Lodges & Log Cabins in Chipping Campden with Hot Tubs

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Drue - Verified booking

  110% DO NOT RECOMMEND.

  On the photos, this place looks like a nice time away, but when you are there, it’s horrendous. I’ll explain why. Entering into the cottage, we were greeted by month-old spider webs in the bathroom, bedroom and the sitting area. The bathroom contained a huge spider with baby spiders nesting on its month-old spider web - not to worry we thought, and we killed it. The next day, we were then knocked on by David (the owner) - me and my partner were half naked (privacy??) - and I spoke with him outside. He was talking about how Sykes Cottages is a rip off and then went onto mention a couple bringing a cat in a way you can tell he was about to slag them off - this was me and my partner, and I told him this. He then looked shocked as he knew that I knew he was about to badmouth me and my partner. The conversation ends a few sentences later. The following day, our hot tub started to smell like rotten eggs (a chemical reaction caused by a PH imbalance) so we told David and David responds with “it might pay you to go in the shower before you go on”, implying me and my partner are scruffs on a basic. David then comes to the cottage, proceeds to put more chlorine in it (it needed the opposite of chlorine and I told him this) and we then waited to see if it was fine. NO it wasn’t fine, it smelt like bleach and when you put your nose close enough to it, the smell burnt your throat - we didn’t go in, obviously. We then informed David that it now smelt like bleach and he then makes the same comment about going in the shower. He comes around to proceed to tell us he’d emptied it and had filled it back up. About 5 minutes after this call, me and my partner went and checked it to find that the hot tub had spontaneously heated instantly back up to 41.40 degrees - he hadn’t emptied it, but had just put the jets on - yes David, this is definitely solving the problem. After this, we waited to see if it would get any better and the answer is no, it didn’t - it got worse. We then contacted David again to get the problem sorted, and he responds with the same comment, so I hang up - he comes around, does nothing again and off he trots. At this point, me and my partner had been more than fair and David wasn’t helping anyone, so we left 4 nights early. By far out of all of the holidays I have ever had, and I have had a lot of holidays, this was the absolute worst and the absolute worst one could have possibly been - it was a literal nightmare. I preferred to be driving back home on the A1(M) at 1am than I did staying here - and to put the icing on the cake, David has not contacted us once after we left, of which evidently shows his lack of care for his customers, and his inability to provide even the slightest of decent business etiquette for his customers, or even himself. Some things I haven’t mentioned: 1. The cottage hadn’t been cleaned in months and this was evident by the stains left in the bathroom, the month-old cob webs and the crumbs that were already on the floor, 2. The bed is rock-solid and doesn’t have a duvet - if you like sleeping like a normal person, go elsewhere or if you must go here, bring your own, 3. David watches you like a hawk and everything you do - don’t expect privacy with him, and almost certainly don’t expect him to help with anything - if he appears to be “helping” it’s simply to spy on you, 4. If your hot tub smells horrifically of chlorine/bleach, do NOT go in but also do NOT expect David to fix the issue - you may as well go home, 5. The TV’s aren’t smart TV’s, they are free view normal TV’s and this is a form of false-advertising, 6. Take all other ratings with a pinch of salt, it is unbelievable that anyone else has experienced a nice time at this place as it was literal hell for us. It’s a true and absolute disappointment and shame that genuine customers looking for a nice place to go away, kick their feet up and relax away from stress and build life-long memories are duped into this nightmare of a holiday by and with David. Please trust me when I say this: IF YOU HAVE OPTIONS OF WHERE YOU GO, DO NOT GO HERE - AND DO NOT THINK ABOUT GOING HERE IF YOU DON’T HAVE OPTIONS - IT’S A MASSIVE WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME. From all of that has happened, I will be making a formal complaint to Sykes and obtaining a full refund.

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• Julie - Verified booking

  The surroundings were spectacular and secluded and were as we'd expected.

  The bedlinen was clean and fresh, and the toilet sink and bath were clean, as was the fridge and cooker. However the general cleanliness was lacking and the standard of the yurt was poor. Previous reviews have suggested that the yurt is in need of some TLC and that it was shabby.......this is in my opinion an understatement........dust, sticky handles, cobwebs and when we first walked in there was a strong odour. The outside furniture was dirty and would have needed to be cleaned thoroughly before we used it, which we were not prepared to do. At the very least we expected the property to be scrupulously clean, especially given current circumstances (global pandemic). We did not take this up with the owners, who live on site, as we felt that it was not something that could be put right in a couple of hours, and we did not feel that we wanted to have to unpack etc, or vacate the yurt for any length of time. In spite of this, we did enjoy the week, and the surrounding area is beautiful. Would certainly go back to this area, but not to this accommodation. I'd suggest that anyone considering making a booking, should read the reviews further back than this year, and also for the other yurts on the site. The problem of cleanliness seems to be a recurring theme, going back some time, and one which neither the owners nor Sykes cottages appears to have addressed.

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• Carole - Verified booking

  Fantastic location could not fault the views and if you want a holiday with ...

  Fantastic location could not fault the views and if you want a holiday with complete privacy peace and tranquility this is for you How ever although the views and location are outstanding with it comes cobwebs insects spiders and ducks geese and other birds a plenty so if you don't like being that close to nature it won't be for you The accommodation and outside could certainly do with some maintenance and it wasn't particularly clean and did not smell very good Air conditioning leaked ,carpets and curtains filthy and smelt awful and general cleanliness not great on the inside Outside area untidy barbecue tables and chairs dirty and whole area on veranda in need of maintenance and tlc Hot tub amazing but sauna comes with cobwebs Would certainly consider going back again but would go back in a heartbeat if it was cleaner and smelt better

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• Gareth - Verified booking

  Excellent location for exploring the Cotswolds, short drives to plenty of walks and villages.

  Hot tub and countryside views were the highlights. Lodge is kitted out pretty well for the size, a couple more glasses and pots/pans would be useful and better quality/larger towels would be any easy improvement. WiFi was surprisingly stable and fast, TVs have Freeview but they are not smart TVs so worth bringing a streaming device, our Chromecast worked a treat. Mostly very quiet, dependent on the neighbours you get in the other 3 lodges, which are arranged so the decking is just out of sight of each other but sound travels easily between them. We only had a couple of nights of noisy music and loud talking from one less considerate set of neighbours. Suggest the owner gives some basic guidelines on noise e.g. avoid music after 11pm. Host was friendly and left us to it unless we needed something. Had a great relaxing stay!

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• Alan William - Verified booking

  This is the ultimate in intimate getaways.

  You are completely surrounded by the sounds of nature without the intrusion of technology - No WiFi - brilliant! Poor phone signal - bliss! If you simply can't do without the constant "chatter" from your devices - go somewhere else, but if you do want privacy and relaxation this place is literally perfection. Be prepared to see Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Kites and Buzzards, Deer hirds all on your "back porch" and from the privacy of your own hot tub - where else can you get this experience? We've been all over the country and Europe, but we still come back to The Secret Island yurt and that has to count for something. Treat yourself to something special and tell me I am wrong if you can (and no, I am not a member of the owners family, just a very satisfied customer.)

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