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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Moonfleet Manor quickie

36 replies

CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 20:51

Just about to book a few days there in the summer and thought I would consult the Oracle first - any tips or bad things I should know about. Is the food good? We are getting a standard double and single, are they ok?

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Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 20:52

Oh and also the rooms are across the hall from each other but on their own on the other side of a fire door - would you be happy with this arrangement ie baby in single us in dbl, with listening device etc.

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Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 21:01

...and finally dh would like to know is it Child Hell or can you get some peace and quiet!!

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Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 21:20

Pleeease someone must have been there!

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Babyannabel · 17/04/2004 21:26

Sorry CD, only been there for lunch, but that was nice. Heard good stuff about it, kids club supposed to be good. Friends got engaged there so love it (obviously). I'd think about staying there definitely, we tend to stay at Sandbanks nr Poole which is v. child friendly, amazing beach 30 seconds away, food good in the brasserie. Anyway, good luck, I'm sure you'll enjoy the Moonfleet (I think it's quite posh).

Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 21:41

Thanks BA - still looking so pls could you tell me the name of the place that you stay in Sandbanks?

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Babyannabel · 17/04/2004 21:51

It's called the Sandbanks Hotel, it's quite big (pre children we always liked small hotels) but I think it does the kids thing ok. They have an indoor pool, kids meals at good times, the food in the main restaurant when we last went was not amazing (buffet etc) but may have improved as it's been 2 years since we went. The beach is what you go for as it is fab. They have good beachfront (penthouse) suites with adjoining rooms and balconies looking over the beach which are nice. Anyway - good luck. This year we've rented a house along the way as the area is so lovely.

Babyannabel · 17/04/2004 21:51

As I said before, the food in the brasserie for steaks/seafood etc is really really good.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 23:02

sounds great will check it out. Thanks!

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princesspeahead · 17/04/2004 23:36

cd some friends of ours were there last summer and didn't really rate it much (moonfleet I mean) - they thought it was all rather tired and tatty, and outrageously priced for what they got. I seem to remember them grumbling about food a bit. they had stayed at Ickworth (same group?) which they thought was much better.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 23:38

Ah thought you might know. Well it's not that expensive (for 2 bedrooms incl dinner, kids club etc £250 per night) and it's only for 3 or 4 nights. Just wanted somewhere vaguely civilised with beach that will take us and dog in comfort with baby listening.

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princesspeahead · 17/04/2004 23:40

I think they paid masses more than that, but I know it was late august when they went because they came to see us afterwards and I was about to pop with no 3. I seem to think they were talking about £350 per room....

Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 23:41

We are going in August. maybe they had huuuge posh room.

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princesspeahead · 17/04/2004 23:45

don't know - maybe they had one enormous room for them and 2yr old and baby?

Original poster
CountessDracula · 17/04/2004 23:51

Our 250 is for 2 rooms as dd won't sleep in ours. One single, one double

Barg

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expatkat · 18/04/2004 04:01

CD: I wasn't wild about Moonfleet BUT went there in January, which is obviously a depressing time of year even in luxury. I agree with the assessment by Princesspeahead's friends: tatty, dark. On the other hand, I remember there being a large, impressive indoor play area for the children which my ds LOVED & he was about the same age at the time as your dd will be (2+?). The food was unmemorable quite literally: I remember nothing about it. Dh says not great. I don't want to discourage you from going because I remember thinking a summer visit would be a hundred times better.

I do recall the rooms being more than adequate. Rather cozy--I liked them. I think a standard doubte & single will be just fine.

And on an unrelated subj: did you see my recent message on the ophthalmology thread? Just was asking if you plan to go ahead with the proper ophthalmological visit as suggested by yr optician; I'd feel guilty if you were relying on my father's assessment alone.

bossykate · 18/04/2004 09:17

have you considered knoll house, cd? it's close to moonfleet and does the family/kids thing as well. plus it has a pool as well as being close to the beach (moonfleet doesn't). it doesn't have the "luxury" label - nor the "luxury" price tag. just thought it might be another option since opinion seems somewhat divided on whether moonfleet offers value for money.

incidentally, just got back from a few days at the ickworth and while we enjoyed ourselves, i'm not sure our high expectations were really fulfilled.

bossykate · 18/04/2004 09:18

here is a link Knoll House .

or you could see what ks thought of Fairfields when she gets back - it's also in the same area.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 18/04/2004 11:14

That does look nice but only has childcare from 1-2pm and we were hoping for a couple of lazy mornings in bed with the papers....

