Sands Resort Hotel

“Fabulous family fun”
28th Jan
Our 3rd visit to the Sands did not disappoint. We love this hotel for its wonderful reception staff, great food and wonderful kids clubs and entertainment. Our kids love it too. The large contemporary rooms are ideal for a family of four and how wonderful to wake up to the sight of the ocean. Rainy days are easily filled with entertainment, swimming and coffees with the paper while the kids have a happy 2 hours in kids club. Such a relaxing happy place for busy families.

“Fabulous family friendly hotel”
27th Jan
We stayed at new year for the second time and it lived up to expectations again. The staff are exceptionally helpful, food superb and children facilities excellent. My children aged 8, 7 and 5 happy so makes happy parents especially as weather disappointing. We would like to go back again.

“ Relaxing pre-baby break”
10th Jan
We stayed for 2 nights in September with our 2 year old in a family comfort sea view room. It was great for our daughter to be in her own room and we could relax and watch tv without being concerned we'd wake her.
We used the baby listening service, which meant we could enjoy a 3 course meal and some time together before no.2 arrived.
If travelling with toddlers, the early tea is great. You can pick and mix from a hot and cold selection of foods and help yourself to a coffee whilst they eat.
The soft play area and swimming pool are great and the local beaches are beautiful. Would recommend and will return if want a local short break again in future.

“Unforgettable Christmas Party”
21st Dec
Just had our staff Christmas party here and I have to say, there is nothing negative about this place! The hotel itself was lovely, well maintained and clean. The rooms were so big, with amazing views and everything we needed.
Our Christmas dinner was delicious and the waiters/waitresses were very attentive to our needs and all done with a smile on their face. Then, to help us work off all those calories, they put on the perfect Christmas disco with not only all the old cheesy tunes (think Wham, 80s power ballads/rock, 70s and 60s classics!) but the D.J had some current ones too. What ever we asked for, he had it!!
The bar staff were very patient with us, as I got the impression they thought they were in for an early night. Oh, how wrong they were! So I'd like to apologise, to Jay especially, for keeping him up way past his bed time and to thank him for his excellent customer service, for keeping the shots coming (oh, and the late night chocolate fix too!)
Overall, I can't fault the place and will be returning.
P.S I hope the Reindeer wasn't too traumatised!
P.P.S My apologies if we kept anyone awake with our late night Air Hockey/ Table Tennis tournament in the games room (something for everyone, so much fun!)

“Amazing Family Hotel”
13th Dec
We stayed at the Sands Resort with our two children aged 5 and 6 during October half term and had one of our best family holidays ever.

Rooms - we had a contempory suite on the second floor which had fantastic high ceilings and lots of space. There was a TV and DVD machine in the children's room which was great for rainy afternoons. There are plans for all the rooms on the website which is really handy if you are booking online. We used the listening service every night - it was lovely to relax and enjoy dinner on our own in the "adults" dining room (in addition to the early children's tea there is also an option to eat slightly earlier in a different dining room with older children which we may use in future).

Facilities - there is so much for the children to do here that it was difficult to get them to leave the hotel. They loved the soft play and the swimming pool - I think that we used both every day. Outside there is the maze, playgrounds, mini golf, tennis, football pitch, giant chess - lots for all ages.

Children's entertainment - as we were staying at half term there was something for the children to do every night eg party games, circus skills. This was a great way to fill the hour between supper and bath time and our two (even the 5 year old who doesn't normally enjoy this sort of thing) thoroughly enjoyed all of them. There were also visits from the Newquay aquarium and a falconry centre - all included in the price of the holiday.

Food and drink - the food was very good for a 3 star hotel. There was always bread, ham etc available at children's tea in addition to the two hot main courses and the staff provided plain pasta for our fussy daughter. Breakfasts were a buffet with lots of choice and dinners were tasty with large helpings.

Value for money - we were on a dinner, bed and breakfast package and since we were staying for a week one of the children went free. Compared to similar hotels, I think that the Sands Resort offers amazing value for money especially if you have children who will enjoy all the entertainment on offer.

Overall - we will definitely be returning to the Sands Resort again - I just wish that we'd discovered it sooner as I think that it would have been great to visit during term time when the children were toddlers. The children would both go back tomorrow if they could - we just wish that it was a bit closer to home!

