Penkerris

It's a case of getting what you pay for. The location is great, and the people running the place are lovely and work hard to keep the rooms clean and presentable. Facilities are basic, though. There are a couple of hot plates, a fridge and other essentials, but no breakfast. It's dog friendly, and the off-road parking comes in handy.

Breakfast was a real highlight, with plenty of cereal, fruit and yogurt, plus a fantastic freshly cooked full English using local produce. The staff were kind and thoughtful, and Dorothy was amazing. We were welcomed warmly by her and the team and checked in within two minutes, with no long forms or credit card details to deal with. The house is full of character and charm, with clean, tidy rooms and decorative furniture. It felt like staying at a family member's home. We'd driven past Penkerris hundreds of times on our way to the beach but had never stayed there before. We needed a few nights for a weekend holiday and were so glad we did. If you want a fancy hotel with all the latest mod cons, this may not be your place. For us, the history and homely feel made it special. Would recommend 100%.

The owners were super friendly when we spoke, and there was car parking. The room was clean and comfortable enough for the night, though the bed sagged in the middle. Power cuts kept making things beep all night, which really tested my anxiety and woke us up. The bathroom and shower were private, but separate from the room, so I had to walk along the corridor in my nightie to use the loo overnight. It was winter and the outside looked quite eerie, perhaps because of the season, and the place is being renovated. There's a pub and a shop a short walk away.

Once we were in the right room, the beds were comfortable and the room was good, with a decent breakfast too. Parking was tight, but we managed, and the lovely woman who runs the place took time to explain the double booking and apologize. At the end of the week they compensated us more than fairly for the awful first night, and made a real effort to put things right, so I still give them five stars. We were there on holiday with a friend, and it was good value for the price. But our arrival night was a nightmare: another booking had put guests in our room before us, so we were sent to a spare room behind the kitchen. It had only one double bed and damp and mould issues. We were tired after a long drive and put up with it, though we were both annoyed. The next day we moved to the room we'd booked, and it felt like a different hotel.