified booking

  Fantastic relaxing stay.

  Hosts Kath and Nick are so friendly, welcoming, and there if needed. Lodge is well equipped with lovely views of the lake. One of the most spacious Sykes properties we have stayed in, also lots of natural light. Beds are extremely comfortable. Wet room is a great addition with constant hot water and the shower is powerful enough for a great shower, no shower seat but we knew this so took our own. Warm and cosy in colder months. Access is perfect with a ramp to front door and parking right outside the door for anyone with limited mobility, inside property is all level except one step onto patio from french doors, but patio also accessible via ramp without step as flat slabs all around property. On the whole a great property. A small adults only camp site on the same site but cottage has low fencing all round with no access to campers and camping is closed through winter months. Very rural location and a car is essential unless going walking which was ideal for us for a total getaway. We have already booked another stay.

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• Loes - Verified booking

  From The Netherlands we wished to visit the Lincoln area.

  We booked quite late in the holiday season and expected not to find a quality cottage. However.....we found this: Pat's cottage (old rectory annexe). This was over our expectations! The room was very clean, the cottage very roomy offering that good kitchen (3 stoves!!), that large living room and the very large bathroom with shower and bath plus the very goodsized bedroom and bed. Everything looked new or newish, definitely no poor or damaged materials and inside the cottage there was very much daylight. Yes we were very happy with the cottage. Also happy we were with the owners. They are very kind and helpfull, they do communicate very well, they advise very good, and we felt very free to do whatever we wished there. The cottages plot is very green and very quiet with lots of unexpected birds and animals that have their habitat in the area. Yes, this was very, very good and much better than wehad expected! So can we advise? YES........YES OF COURSE! Loes and Ton Kramer from Zaandam, Netherlands.

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• Neil - Verified booking

  Things didn’t get off to a great start as the owner was unsure if/when we were arriving or leaving.

  The house was in a beautiful spot with modern fixtures and fittings although some of the soft furnishings were a little dated. The house had been tidied but not clean so there was our dilemma, if we went back home we were not sure if we could get our money back or get somewhere else as such short notice. So we decided to clean the lodge ourselves and 2 hours later I felt a lot better although still very disappointed that this was necessary. Food residue on the worktops/floor, fridge dirty (not going anywhere near the freezer box as food inside), mat not hoovered and damp and that’s just the kitchen. Bathroom had other issues, muck and hair under the toilets seat, dirty taps and towel rail. We did not ever use the shower curtain as there was mould around the bottom but luckily did not need it. The cabinet was full of personal items which is not good during such a pandemic. The lodges location sold it to us to stay but would not return, we expected better.

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