Trelawne Manor Holiday Park

We were meant to have a Monday to Friday platinum plus 2bed caravan with a dishwasher, terrace furniture and a flat screen TV in the bedroom. That wasn't what we got. The first van was clean but cramped, had no view, no dishwasher and a terrace with no furniture. The woman who handed us the keys was only semi pleasant, and reception didn't seem interested when I raised it. The housekeeper, to be fair, seemed to know what she was doing and found us another van. It was bigger, had a terrace and a view, but still no dishwasher or bedroom TV. We were too tired after the long drive to argue further. There was a wait before we could move in, and getting a drink wasn't really an option because the bar didn't open until 4pm and the shop was shut. The entertainment was aimed at families, and we went down for bingo each night. I saw about four entertainers and wasn't impressed by a couple, who looked miserable and had no enthusiasm. The manager, whose name I can't remember, was lovely to my elderly friend and made her feel special. He won us over, as we were ready to leave after the van issue. The park feels tired and unloved, and very much like a dog place, though not everyone wants to be surrounded by dogs. My allergy is still there, so it was one way to test it. I won't be back. A couple of staff were pleasant and helpful, but the rest were a waste of time. The park needs a major cash injection and overhaul, and the accommodation we'd been promised wasn't what we got.

The woodland walk just off the site was fantastic. A few fallen trees made parts tricky, but we kept going and finished it. We also used the brilliant pooch play area, and there was plenty for children too, including swings, crazy golf, a tennis court and a pool. It's a great base for revisiting our old favourites, Looe, Polpero, Seaton and Fowey. We spent a week here with our retriever. The caravan was a good size, comfortable and laid out well. It was quite dusty, even the hob, but that was easy enough to sort out. The bed had lovely clean linen, which mattered more to me, though the mattress cover was so thin you could really feel the springs. Excellent site, and I reckon it deserves a 10, not a 5. Well done Tralawne manor.

There's a lot here for families with kids, with two heated pools, a slide, playgrounds and games for children and adults. If you just want to relax with friends, that works too. The caravans give you privacy and have beds, a kitchenette, TV, sofas, bathroom and toilet, with ample parking around the well-planned site. It felt safe and family-friendly, as shown in the pictures. The pub and bar are well stocked and share a large seating area with a restaurant serving delicious food. There's a dance floor and stage for a live band, clean male and female toilets, and a shop on the grounds for basics. A very nice holiday or staycation spot, and I'd highly recommend it.

We've stayed at Trelawne Manor five times now, but are unlikely to return. We chose a platinum plus 3 bed caravan and were disappointed. The decking was nice, but compared with the gold and platinum vans we've had before, the overall quality felt lower for the extra cost. The living and kitchen areas were smaller, there was no en-suite, dishwasher or welcome pack, the cushions were ripped and the cloakroom toilet was tiny. Ants were crawling over the breakfast bar and under the dining table. We told reception, and housekeeping came to put down traps within 10 minutes. The location is good, about a five minute drive into beautiful looe. The grounds are well kept and the park is lovely for children. The food onsite is nice, though there can be a wait, which is understandable with so many guests. Other things felt below standard. The pool had lots of dead bugs and plasters, and tiles were loose or missing in the baby pool and around the outside. The clubhouse toilets weren't clean, with floors that seemed constantly wet and covered in toilet paper. We know it's a kids' holiday park and won't be five star everywhere, but general cleanliness, upkeep and maintenance seemed lacking. The entertainment was repetitive and not as good as in past years. It also felt more focused on money, with fewer free kids' activities and more things costing £7-£10 per child. Some entertainers seemed miserable and impatient with the children, though Craig and the other male entertainer were great. Standards seem to have slipped across the park, and this was a disappointing stay.