7 Four Seasons

The location is handy and the building and apartments are nice, but I wouldn’t book here again. With a larger car, getting in from the main road and reversing into the bays was a struggle every time. The spaces are so narrow that when all the residents are parked, opening the car door can be difficult. Mine got dinged by other residents getting in and out of their cars. The parking seems poorly designed by the freeholder/s. The building is well insulated, so first- and second-floor apartments can get sweltering in summer; bring a fan or be ready to buy one. Shame, as the place itself was nice overall.

From the balconies you can see across Carbis Bay and St Ives, with a lovely sunset view. The photos are fair: 7, Four Seasons really is roomy, light and comfortable, and the furnishings are good. We spent a week here after booking last minute through Sykes Cottages, and I think the price was about 25% off. The open-plan living space has a well-equipped, good-sized kitchen, a dining table for eight, a big sofa, Bluetooth speaker and large TV with the streaming services you’d want. Both bedrooms feel spacious and airy; the en suite has a lovely waterfall shower. The main bathroom is modern and clean, though I think a shower would suit it better than the bath. It’s on the second floor, so there are two flights of stairs inside the building, but the two standing balconies are worth it for the views. A few small things could be better. The non-en-suite bedroom windows have faulty handles, so take care opening and closing them. The modular sofa has lost some comfort and its sections can slide apart. It can get warm on the top floor, though there are plenty of windows and two sets of balcony doors to let in the sea breeze. The apartment is on the main road into St Ives, so there was some traffic noise, not much of an issue in June but perhaps more noticeable in busier months. Seagulls nest on nearby roofs and make some noise too, which was minor for us but could bother people who like to sleep in.

A lovely hamper was waiting for us, and the beds were very comfortable. The apartment is amazing, with high-end fixtures and fittings and everything you could need. The views are beautiful too. It would have been useful to have a shower in the second bathroom, but the one in the en suite was so nice that we all used that instead. The only real disappointment was the deposit refund taking 10 days. That feels excessive when they can check for issues after you leave. St Ives is quite a walk away, and the path down to Carbis Bay beach is very steep, but worth the effort. The train service into St Ives is just £1 per person each way, with family and all-day tickets available too. Highly recommended.

A fantastic base for exploring Cornwall, and a great place to stay.