The Carlyon Bay

We’ve been here twice now, and loved it again. The sea views are lovely, and the hotel is perfectly situated. Inside, it’s striking and very posh. The spa facilities are the best we’ve come across in any hotel, with a gym as well as spa treatments and therapies. Breakfast had loads of options and was amazing. Our room was clean, well kept and spacious. Staff were friendly, polite and attentive to the details. We’ll be back at least once a year.

You really need a car here. I tried to book a restaurant, but it took about 20 minutes for a taxi to arrive, so I cancelled and felt a bit trapped at times. That’s something to plan for, though it isn’t the hotel’s fault. I later walked down to the beach and had excellent fish and chips with a beautiful view. The quiet, relaxing atmosphere suited me. There were quite a lot of older guests, and we may have been the only people under 50 apart from the staff. I spent much of the day reading in the peaceful coffee room beside the bar. Staff were kind and attentive without intruding. We arrived very late from London at St Austell train station, and there were no taxis at all, so we had no option but to walk almost an hour to the hotel. We were exhausted by the time we got there, but the gentleman at reception was very kind and offered us a late checkout when he saw how late we’d arrived. The room was spotless, tidy and comfortable. Its style is a little old-fashioned, but charming and well kept, almost royal in feel. Breakfast looked incredible the next morning, but it closes at 10am and we missed it, so bear that in mind if you sleep late. Their cream tea is really good! I’d definitely recommend Carlyon Bay Hotel for a peaceful, elegant and relaxing stay with lovely views and staff.

Dinner was the main problem for us. At a family-friendly hotel, starting dinner at 630 was difficult with young children. We had to eat in the spa bar from 6pm, where lots of other families had the same idea and everyone was squeezed in. We couldn’t eat in the lounge, even though it had plenty of space and tables. A strange decision that spoiled the evening meal experience. The food itself was very good. We came during February half term with friends and our young children. Our inland-facing room was fine, though functional and lacking luxury. The bathroom was tiny and needed refurbishment. The truckle bed for my four-year-old had a very old, stained and uncomfortable mattress that needs replacing. Breakfast was excellent, with a great choice and attentive staff who cleared plates quickly. The pool and spa were lovely, very clean and had great facilities. I had a wonderful facial, thank you, Sophie! The kids’ entertainment and playroom were welcome on rainy days, though the play park could do with an upgrade. There was only one slide. At checkout I was concerned that they couldn’t provide an itemised bill. Two people ahead of me queried theirs, and it became clear mistakes had been made. I ended up paying without knowing what I was paying for. We would return to Carlyon Bay, mainly because the pool, food and activities are great for the kids.

We stayed for a few nights. The room was nice and clean, but its central heating wasn’t working. The rest of the hotel was overheated, so it wasn’t a major problem. The bar meal we tried, burger-type things, was poor and overpriced. We rarely eat at hotels because the food is often disappointing and costs too much. It’s a very formal hotel, which may suit you if that’s what you want. We prefer somewhere more relaxed. One small gripe: the rooms provide plastic bags for dirty clothes that are described as environmentally friendly. These degradable bags fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming invisible to the naked eye and creating micro and nano plastics. Please replace them and the bin liners with compostable and biodegradable ones.