“Family holidays don't get better than this.....”
13th Dec
We visited the Sands Hotel for the second time this Summer and like the first time could have asked for more. We were even lucky enough to get some warm sun which allowed us to use the outdoor pool!.
Our room was great - we had an apartment suite which has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a living area with sea view.
So what gives it the 5 star review - well as has been mentioned the child-care is great, the staff can't do enough for you and on a purely selfish level adult meals for 2 looking out to sea with wine are always good for the soul....We've already booked for next summer - can't give it any higher recommendation

“Great value family holiday!”
7th Dec
We spent 6 nights at the Sands over the October Half Term - it was a special holiday for us as my husband was about to leave for Afghanistan on a six month tour of duty. It was exactly right for this occasion. We have two girls, 8 and 5 - this was a lovely mix of time with the children and some time for ourselves.
The kids facilites were good and the indoor pool was a life saver on the couple of rainy days we had. The room was ideal for a family and the set up in the restaurant worked very well. We had a couple of nights eating with the kids, a couple where they had the early kids tea and we used the listening service to have a 'grown up' meal and treated ourselves to a night at 'Fifteen' restaurant in Watergate Bay while the children were babysat by a hotel employee. That was a bit pricey (£12 per hour) but worth it for a wonderful meal out.
The hotel food is good but did become a little predictable after 6 nights. The decor is fresh and simple, the staff were absolutely lovely, friendly and helpful without exception.
The hotel spa was one of the best I've ever been to and was on a par with a 5 star resort I have experienced but at half the price! Super value.
The nearest 4 star family hotel would have cost about £1000 more and I don't think that would be worth it. We left feeling very content and also like we had really had value for money and it gave us a bit spare to enjoy all the other wonderful eateries and attractions in the area. We will be back!

“Great family holiday”
7th Dec
We have been to the Sands many times and have always had a great experience, there is so much for the children to do and the staff are always helpful and friendly. They have renovated the hotel over the past couple of years and the new additions and decor are lovely my kids especially liked the new soft play.

The restaurant was also very helpful with my daughters lactose intollerance they aked me to write a list of items we wanted for her in the restaurant and then went out and got them - so you cant get much better than that!

Highly recommend it for a fun filled holiday which gives the adults some peace and quiet time too.

“ Happy kids relaxed parents”
7th Dec
Stayed in Sands Resort October half term kids had great time they loved all the entertainment the playground and pool. Therefore parents very relaxed and happy. Staff very helpful and polite. Would return again.

“What an exceptional stay”
6th Dec
As the title explans, WHAT AN EXCEPTIONAL STAY. Although the winter had set in we stayed at the Sands Resort Hotel after having an unforgetable Christmas Dinner Party there on 30th Nov. From the minute we got there to the minute we left it was nothing but friendly first class service from all the staff. A top Hotel with excellent facilities to pass the time of day from swimming in their indoor pool or enjoying the spa to a wide choice of outdoor facilities for the kids and the adults that wish there were young again.
The hotel room we had was massive with loads of storage space and everything you could wish for. The view out of the window was brilliant looking out to sea and all the surrounding coastline.
The food is served with style, not only well presented but colourful, well garnished and very tasty. No matter how big you party table is you are never kept waiting for the meal to arrive before you all start to eat. The Chefs do a fantasic job with ensuring everything is to your satisfaction.
The hotel is only a short walk into Newquay and if you ever venture down this way for a holiday I would reccomend this hotel. You will not be dissapointed.

“I loved it ”
13th Nov
I came out of season solo very quiet very friendly very good.
It worked for me.

“A truly relaxing break ”
7th Nov
My husband and I were not sure if going away on holiday was going to be relaxing when we had a 3 month old baby and a 4 year old daughter with us! But at Sands Resort - we were proved totally wrong. We booked a contemporary suite, which had a cot, seperate bedroom, and even a microwave for sterilising, and we got a sea view room with a really lovely view. Our 4 year old daughter loved the games room, swimming pool (and jacuzzi!), and all the outside entertainment (maze, etc). The breakfast each morning was great - a buffet is a really good option for a 4 year old, and the hotel staff were really helpful at all times. The hotel location is ideal - and close to many attractions. This was a truly relaxing holiday,and our third visit to Sands Resort - hopefully it won't be too long till the next!

“ JUST WHAT WE WANTED Sylvia, Sally and Lilly (11years old)”
2nd Nov
We have just returned from a half time break at Sands Resort. It was so perfect for us all.from the moment we arrived until we left. It was service with a smile from carrying our cases to our room and helping us in every way possible. My daughter left the lights on in her car and drained the battery. Reception sent out for a charger and it was done for us straight away. Our room a pool room was perfect with balcony with views over outside pool to the countryside beyond really relaxing.
We just loved the position of hotel and were blessed with good weather. We went to Bedruthen Steps at 10a.m. one morning - must be one of the most beautiful bays in the U.K. Padstow and Port Issac were a delight and only 5mins walk away was an amazing bay with steps down (too many for me) but my daughter and Grandaughter spent an hour playing in the rock pools. The choice of food suited us all and all the staff at breakfast and dinner could not have been more helpful..
We used indoor pool - jacuzzi - maze outside play area - watched 2 DVD's at no cost - sat in bar before dinner anf watched an beautiful sunset.My daughter had a great Spa experience and returned to our room relaxed and glowing.
Would recommend Sands Resort to any family with young children.
Thank them for all their attention to detail..