Also would actually work out more expensive than Moonfleet. Oh bum I don't know what to do now! I'm not expecting anything that spectacular, we just want a few days somewhere comfy and hassle free!

Thanks expatkat - I have an appt next Friday to get it checked out! I did go last week but they omitted to tell me that they would need to put in eyedrops to dilate my pupils and that I wouldn't be able to drive for 4 hours. so I'm going back on fri.

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Original poster
CountessDracula · 18/04/2004 11:22

Hmm just looked at that again, have you been there BK? It looks a bit "anyone whose parents are visiting and has a younger brother get a pink chit from matron and hang your coat on the lower peg" IYKWIM! Not my cuppa T I suspect

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tamum · 18/04/2004 11:24

This isn't much help really, but I think the discrepancy in prices is quite usual for hotels in the group. Woolley Grange prices vary hugely depending on the size and arrangement of the room(s). If it's like Woolley Grange the childcare will be good, so I would be inclined to give it a go. We went to Calcot Manor two weeks ago and the service there was appalling, much worse than a few years ago, and we kept comparing it unfavourably to Woolley Grange even though the food was good. This is just me rambling really, not much use for your dilemma, just mean that it depends what's most important to you really.

monkeygirl · 18/04/2004 11:26

Well we really liked it there! We went off-peak (September-ish) and so it wasn't full of kids - might be more hellish if there are loads of older ones running around but wouldn't that be the same anywhere? Anyway, there is a lovely lawn where you can sit with your drinks and watch the kids running around/play with cars etc, a small playrground and big sandpit, an adequate swimming pool which was never full and a well-stocked kid's club where you could leave them or just let them play in while you sit back on the cushions. What I liked about it was the fact that it felt like an'adult' hotel and not just a glorified nursery. Lots of places to explore as well etc. I'm glad we had a room on the ground floor quite near the dining room though as, although we used the baby-listening service, it was good to be able to check on dd quickly ourselves. Food was tasty but could get monotonous if you're there too long?? Not something that bothered me though cos I usually stick to the same thing anyway. What I really loved as well was the peace and quiet but that's because I don't get to get out of London enough probably!

tamum · 18/04/2004 11:54

I thought it had a pool, too, monkeygirl. Maybe I misread bossykate's post though.

monkeygirl · 18/04/2004 11:58

Maybe BK meant that it wasn't near to an accessible beach? I remember we drove out to one but wondered if we were being dense in not being able to reach the one we could see.

bossykate · 18/04/2004 13:10

hi

no, i haven't been to knoll house, i keep reading about it though.

moonfleet - thought it didn't have a pool? could be wrong - haven't been there either. was looking for a place to take ds for a w/e last summer and definitely remember thinking eek no pool when it came to moonfleet. maybe i confused it with somewhere else...

after experience at the ickworth this week am wondering if the whole lfh formula is all it's cracked up to be. we paid £350 for a "large" double room per night (ok included dinner too - but still...) a couple of penny pinching touches really got on my t**s - e.g. no tea or coffee in the room, had to call room service at 6.15am instead of just being able to make a quick cup oneself. likewise, why no fridges in the rooms?

mind you, ds doesn't stay in childcare other than his normal nursery, so perhaps that affects our perception of the value.

btw, max 2hrs stay in childcare per day at the ickworth, so i would check how long you can actually leave dd in the nursery at moonfleet... if ds would stay on his own, i'd be feeling a bit cheated at anything less than half a day.

anyway, moonfleet is v. popular so they must do something right. have a great time whatever you decide

bossykate · 18/04/2004 13:18

couldn't rest till i had the truth about the moonfleet pool - yes there is an indoor one!

sorry for the confusion!