581HelenM
September 2018
This is a reluctantly negative review – Lake Windermere is beautiful and White Cross Bay is perfect for families. This lodge, however, was dirty and dusty on arrival. I have subsequently seen that other reviewees have had the same experience and it seems a shame that the owners are not addressing it. I spent an hour cleaning before I felt comfortable to unpack my family’s belongings and contacted the owners accordingly. They alluded to the fact that they had problems with their cleaners and compensated us with a bottle of wine. Nevertheless, it diminished what should have been a relaxing time.
The lodge welcomes dogs and this is evident when you enter the property – there is an unfortunate lingering smell. Our main issue, however, centred on some blood left on linen after I suffered a foot injury. The owners’ response was to dispose of everything without attempting laundry and deduct this amount from our housekeeping bond. They also charged us for a new double duvet for which they could never produce a receipt, and for a towel which they claimed we took at the end of the week. We did not. What ensued was an acrimonious dispute which saw our ‘guest’ status quickly descend to ‘strangers’ and the owners contradict one another in their emails to us. They clearly felt aggrieved that we had left some dirt on their linen – as did we that our housekeeping bond had been unreasonably retained. After much debate, they agreed to drop the towel charge as a ‘gesture of good faith’, but in fact that amount is still owing to us. We paid in the region of £1,300 for a week in the lodge and assumed that amount covered laundering of linen. It did not. Further, I would urge them to review a practice of compensating their guests with inexpensive alcohol when they themselves are happy to exact a financial penalty.
In terms of facilities, the beds are tired and could do with replacing, but the kitchen is well equipped and overall the lodge is warm and comfortable. In brief, this is a great spot if cleanliness is secondary to you. If it’s not, give this one a miss.