Bedruthan v Sands

[Orangepink5]

Planning a couple of nights away in November with our toddlers. Looking for a nice hotel (nice rooms and good food) with indoor pool plus some sort of playground/play barn type thing as well as children’s tea. Any other children’s things a bonus. Ideally somewhere that is nice for adults with good food. I am tempted by Bedruthan and then saw the Sands Resort, which admittedly doesn’t look as nice but has great reviews and seems much cheaper. Any insights?

Absolutely not interested in Centre Parks or any too childreny, it has to be a holiday for us too! Basically after a nice hotel that has enough to keep the children and therefore me happy!

Bedruthan doesn’t seem to get as good reviews from families anymore. Have you looked at these? www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk free 90 min childcare and seem good for under 5s. Reviews mixed though.

The sweet spot for spa hotels with a kids club seems to be from 5 upwards. I’ve been struggling to find something that spans both my 3yo and 6yo so have actually ended up booking center parcs as can get 3 hours for both children by getting them into a cooking class. If you want to be spendy I was also eyeing up the grove as has a crèche, children's pool, softplay etc as well as being a v nice hotel.

Hi @Orangepink5

We did Bedruthan for 6 years up until Covid, Sands Resort for 3 years (incl this Summer) and were supposed to be at a hotel (Fowey Hall) this summer within the group (LFH) PP mentioned.

Bedruthan: PP is correct. Absolutely not child friendly any more. No kids high tea, softplay, no high tea, Seriously, don’t even consider it.

Sands: Incredible for children, especially the entertainment and indoor funfair attraction when it rains. The not-so-great: Evening meals on the menu if you go full-board are repetitive. Amazing quality (much better than lunch). The road between the hotel and waterfront is busy. If you want a seaview, request a room away from the corner junction into the carpark and on the first floor as a minimum.

Fowey: Where to start?! Read the TripAdvisor reviews….we were offered a complimentary stay to compensate for what they put us through and we have said thanks but no thanks. Never again.

Happy to answer any q’s you have about any of them.

thank you @Bunnycat101 I had a look at the LFH but for the sort of room we wanted it seemed v expensive. This is our first time in a hotel with them so didn’t want to spend too much in case it was a total disaster sleep wise!

@Holidayheaven2 thank you so much for your really detailed message, super helpful. I was just about to book the Bedruthan, but think I’ll hold off now. If they don’t do high tea then how are children expected to have supper- do they start normal supper at 6 or something?

Sands- from what I’ve seen online it looks much better for children. Think I was a bit put off by the general vibe of the hotel- it probably isn’t something I’d choose if I was going alone! But if it’s great for the children then I can probably put up with a less than luxury experience for us adults!! We normally take the children self catering so this will be our first time in a hotel with them, we’re only doing two nights and we didn’t want to spend masses in case it’s a disaster with their sleep- they’ve never shared a room before!
mid we’re only doing two nights then the repetition won’t be too much of a problem for evening meals. Is it passable quality, restaurant standard, not a buffet or anything?

What’s the deal at Sand’s for children’s supper? Are they allowed in the dining room for an early supper with us or do they do a children’s supper?

Really helpful room info- I’ve looked online and think we’d be after a suite or apartment so the children can be separate from us. I’ve also seen a map of the hotel. The Contemporary Sea View Suites are right by the entrance to the car park, think we’d have to go for a slightly different room. I’m hoping in November that the main road might be slightly quieter.
Also, Sand’s seems suspiciously cheap- about half price of all the other options that I’ve looked at, what’s the catch?!

thanks again for your really helpful info, hugely appreciated. Anything else I should know about Sands before booking?

That brings back memories!! We went to Bedruthan twice when the dc were small. Loved the high tea, play areas, the soft play...

Really didn't love the sick bugs we caught there both times... 🤮 and that's why we never went back.

Sorry, not helpful to you! I didn't realise that Bedruthan had stopped being so family-friendly.

Long time ago now but we stayed at the sands when our twins were toddlers and they loved it, soft play, outdoor park, swimming pool and they did a kids tea, then you had listening in on the rooms whilst you had adult dinner downstairs once they were asleep I think, it was a long time ago though!
rooms were spacious.
We did a stay at Moonfleet manor which was good at a similar age.

I don’t feel I know Bedruthan well enough now to give any more info. The emails the GM & I exchanged about their gradual changes since just before the pandemic hit confirmed, sadly, we wouldn’t be returning so I have no current information. An absolute shame, it was the best….

