This is our favourite place to stay in Windermere and keep returning for the service quality and cleanliness, fantastic breakfast and discount vouchers are girding to some of the best bars and restaurants locally
This time we stayed in the retreat for our anniversary and loved it all
Well done to the staff for great service and with a smile
Great place to stay 👍🏻🏞🇬🇧.Beautiful hotel and friendly staff. We thoroughly enjoyed our .Large room and nice staff; I had a wonderful time here! I enjoyed it very much! A like home feeling; Thanks for the beautiful memories.
Stayed with my parents for two nights. First impression was fine, the room was clean, although smaller than expected.
However on the second day when we came back, it seemed that the cleaning was left undone mid-way. The window was wide open, and nothing in the bathroom was changed/cleaned - no towels being replaced etc - except for the toilet cleaning liquid left all over the bowl (without flushing). No new bottled water was given neither.
Went to the reception and asked for new towels, she wasn't rude and happily gave us new towels, but she wasn't professional at all (she was too busy fixing her stapler to even stand up/look at me when I was talking to her).
We were disappointed because they claim themselves to be a 5-star hotel - I think it's a bit misleading.
The breakfast was nice though.
Spent last weekend in the Lakes having booked into this hotel in Windermere. We have been disappointed with some of the places we have stayed in up there, but this hotel is excellent for a stay.
Exceptionally clean, the room was really nice with four poster bed and jacuzzi bath. Slept like a log both nights we were there, and each morning we had a lovely and substantial breakfast. The staff were all cheerful and really helpful and whilst we have been to the Lakes many times, we listened to one member of staff consoling an American couple who hadnt been able to find a good place to eat the previous night and telling them that she would help them find something for that night, they only do bed and breakfast but the owner has other interestsin the area and you get 15% discount if you are based at the Howbeck. No bar as such but plenty of wine, beer and bubbles kept in a fridge in the lounge which works on an honesty basis which is really nice and old fashioned, just help yourself and write down on the sheet. Pubs and eateries are close by.
Spot on location wise, close to Windermere village but within walking distance of Bowness, although loads of taxis at £3.50 so just hop in one.
Overall a great stay and we will definitely be back.
Hi
I stayed in The Retreat room last weekend and left with a bitter taste. Keen to see what the manager says to the below issues - I expect no response.
I booked this hotel based on the reviews I read, and opted for the suite as it was a special occasion. I booked directly and the hotel offered to put lights and petals in the room free of charge for my wife's birthday.
So first impressions were great.
The room is big, clean and the bathroom is high tech (i.e. Tv in the bathroom, jacuzzi, etc).
Windermere is lovely so we didn't plan to stay in the room much. But the weather wasn't great so we found spending a bit more time in the room.
The breakfast is really nice and I do believe the hotel client facing team (Gosha and the other two girls) are really nice polite and try and help where they can. But sadly they couldn't help for the below, and nor could the manager.
The issues:
- wifi did not work for one and a half of our three night stay. We were told the weather impacted the wifi - but when it stopped raining it still didn't work. But our mobiles had full reception so not sure why the wifi broke down.
- the floor is sold as luxury oak hardwood. Agreed it looks very nice but it is so SO slippery. I felt twice whilst getting out of bed and with a pregnant wife, I was worried she would fall too. Fortunately she didn't but the staff were aware of how slippery the floor was but couldn't do anything to fix it. It's an issue they have been aware of for a very long time and other reviewers have mentioned it too.
- the bed looks so nice and comfortable in the pictures. It's the complete opposite. The mattress is the worst thing I have ever slept on. You can feel the springs. I kid you not - the springs! And it's so soft you pretty much sink in! It's not been changed for a very long time - and when I said this to the staff it's almost like they've heard that many times before.
- the bathroom is poorly lit. The lights on the remote control didn't work. One of the bathroom radiators didn't work and we were told that it would get looked at. Obviously it didn't.
- the shower flooded. The drainage wasn't working. I thought it was just our room but when I was telling the staff at reception another guest overheard and said they had the same problem. Is this what you expect from a 5* where you pay £200+ per night? It didn't get fixed either.
So...
I did request for the manager to call me so I could speak about the above before writing my review but not only did she refuse to call me, I didn't even get notification that she had no intention to call back. I phoned back today and basically found out that she knows of my issues but didn't want to speak to me about it! Not even an apology for ruining a special occasion.
I obviously can't speak about the other rooms but seriously, rethink if you are looking at booking this hotel. The price does not justify what you get - rooms in travelodge are better than the suite. I'm serious.
