“We booked the lodge for our yearly summer holiday away.”
It was in a lovely secluded area and seemed nice for the kids and dogs. We arrived and after a day we realised there was a massive issues with flies in the area, the manager came and I mentioned it to her and she said it was a bad problem that they suffered with her words “ an astonishing amount of flies “ as there were 6 flie catches around the lodges. also there was no form of any blinds or even curtain accross the main entrance patio doors which was straight onto the living / kitchen area which had no privacy to keep people from the other lodge seeing in, also with it been a hot summer the lodge became like a green house as there was nothing to block out the sun, so the lodge was unbearably hot to the point we had to sit in the bedroom with the kids as the floor was warm and the main area was just to warm to sit. we then mention this to the owner in which they said there was nothing they could do. we then went to the Tesco and bought our own fans, but then we soon found we couldn’t have any of the doors or windows open due to the amount of flies that came into the lodge, more than 30 flies in at one time and it was just impossible to get them all out where we were eating and sleeping, there was just a dust pan and brush and one cloth, which we was staying for 7 days, no cleaner every came round or no more cleaning stuff was given so again I had to go to Tesco and buy all our own cleaning products and had to ask the manager to bring a brush so I could sweep the floors as we were there for a week with 2 adults 2 children a baby, and 2 dogs and wanted to keep it clean, also the hot tub was never cleaned once while we was at the lodge. Which in the end we actually came back a day/night earlier than we was ment to - I then messaged the owners to let them know about everything about our stay barin in mind it cost us over a £1000 to see if there was anything they could do for us as a good wil gesture or compensate for us leaving early, and I recieved a message back saying “sorry you feel that way “ then after I had complain about our stay, as my little boy and dogs ended up been poorly when we were back probably due to flies been on all our beds and food ect, as there not the cleanest of things! I left the lodge in immaculate condition cleaning it from head to toe including bleaching both showers and bathroom and everything in the lodge cleaned before we left , and I took videos and pictures of it before we left incase anything was said. I then conveniently after complaining received a message from the owners to say “ the hot tub had grass and hairs in “ complaining and suggesting I might have let my “dogs play in it “ - no one in there right mind would let there dogs play in a hot tub Yet a family of 5 and 2 dogs had stayed at the lodge and it had not once been cleaned, I then stated it’s hard to keep a hot tub immaculate with that many people and not even as much as a proper brush to clean the floors, so hairs might of accidentally of been stuck to the bottom of our feet and then into the tub which would only be natural and nothing mentioned since about our experience, not professional at all. Very disappointed at the amount of money spent for this, if I had known about these things before I booked I wouldn’t have paid to go.
Thank you for your feedback. Since you have brought the heat to our attention, we have measured the windows for heat reflective coating. We also provide fans in each pods as standard.
Countryside locations do have more insets in the summer, and we recommend using the fly screen when leaving the doors open.
We regret we can not leave cleaning products due to health & safety. The pods have no high storage cupboards, and we can. not leave chemicals in lower cupboards, in case children.can reach them. Most guest bring their own, but we do provide cloths and dishwasher tablets.
The pods are suitable for four guests, I feel it may have been too compact for your family of 5 & two dogs, especially with you having an infant with a travel cot etc.
Hot tubs get check daily, and are emptied and filled after each guest. We do not empty and fill them, halfway through a week stay, unless there is a need to do so. We do offer to empty and refill during a 2 week stay.
Cleaners only come at the end of your stay to clean the pod , unlike if you stay in hotels, cleaner do come to clean your room and make your beds. This doesn’t normally happen when you book a self catering.
I am also sorry about the mix up regarding bond that you expected back, and maybe the reason for this negative review. We can only return bond, if we have taken one in the first place. The amount that you paid to Sykes cottages, didn't include any bond, it was just the price of the holiday.
We do hope you stay again & look forward to seeing you soon.
Property Owner