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An explorers haven or a relaxing retreat to escape to. Holidays at The Bay Colwell aren't just about exploring timeless forests, alabaster cliffs and heather-clad hills.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to VisitEngland.
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Family
Location
Fort Warden Road, Freshwater PO39 0DA England
The Bay Colwell
553 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Bay Colwell, often celebrated for its prime location near The Needles, serves as an ideal launchpad for island exploration. While the hotel's rooms receive accolades for their cleanliness and comprehensive amenities, including dishwashers and hot tubs, some guests express dissatisfaction with the 'luxury' label, pointing out discrepancies in the condition of furnishings and advertised features. The property's atmosphere is generally well-received, with its homely vibe and well-maintained cleanliness, though there's room for improvement around the hot tub area.
In terms of service, opinions are divided; a number of travelers encounter unresponsive staff, while others encounter commendable hospitality. Additional facilities are noted for their cleanliness and the inclusion of thoughtful welcome packs, despite Wi-Fi connectivity issues and unexpected charges for amenities that dampen the overall experience.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) and have just returned from a 7 day break at The Bay Colwell.
The location of this resort is fantastic, 2 minutes walk from the the lovely sandy beach at Colwell Bay. With bars, cafe and restaurants within walking distance which was just great.
We had a cottage with a hot tub.... the hot tub was brilliant and was regularly checked. Our accommodation was clean when we arrived. The cottage itself was modern ... it wasn’t what I would call luxurious or premium but had everything that we needed.
I was really concerned about the reviews about the beds before we arrived and I agree with all the other comments, they are very uncomfortable, particularly the beds in the twin bedroom. I spoke to the staff about this and they arranged for us to have a mattress protector and an extra duvet under the kids beds which helped a little.
The on site swimming pool is great and operates a booking system which worked well for us and we could always get a slot. Due to Covid the area around the pool and the changing rooms is cleaned between each slot so felt very safe.
The staff were fantastic and really friendly and wanted to help you wherever they could.
The actual layout of the resort was a bit cramped for us and the cottages are really close together but we still had some privacy due to the hedges around the cottage.
However, overall there are some improvements that could be made and the bed situation needs addressing urgently but we have really enjoyed our stay at The Bay Colwell.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Neil Heaven, General Manager at The Bay Colwell
Responded 22 Aug 2020
Dear Sarah98765 Thank you for your review, i'm pleased to read you had a nice time with us and made the most out of the hot tub and the swimming pool. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future. The Bay Colwell Team
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Due to the world situation and need to visit family on the Island, we booked one of the premium chalets here to try and make our visit a bit more special and give it more of a holiday feel. On the run up to visiting we noticed that the latest reviews were all very negative regarding the cleanliness of the accommodation and the poor quality beds. This made us very apprehensive prior to visiting, especially with a young child and a pregnant lady.
On arriving with that sense of apprehension I was happy to see that our chalet, that we had paid a lot of money for due to the current pricing of UK accommodation was in a good state of cleanliness. Sadly on looking closer there was a good few things that really weren’t that great. Especially the bathroom where there was dirt around the windows and floor tiling especially, which was very worn and looked filthy.
It was also apparent that despite being marketed as premium, the buildings were not built to a high standard. The interior decor was nice, however it was skin deep, as there was some uneven flooring in the kitchen, plug socket fascias fell off, some doors didn’t close properly, fences really needed painting and the pillows were painfully thin.
The hot tub was nice, however due to the cleanliness regime it had to be drained prior to a new arrival and consequently took so long to heat up it was unusable for one day of our three day stay, worth bearing in mind if you are paying extra for this luxury.
Staff refused to supply an extra toilet roll or bin bag for us, as we were staying for a brief three days in one of the premium lodges I though this was not to much of an ask but apparently it was and I felt it didn’t reflect well on the resort.
All in all, it felt like it was trying, but could have done a lot better. It felt like a new company had come in to manage a place they had taken over and given it a cosmetic face lift but not really modernised or upgraded the resort to a high standard it is marketed as.
