Is Cornwall worth the expense?

[srasee]

We usually go for a week to Antigua in February and rent a flat or villa. This year we’re thinking of skipping that trip and having an extra one in the UK summer.

We were thinking of renting a house in somewhere like Flushing or Rock or Saint Ives

It is very expensive, but we prefer to stay in upmarket areas. Is Cornwall worth the expense?

I love St Ives, we usually go for May half term. Lots of nice places to eat, galleries to potter in, lovely beaches. I wouldn’t want to brave the August crowds though. Pembrokeshire is lovely to look at, but decent restaurant options are limited.
North Norfolk is lovely, with pockets of very chi-chi shops/towns/houses.

I’d definitely prefer Antigua !
For the U.K. though , I’d give Cornwall a miss and go to Pembrokeshire, very much the same scenery and lovely coastline , but a lot cheaper

Have a look at the Isle of Man instead.
It's much quieter, a greater variety of landscapes, incredible local food and drink, beaches that go on for miles, loads of holiday properties and stunning wildlife.
I'm biased because I live here but on a summer day there is truly nowhere more beautiful (and I've travelled extensively including Antigua).

We’ve had some great holidays in Rock / Padstow, the weather has been great. If the weather was bad, it would be a totally different story. And whilst it’s great, it’s not Antigua.

No. And I live here and love it. Baffles me that people spend what they do coming here when they could go to the Caribbean for instance.

Yes, I live in Cornwall and holiday in Wales. It's way quieter, cheaper and more beautiful imo.

I should think Cornwall would be beyond disappointing compared to Antigua. Not that I have been to Antigua, but I have been to Cornwall.

An utter dump. It's my nearest town but I rarely go there. It's for the young uns who want the nightlife.

It depends. I have family in Cornwall and love it, spend a few weeks a year there. As for a holiday- can you cope with a week of rain as it does happen- we are happy whatever the weather. Personally I would choose less popular places to stay- I have done st Ives as a base but it's busy- I rather a quieter spot. I've been lucky this year all my weeks had a storm so not great weather, but we've enjoyed it still. If you get good weather the beaches are amazing, I haven't had that for 2 years now. It's all in the timing!

I've only been the once and we had mixed weather. Lovely in the sunshine, grim in the rain. St Ives seemed a bit bleak but it was pissing with rain sideways at the time.
Nice people but I can't say I am desperate to go back. I think the scenery is nice but nothing out of the ordinary and I certainly wouldn't swap it for Antigua.

Newquay has a reputation it no longer deserves. It isn't a stag and hen party destination any more.

Go on the outskirts of the town, Crantock beach is beautiful, paddleboarding in the river Gannel, surfing on Fistral beach.
The town centre would benefit from some investment and upmarket shops but it's safe and friendly.
There are fabulous restaurants and the scenery is stunning.

And I have been to both.

Antigua was dangerous, unwelcoming and the cruelty towards the animals was so distressing.
Fancy a walk across the beach stepping over the dogs who had been drowned or stoned to death? Go to Dickenson Bay in Antigua.
Oh and if you want crack cocaine - we were constantly offered that on the beach too

@margotmargeaux that's good to hear. All I know of the town these days is that it has a cracking French bakery/patisserie - Choukette. C'est chouette!

I love St Ives. In my opinion it’s really special, really different and better than anywhere else in the U.K. We’ve had a few gorgeous summers there with the kids. I love the little winding tiny streets, all the beaches just a stones throw from each other, some gorgeous places to eat in the harbour, seen seals and loads of dolphins on boat trips from there. I’d love to retire there 😂 I’d move there if the kids weren’t already settled at school. Cornwall has a lovely chilled vibe.
The Isles of Scilly was also fab to visit. You can fly from lands end. I think if you’ve never been to Cornwall before you could have a really lovely week. Book a show at the Minack, visit to the Eden Project, Charlestown was a lovely little harbour too and worth a visit.

@faffadoodledo
Yes it's lovely there!
Newquay harbour has a street food market and bar - so many options of different food from the kiosks and you can sit and watch the working harbour whilst you dine.

The bar at Fistral Beach is a perfect apres surf bar, amazing views of the surf and a great vibrant atmosphere.
There are four and five star hotels with cool cocktail bars and top notch restaurants.

@margotmargeaux I never fail to understand why people choose to go on holiday to these 'luxury destinations' because underneath the hotel facade there is no luxury whatsoever. There is a lot of crime and poverty. I went to Barbados, considered the jewel of the Caribbean and have no desire to ever return. Hotel as gorgeous, view was stunning but never felt safe outside of the hotel grounds.

@margotmargeaux Thanks. I can’t do either of those things but I appreciate the recommendation, thanks

I just want to go and see these beautiful beaches I've seen on photos before I die, even if just for a weekend. I haven't had a holiday since 2007. Doesn't sound like it's recommended though :(

@GladioliandSweetPeas Are you talking about Caribbean or Cornish beaches?

There are so many great islands in the Caribbean. The best known ones have the airports but travel onwards and it’s a fantastic place to holiday. Cornwall in May or June is the same. Loads of places to visit.

I don’t think Newquay can go upmarket! It’s too close to Padstow. It’s lower end basically but the beaches nearby have great hotels and The Scarlett is always worth a visit. Personal favourite is The Hotel Tresanton at St Mawes.

So one town is unable to go upmarket because of its proximity to another town?

We paid almost £2k for a week in August this year and, while I enjoyed it, I wouldn't say it was worth that money. We only really had 2-3 days of hazy sunshine, so it ended up being even more expensive because we couldn't just mooch on the beach all day.

We also paid more for a sea view and balcony, thinking that we could sit out and enjoy the view with some wine after the kids went to bed but it was in fact absolutely baltic.

We're paying just short of £5k for ten days all inclusive in Majorca next year.

I love Cornwall (prefer Pembrokeshire) but I like the British coast and don’t mind the odd day of rain. Packing my car up in a storm last year was interesting though. I guess it depends what you like. In ten years I’ve never had more than a day or two rain per week in Wales or Cornwall in August (this equals ‘nice weather’). I am not interested in going to Antigua but would love a week on a Greek Island sometime. Or the med. I’d probably still try to get to the coast here for a week though.

No. I’d only ever go off season when it’s cheaper. No thanks to the County Of Queues.

If I was going to spend ££££ in Cornwall I wouldn't go self catering. We stayed at the Headland Hotel which overlooks Fistral Beach one year with food included and it was absolutely lovely.