Waves Apartments

The apartment smelled awful, with marks on the walls and floors. Doors wouldn’t close properly, some handles were broken, and the lift couldn’t be used. Check-in was ridiculous, with codes for everything and very unclear instructions. Getting into the car park was especially dangerous: I had to get out of my car to enter the code, leaving the car sticking out into the main road.

We stayed at number 15 waves through Beach Retreats last week, and it was totally overpriced and underwhelming. The windows in both bedrooms were filthy and broken, so we heard the bar next door and neighbours on the balcony beside our bedroom every night. There was dirt and food under the bed, the en-suite shower was black in places, and the sofa bed was worn, faded and dirty. The dining table didn’t have room for us all, and the balcony only fits two people. Inside, clutter was crammed into wardrobes, under beds and behind doors, including a high chair, cots, heaters and plastic boxes. The single room wardrobe barely opened, about 20 degrees, so hanging clothes wasn’t possible. The lift was out of order all week, leaving us to carry suitcases up and down stairs. Also, the side-stair lights didn’t come on by themselves, so finding the keyhole was difficult. The place really didn’t look like the marketing pictures, and it wasn’t suitable for a family of four or more.

The beach is barely a two-minute walk away, with a bus stop right outside for trips to local towns. There are a few places to eat just steps from the apartment too. We had a great stay, the apartment was just right and had everything we needed for our break. I’ll definitely come back.

Watergate Bay worked well as a base for driving around Cornwall, with most places easy to reach. The beach, hotel and restaurant are all about a two-minute walk from the door, and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen is nearby too if celebrity chefs are your thing. We spent two weeks here in July 2016. The apartment was spotless, comfortable and laid out very well, with pretty much everything you’d have at home. We’d certainly recommend Waves for another visit.