Sallyscottages Reviews 

I used to let out a property through Sally’s Cottages. Since they were acquired by Travel Chapter they have gone downhill massively. They now layer on significant booking fees to guests and an annual service charge to owners (for no extra reason other than to finance their acquisitions I suspect). All of this makes properties more expensive to guests and means owners have less income to invest in maintaining their property. I have since switched to AirBnB and have found it to be more flexible for guests as well as allowing owners to offer a much more personal service. If you are renting out a home then my advice would be to leave the company now. If you are a holiday maker then try and see a place you like then try to contact the property direct.

The cottage we stayed at was wonderful… As a company “Sally’s Cottages” are a complete shambles.. We have booked thru them on a number of occasions but NEVER again… Be very aware of the damage (even tho there was none) Refund issues … they take the absolute p***

We recently stayed at a property in Eskdale (Rigg Cottage) that is managed by Sally's Cottages.
The property was well equipped and clean. A problem with the boiler system was responded to swiftly by Sally's Cottages to rectify the problem, and continued to stay in touch throughout our stay. Efficient and professional communications at all times.

Firstly the cottage at Bull Close, Skelwith fold is very tastefully renovated and very clean. The country lanes to the cottage are not for the faint hearted being narrow and winding.
However the property is definitely not for anyone with mobility issues. There is a step down to the cobbled path to the door, steps down to the kitchen and dining room with no hand/grab rails.
The stairs have smooth treads, one hand rail on the left to the landing, a further set of steps to the shower room which has the only toilet.
I couldn't use the shower because there wasn't a grab rail or bath/shower mat available for the slippery base.
I think in this day and age more thought should be given to facilitate any possible disability/mobility problems.

Lack of attention to detail. Second visit to a Sally's property and whilst properties are gorgeous buildings, interiors have on both occasions been largely tired and cheaply done - so disappointing when the rental fees are very expensive. Very cheap toilet roll, grey duvets, lumpy pillows, cheap bedlinen, old bathmats seem to be a mainstay. Lack of hangars in wardrobes, no shower soap, very little provided. An old sofa in a main room was inadequate for an elderly relative; seat cushions so worn it was too low to sit down on. 5pm check-in is very ungenerous, its request that guests strip beds & empty all bins a bit steep for the expense. Someone related to one property came onto grounds during stay but no forewarning & did not raise a hand to wave. No recycling a travesty when this business's success is thanks to being in a national park! Cleaner arrived before 9.30am and left bags at front door so to make a point they'd arrived. Perhaps that this company has been sold by original founders is a factor. Sally's seem to be spoilt for business so beware, expensive for a lack of finesse.

We have stayed with Sallys cottages numerous times across the years. their service has varied from good to excellent and the properties and stays have generally been excellent. We have stayed in this particular location (just outside Keswick) many times without issue. On this occasion there was some awkwardness with the check in and then issues with plumbing and two incidences of a significant invasion of privacy - on one occasion a team of plumbers were sent to the property while we were out, having been told by Sallys that the property was vacant. On another occasion, window cleaners literally appeared at the windows one morning - no notice given. when there are females in the property this is also not acceptable. We asked for a mid break exchange of towels. The cleaner decided, in our absence, to clean the entire property then to charge the owner for her time for which we got a complaint. Who on earth seeks to completely clean a property in the middle of an occupied vacation? This is little more than a sloppy example of a cleaner taking advantage of the owner and nothing to do with paying guests. Sallys were slow, limp or unresponsive during several issues like these while there. Given the expense of this, we will not be using them again....

A dingy flat, not a cottage. Issues with kitchen window handle, shower screen still leaks basin waste trap missing, contradictory parking info, ditto towels, unswept close entry. Etc. Nice location but overall poor value for money.

We stayed at Beechcroft, Appleby in Cumbria for my daughters wedding. The house, on first appearance, was beautiful with great facilities and space for us all. The sheets and towels were hotel standard The location was fantastic for the lovely local shops and pubs and for getting out and about. However, one of the ovens didn’t work so trying to cook for 12 people with only the small oven was interesting. The top of the oven was greasy as were some of the pans and baking trays. The kitchen cloth and scourers had seen better days- luckily we took our own. Also the light in one of the bathrooms didn’t work and this bathroom also didn’t have a window. The instructions for sorting the rubbish needs to be clearer as we ended up sorting someone else’s dirty nappies which had just been chucked in the black bins outside with no nappy sacks or rubbish bags in- not a pleasant experience! For the amount we paid for the week, this was all a little disappointing but overall lovely place to stay for large groups.

We have returned from 4 nights at Low Cleabarrow cottage in Windermere today, the cottage was absolutely stunning, spotlessly clean, very cosy and comfortable.
It is equipped with everything you would need during your break, very spacious and tastefully decorated and the garden is fabulous.
I would recommend this beautiful cottage to anyone and we will definitely return

Just had our accommodation cancelled with 9 days notice.

