Villas In The Isle Of Wight

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Jason - Verified booking

  On arrival the house is impressive.

  It’s obviously spacious and well designed. However, the initial impression didn’t last long. Our excitement at arriving was massively tempered when we saw there were dead plants in plant pots in several of the bathrooms and the garden the planters were all dead. Plus the garden area was really dirty - there were cobwebs and plant waste around the garden and the patio had stains across it as well as there being food waste left on the grass. Obviously we are aware there was a drought in place but leaving entire planters with dead and dusty planters added to the unloved and shabby look of the garden area. And then there was no welcome pack at all. Not even a packet of biscuits or pint of milk. The kitchen is impressive looking, however there weren’t enough plates, cups and crockery settings for all of us, given that with a dishwasher you should have a minimum of 2 per person. Because whole drawers were given over to the owners spices and sauces and etc it felt very much as if we were in an Airbnb rather than a dedicated holiday home. All the things above made the place feel much less special and to be honest we were all pretty disappointed. However the biggest issue was the ‘fourth bedroom’. This was not actually a bedroom. It was an office with a pull out double bed which was like sleeping on a rock. The room was not furnished to be a bedroom - there was no bedroom chair, no dressing table or mirror and nowhere to put a suitcase. You couldn’t even pull the blinds down without standing on the rock hard bed. My daughter had to sleep there and even sleeping with three duvets under her we had to go and buy a mattress topper to make it a comfortable room. This is not a proper bedroom and she slept badly all week. My mother in law, who had paid for this trip as an 80th birthday treat to her family, was bitterly disappointed and felt like we’d been let down. To add insult to injury on the last three days the neighbour was having work done and the fence/gate was taken down so that our dog had to be guarded when in the garden and the noise and dust from power tools meant it was impossible to sit in the garden during the day. We loved the location and the size of the house but we did come away feeling very ripped off. When we communicated with your company initially about this booking, we were told that the owner sets the price, but I do feel that your job as agents is to mediate and to check that the house is good value. For around £600 a night for a three bed with ‘add on’ bedroom, I can tell you that this is not good value. For that rate we expected it to be slick and luxurious rather than a basic level. The fundamental principle of a good’s night sleep should be met as a minimum. When you are stretching yourself to afford something this special it is so disappointing to walk into a home that felt like it had been uninhabited and unloved for months. To then be unable to guarantee a proper bedroom for one of the party was really unacceptable.

  Read more less >

• Amy - Verified booking

  This was my second visit to bishops retreat, having been there in April 2023 for a girly weekend.

  This time I have brought the hubby and kids to show them the delightful property as well as the delights of both the Isle of Wight and ventnor itself! The island has so much to offer. We highly recommend west wight alpacas and llama walking, off the rails cafe just outside Yarmouth, the needles landmark attraction, donkey sanctuary (free entry but donations warmly welcomed), garlic farm, the gin distillery (has good grub), Besty and spinky’s, the spyglass inn for its amazing views, masala bay has amazing Indian food and my personal favourite a walk along the coastal path to steep hill cove and the botanical gardens. We have had two fabulous days on the beach in the glorious sunshine (rather different to my rather wet 2023 experience!). And now to the host Holly, what can I say, exceptional hospitality, helpfulness and from Prosecco on arrival (and milk!!) to donkey sanctuary biscuits and leaving body boards, buckets and spades out, to treating us to an icecream from the amazing crave (opposite tescos) for being return guests, we have been made to feel so welcome and I feel like I have know Holly for years!! The kids also were thrilled to have access to the Disney channel for a movie night and throughly enjoyed the big nickel bath tub, as did I with a glass of bubbles! Some people might be put off by having no dedicated parking but I’ve easily found a spot on both of my trips and the bus is the best way to travel around and see the sites anyway! Totally 5* thank you and see you again next time!

  Read more less >

• Amy - Verified booking

  5 ladies came for a stress free weekend for a 40th birthday!

  Blown away by the stylish decor but more importantly by the warm welcome and hospitality of Holly (and cleaner Tracey!). Nothing was too much trouble and so accommodating! Walking Llamas and Alpacas in the rain was something we will never forget and so much fun thanks to West Wight Alpacas! The challenging but beautiful coastal (not all coastal) walk from Ventnor to Shanklin was a highlight and was finished off with a lovely sandwich at Pencil Cottage (highly recommended)! Plus the bus service back to Ventnor for our aching feet meant we saw even more stunning views from up high on our return. Swimming in the freezing cold sea being watching by onlookers from the infamous Spyglass Inn made it even funnier! Garlic bread with cheese at the Garlic farm is a must and the IOW gin distillery is worth a visit and purchase or two! Ventnor itself has many pubs, lovely little shops and places to eat, there is even live music along the esplanade in the afternoon/evening bringing a lovely atmosphere. The IOW has so much to offer everyone. We had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend Holly and Bishops Retreat to anyone! Thank you Holly From Amy, Cat, Beth, Jenny and Collette x

  Read more less >

• Sue G. - Verified booking

  Fab-u-lous !

  The Culver Down Manor exceeded all of our expectations. From the moment we were warmly met and shown around by the lovely house manager Sara, until the moment we regretfully closed the door for the last time, behind us, we had the most amazing weekend. The house is beautiful and spotlessly clean. It is evident that so much care and attention to detail of this period property has been made by the owners Laurence and Sharon. There is a wide choice of stunning bedrooms. I can certainly recommend bedroom 4 with en-suite facilities and panoramic views of the garden and the sea beyond. Everyone commented about how comfortable the beds were. You will be equally amazed by the communal facilities of the drawing room, dinning room and kitchen. I have never seen such beautiful stained glass windows in a house before. We were lucky enough with the weather to sit out and appreciate all that the garden has to offer. Without doubt our stay at the Culver Down Manor has created such wonderful memories I don’t think anyone in our party will ever forget. If only I could give it more than 5 stars I would.

  Read more less >

• Ian C - Verified booking

  A real privilege

  When I was looking for somewhere to have my sixtieth birthday celebration, I came across this house, and from the description seemed perfect, but just too good to be true. But I can now say that not only did it live up to expectations, but amazingly exceeded them. The setting is stunning, in beautiful grounds on the the clifftop, but it is the house itself that is the star. Big light and airy rooms, with wonderful furnishings and fittings and decor, all in keeping with the Art Deco theme, made you feel you had stepped back into a bygone age. It felt a real privilege to be staying there, and trusted with this amazing place. The big dining room was a perfect setting for my birthday dinner, and the kitchen had everything you could possibly want to prepare and serve the meal. The owner was very helpful and responsive, and on his recommendation we had food for the meal supplied by Deli Tramezzini, which was great, and a cake from Wight Vintage, which was also wonderful. So it was very memorable weekend for us all, topped off by the lovely warm and sunny weather the whole time.

  Read more less >