Dormio Strand Resort Nieuwvliet-bad

The pool was clean and nice, though the baby pool was dirty. We paid €400 for a clean villa for six, but there were two large spiders in the room. The beach is about 15 minutes away on foot or five by car. It’s a calm place for a family break and a bit of a rest, but there isn’t much to do. Most places in town shut by 8, apart from the restaurants.

We keep coming back each year, mainly for the location and because the particular house we book is easy to use with a wheelchair. The staff are always kind and helpful, and when something needs maintenance, friendly people sort it out incredibly fast, sometimes before we’ve even walked back from reception. The house is very basic, especially the tiny kitchen, so we bring quite a few things to cook with. We stay for five weeks, which means eating out every night isn’t really an option.

The beds were really comfortable, and the staff were very friendly. Their written messages could be clearer, though. The 'luxury' house had pretty worn furniture, including a hole in the sofa. The shower pressure was weak, and in the bathroom with the sauna it wasn’t possible to get properly cold water.

The setting has a lovely beach, and the pool was heated, which was nice, though it’s very small. There wasn’t anywhere to hang towels, and the resort had just one shower for private use, plus a few poolside ones. We enjoyed the trip, but I wish I’d known more about what was available before arriving. I thought I’d researched it carefully, so I hope this helps someone else plan. The weather was rainy most of the week, which made it harder to find things to do. There are a few swings, a pull raft on the lake, an air trampoline, mini golf that looked a bit tired, and soft play that’s really only useful for kids under six. The restaurant never opened while we were there, and the little shop was limited and expensive. The nearest Jumbo or Plus is about 15 minutes away, and groceries here are mostly pricey. If you’re coming from England, I’d stock up in France first. Our cottage was clean and nice when we arrived, but the radiators in two rooms were rusty. We’d brought groceries and expected the advertised fully equipped kitchen. There were no baking trays or oven gloves, so making pizza was awkward. We mentioned it to customer service, but it seemed like too much trouble for them, so we managed without. After a day, ants had spread through the cottage. I’d bring ant traps, since they get all over the tables and counters. At first I was angry because I’d booked a cottage with a washing machine and couldn’t find it. For about half an hour I thought I’d have to get my karen on, until my husband spotted it outside in a cupboard. In our 'luxury' cottage, most of the chairs were frayed and torn and could use an update. The duvet cover had holes, and the TV wasn’t smart, so there was no Netflix. The sauna in the eight-person cottage was a tight fit for two, so don’t expect a big one. The sun shower was lovely, but after someone used it there was a wait before it could be used again. The two places to eat at the beach weren’t ones I’d rate, though there’s a very nice restaurant a five-minute walk from the resort.