Rural Retreats
Experiences & Reviews
Rural Retreats is a UK holiday cottage agency specialising in self-catering breaks across rural and coastal locations. It curates privately owned cottages and manages bookings, arrivals and guest queries for short breaks and week-long stays. People searching reviews typically want insight on property standards, booking terms and how the agent handles problems.
Overview & Key Metrics
Our Analysis
Service quality
Many reviewers describe prompt, helpful booking support and attentive hosts; a comparable number report unresolved complaints and inflexible handling of problems.
Value for money
Several guests report poor value due to high prices, withheld deposits or limited facilities; a minority note good value when properties match expectations.
User experience
Guests report varied stays: many praise locations, comfort and welcome packs; others cite cleanliness, noise or safety problems that materially affected their holidays.
Product quality
Property standards appear inconsistent: many cottages are well equipped and maintained, while other reports describe missing basics, hygiene issues or outdated amenities.
Communication
Reports of clear pre-arrival information and responsive hosts sit alongside many complaints about unanswered queries, slow replies and disagreements over booking terms.
Overall experience
Overall impressions are split: a substantial number recommend Rural Retreats after smooth stays, but many describe serious problems that led to disputes.
Our Independent Methodology
How we analyse customer reviews without bias
Data Collection
We analyse public reviews from verified platforms like Google, Trustpilot, and Facebook.
AI Analysis
Our AI detects patterns in genuine customer experiences without modifying content.
100% Independent
Zero company influence. No payments, no bias — just real customer voices.
Always Current
Updated regularly with the latest reviews and customer feedback.
Featured Customer Experiences
Representative examples from 21 verified reviews (November 2021 – September 2025).
First class service
"I contacted Rural Retreats to enquire about Bull Point Cottages in North Devon. I received excellent customer service with my enquiry and booking..."
very very shabby ethics and morals
"very very shabby ethics and morals. fleeced for £650...recently booked a holiday on the isle of wight, paid the deposit of £650.. my mother passed awa..."
We stayed at the garden room in Sussex…
"We stayed at the garden room in Sussex , we were very disappointed , the place had cobwebs everywhere, not been cleaned , floor had tea all over it ,..."
Rent a holiday property by a big building site
"Last year booked The Manor House in Beeford Yorkshire for a week for just under £3000. Sounded and describe as an idyllic rural retreat for the family..."
All Customer Reviews
Filtered, experience-based customer reviews from public sources; vague and duplicate submissions removed.
Filter by Rating
Filter by Source
All Customer Reviews
Sources: Trustpilot (20) · Collected.reviews (1) · Quotes shortened · As of: September 2025
very very shabby ethics and morals
very very shabby ethics and morals. fleeced for £650...recently booked a holiday on the isle of wight, paid the deposit of £650.. my mother passed awa...
First class service
I contacted Rural Retreats to enquire about Bull Point Cottages in North Devon. I received excellent customer service with my enquiry and booking...
Query administration and honouring offer
The house at 7a Cathedral Green was exceptional and beautifully maintained by the caretakers. We selected to book through Top Cashback and our claim r...
Wonderful cottage
Just had a wonderful stay with Rural Retreats in Fiddlers Green at Hamworthy. Beautiful cottage and walled garden. Very comfy for lounging around...
"Rural Retreats" standards are…
"Rural Retreats" standards are slipping- cottage property specification on TV suppled being VERY BASIC for 21st century. A very small sized ( about 2...
We stayed at the garden room in Sussex…
We stayed at the garden room in Sussex , we were very disappointed , the place had cobwebs everywhere, not been cleaned , floor had tea all over it ,...
Just made a booking with RR
Just made a booking with RR - excellent...
Very disappointing experience…
We booked a property in the Surrey Hills called The Hay Barn with Rural Retreats. I thought that booking with a company that offers luxury accommodati...
Rent a holiday property by a big building site
Last year booked The Manor House in Beeford Yorkshire for a week for just under £3000. Sounded and describe as an idyllic rural retreat for the family...
I am writing this review to express my…
I am writing this review to express my deep disappointment and frustration regarding the recent holiday experience at Lizard Point Lighthouse. Unfortu...
Beware of this company. Atrocious service
BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY. A poor and disappointing holiday cottage that was obviously not checked by Rural Retreats and after complaining and chasing mu...
Disappointed in this company
Disappointed in this company. We have a medical issue with our dog and asked if we could move the holiday. They have refused as it’s near the date. We...
We stayed in the beautiful Rowena…
We stayed in the beautiful Rowena cottage at Anvil Lighthouse. It is 3 bedrooms with two bathrooms and comfortable stay. The kitchen is large and well...
High quality all the way
9 out of 10 places rented have ei...
Their Website!
Who designed their website? An idiot who never uses it? All I want to do (in the very limited time I have available) is check what might be available...
Wonderful holiday at Sundown in…
Wonderful holiday at Sundown in Widemouth bay. Was everything we expect of a ruralretreats property. Great property, clean, hampe...
Brilliant Hosts
We where welcome by the host Jenefer who was amazing. The kettle was on & a lovely welcome pack that was un believable awaited us. We visited all arou...
I stayed in the Cygnet apartment in the…
I stayed in the Cygnet apartment in the centre of Harrogate. It was fantastic. A lovely, thoughtful owner and a mo...
Bereavement Cancellation
They have dealt with a cancellation caused by a double bereavement w...
Had no issues with our accommodation or…
Had no issues with our accommodation or booking. Everything was perfect and we were given paperwork in plenty of time with instructio...
Conclusion
Reviews show a mix of reliable, well-equipped cottages and recurring problems that consumers should note. Positive reports highlight helpful staff, clear pre-arrival information and prompt resolution of some issues. Negative reports focus on withheld deposits or rigid cancellation enforcement, cleanliness lapses, proximity to building works and inconsistent amenity standards. If you consider booking, check the property description and safety details carefully, read the supplier’s cancellation and deposit terms, and confirm how the company handles complaints and refunds. Consider travel insurance or flexible tariffs for higher-value bookings to mitigate financial risk.