Snowdrop, Wadebridge

The Snowdrop Lodge is a nice and spacious lodge at the Hustyns hotel and spa. It is sadly let down by a lack of cleanliness and the property itself has become a little out of date. On arrival, there were spider webs all over the place and we kept walking into them, including in the kitchen and bathrooms. Sadly one was discovered all over the master bedroom bed headboard. We cleaned this all ourselves as the management company is closed at weekends. (We arrived on the Friday evening at 9pm). In the kitchen, 2 spotlights near the cooker / cooking area were of. Again, we had to swap these around ourselves with 2 from a bedroom. The oven and Cooker hood lights did not work. There is under cupboard light held up by sticky tape! There is no sink draining board and the frying pan needs replacing. In the lounge, the main sofa is coming apart at the arm rest and looks tired. The main bathroom has had a refresh and Bath has been replaced. Sadly, we could not use the new Bath as the push up/down plug did not work!

We stayed at snowdrop lodge in late August with our family of two adults and 3 children, 8, 2 and 6 months. The trip was originally planned with my mum and dad however due to a family bereavement they were unable to attend. We were looking to postpone or cancel but was not possible according to Sykes cottages who we booked the stay through. Never the less we arrived on the Friday and here are my first impressions The hotel The property is set on a hotel estate called Hustyns Hotel and Spa Takes about 10-15 minutes from Wadebridge, through one track lanes to get to the hotel so be aware if venturing out at night. I think years ago it used to be a nice country hotel, grounds are still lovely but the lodges within the estate are clearly now mostly privately owned. The hotel is certainly not what it would have been in its hay day and this is reflected in the cleanliness of the grounds exterior etc. It’s dated interior and basic facilities also reflect this. Restaurant could be better, some of the staff were new and a tad inexperienced. We were in there with the kids and there was no air con working just a fan outside the restaurant. We did treat ourselves to Sunday lunch for £6 each as was a special price that day and was quite good for what it was. The bar was basic but we didn’t get much use of that apart from my overpriced hot chocolate which came from a small packet from across the room. The leisure facilities Didn’t use the gym! The swimming pool jacuzzi, sauna and steam room were lovely and were kept clean They had adult only sessions 7-8am and 8-9pm which was nice too. They didn’t have a life guard on at all times though which was a little bit of a concern but a minor in the larger scale of things. Water was a lovely temp for my 2 year old and 6 month old however the baby pool could have been warmer. The changing rooms were fine however the lockers were either broken or missing keys and were in a state of repair. Other facilities in the hotel like kids club were not in operation and haven’t been for a while, they just needed to remove it from the site so not to confuse people. The hotel had a basic kids play area and mini golf and tennis courts which we didn’t use. The Lodge We were an end lodge in a row of lodges. On entrance to the front of the property there was a distinctive boggy smell which wasn’t pleasant. There was a stream running along side the property which we suspected could have been the issue. On entrance to the property first impressions were that it was a good size especially for a family of 5. It had 3 large very good sized bedrooms, towels provided. Kitchen had all the amenities and equipment and the management company were kind enough to leave us a box of bits like washing up liquid, dishwasher tabs etc The fridge has seen better days and actually doesn’t refrigerate very well and have advised the management company as we had milk go off on our stay, which wasn’t ideal at all! Dining room was a nice size with a large table for lots of people The front room had a large telly with games and dvds and two sofas which were not that comfortable in all honesty but did for the week The 3 bathrooms were nice some updated more than others Again could be cleaner than they were Spiders and cobwebs lurking! The double shower in the downstairs en-suite was hot for 10 minutes max so imagine my surprise when the girls started screaming cold cold cold So if you want to use it I would advise putting the boost on as not one for relaxing in, upstairs was fine. The utility room was well equipped and instruction manuals provided. We had a high chair and cot which were adequate for the stay. Didn’t use downstairs toilet as was cold and unwelcoming. Sauna was nice however didn’t get much use. SPIDERS! Now I don’t mind the odd spider but this property was inundated and we didn’t always have the windows open. Having three girls this didn’t go down very well as you would imagine! The overall cleanliness of the property could have been better. Seemed the property was just cleaned over the top rather than a deep clean which meant I had to clean before laying clothes etc There were quite a few cobwebs in cupboards, hallways. On reading the visitors book it became apparent they have had a rat problem which thankfully we didn’t have an issue with but could see traps were still in the kitchen cupboards under the sink. There was access to the front of the property via patio doors as well as through the dining room to the outside area Outside area was decked, had a small bbq which has seen better days and garden rattan furniture which we didn’t use. The rear garden has direct access to the hotel and grounds through a gate. The access is not buggy or wheel chair friendly so be mindful that you would have to walk around. Outside lighting didn’t work which was a shame as couldn’t sit outside on a nice summers evening. Overall we enjoyed our stay at snowdrop lodge however we booked peak season and paid over and above what we should have for what the property was. This property is worth £800-£1000 max for its size and facilities and no more!!!! I would consider staying again if they cleaned the property to a higher standard The property was dated and needs a refresh which the owners should consider if they are asking for the money we paid for it! Nice location, little bit out in the sticks however was peaceful and wasn’t far to travel out to places.

Lovely location, peaceful and relaxing which is just what we wanted. Fantastic large bathrooms. Great location for exploring local seaside resorts

I don't think the description or photos of the property do it justice. It exceeded my expectations in every way. The beds were extremely comfortable with the best linen. The garden was actually private and not overlooked at all. Squirrels came every day and knocked at our door to be fed which the children loved. The private sauna and massive whirlpool bath were a real treat. The management company left us gifts and when we had a problem they came promptly to repair it. We were fascinated with the location, the closure of the hotel did not bother us as we found the almost empty facilities a real treat, often having the swimming pool completely to ourselves. We wanted remote, peace and quiet and we got exactly that but with the advantage of WiFi! My suggestions for improvements would be a new TV in the lounge as the guide does not work and possibly some new lamps in the bedrooms as we found them a little temperamental. Overall the place was a delight and I would not hesitate if you are looking for a secluded, peaceful place with excellent leisure facilities.”

It was a peaceful and relaxing holiday, Very child friendly and we felt safe for the children to explore the grounds.We enjoyed every moment and can say it was the best holiday by far.