 

“ Ultimate child friendly hotel”
6th Sept
We had 3 adults a 4 year old and 30 month old and stayed in a two bed apartment which was basically 3 interconnecting rooms the middle room a lounge with cot in .... The room was basic in decor but had modern tvs DVD and a playstation and 2 bathrooms ( my 72 year old mum thought the bed too hard but I liked it so that's just preference )
The hotel provides all kids play facilities indoor and out my kids loved it !!
Every eve they had childrens entertainment Chloe the clown/ squashbox / and busybodies being brilliant ... This took place just after childrens tea at 445 a brill idea as young kids just can't wait till 7 etc and free tea and coffee was provided for mums and dads
My son then insisted on going to adventure club every night ( he's never been a child who likes being left but loved it !!!)
And my daughter who goes to bed at 630 used listening service leaving us to adult only tea ( we had booked childrens area for dinner as expected my son to refuse childrens club ) but were delighted when we were fitted into quiet adult area every night
My only " slight gripe" was that some parents brought there children into the adult lounge after 8 pm ... I don't mind kids being there but as we abided to the rule we left the lounge at 915 when adventure club finished but it would have been nice to sit there a while !!!
The hotel is very expensive but is the best of it's kind offering such a child friendly service
( it is also the land of mini boden mini joules and cath kidston !!!!! )

“The perfect family holiday location - chilled parents & fun filled children”
31st Aug
We couldn't ask more from a family hotel. The Sands is the perfect destination if you want a mixture of quality mummy & daddy time and children specific fun activities. Our 4 year old twins love the Sands, as do we because we all came home feeling relaxed after a really enjoyable weeks holiday. We've been to the Sands three times in two years because we all love it so much - couldn't recommend it enough.

“ Heaven Hotel”
30th Aug
As a fairly recent single mother of 2 children aged 5 and 7, I was in desperate need of a holiday that was a break for me too and enabled us all to relax and enjoy being together. Sands was just perfect. My children just adored all the facilities: the 2 pools, the playgrounds, 2 bouncy castles, the maze and the soft play in particular. The food was great and well exceeded my expectations. The staff really made our stay; nothing was too much; everything from having a fan waiting in the room when I expressed concern that there was no outside window in the adult room, to letting me use their computer to get a better rate for the Eden Project booking, to supplying us with complementary sandwiches for beach trips! The interconnecting rooms were great and the children were sufficiently far apart in our comfort suite that I didn't hear them in the early morning! The children adored the hobby clubs, coming home with wonderful t-shirts and pottery they'd made whilst I had a fabulous massage one day and a swim the other. The beach 5 minutes walk away was fabulous too and Sands supply free wetsuits and body boards.

We have not done anything like this before, normally doing self-catering. Yes, it wasn't a cheap holiday, but it was worth every penny. None of us wanted to leave and we'd all love to go back....

“Great family hotel with outstanding customer service”
30th August
Great value for money family hotel. The staff were absolutely brilliant - nothing was too much trouble from administering first aid after being stung by a weever fish to retrieving wetsuits that had blown off the balcony. Kids loved the clubs, the maze, the pitch and putt - had trouble getting them off the hotel premises. Unpretentious, great service and value for money.

“ Fantastic Place to stay wtih your children”
30th Aug
Our son has food phobia and the staff were excellent helping him and when necessary would cook a separate meal for him without any problems and they catered for his needs exceptionally well. He did not like coming down to breakfast and he would have his own cereal in the room. He even took his own cereal down to high tea if he had had a big lunch. Our daughter has got Special Needs and again all the staff were brilliant and very patient with her and they would all talk to her and she was never ignored. Their listening service is an excellent service as it gave my husband and I a real break as well as a peace of mind. Their facilities are excellent for wet days and sunny days. All the staff are extremely friendly and helpful and nothing was to much trouble for them. We are already planning to go back next year! Our son thoroughly enjoyed their club for his age group. This hotel exceeded our expectations and more. I feel the staff became our friends by the end of our stay.

“ Really great for young children”
30th Aug
Great place, it was our 3rd visit. We have a two and a very energetic four year old and there are so many different areas for them to play in and things to keep them busy. Mine especially liked the mini golf and the adventure playground. You can have an action packed holiday even without the lovely beaches nearby.

The rooms are fab, sea views and a separate room for the kiddies so we could enjoy the evening without tip-toeing around. The food was really lovely and the resort very family friendly. The kids can have early supper but we chose to often have dinner with the children at 7pm surrounded by other parents doing the same.

