andrewbF8175AX
July 2018
We have used Helpful Holidays for a number of years and this was the most expensive of all the ones that we have booked and it far from exceeded expectations. The caretaker was very kind and allowed us to check in earlier and the house was clean and tidy. Communication was great. We arrived and sat out in the garden. The chairs were cheap plastic or wooden picnic benches and were uncomfortable - this is a theme that continues as you read on. The kitchen was very well equipped and had everything that we needed - the dishwasher needs replacing but worked well for what we needed.
The sitting room was not very comfortable - we were left 1 log for the fire (we had no reason to use it, but I would have maybe expected a basket full just in case) The sofa was terrible to sit on, not leather and became sticky if you sat for more than an hour - the 2 Ikea type chairs were comfortable but we were a party of 4. TV and facilities were good and wifi worked well too. One nice Ship light in the sitting room - the other lamps around the house were cheap and tacky - bulbs too big for the lampshades and very basic. The bathrooms were tired and it felt like a care home. Toilet seats didn't fit properly and the facilities -shower over bath basic, no shower curtain, and shower cubicle dark and the lights and shades inadequate. I am aware at this point the review is mostly negative - if we had paid less for the property than £900+ then it would warrant the condition of the property.
We have stayed in far better properties more comfortable and better located at the same time of the year with far greater facilities and more comfortable.
The bedrooms were tired as were we - the main bedroom was noisy during the night due to the airing cupboard being in the room and the water tank making all kinds of strange noises. The beds were small (doubles) and I'm 6'2 and was happy to go back to kingsized bed at home after 6 nights(we left a day early) The rooms were clean - the towels had seen better days and were old and small (no bath sheets) I would have taken towels if I'd have known as they were not for purpose.
The beds were comfortable but needed to be bigger (we only used the 2 doubles) The excessive use of "please respect the neighbours property" with signs all over the place and cameras pointing from their property to the gates of this and on entrance made it feel like some kind of dispute was going on. The bins didn't include recycling - no issue as we had taken bottles, cans, and plastics to Tintagel, but noticed that the neighbours had recycling bins on collection day ( are the landlords not paying extra for this as it should be included?).
We had a phone call from the owner on the morning after we arrived asking if everything was ok, at this point we hadn't used the facilities as it was early and although a nice to check in, it's never happened at previous properties and later in the week we wondered if they had complaints from previous tenants? The 2 well behaved 9 and 12-year-old dogs that we had to pay extra for £50 were housed in the outdoor sheds, rather than be in the house in the daytime as dogs only allowed in the kitchen- at night we brought them in and the slept peacefully in the kitchen. When speaking with the owner I was asked if I'd let my dogs go to the toilet in the garden - The dogs did go out for walks but how could you stop this from happening- I think they have an issue with dogs and reluctantly allow dogs as the agent probably advised best for maximum occupancy?
We were less than impressed with Tremorla - we paid a lot of money for a less than adequate property which is tired and desperately needs updating. If you were advertising this on a budget then fair enough - it's definitely not a premium property worth the money we paid and will seriously consider looking at alternative holiday letting companies for our next one as felt a little cheated by Helpful Holidays /SYKES Cottages as to the description - the costal pay is not less than a mile away - we gave up after getting to the village - the public footpath right next to the property didnt have proper signs and the farmer had made signs away from path to avoid farm traffic, we were not the only confused ones - we saw people walking past and back again obviously having the same confusion as us. That said the location was ok - great for sunsets and view of the sea - we always enjoy our time in Cornwall going to different places and this was a good base for traveling around but we won't be returning or recommending this property whilst it's in this tired condition with uncomfortable cheap garden furniture, sofa's and beds that you'd expect only if you were paying a basic amount. This is, of course, our opinion, all 4 of us felt this way and raising this over the phone with agent or landlord is pointless as there is no quick fix to the issues I have raised.