We won’t be looking to come again.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Neil Heaven, General Manager at The Bay Colwell
Responded 10 Sept 2020
Dear Manbadger Thank you for your honest review of The Bay Colwell. I really appreciate the feedback and will cascade it down to the team. Kind regards The Bay Colwell.
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Visited for a week in October and can't wait to go back next year.
Booked a standard cottage (ie no hot tub, pets etc) - on arrival impressed by the layout, furnishings at this price point and also the cleanliness, which was very good in contrast to some reviews posted about the resort.
The location is excellent for access to the nearby beach and it's on the more upscale end on the Island. Several good restaurants nearby and good facilities in Freshwater all within easy walking distance.
Could it be improved - yes, of course but overall for what it costs the resort is excellent.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Samantha Trevillion, Other at The Bay Colwell
Responded 21 Oct 2020
Hello Dancemaster, Thank you for your great, positive review our of resort The Bay Colwell. The cottages are differently home from home. I'm so glad we have made your stay wanting more to come back and stay with us again next year. How exciting is that? More time to explore more of this beautiful island. Thank you for information about the local area this will help future guests when reading your review. Have a great afternoon and we look forward to welcoming you back to see us next year to The Bay Colwell. Kind Regards The Bay Colwell Team.
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The beds are a disgrace - so uncomfortable. The double is worn out and sagging and anyone using either of the singles has to sleep on springs. My husband pointed out that we had seen better mattresses dumped in lay-bys than these! There is no way this is luxury accommodation.
The rest of the lodge is basically but adequately equipped, the yard area very safe for dogs and the estate laid out with some respect for privacy. The hot tub was very welcome.
If you intend to do much cooking take chopping boards and food mixing bowls etc. Good hob and oven and microwave. Small dishwasher and good washing machine, drying racks, ironing board, iron all provided. A brush and dustbin and brush available but no mop etc to wash the floor.
Netflix doesn’t work as there is no internet connection in the lodges.
I have tried to be fair but the condition of the beds m want no one had a good night sleep for seven nights.
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Date of stay: August 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Our lodge was no 7 maybe some of the others have better beds.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Neil Heaven, General Manager at The Bay Colwell
Responded 22 Aug 2020
Dear hekrarup Thank you for taking your time to write your review. I have discussed the points raised with the resort management team and they have taken your points raised back to their teams. With regards to the mattresses we ordered new mattresses back in February which was due to arrive in July however as they are coming direct from Italy and with the current pandemic in Europe this has been delayed until mid September at the earliest. We do hope to welcome you back to the Bay Colwell in the near future. The Bay Cowlell Team
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The place looks presentable but there was so much missing and not up to scratch i would not class it as luxury apartments as the resort states. Standard bathroom, dodgy drainage, a sink that is a little too high and a bath mat which is thinner than a towel.
On the subject of towels, there were non when we arrived, so they were brought and given to us in a sack.
No mats by the door so we walked in with wet shoes onto laminate flooring. Kitchen also lacked a lot in the way of pans/tools and a rather tight welcome pack consisting of 1 dishwasher tablet which is so useless we had to handwash all our dishes anyway. Tea towel was thinner than the kitchen cloth and there were no big frying pans etc.
Bedding was OKAY, bad pillows and very tight double beds. Make sure you ask for double bed and as it comes with twin in 1 room which was resolved for us.
The sofa is far from comfortable, cushions felt like they were constantly sliding and there was 1 sofa in a lodge that's sleeps SIX people. So 2 people were constantly only dining chairs which were basic wooden ones.
The hot tub was decent but some of the headrests were missing and its in the middle of a garden with u level grass, which isn't looked after well with fungi growing on one side.
The tv is also very basic so make sure your well entertained, thankfully it was close to the beach. The only good thing about this place!
