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"Having stopped in a number of Sykes managed properties this one didn’t live up to the previous expectations, like most properties you can’t enter the accommodation until 4pm, we couldn’t actually utilise the property until 5."
25pm the cleaners were running well behind due to it being busy. The place itself was fairly clean however the bathroom ceiling has black stains on it ( mould id presume ) which was a bit off putting, the bed was too soft for our liking making it uncomfortable. The property is as described in terms of size there were only 2 of us which was fine for a weekend, I’m sure stopping for any longer than that it would feel a little tight on space.
This property is fully managed , professionally cleaned and pre-inspected by Sykes Lakes Cottage Holidays and as such should always meet the same standards.
We apologies for your experience which isn’t normal and have raised this with Sykes.
Regarding the bed. We have had previous feedback on other beds and purchased several in an attempt to meet expectations. The bed you slept on at the property is the Sleepeezee Travelodge Dreamer , one of the most slept on mattresses in the UK Property Owner
Reviewed by SteveJun 2022
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"I'm not very experienced in booking holiday cottages as this was myself and my partner's first time booking self-catered accommodation, but I believe for the price we paid for a 6-night stay during the school holidays and bank holiday weekend, and it being in the very central location its in, we got got a bit of a steal."
The flat itself is lovely and very well presented, and despite a few other reviewers saying it was quite cold we found it to be perfectly warm as long as we kept the living room/hallway door shut as it seems most of the cold seemed to be coming in through the front door. There was also a heater in the living room which was nice and kept us comfy as well as a spare blanket in the bedroom wardrobe. The smart TV was a great addition as it meant we could log into our Netflix account in the evenings without needing a Chromecast or anything. For the two of us it was adequately sized although I suspect it would be pretty tight if a family of 4 were staying and probably wouldn't recommend this, but it's perfect for couples.
The only things I have to complain about were that there is a significant amount of black mould on the bathroom ceiling which was a bit off-putting and for the first night or so there was quite a strong damp, musty smell emanating through the apartment. Once we opened all the windows and let some air through the flat it was fine and the smell went away but it did make me feel a bit queasy for the first few hours we were inside. I understand that keeping the bathroom in this flat well-ventilated is probably a bit of a problem and guests have probably neglected to turn on the bathroom fan or open the window whilst showering so this is probably why, but thought it needs mentioning.
The second thing which I sadly have to reiterate from previous reviewers is that there seems to be a flat, either next door or above, I can't really tell, that were extremely noisy some nights, shouting at each other, talking incredibly loudly and banging around that kept us up until about 3am some nights. I understand that this will be somewhat out of the owner's control but it is a bit frustrating when you come back from a day out pretty tired and wanting to go to bed and then have to listen to this for several hours at a time. There is also a fire escape door in the bedroom that seems to lead out onto the stairs outside the apartment and a couple of times people would return drunk and be shouting right outside this which woke us up a few times.
Overall we really enjoyed our stay and thought it was great value for money and these few little things didn't really have much of an affect on our stay and would definitely recommend it to couples looking to explore the Lake District for the first time.
Thank you for your feedback , it’s great to hear you enjoyed your stay
We’ve become aware of the bathroom ceiling which is due to previous guests turning the extractor fan off and the good news is if you returned tomorrow this has been rectified Property Owner
Reviewed by JadeMay 2022
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"Great place to stay."
Flat very clean & welcoming. Good location near Bowness-on-Windermere for shops, cafes & lakeside but nice quiet location
Thank you for your feedback it’s appreciated . It’s lovely to hear you think it’s a great place to stay Property Owner
Reviewed by KarenMay 2022
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"Lovely stay!"
Super clean. A little chilly but once the electric heater and the fire was on, it was perfect! So cosy and amazing location.
Reviewed by MaisieDec 2021
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"Showr room bath when stepping into ,no anti slip at that point and wall by ..."
Showr room bath when stepping into ,no anti slip at that point and wall by shower valve no hand grip, other than that all good
have just rebooked for feb
Fred and Jo smith
Reviewed by FrederickNov 2021
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"A small shelf under the TV to accommodate a DVD player
Brilliant location"
Reviewed by RussellSep 2021
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"Central location."
Parking lot was always full as the barriers are not controlled so i suspect many others also parked there for shops. Aprtmt was good with great facilities, its bit small for family of 4 but we managed to enjoy our stay. Thanks.
Reviewed by NirakarAug 2021
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"We stayed as a party of four, two adults and two children."
The location was excellent and facilities wise we had everything we could ask for . I felt the property was really only suitable for 2 people owing to the size of the apartment. Also it was very noisy at nighttime - the people above had tv on loud and had several arguments which kept us awake. I know this is outside of the owners control but we found this off putting as we had small children. The sofa is quite uncomfortable too!
We had no trouble parking and there seemed to be adequate spaces.
