Lodge 47 - Primrose Lodge

The property is in a great location.

The house is far enough away from the other houses in the forest to be private, and it's great because the gap in the trees meant that we had sun on the decking all the time. However, because of this I think they do need thicker curtains, particularly in the bedrooms. The shower room and kitchen are functional but are showing signs of wear and tear and could do with an upgrade. There also isn't a lot of cupboard space in the kitchen for food if you're intending on cooking in the property. Beds are comfortable, property is clean. But it is a very steep slope to the property so it's not suitable for anyone with mobility issues.

We originally booked 6 Belvedere Heights at Finlake for ourselves, and my two sisters booked two other lodges.

All three lodges were sold prior to our holiday, and we were offered alternative accommodations. We specifically asked whether our substitute lodge was comparable, and one of your staff assured us, “Oh yes, it’s an upgrade to a luxury lodge.” Unfortunately, it was not. We are in our mid-70s, and Belvedere Heights offers a level walk from the car parking area to the front door. In contrast, 47 Primrose requires navigating 97 steps down a steep 1-in-4 slope. How is that comparable? The lodge itself was very old and tired. The furniture was saggy and uncomfortable, and the double bed had springs digging into us. The first thing my husband had to do was re-attach the downstairs toilet seat. The wind howled through the front door, and even when closed, you could still see outside through the gap. The promotional video we watched must have been filmed many years ago, as it did not reflect the current condition of the lodge. Not knowing the layout of the park, we accepted the change. Had we been familiar with the location, we would never have agreed to the substitution. Carrying our bags and shopping up and down the slope was extremely difficult. I sometimes walk with a stick due to arthritis, and this caused me a great deal of pain throughout our stay. The balcony and views were spectacular, and Finlake is a beautiful resort. However, we will not be booking again, as there is no guarantee that the lodge you book is the lodge you will get. This uncertainty completely ruined our holiday. We tried to swap lodges, but were told nothing else was available. We are very disappointed. Sincerely, Maz and Jon Channing

On arrival it was clear that the lodge was not adequately cleaned, dog hair behind doors, mouldy potato in kitchen cupboard, cobwebs, dirty cupboards, rubbish left in a bathroom bin, stain on sofa.

No battery in kitchen clock Broken information frame left on kitchen window sill Used candles left near hot tub Used empty olbas bottle left in sauna Plastic glasses for outside use for only 2 people not 6 Wrong WiFi code displayed Not all jets worked in hot tub No heating or hot water in lodge upon arrival , when maintenance sorted the boiler pressure there was still no hot water in bath, pointless having a bath if it can’t be used . ( i have taken photos as evidence) Housekeeping notified Maintenance notified Our time was wasted by trying to sort out above matters when we were only there for 3 nights , Very disappointed with our stay, glad to be home in a clean environment… It would appear that regular checks are not made in this lodge to check standards such as a clock battery, cleanliness, hot tub functioning etc, Little things can make all the difference in a weekend break, we would have loved to return regularly as we live only one hour away and it’s located in a great place. It’s just so disappointing for us.