Sands Resort is great, my only gripe was that some evenings their own staff do the kids entertainment. The clown and the sea puppet show were by far the best

“ A fantastic stress-free family hoilday”
30th Aug
We stayed at the Sands for 10 nights in August 2011 and what a great time we had.
The hotel facilities, staff, indoor and outdoor pool, play areas and staff were both fantastic and faultless.
We didn't have a bad meal for the whole stay and the option to dine with or without children was great and stress-free, no dirty looks when your kids were kicking off.
The staff were excellent and there were so many too, special thanks to Tory and to Jay who helped clean my little daughter's knees after she fell over :)

All in all a great time had and I can honestly say one of the first times where we would seriously consider going back for another stay.

“ I couldnt recommend it enough”
21st Aug
We have just had a week at the Sands resort with our children aged 5 & 3. On arrival we were sceptical, the building leaves a lot to be desired from the outside but once inside we said "wow" so many times we lost count.
The staff are amazing. We were instantly at ease and the children were in heaven. The kids clubs were brilliant, ours wanted in all the time and we had to limit them in order to see them ourselves!
The food was beautiful. You can choose childrens tea / you eat later or eating with your children. We did both and both were excellent. The staff in the restaurant totally got the need for brilliant, fast, friendly service to us and the kids and did so brilliantly. Eating with them was a pleasure, which was a new experience for us! We used the baby listening service for our last night and felt totally secure. I cant recommend this hotel enough for families with youg children. It was totally brilliant and yes, we will certainly be back. Both children cried because they didnt want to leave - says it all really.

“ Exceeded our expectations, lovely friendly staff.”
17th Aug
We stayed at the Sands Resort for 6 nights end of July into August with our 5 yr old daughter in a contemporary suite with sea view. The room size and facilities were very good and the amazing sunsets in the evening well worth the sea view.
Cornwall is just amazing and this hotel is a lovely base to see Cornwall from. The resort is also a holiday in itself having all the facilities a family could wish for. Very child friendly. The week we were there we had our daughter in the kids club 3 mornings, she also attended an evening disco, a puppet show and a clown show and enjoyed every minute. She kept complaining each day that we were leaving the hotel to go to the beach as she couldnt see why we would want to leave as they have all she wished for, indoor and outdoor pools, fantastic playgrounds, 2 bouncy castles up all the time, the maze, the games room, the entertainment etc.
There are several amazing beaches nearby, some within 5 mins others up to 20 mins away that we visited. Best of all was Watergate Bay. The surfing there was amazing.
The Sands Surf Shack was used every day by us taking out a loan of beach windbreakers, buckets and spades, wet suits, surf boards, body boards. This was a major bonus and top marks to the hotel for providing this service.
We were very sad to leave and sorry we did not book a longer stay, my daughter is already asking when are we going back and we definitely plan to. Well done Sands and thanks for helping us to have an amazing holiday!

“ A lovely realxing family holiday”
16th Aug
The Sands Hotel near Newquay is fantastic. I went there with my 19 month old daughter and my parents for a 4 night stay. We stayed in a contemporary suite with a sea view. The hotel has excellent facilities for kids, with an inside pool and outdoor splash pool. A games room and a new soft play area. There is a surf shack where you can sign out wetsuites and wind breaks etc. We also borrowed a pram which was really handy. The staff are so lovely and helpful it was very much like a home from home nothing was too much trouble for them. I was worried about how I was going to wash my daughter's bottle but I simply handed it to my waiter and he washed it and filled it back up again. I used the spa twice, it was a real treat and not too expensive. Oh anf the food was delicious. We will definately e going back!

“ best holiday yet for us with 2 small children”
9th Aug
we loved for 5 night stay at the Sands resort which we booked as a gap filler for £960 for dinner bed and breakfast. Our pool suite for lovely kids beds great out double bed bit uncomfortable but room lovely. The facilities for the children were amazing with 3 playgrounds, 2 bouncy castles, zip wire, fun maze, football pitch, tennis courts and swimming pool. Indoors there was a good pool, and great indoor play area. Teh food was lovely the kdis loved the breakfast and high tea. we used the kids club (never done before) and were a bit apprehensive but the staff very caring and our children coulnd't wait to reurn the next day. we loved it and will be back next year

“ Brilliant Week - top family hotel”
9th Aug
Just returned from a stay at the Sands. Dont normally worry about writing reviews - generally only if exceeds or fails to meet expectations. Gladly this hotel exceeded all expectations.
The hotel is a bit tired on the outside but it is fine inside. The staff were brilliant - from the reception, the restaurant to the creche and the cleaning maids, something that you dont normally get from British hotels.
It works so well for families with children. Would say that when the oldest gets past 6 or 7 you might not make the most of it but for anyone under that it is superb.
The outdoor pool area works well, the indoor pool as a back up for bad weather is also a benefit. There are soft play areas, bouncy castles, tennis courts, pitch and put, football pitch...too much to mention.
The staff in the creche were very friendly and professional and the kiddy clubs very enthusiastic.
Having stayed at many childrens hotels, including 1 not more than a few miles away at Bedruthan, this comes out on top for the stay. Ok, the rooms might not have fancy expensive soaps in them but who cares...

“ Perfect family holiday! Planning our next visit”
4th Aug
This place is perfect for families, after 5 nights here we are felt truly relaxed, which is an achievement with a toddler. Our 21 month daugher loved the place, especially the heated outdoor pool with slide. The pool area is nice, with plenty of grass to relax or play on. The indoor soft play was ideal for an after dinner play or when the weather was not so great. Outdoor play areas were good, with plenty to explore, including swings, bouncy castle, maze and boat.

The staff were great, friendly, helpful and love kids. Nothing was too much trouble.

The baby teas were excellent, great standard of food and good selection, our little one enjoyed every meal. Grown up meals were lovely, good quality ingredients especially the meat and great puddings. I was impressed that us grown ups did not have to serve ourselves at a buffet but ordered from a menu, which gave us a feeling of dining out each night.

The baby listening service worked well, when our little one was unsettled they found us quickly.The hotel is secure at night when the listening service is on so the only way into the buidling is via the main entrance so we were reassured about using the service.

We used the kids club, facilities great, our little one was very happy with the large selection of toys on offer. Kids club staff fantastic. They privde a snack and drink in the morning session and it is reasonably priced. It gave us an opportunity to play tennis and a quick round of pitch and putt.

We booked a contemporary suite, slightly set back from the road. The rooms are good, spacious with sea views. The only downside to the room are the bathrooms are a little small for families and the children's sleeping area is near the door, so you have to walk through it to leave the room. This was okay for us as our little one is a solid sleeper. But overall the rooms are well appointed, the only thing missing is ipod docking station, it has everything else including an playstation 2.
We borrowed a three wheeler buggy to walk along the coastal path to Watergate bay, backpacks are also available. Watergate bay is a great family beach with a good cafe.

Definately going back next year!

“Just perfect for our young family - best break we've had in the UK”
3rd July
This place really delivered - great rooms, excellent attentive staff and just the right balance of facilities for parents and children to have a really enjoyable stay. Although Sands is in a lovely part of Cornwall, some days we hardly needed to leave the resort. In the evening we were able to give children an early dinner, put them to bed at their usual time and go down for a first class meal ourselves, safe in the knowledge the in house listening service was looking out for them. A brilliant idea which made the holiday so much better. This is not a place for people without children though, and they rightly make no secret of this, but if you have youngsters under the nage of about 12, you would be hard pushed to find any better anywhere.

“ Simply, wow”
3rd July
Wow. This hotel is absolutely fantastic. We had a really enjoyable time from start to finish and will be recommending it to all our friends who have babies and / or young children. The stand out factor is the baby listening service (so simple but so effective), but special mentions should also go to the incredibly friendly and helpful staff (they clearly love their job); the food (almost too good as I couldnt say no to a cooked breakfast every day and all 3 courses in the evening) and the sea view. Only slight downside was the weather and the delapidated golf course. We will be back.

“ Extremely well run, well motivated hotel!”
2nd July
From the moment I set foot in the hotel to the moment I left, the staff were just simply the best, well-motivated and delightful ! Nothing was too much of a problem.

The room and facilities were excellent. The food was fantastic! I can't wait to return!

“Every bit as good as we hoped!!!”
29th June
We stayed at Sands over the Easter break this year. The weather was definitely on our side, and you can't beat Cornwall in the sun! But the downside to that was that we probably didn't get to use all the facilities at Sands that we would have done with rain! Oh well, suppose we'll just have to go back there.

The room was perfect for us - a Contemporary room with separate kids area (with door separating the two). We took advantage of the baby listening service and ate as a couple in the evening. Food was really good and the wine list varied and a good price.

The staff there are wonderful - nothing is too much trouble and they are very friendly.

We'll definitely be back!

“ Excellent family hotel”
22nd June
As we have 3 children, we stayed in an interconnecting double, single and bunk room and there was more than enough room for the 5 of us, the room was clean, well equipped and had a great view of the sea and the staff in the hotel are numerous and are very helpful. Facilities within the hotel for the children include an indoor/outdoor pool and a softplay are which our children loved. The food is outstanding, every evening there is a 3 course meal of a very high standard and the baby listening service works very well. We loved our stay, just one thing though, next time could we have better weather?

"Fantastic holiday, looking forward to returning next year”
17th June
We have had a fantastic weeks holiday at the Sands hotel. The hotel met all our expectations, friendly and helpful staff, excellent facilities, tasty food and superb location with stunning views. Our sons, 6 months and 3 years enjoyed swimming every day, indoors and out!! We made use of the listening service so our youngest son could go onto bed and the three of us could eat later, the childrens' restaurant was relaxed, for both children and adults, it was refreshing to eat in an area where you don't have to panic about the amount of noise and mess the children were making. We would definitely recommend the hotel and we looking forward to returning next year.

“ We had an excellent holiday with our two grandchildren”
15th June
Have just returned from a 3 day trip to the Sands resort with our 2 grandchildren aged 5 & 6 and what a wonderful time we all had . Nothing was too much trouble from the hotel staff, they were friendly, polite and there was such a happy atmosphere. The facilities were excellent and so much to do that the children did not stop from the minute they got up to the minute they went to bed!. Location was superb although cliffs were a bit scary, we will definately be back, so will the rest of our family. Sunsets were amazing from our room on the second floor

“ Wonderful family holiday for us all”
7th June
We are a family of 2 Grandparents Mum and Dad and 2 Children 4 and 7 and have just returned from Sands after a great weeks holiday. The accomodation was perfect 2 rooms next to each other and the attention to detail for the children was excellent they had their own sleeping area with a door so the adults could socialise after bed-time. Our meals were taken in the quiet dinig room while the children were in the Adventure club or taking part in other activities eg Fancy dress competion/disco/party games night etc.Tea was taken at 5pm so no waiting until too late and then the fun began while we ate in peace some wonderful food and enjoyed the attentive silver service from the friendly staff.We all breakfasted together a real treat as all thier new friends were also in the dining area chosen for families.
The indoor pool was lovely and warm and very clean and the outdoor pool which we were lucky enough to be able to use was solar heated and the weather was good.The grounds were extensive with zip wire and maze and pitch and put and small golf course and tennis courts and adventure playground.
Mum was able to go to the spa for a lovely treatment and Dad even managed to fit in a haircut in peace.While Nana and Gaga were in the quiet lounge reading the papers knowing everyone was taken care of in there own way.The hotel is a five minute drive from Watergate Bay and the sands and rock pools were a delight we even were able to borrow buckets and spades and fishing nets and a wind break from this thoughful hotel free of charge.
This holiday was our treat to our daughter for her 40th birthday and on the last day when we heard the children crying from next door we thought the worst but it was because they were going home that day.
On arrival at Sands I was initially disappointed by the outside appearance of the hotel but after sampling the inside delights and great service from every one of the staff I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone wanting a lovely family holiday.

“Every bit as good as we hoped!!!”
5th June
We went to Sands as it's pretty much the only Hotel that offers what it offers for such a great price. We were there for 4 nights midweek in late April / early May 2011. The great thing about Sands is that you can put your child(ren) to bed, turn on the wall mounted baby monitor and then just let reception know where you are in the hotel - they will then come & tell you if your baby is crying. You do obviously have to remain in the hotel for your dinner. This is not a problem as the evening meals (which were included) were really excellent. They are not just a package holiday standard - they are easily as good as a meal in a great local restaurant.
For children it is fantastic. They have their own tea time with a hot meal / buffet bar and the staff could not be more helpful - there wasn't one staff member who even batted an eyelid at our requests for drinks / cloths / spoons etc....The only problem is trying to get your children to eat when they are so engrossed in watching other children eat!
The rooms are really nice and I think that virtually all of them have views over the road to the sea.
You do need to really think hard about booking anywhere else - it might seem a little more expensive than other places but once you take into consideration what you are getting - especially the baby listening / creche facilities - as well as lots of facilities outside (a bit cold to try them when we were there) then it's brilliant value and we shall be returning as soon as we save up for it!

“ Nowhere better for families at this price!”
29 th June
Just returned from a week at Sands Resort. I can happily confirm that every one of the great reviews on this site are correct! We couldn't believe that it could be that good and it didn't disappoint. We are amazed that this hotel is only 3 star - it should 5 star on service alone!
Suffice to say we had a fantastic holiday. Staff were brilliant, helpful and friendly. Room was spacious, clean and with amazing views (watching the sun set whilst sipping wine in bed - outstanding). Facilities are plentiful, competitively priced and always available.
Food was delicious, hot and lots of it. Spa looked lovely but didn't use it. Kids club excellent. Entertainment for kids varying and fun. Weather - sunny!!!
Mum happy (tick), Dad happy (tick) and Daughter happy (tick). Going back (tick)!!!! Go there - you will love it.