Reviewed by CathrynJul 2021
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"Great location, 5 mins walk to the lake!"
Reviewed by LizJul 2021
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"We had a great week away at Olivias Hideaway."
The flat is so well placed right in the centre of Bowness but in a quiet street. Everything you need is in the flat. Decent wifi. We took our Apple TV box which worked on the TV there. Great supply of shampoo, conditioner, body wash & washing up liquid. Maybe take extra toilet roll with you though, however the Co-op is just up the steps & through the alley for everything you need. At the bottom of the street is a set of steps that takes you down to the bottom of Bowness.
The only negative I would say is that we found the sofa uncomfortable to sit on. Also, the kitchen sink is making a loud gurgling/burping noise which appears to happen when the upstairs neighbours washing machine is on ?
Monties Cafe is excellent for breakfast.
Highly recommend this flat.
Reviewed by TracyMay 2021
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"It was as nice as we hoped it wonder be under the circumstances."
Reviewed by MelApr 2021
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"A really lovely apartment at a great price."
The apartment was perfect for myself, my fiancée & our 7 month old daughter. I wouldn’t say you could get many more in it though. The location was absolutely fantastic right in the heart of Bowness.
The only slight issue we had was the temperature in the apartment. It was really chilly and the place needs a couple more heaters as the radiators aren’t very good.
Overall a lovely place and we would definitely return once it gets a little warmer!
Reviewed by ChrisDec 2020
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"Olivia’s hideaway is in the perfect location to explore the Lake District and provided a cosy home base to cone back to."
We loved how close the we were to the town centre and took advantage of the fantastic restaurant within walking distance. We happily return to this place again.
Reviewed by SaraOct 2020
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"Cost considering location"
Reviewed by RichardSep 2020
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"Accommodation was lovely and perfectly located."
I’d definitely revisit!
Reviewed by AmySep 2020
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"This was my first time booking through Sykes Cottages and it's safe to say I would certainly book through here again in the future."
As for my specific apartment experience, the location couldn't have been better, it was in a fantastic area very close to local shops and restaurants. The facilities inside my apartment however were just okay. A review I saw about this apartment before I booked mentioned that a neighbour would have their television on loud until the early hours of the morning, this I thought wouldn't be an issue to me until I actually heard how loud it was to the point that I could work out what programme they were watching and on what channel. I could also hear every move the people in the apartment above made which unfortunately also included their toilet movements. This could be an issue if you're a light sleeper, thankfully, I am not. I also must comment on how mild the temperature was in the apartment, the electric fire and radiator heaters in the hall and bathroom really didn't suffice much but thankfully there was a portable electric heater stored in the bedroom cupboard which I managed to make use of although even that only gave out a steady flow of lukewarm heat. I would certainly recommend for the heating to be looked into here as during this time of year it doesn't quite meet the standards that you would expect, even if it would be to just replace the portable heater to something that gives off a little more warmth. As for the shower, it didn't give off much power but was manageable. There were also signs of damp coming through on the bathroom ceiling.
Negatives aside, for the amount I paid for this four-night stay, and for my first experience booking through Sykes Cottages, I would say it was worth the money I paid. Upon arrival the digital key box was easy to use, the apartment was very clean and welcoming with very clear instructions in the manual including a little personalised map of the area which was very useful. This was my first time visiting the lake district and the apartment really is in a fantastic location with satisfactory amenities. The television even had access to Netflix (not already logged in to an account of course) which was a nice surprise, I certainly made use of that on an evening. Everything is on your doorstep within just a couple of minutes walk. The people in the area are very friendly and conversational, even when out on a walk you will find people saying hello or good morning/afternoon. I would certainly stay here again (during warmer months) for sure.
Thank you for your review. We are very pleased you enjoyed your stay and enjoyed the location and apartment facilities. Maintenance have attended to the points you have mentioned surrounding the heating. We look forward to welcoming you back here again soon. Property Owner
Reviewed by NathanJan 2020
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"We were not to happy to find big stains on the mattress protector, also beer bottles under the sofa."
They really need to sort out the bed and sofa they were so uncomfortable and low to the ground ,also would be a good idea to write internet password down .one more thing warn people about the upstairs people because you will get no sleep when they have there tv on loud untill 4 in the morning
Thank you very much for your feedback, we are sorry to hear about the issues you have experience during your stay. Please be assured that each of these issues have been addressed and a new mattress is in place at the property. Property Owner
Reviewed by KennethSep 2019
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"Everything was amazing however there was no microwave and iron which are facilities that we really needed, apart from that, brilliant ."
Thank you for your feedback, the property now has an iron and a microwave. Property Owner
Reviewed by JaveriaJul 2019
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"This apartment is in a great central location with parking and amenities on your doorstep, we only used our car once during the week as there is so much to do here within a short walking distance."
Reviewed by RachelJul 2019