“A challenging review to write . . .”
We are a family of four with two boys aged four and two. This was our fifth trip to Cornwall in just under three years and our third stay at Juliots Well.
Yet again we had a pleasurable stay but on this occasion there was more room for improvement and we're undecided with our chosen accommodation.
In the past we have had comfortable stays in Camellia lodges. For this four night break we booked relatively late and were offered Honeysuckle cottage.
Honeysuckle Cottage is a new addition for 2011 and was priced at the same level as the Camellia Lodge, despite the fact it offered an extra double bedroom. Good value for money.
Ultimately, I think this will become the priciest option for 2012 but you can't argue considering the extra floorspace and bedroom.
On arrival, the staff were the friendliest we had encountered at this site. Previously, we had found our greeting at reception a little frosty but this time round it was polite and efficient. We arrived about forty minutes early but were not made to wait for our keys. We were most grateful considering the inclement weather.
The location of the cottage had been explained to me at the time of booking and I knew that it was a renovation of the old shower block but we were a little disappointed with the "kerb appeal" (make your own minds up from the uploaded photo).
As we approached the cottage, the patio area was a jigsaw of concrete and mediocre slabs. The outdoor furniture was a little strewn but this really didn't matter given an October holiday.
You enter the cottage through its only door into the lounge / diner area and are immediately drawn in by a large and sumptuous 'L' shaped sofa. Interior first impressions put things right back on track.
Off the lounge to the right is the comfortable master suite, with good sized en-suite including enclosed shower area.
To the left, you walk towards a large one sided kitchen, off which are the two twin / zip link double bedrooms, with the large family bathroom at the furthest point.
For an autumn / winter holiday the accommodation was appropriate. The heating was excellent. The kitchen appliances top notch and the TVs all round were of good quality.
There are a number of little niggles I'm confident will be ironed out as the property matures. . .
With wet feet, the entrance straight onto lino type cushion flooring was irritating. It needs a larger matted area to make sure footprints don't extend into the cottage. This was exacerbated by a large puddle that manifests itself on the patio with even the smallest amount of rain. The electric shower in the en- suite was temperamental, at times a watering can would have been a suitable replacement. This was offset though by the brilliant rainfall shower in the family bathroom.
By far our biggest gripe with the accommodation was the fact we felt quite disconnected. As previously stated, the front door is the only point of entry and the cottage would have benefited from a second or alternative patio type entrance. The enclosed feel is not helped by the lack of 'safe' outdoor space. A balcony or contained patio area would have made all the difference.
We couldn't help but feel that a Summer holiday in the Honeysuckle Cottage would never had lived up to the ones in the lodge because it doesn't offer the 'outside in' of the balconies on a warm day or evening.
The vista was another issue. The avenue of Camellia lodges has a real friendly, community type feel, you don't get that with the cottage - just green 'vans as neighbours.
It's time for further investment in the play area and games room, especially just out of season when the pool is quite rightly closed.
Not forgetting I've given the site a four stars review; the finish inside the accommodation was faultless. The beds were ultra comfy. Cleanliness was good. The size and proportions of the Cottage were brilliant and as always, Juliots offers value for money that can't be topped in Cornwall.
The friendliness of the staff was a noticeable improvement. A visit to the shop was a pleasure and the female member of staff naturally engaged with the boys rather than doing it through duty.
In summary, think hard about what you want from the accommodation?The site, location and pricing remains a winner.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC