Cottages with Swimming Pools in Wales

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Tracy - Verified booking

  I booked this cottage having stayed in another cottage on the complex before.

  After booking and paying in full two weeks before our trip, I read the reviews to discover that the third bedroom has a toddler bunk bed. This was described in the small print, but I missed it. I contacted Sykes straight away to try to change the cottage. After several days of trying to get a response they told me via WhatsApp that I wouldn't be able to change the accommodation or get a refund. They were not interested. I then contacted the owner/caretaker number to discuss how they would be able to accommodate us. We had five adults in our group, and the property only has four suitable beds. Nobody bothered to contact me. We were stuck. My 18yr old had to sleep squashed into the toddler bunk, which dominated the very small room. She felt like she was sleeping in a cupboard. Upon arrival, there wasn't any welcome pack. There were dead ants all over the conservatory floor and on the dinning table. There was lots of long strands of head hair in the double bed (which was also the most uncomfortable bed we have ever slept in) There were crumbs on the kitchen work surface. The extractor fan in the bathroom didn't work. The tv was described as a smart tv, we couldn't get any clear reception. I am very disappointed with Sykes who you can't get hold of, it seems that as soon as they have your money they don't care. The people they use to clean the cottage don't know what cleaning is. The only positive is that the pool and grounds were well kept and a bonus. I will not be returning or be using Sykes or any of there partners again.

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• Shelley - Verified booking

  The details published on the sykes website are misleading.

  We were not advised that the pool had to be booked in advance in 1 hour time slots. The gym and sauna were unavailable, having looked in the gym it contained two exercise machines and a few light free weights. The property had beds to sleep 6 people however, the bunk beds in the third room are tiny, I would almost say toddler size (this was not as pictured) and to stay it was a squeeze is an understatement, the bed literally fills the room and we could just squeeze around the door. This would be ok for a young family but not teenagers. Sykes and the owner did try to resolve the issue but the suggestion that boy and girl teenagers should share a room was not acceptable to us. A sofa bed which is not advertised was the solution but not what we would have chosen if we had of known in advance as this took up the whole of the living space. The sofas are not as pictured and were also very small. The property was not comfortable for us as a family of two adults two teenagers, a child and a dog. The property was very clean and tidy and the site and facilities were exceptionally clean. It is perfectly positioned to explore the beautiful coastline. We left the property early as we all needed some sleep given the cramped conditions. It was a shame and disappointing as the area and site were lovely. More clarity is required in your advert.

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• Chris - Verified booking

  We have just returned from a week at rafters cottage.

  I must admit I'm glad to be back in my own house. Myself, my fiance and our 4 year old stayed in the end bedroom. The first night was horrendous... we spent the first part removing all the giant spiders from the house. By the time we went to bed we'd realised the room had a terrible mold issue: black mould growing up the walls, beside the bed and the mattresses (which belonged in the 90's) were also covered in mold. We got no sleep and my chest got bad. I felt so angry that our 4 year old had to sleep on a moldy mattress in a moldy room. The owners did change the mattresses and wiped down the mold, and they refunded us £100. Unfortunately all this happened after a not-too-pleasant discussion with one of the owners who told us our standards were too high and we should just drive home immediately if we didn't like the cottage! Nice. After the mold issue we had an ok stay. The mold smell was in the cottage all week and there was more mold growing in the sitting room. The kids favourite game was to catch the numerous woodlice that shared the cottage with us. I get that it's an old property but I shan't be apologising for having 'standards' when we paid over a grand to stay there. The outside facilities were great, great location with the nature reserve. Obviously we wouldn't return.

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• Diana - Verified booking

  Wonderful barn conversion.

  Great location and masses of space for us all to share and not feel cramped. Beautifully done conversion, contemporary and with plenty of bathrooms. The owners are very friendly and welcoming, with useful tips on local places to visit. All the family ( we took our younger daughter and her family) really enjoyed staying here and were very comfortable. We were left a great welcome pack, which made us feel truly valued. The touch of some homemade brownies was excellent and they were lovely. Beds were very comfortable, the combination of modern and antique furniture great and separate living/tv room was useful, but we enjoyed spending our time together in the kitchen/living/dining room. Waking up in the morning to that view from the main bedroom, across the countryside was just amazing. We had terrible, wet weather, but because of the spacious surroundings didn’t feel confined at all. We all would have liked to stay longer and my husband and I can’t wait to bring our older daughter and her family to spend time together in these wonderful surroundings. Thank you so much for sharing this delightful home with us.

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• Tim - Verified booking

  It's hard to express just how much we enjoyed our break at Llyn Noddfa in Broad Oak.

  The accommodation was outstanding and the views/grounds were simply stunning. If we were going to design and furnish a barn conversion ourselves, then this would be the template we'd use. It's clean and crisp without being sterile, comforting and homely without feeling like you're intruding into someone else's home. Our visit was in late January and so we decided not to try out the open water swimming lake, but maybe we'll brave it when we go back in the summer! The owners, who live in the next door property, were there to greet us on arrival and wave us off on departure. They made it clear they were available to us during our stay if we needed them, but wouldn't intrude on us otherwise. They were perfect hosts. We spent our days walking with our dogs on the hills and in the forests at Troserch and Gorlech, both a relatively short drive away. We ate each night in the accommodation making full use of the excellent kitchen and dining area. There are some good pubs etc nearby but we chose to 'cook, eat and flop' at the barn instead after our long days. I highly recommend Llyn Noddfa!

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