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Samantha Trevillion, Guest Services / Front Office at The Bay Colwell
Responded 23 Oct 2020
Hi Mumi620, Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We welcome your feedback, both good and bad, as it allows us to constantly improve and provide the best possible service and this information has been passed on to the other teams involved. We are very glad you enjoyed the hot tub. We really hope we can welcome you back to see us at The Bay Colwell in the future. Kind Regards The Bay Colwell
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Cottage 40. I had called 3/4 weeks prior to ask the twin room was made into a double and was told no problem. This had not been done and set the tone for the week. We did plan on going to reception after check in to raise concerns but they closed at 6 so phoned Hoseasons who advised to wait until the morning and not phone the emergency phone no. I phoned through to Aria head office and spoke to Gill who said she would pass the issues on to reception. Apparently we got an additional clean on Tuesday but the issues we listed had not been addressed. The accommodation was grubby at best. Resident dead fly above window, dining table had cigarette butt burns on them and chairs all stained and dirty. I complained about this to Hoseasons who told me that it was a brand new table but it was damaged by a previous guest so wasn’t brand new anymore. One of the chairs also broken so good luck to anyone that sits there. Hole in the wall not mended properly, sofa collapsing in lounge, lock on bathroom door broken and shower leaking, stains all over walls, blood on pillowcase, fridge and freezer not wiped out and very dusty all over as well as the toilet brush not sufficiently cleaned. The Hot tub did not heat up until Thursday morning and when it did it had a thick rim of green around it and sand in the tub. Everywhere was just unkept and unloved. The lodge has 1 mirror in the bathroom and no additional mirrors in bedroom to get ready. I requested an extra one but again that never arrived. After 3 nights of discomfort we bit the bullet and booked an earlier ferry home. Deeply dissatisfied by the stay and the claim that this is luxury self catered accommodation as there was absolutely nothing luxurious about this place. It’s basic at best and grimy at worst. I’d hate to see the cleanliness pre covid. AVOID at all costs. To add insult to injury the manager approved a 10% refund. Shocking.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Samantha Trevillion, General Manager at The Bay Colwell
Responded 10 Nov 2021
Thank you for taking the time in leaving your review. I am sorry that your accommodation cleaning was not to our usual high standards. I'm sorry that this wasn't bought straight to our attention while you was on resort to us. Unfortunately the messages was never communicated correctly to the needs you needed and then expectations still failed. We never knew you had a problem with the hot tub and on daily testing the hot tub temperature was reaching the desired temperature of 38c/38.5c. I hope you enjoyed the Isle of Wight even if we let you down with your accommodation.
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I can honestly say I loved every minute of our stay at the bay colwell, we went in march so we knew things were going to be quiet but this did no effect out holiday at all.
The staff were friendly on arrival, aswell as management.
We stayed in a cottage with the hotub and it was lovely, very modern and welcoming. I cannot understand the bad reviews? We found the beds comfortable, the place was clean, all the crockery and utensils were all there, everything we needed was available. If I had to pick out anything to moan about it would be the curtains, they are a netted style and doesn't offer much in terms of privacy, but this isn't really a negative and didnt effect our stay in any way.
The hotub was checked regularly, and was always up to full temperature when we came to use it in the evening. Which we took full advantage of.
Unfortunately we didnt get a chance to use the cafe or the swimming pool because of the covid19 pandemic, so no fault of the park at all, but I'm sure it would have lived up to its expectations just like everything else did.
It's literally a 6 minute drive away from the needles and all the attractions of alum bay.
The island is fairly small so it's only a 40 minute drive to the opposite side of the island, so I would highly recommend the bay colwell as your accommodation if you want a modern cottage with a hotub and dont mind a drive to other attractions. (Excliding the needles)
Our stay got cut short again to no fault of the bay, but the manager advised me on how to get a refund on the remainder of our stay and we thoroughly enjoyed the 3 nights we did get.