“ Parents can relax and children can have fun”
28th May
We have been to the Sands Resort several times now, I never thought it possible to have a relaxing holiday again once you have children, but you can at the Sands Resort.
They seem to have thought of everything parents need with small children, the layout of the rooms, swimming pool and park, clubs for the children, even the hire of pushchairs and backpacks! We especially enjoyed our meals in the evenings whilst the kids were in bed. The food was fabulous and the children have never eaten so much!
I would definitely recommend it, once you get there you realise it's worth every penny.
We will be back.

“Wow, Wow, Wow.”
29th May
We have just come back from a relaxing week, with two children, who thought holidays with two under the age of four could be so chilled out.

Firstly the staff are fantastic and couldn't do more for you.

The high tea is superb, kids eat between 4.45 and 5.45, with a good choice of food for even the fussiest child. No cooking and no washing up. You can then let them burn themselves out in the pool or indoor soft play and there are children's clubs too (though we didn't use them).

After you have tucked them up safetly in bed, you turn on the listening devices on the wall, inform reception and then sit back and enjoy a 'quiet' meal for two with the sunset to watch. No cooking and no washing up, seriously what more could you want?

We had an apartment suite with sea view which was three rooms, sleeps four and a lounge. They think of everything and the rooms are serviced every day, unlike self catered cottages.

The facilities in the hotel are plentiful with a spa and gym that we didn't find time to use on this visit.

This is the place to go if you want to stay in the UK, be spoilt rotten eating delicious food and see your children enjoying yourselves because you haven't got to run off and cook the dinner or do the ironing.

This place is a must for all families and is a haven in Newquay, just what we needed,.

“A very enjoyable experience with friendly service, good facilities and food”
26th May
Our son, daughter in law and two grand daughters, now three years and eighteen months, had stayed at the resort last October and enjoyed the experience very much. They invited us to accompany them on their return visit. It was great to see the children enjoying the many facilities provided . The staff were very friendly and helpful. We were impressed by the quality of the evening meals and the children also loved their food. The rooms were well equipped and spacious. We have recommended the hotel to our daughter and son in law who also have two young children.

“Couldn't ask for more!”
26th May
My husband and I took our 18 month old to The Sands for a weekend in may 2011. I booked it because i'd heard from a friend it was convinient with a baby and had a baby listening service (and was in the area we wanted to stay in obviously!). When we arrived we were gobsmacked how plush the hotel is as we'd paid £45 a night per adult! We stay at higher end hotels quite often so we know what to expect usually.
The family room layout was the best we have ocme across so far and easily the best stay anywhere we've had with our daughter - we are used to creeping around or watching tv with the sound down once she has gone to bed! Again it was high spec, comfortable and trendy whcih surprised me for a family resort.
The staff were lovely and you could tell they were v expereinced in supporting familes with small children and nothing flet like an inconvinience.
The food was great and the set menus in the evening were very nice especially for the price.
The facilities were excellent and the swimming pool was so warm!
The location is great and the sea view is exacttly that - theres noting there to spoil it!!

We plan to stay at the sands again soon and have recomenned it to many people already :-)

“ A much needed break for exhausted parents”
26th May
If you have children under 5 it can be really difficult to have a holiday which actually feels like a holiday ie where you get to sit down or get a break from laundry/cleaning/cooking etc. The Sands is the only place I know of where the parents have as good a time as the children. We go every year with our boys (who talk about it all year) and will definitely go back next Spring. Reasons we love it:
The staff are amazing
The kids love the Pirate Club, which gives us two hours after breakfast to read and have a coffee - bliss
The food is brilliant, esp kids tea. And you don't have to clean up afterwards
They really think about little people - they don't just tolerate them
Brilliant baby-listening, which means you can have dinner together in adult surroundings
Indoor pool and soft play - who cares if it rains?
Amazing beaches like Lusty Glaze and Watergate Bay, and tons of kids friendly stuff to do, like cycling the Camel Trail - there's no better place on earth when the weather's good.
Our 2-year-old woke every morning saying 'Wock pools!'
It's a hell of a lot cheaper than anywhere else that offers similar facilities, esp going abroad
So I'd really recommend this place if the toddler years are wearing you down and you face each holiday with a slightly weary sense of dread and you've found yourself shouting a lot lately. The Sands will set you back on your feet.

“Loved it”
8th May
We spent a week at Sands Resort during the Easter school holidays with our 3 young children and we all loved it. All the staff were fantastic and nothing was ever a problem. The children loved the evening clubs (whilst we ate a meal in peace and quiet!), the playground and maze, the swimming pool, the various entertainment the hotel had laid on from the Newquay zoo visit to the Easter egg treasure hunt and fancy dress. The list is endless. We were very sad to leave and will definitely be back!. The food was fantastic and we looked forward to every meal!

