“I'm struggling to put into words the disappointment of our stay at Sandy Knowles.”
Had we paid around £600 for our week then we could have left with a feeling that the accommodation, while a bit grim, adequately facilitated our stay in Low Hauxley, a place we know well and love. As it was, £1175 was way overpriced and we left feeling totally fleeced.
Our overriding feeling of Sandy Knowles was of dirt, damp and darkness. The view of the sea from the landing would have been the one plus point had the window not been shot and the view obscured by trapped condensation. The kitchen was well equipped but we had no desire to eat there because the whole place felt grubby… empty bottles by the bins, surrounded by weeds and overgrown vegetation. My supply of white socks was brown by the end of the week. Given the condition of the rest of the cottage, we stripped the beds with trepidation at the end of our stay, to be unsurprisingly rewarded with stained bedding. This reinforced our concern that our fresh insect bites were probably due to Sandy Knowles.
We left a day earlier than planned, not because of the unscheduled bore drilling at the adjacent property but because of the general feeling of scratchiness and ultimate let down. It was a relief to get home.
The location is fabulous. It would not take much to bring Sandy Knowles up to a decent standard of accommodation. In the meantime, the prices should be lowered significantly and prospective guests warned of the negatives. Photos are available if needed.
I mirror your feelings of disappointment and being as you put it 'fleeced' Your feedback is extremely well communicated on the Sykes feedback however I find it very disappointing that you did not raise any issues during your stay or give me the opportunity to try to resolve any issues you had .
Some aspects of your feedback are totally out of my control , the land next to cottage does not belong to me and therefore I have no control over it likewise the drilling is something I cannot control . With regard to your insect bites which you blame on the cottage , may I signpost you to the NHS website which indicates that visits to insect bites page has reached 261,364 triple to those seen in June 2022 . Ruth May of NHS England states that " The number of people seeking advice from the NHS website has really spiked this year, suggesting there has been a significant increase" I have had no reported insect bites from any visitors since starting letting the cottage in 2015.
With regard to cleanliness and comfort I have a scoring of 91 on average and the previous visitors whilst they did not opt to publish feedback stated" cottage was clean , tidy and very cosy with a well stocked kitchen .
I am sorry that you did not enjoy your holiday and more sorry that you did not communicate this at the start of your stay .
Property Owner