Sands….we always went for a seaview contemporary suite because of the floorplan meaning DC having her own bedroom (with TV - super holiday bonus for her!) but this time actually we looked around their different rooms and I can’t remember the name of it but it’s very similar and overlooks the outdoor pool. The staff are super-lovely and will advise you on the phone.

The baths are quite small (low) but I think that’s me being fussy. I believe the evening meals started at 5pm for children in the summer to allow them to finish in time for the entertainment….but if you’re planning on going next month there won’t be any magicians or silent discos (!) Honestly the staff are genuine and kind, they ‘care’. They communicate, treat you like an individual rather than a statistic.

The breakfast is buffet but my, it is wonderful. Continental and savoury cooked, yoghurts, pastries, the works - I’m jealous.
The evening meals were of a very high quality, really really impressive. Genuinely felt like eating in a ‘nice’ restaurant, a là carte, table service. I’ve just gone through my photos to see if I have any of the food and all I have is one of our DD indulging herself on Daddys pudding so I’m afraid I don’t have any to show you.

There honestly is no catch 😀I think management just want to see everyone enjoy themselves and get value for money which is why we returned. FWIW, we looked at The Headland which is very close by as that’s our cup of tea but absolutely didn’t cater for children at all.

Just a thought…there’s no spa as such. You can have a massage or facial in the treatment rooms but they’re not in ‘luxurious’ surroundings. Yes they have piped music and a delightful fragrance but old brown leather sofas with purple walls are from about 40 years ago I think! (Full body massage was v good!)

@Holidayheaven2 thank you so much for all your advice. Just about to book 😬, looks like the type of room we need is in block B on their map on their website, which is above the reception, bar, lounges etc. So should be clear of the corner junction that you mention, will ask for top floor also, as per your advice. Any thoughts on whether sea or inland facing would be better for children’s room from a noise point of view?
Thanks

Oooh, we haven’t stayed in Block B, but I can tell you that if you have a country view and stay at the back you’ll have rolling countryside in the distance, not within immediate close proximity. It is beautiful. Whereas if you pay for & request a seaview you will get that (all bar the road) The road is mainly local traffic which in the summer is for the beach during the day so if you’re going in November should be fine….but we did have very heavy HGVs purely I think because it was high season.

Noise-wise within the hotel from your room I imagine there won’t be much in it, in answer to your question. If you don’t want to risk any road noise at all, definitely go for country view and stay at the back. But if you want the view, of the sea, the (I imagine to be low level of traffic) will be worth it.
We were in Block A on the end (photo attached) with young children, one week before Boardmasters started and the road was just starting to be cordoned off by police, hundreds of thousands of people were expected in the field next to & directly opposite us, the stages were being set up but we still slept without disruption. The children were facing the country at the back, we were sea-facing.
The staff will be honest if you tell them you would like a quieter location within the hotel or on that floor. We’ve always made certain requests due to different circumstances & they’ve always been great.

Have you looked at Watergate bay hotel? www.watergatebay.co.uk/

Also a bit different as it’s not a hotel but lodges but The Park at Mawgan Porth is great. There’s a fab pool, restaurant on site and multiple playgrounds, trampolines etc and about 400m flat walk to the beach. theparkcornwall.com/

Just to update- we went to Sand’s. It was brilliant! It’s a 3 star hotel (fairly dated in bedrooms, old fashioned bathrooms etc, and grim looking hotel on the outside) but it is utterly fantastic- all spotlessly clean, very warm pool and super helpful, friendly staff. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone and will hopefully return.

Phew!

So relieved 😊 Glad it all was OK and what you needed it to be. Thankyou for the update. Which room type did you go for, just out of interest? One at the front or overlooking the back?

Thank you for all your advice.

We went for a three room suite. It was on the first floor above reception. No noise problem as it was so quiet in November. Our room was sea facing, the two children’s rooms looked over the back (over a large flat room with a loud fan that the initially didn’t like but soon got over it!). Their windows had cloudy privacy plastic over the windows so you couldn’t really see out, but it didn’t matter as they were hardly in their rooms.

www.hospitalityinsights.com/investment/watergate-bay-hotel-buys-nearby-resort

Sands Resort has been purchased by the Watergate Bay and Another Place group. Building works start in 2023.