Sands Resort Hotel, Cornwall. Has anyone stayed here

[temmy99]

The reviews are good but I would like to hear from anyone here what they actually felt about the hotel generally, from the food, rooms and activities for kids. I am looking to go during Easter mainly to relax but would like the children to be occupied as well. Their ages are 5, 9 and 14. Thanks

Not been to sands but have been to bedruthan steps which was really good. not sure though if your 14 yr old will be that thrilled as child friendly hotels seem to aim at the under 12's. Blimey just looked at the prices £1300 for a family of 4 for a week at Easter. that seems really steep to me. it's also near Newquay which will be full of 16 - 18 yr olds on the prowl. Not the nicest part of Cornwall - hopefully someone else will come up with some other better/cheaper suggestions for you.

hollyround has stayed at the sands, posted on another thread.

The Sands does look v. expensive as does the one in Watergate Bay who quoted me over £300 per night R&B for a family room in August "not facing the sea obviously but that is for 4 of you" ~ quote

I don't think the locals would pay that! But someone must be.

I've been! Last October half term. Cheap deal on one of their filler breaks: stay sun-fri and get lots of ££ off.
And we absolutely loved it. Don't listen to the nay-sayers who haven't actually been!
Bedruthan and watergate bay hotels are far swishier (and their prices reflect that) but sands is genuinely lovely. Just like previous poster said, loads of activities, indoor and outdoor pools, walkable to porth beach or to watergate bay. Might be more to do for under 10s? But I didn't pay too much attention as we just have our 5yr old, sorry.
Lots of different room layouts, ours had door between our bit and daughters bit. Great food, great staff. Most relaxing holiday we've had since she was born!
If I were you, I'd ring reception and chat over the accommodation layout and activities with them.

I know, smalltown, doors and everything!

I will be returning as soon as we have some spare cash. I rave about it to all and sundry.
Forgot to mention: it's only 15 min taxi from Newquay airport, flying really helps with the holiday spirit I think.

I just priced bedruthan steps for a week at the start of june - £2850 bed and breakfast!!!! They have got to be having a laugh!!

And thats just for two adults and an infant!

And that is why we stayed at Sands, not bedruthan

We went for May half term 2yrs ago and frankly, we thought it was rubbish. It was so bad that after 3days we moved to Bedruthan Steps for the rest of the week!
Looking back, our main issue was with the food. We thought it was trying to be fancy without having the quality cooking to back that up. Luch menu was weird as I seem to remember you couldn't just have a sandwich. Had to be a muffin stacked with stuff. Evening meal was worse though. Very geared towards kids having high tea but for us a big part of the holiday experience is the all getting to eat together in the evening. There was only a choice of two dishes, both somewhat pretentious. Neither suitable for the 3, 5 and 7yr olds we had at the time. My kids eat out regularly and are happy to eat or at least try most things but it just wasn't nice. Tbh, DH and I didn't enjoy it either.

We would have been happy with pizza, spag bol, curry, stir fry, shepherds pie. In fact pasta of any sort with a sauce and some tuna would have kept them happy. Waitress agreed food wasn't aimed at kids and said that's why they keep some chicken nuggets and chips in the freezer to offer kids whose parents want them to eat at dinnertime! So the fact they don't want your slimy, over-cooked raviolli with asparagus sauce means all they want is chicken nuggets?

Oh and your 14yr old will be very bored. Probably your 9yr old too. The 5yr old will enjoy the playground and small zip-wire thingy though and of course, it's just up the hill from the beach.

Blimey, sounds like the food's changed since you were there. Always a cold sandwichy and salad option for the kids, alongside 2 or 3 hot choices - none of which were odd/pretentious, just normal food. Lasagne, roast chicken and veg, fishfingers and chips. Maybe they received feedback like yours and changed their ways?