Sykes Holiday Cottages
Experiences & Reviews
Sykes Holiday Cottages is a UK-based holiday lettings agency that lists self-catering properties across the UK and Ireland. It operates an online booking platform and app used by private owners and holidaymakers to search, book and manage short‑term cottage stays. Consumers consulting reviews typically look for information on booking ease, property standards, and how the company handles problems such as cancellations or maintenance.
Overview & Key Metrics
Our Analysis
Service quality
Mixed reports: some guests praise prompt onsite fixes and helpful staff, while others describe long waits, abrupt cancellations and poor service responses.
Value for money
Several reviewers reported extra costs or reduced refunds after cancellations; a few described disappointing insurance outcomes and unexpected additional charges.
User experience
Booking and the app are frequently described as straightforward and easy to use; a minority report account confirmation or online cancellation difficulties.
Product quality
Many find cottages clean, well equipped and comfortable, but others noted maintenance issues such as poor heating, weak Wi‑Fi or initial problems on arrival.
Communication
Guests often report clear booking confirmations and helpful messages from hosts; contrasting reviews describe no‑reply emails, delayed responses and contact problems.
Overall experience
Overall views vary: repeat customers report reliable stays and return bookings, while others recount serious frustrations around cancellations, refunds and support.
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 (April 2022 – September 2025).
VeryPoor customer service
"Firstly we booked a holiday to a lovely cabin with fishing. We were so looking forward to a relaxing holiday fishing and watching the world pass by. T..."
Hope you never have to cancel
"Unfortunately we had to cancel as my mum passed away recently. It was almost impossible to speak with anyone. I informed them two months before the ho..."
We were delighted when we arrived at…
"We were delighted when we arrived at Blue Neptune it's a lovely house. We had some trouble finding the key safe at first. All the rooms are beautifull..."
A Delightful Experience at Sykes Cottages
"I recently stayed in a Sykes Holiday Cottage and my experience was delightful. The handpicked accommodation had everything I needed, making it feel like a true home away from home. The location options throughout the UK and Ireland were impressive with over 20,000+ available to choose from, giving me plenty of choices for the perfect holiday stay. Booking with Sykes Cottages was easy and hassle-free. The team was incredibly friendly and accommodating when I had questions about the booking process, which made me feel confident that I chose the right place to rent from. Inside the cottage, everything was clean and well-maintained as advertised on their website. It truly exceeded my expectations; they paid attention to every detail ensuring that I will have an enjoyable time staying there. Overall, my experience booking through Sykes Cottages granted me security knowing that they are verified by numerous organizations such as VisitBritain & TripAdvisor plus their highest customer review rating is definitely worth boasting. They have an excellent selection of holiday cottages offered at competitive prices"
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
The process of being able to find and…
The process of being able to find and purchase a holiday...
I was notified by a no reply email that…
I was notified by a no reply email that my original booking had been cancelled with no further information as to why, just six weeksbeforewe were due...
We were delighted when we arrived at…
We were delighted when we arrived at Blue Neptune it's a lovely house. We had some trouble finding the key safe at first. All the rooms are beautifull...
Hope you never have to cancel
Unfortunately we had to cancel as my mum passed away recently. It was almost impossible to speak with anyone. I informed them two months before the ho...
Great central location
Great central location. Clean...
Easy to follow website & very easy to…
Easy to follow website &...
ground floor flat for disabled access
ground floor flat for disabled access, central heating set up was poor and didn't heat the flat correctly, the people upstairs sounded like a herd of...
A Trusted Brand
I have been booking holiday accommodation with Sykes Cottages for...
VeryPoor customer service
Firstly we booked a holiday to a lovely cabin with fishing. We were so looking forward to a relaxing holiday fishing and watching the world pass by. T...
Good communication
Good communication, especially liked the message asking if ev...
Beautiful quiet cottage
Beautiful quiet cottage. Well equipped, warm and cosy. A real hom...
no access to the cottage
no access to the cottage, no keys in the key safe on arrival, no reply from the site, after contacting sykes twice we were given the cleaners phone nu...
Simple easy booking
Simple to navigate the website, easy to search and find a suitable p...
Sykes have a great range of properties…
Sykes have a great range of properties and the booking procedure, as well as the confirmation information, is great. I would have given five sta...
Hassle-free holiday property bookings
A good range of holiday properties and it always seems very easy to book a property,...
I've been booking holiday cottages with…
I've been booking holiday cottages with sykes for many years and have always found...
Please see previous reviews for full…
Please see previous re...
Good location for Ironman Wales
Good location for Ironman Wales. The air fryer was a nice addition to the kitchen. Only weak point was th...
Sykes
The house was warm, clean, well equipped and inviting. The hosts w...
Easy to book and confirmed promptly
Easy to book and confirmed promptly...
Conclusion
Reviews show a common pattern: booking and the app are frequently straightforward, and many guests find properties clean, well equipped and comfortable. However, there are repeated reports of inconsistent customer service, problems with cancellations or insurance refunds, and occasional access or maintenance issues (for example missing keys or poor heating/Wi‑Fi). If you are considering a booking, check cancellation and insurance terms carefully, confirm key‑collection arrangements in advance and read recent guest comments for the specific property. Retain payment receipts and ask for written confirmation of any refunds or changes to avoid misunderstandings.