It would appear that Sally's Cottages have felt it right to impose a covid increase in cottage prices. Most prices have increased by 45 to 75% from 2021 prices. I have rented their cottages in the past and considered them very reasonable. It would appear that they have got extremely greedy, as a lot of other holiday cottage renters. Hopefully the greed bubble will burst when the majority of people go abroad again.

This company has now paid my deposit back after a long battle. Please always check it's been returned within 2 weeks as stated in their terms and conditions.

Had a stay at Hazelwood cottage. Sadly not a clean cottage. Good job company was great. A few bulbs out and switches not working. Outside light not working and bedside lamps. Should be things that are checked before incoming guests. Has the potential to be such a lovely place to stay as excellent location. Just a 10 min walk into Keswick Town. Not decorated for Christmas. Two sitting rooms did not hold all 15 of us and dining room a squeeze. The twin rooms in the attic not ideal as have to walk through one room to get to other. Shower with no curtain on floor but no toilet. A little dicey going up and down rickety steps to attic.

Despite it being now 4 weeks since the end of our holiday, I still haven't received my deposit back. I was told it will be returned - 2 weeks ago when I rang to ask where it was - but still not been paid. AVOID!

Security deposit con. Sallys cottages were an exemplary company we have used for years.
However as with many taken over by travel chapter already slipping.
Security deposit not returned and keep sending emails just saying yes we will do this. It is a total con to either try and make you forget or simply hold your funds for no reason.

Very sad to see another great company swallowed up by travel chapter.

Avoidp.
Andy

Professional, courteous and quick to respond to our queries. Kindness shown when we had to cancel our holiday at the last minute. Would definitely recommend them and will use Sally's Cottage again to book our next trip once my treatment finishes

Stayed at Wren Cottage Keswick. Arrived and no key had been left for us, cottage wasn't clean, hairs in shower, previous guests underwear in wardrobe, garden full of weeds, decking a slip hazard. Put all of this in a review as they asked via company called Reevoo and it was never published!

The cottage and location were perfect as so beautiful and remote, but as soon as we walked through the door we could smell awful damp, which caused all of our clothes to smell and make sleeping in the wet bedding disgusting. There were at least 200 flies in the house when we arrived, which they said was due to "being in the country", and my wife was in tears about the prospect of having to stay for a whole week. They had no alternative accommodation to move us to, which is shocking planning. We spent at least 2 hours a day chasing flies with a spray can and then hoovering the dead ones up afterwards, which isn't ideal for a 10th wedding anniversary getaway. The mattress has no springs, the shower doesn't provide hot water unless you hold the head below waste height, the oven has no dial markings and is ancient. Basically the whole interior is a disgrace. Despite complaining to Sally's Cottages, they accepted no responsibility and lied constantly, from sending a professional pest control company round (the owner popped in and threw fly spray and electric fly traps with no plugs in the door instead), to saying there was no damp issue, despite me reading reviews to the contrary afterwards (wish I did beforehand, so hopefully you will read this and not make the same mistake). If the owner spent some money, this would be the perfect place to stay, but it is not actually safe to stay here as there are serious health and safety faults all over, so whatever you do, don't stay here and I wouldn't trust this company that any of their other properties are fit for purpose either. A bunch of liars and thieves, so avoid if you don't want to effectively set your money on fire.

How very disappointed I am in Sally's Cottages this year. We had the most dreadful holiday let called Gable Cottage in Santon and nothing has been done by either Sally's Cottages or the owners to compensate us for a stay that lasted only two days instead of the week we paid for. They've had our money so I doubt anything will now be done as Sally's Cottages have wiped their hands of a property that is not fit for purpose and should never be used as a let in the first place. I suppose as we drove up, the writing was on the wall when we saw that the Gable Cottage name was hanging off the door on one screw! The oven was filthy, there were small flies everywhere, the sofas were ripped with springs sticking through and the shower attachment fell off the wall! The washing machine and tumble dryer were in the garage which was filthy and the water pipes were suspended from the ceiling with bits of string! There were no instructions for anything and no visitor book for comments - I now know why! The owners of this cottage have been allowed by Sally's to earn a not unsubstantial income from unsuspecting people for something that should not be used for holiday accommodation in the first place! Absolutely disgraceful! I will not be booking through Sally's Cottages again now, even though we always used to rate them. I don't think being taken over by a bigger company now has done them any favours.

We stayed at a cottage in eskdale and I was bitten endlessly by what I now know to be bed bugs from the property. I have had several medical appts to confirm this and have spent over £50 on prescriptions to try and get the inflammation caused under control. I can’t get any reply on the phone or to emails concerning this matter and the cottage looks to be fully booked therefore putting future customers at risk.

The cottage itself smelt damp and of cooking upon arrival. Despite having to allow extra time for cleaning, there were dirty plates in the cupboard.

But Sally’s cottages have had my money now and just aren’t interested in correcting any issues. I will be looking into reporting to environmental health to prevent another customer suffering as I am.