Villas In Stow On The Wold

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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• John - Verified booking

  A HOME from HOME in MORTON Straight to the point.

  A wonderful experience. I am looking forward to staying at Mitford Gypsy Hut again. ARRIVAL By train, then a short walk to the Shepherd's Hut, easy to find / visible from main road. FIRST IMPRESSION Easy and safe access up a couple of steps with an adjacent handrail. Also a battery powered light to use if it happens to be dark INTERIOR Absolutely immaculately fitted out. As Shepherd's Huts go, Mitford Gypsy Hut is luxurious and spacious. KITCHEN and FOOD PREP AREA Really well designed. It worked exceptionally well for me. BATHROOM Compact and really well designed and fitted out. Shower, wash basin, WC, a delightful mirrored cabinet, and a heated towel rail ( I was there during Storm Darragh and was kitted out for horizontal rain. I was able to dry my ouside clothes no problem xxx) LOG BURNER Easy to use and quickly heated up the Hut. I recommend using it if it's cold or wet outside and particularly if it's both! THE BED It was just so comfy and toasty warm. I actually slept better than I do at home. In summary it was a real test to be staying in a Shepherd's Hut in the middle of a storm in December. I'm age 76 so have moderate mobility issues and like home comforts. My stay was for 5 nights and I would have been happy to stay much longer.

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• Nigel H - Verified booking

  The cottage met all our expectations. It was quirky, cosy and the undulating floors and quaint windows added to our enjoyment. The shower pressure was excellent and during a very hot week the stone cottage remained cool. We did take a fan with us but it was not required. The cottage did not provide parking, however there was ample parking in the road. There are some good walks locally and it only takes a few minutes to walk to the town centre. The pubs are all good and the Thai restaurant was excellent. There are three good supermarkets in the town. In addition there are numerous small food shops selling excellent local products. The comings and goings at the adjacent church and parish rooms kept us interested and the neighbours were friendly. The welcome pack was a nice surprise and included many local products including biscuits, tea, coffee, apple juice and milk. The high winds the day before we arrived had torn away the climbing rose from the front of the cottage. It wasn't a problem but we received a call to say it would be addressed and it was the next day. We were impressed! We had a great week and plan to return!

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• Ms F - Verified booking

  Really lovely 4 night stay . Stayed at this very old cottage several years ago. Lovely and warm when we arrived. Able to park outside. Loved the very thoughtful welcome pack of local products. All the little things were provided. Including firefighters , matches and wood .we had bought some logs with us . Dishwasher a bonus. Central heating kept us really warm . Bed very comfortable,lovely linen. Visiting Chippy to catch up with friends and youngest son .Went to Chastleton House. National Trust . We’re members! Broadway very Christmassy. Went to Chippy Panto on the Friday eve which was wonderful. Entertained our friends at cottage sat eve.. Youngest son drove down from Birmingham on Sunday and met us fora delicious Sunday lunch at Boxing Hare , just 10 mins out of Chippy. Loved the Christmassy feel in the town . M&S food hall a complete bonus . Such a perfect fun filled weekend, thanks.

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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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