It's also very good value for money
We will 100% be back
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services, Owner at The Bay Colwell
Responded 14 Jul 2020
Hi jackwV5977WQ, Thank you for taking the time to post such a lovely review, look forward to welcoming you back to us soon. Regards, Guest Services
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Absolutely amazing ! Best place we have ever stayed and we travel a lot. Girl in reception was so kind and put a smile on our face. The facilities were very clean and well maintained very good tv and even the hair dryer wasn’t a cheap one and I like that it just shows that you want to please customers unlike other resorts. The welcome boxes were very good and just everything about the site it was peaceful and just really good to relax and not have to worry about anything going wrong ! The hot tub was very clean and once warm was perfect. The beds were very comfy also. we will be back again shortly and will definitely stay for longer this time. I could say so much more what an amazing stay ! Thank you so much Chalet 42 17/5/2021 - 21/5/2021
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Samantha Trevillion, Guest Services / Front Office at The Bay Colwell
Responded 22 May 2021
Hello 185ethaand, Wow thank you for this amazing review. We love to see that we have been able to give you a brilliant holiday to remember. The hair dryers are definitely an added bonus. I'm so glad you like our new mattresses they really are a blessing. I will pass on your comment to our Hot Tub technician about the hot tub, he will be pleased as he works hard and is proud of the Hot Tubs. We all look forward to seeing you again in the near future and for that longer stay. Kind Regards The Bay Colwell
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There were a few small points we were unhappy with such as no chopping board in the kitchen, only one toilet roll and a faulty tin opener. However, the accommodation was very clean and comfortable, kitchen area was excellent and the whole site was well laid out. The location is ideal, very quiet but easy access to the beach which has a dog friendly area to the right. This is a really nice place to stay, loved sitting outside on a warm evening with a bottle of wine in a very private garden attached to the accommodation. Loved it
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Neil Heaven, General Manager at The Bay Colwell
Responded 4 Oct 2020
Thank you for this lovely positive review. I can only give you my apologies if you were unhappy about the lack of inventory, I wish you had phoned or come to see us at reception so we could have provided these for you. I will pass this information on to the correct manager to make sure this is resolved, for future reference. I'm so glad you loved our site because we have to admit we love it too. Have a great day, and we look forward to hopefully welcoming you back to The Bay Colwell. Kind Regards The Bay Colwell Team
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So we arrived yesterday…. Check in was fine the receptionist was lovely. The parking bay for the cottage is tiny - if you have a larger car you will struggle. We have a brick bin store intruding on ours. The cottage is fine clean and mostly comfortable - it’s a good standard but it’s definitely not luxury. The bed is extremely uncomfortable and we have had barely any sleep - it’s like sleeping on a concrete board and it’s a tiny double so each time we roll over we bump noses. Attention to detail is mixed the welcome pack is lovely with tea, coffee and milk and washing up stuff and the bathroom has shampoo, conditioner body wash and soap. Towels provided are pretty harsh and thin but they are clean. The blind in our room is broken and the view is a bit rubbish. The sleepers and planting around the cottage are a nice touch and look well cared for. The walk to the beach is short and pleasant and the beach area is nice and clean. Swimming pool is nice and clean and the bifold doors are great when the sun is out. Site overall is clean and well presented just very compact and crowded. Overall no serious complaints and would likely come back
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Samantha Trevillion, General Manager at The Bay Colwell
Responded 4 Sept 2021
Thank you for your review and taking the time to leave us your feedback. We are glad you had a good holiday and you liked the beach at Colwell Bay. The beach is beautiful especially sunset time. We look forward to hopefully seeing you in the future. Have a lovely afternoon. Kind Regards Samantha and The Bay Colwell Team.
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All I can say is our cabin was clean and the bed was comfortable enough ( wherever go in the world it’s never as good as your own) .!Hopefully you’ll enjoy your visit 😎
There are more places to choose from in the Freshwater area.
PRICE RANGE
£45 - £116 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
island view bungalows hotel isle of wight
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandIsle of WightFreshwater
NUMBER OF ROOMS
50
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