“Watch a blazing sunset at the most child friendly resort in GB”
8th May
My family (me, husband, 3 children aged 3, 5, 7) spent 4 nights at Sands just before Easter and we came feeling like we'd had 2 weeks off. The staff are quite simply amazing. Charming, always smiling, great with the children, no problem was too big or too small and they understood what parents and kids both want. The facilities are outstanding from zip wires to climbing walls, swiming pool, tennis courts, climbing frames, mini golf and pitch and putt, table tennis, table football. And whereas meal times at home routinely resemble a war zone, here the kids just packed away everything in front of them. And the location is stunning. Right on the North Cornwall coastal path and a lovely walk down to one of the best beaches in Britain. What's not to love? And after a hard day on the beach and with the kids packed off to bed, there is nothing more rewarding than a sundowner at the bar watching a burning sun sink slowly over the horizon as the hotel faces due west. Oh, and the French chef conjures up some outstanding meals for adults - especially the local fish. Simply delicious. Would I recommend Sands Resort? Every time. It's a great place. Try it yourself.

“ Wonderful resort - kiddy friendly and great location”
1st May
My (pregnant) wife and 4 year old boy spent a lovely week at the Sands with glorious weather.
We decided to stay in the UK for our spring break and wanted a resort that was child friendly.
From the moment we arrived, passing the lovely sandy porth beach (5 min walk downhill from hotel) and having nice wide parking bays we knew we made the right choice.
All staff were very friendly and our ocean facing room was clean, spacious & had tea/coffee making facilities.
We went for dinner/bed & breakfast which was great as the food was a real highlight.
Breakfast is a buffet - choice of hot and cold.
Dinner - lots of options and great food - I loved the chocolate fondant with ice cream!
Loads of day trips to do - too many to mention.
We made use of all of the outdoor play areas (golf/tennis/zip wire/maze/swings/pirate ship in the sand) aswell as the indoor pool.
We didn't put our son in the childrens club but would not have had any quarms in doing so as the staff were professional and caring - there were lots of activities for kids of all ages.
Simply a great place to enjoy with kids and would highly recommend.

“Perfect Family Friendly Hotel with all the necessary facilities for young children”
27th April
This was our second visit to the Sands and as good (if not better) stay than our first visit. You cannot fault the staff who are very friendly and helpful and nothing is a problem. As a mother of 3 young boys we are your above average family! However, the Sands made us feel very much at home meeting the needs of all my children and us as parents! The food is fabulous and plentiful and you also have the luxury of adult only dining as there is a very good baby monitoring service and babysitters.
My boys particularly liked the maze, bouncy castles, zip wire, swimming pool to name but a few things!
For those of you with young families this is the perfect place to stay to give us parents a break from the routine!

“Amazing”
27th April
This hotel was truly superb and made more so by the wonderful staff! First place I have ever stayed in that had enough staff on hand and yet they were not overbearing. Just brilliant. We are a family of 4. My son is three and my daughter is one. Loads of stuff for them to do. My one year old fell ill during our stay and the staff were fantastic. They took control calmed me down and called a doctor. I will definitely be returning to this resort!

“ Every year this place gets better - fantastic for all ages.”
12th April
Great fun, relaxing, lots to do, high standards, professional staff. We visit almost yearly, and every year something has been improved. The rooms are fantastic, and the ambience throughout the hotel is relaxing, modern and comfortable. There is so much to do, both inside and out. The kids clubs are very well run for all ages. The adventure playgrounds, zip wire, maze, golf course (9-hole pitch and putt), swimming pools and games rooms occupy children and adults alike. The staff have your comfort as their priority (not always the case elsewhere).

“Another fabulously relaxing and special visit to Sands”
10th March
We've just come back from our 4th visit to Sands - just for a weekend, but the magic was cast again so that we all came back relaxed, happy and refreshed. It just really works - the staff are so friendly and helpful, the pool (lovely new mosaic bottom by the way) is beautifully warm and clean, the childcare is eagerly looked forward to by the children and of fantastic quality, the food is gorgeous, the rooms are beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean and kitted out, and communal areas are relaxing and provide all the space you need. Every time we go, Sands has made a few changes which are just what is needed. This time, the new soft play is fantastic - thank you!

The thing about Sands is that it works for everyone without feeling like you're in a child-centred holiday camp. The children have a lovely time, but so do the adults. We feel pampered and looked after in an adult-type way, and the kids do in their way.

Can't wait for next time. Saving our pennies as we speak!

“Truly Superb!”
8th March
Having reviewed all the relevant accomodation in Newquay on TripAdvisor we booked a 3 day stay at the Sands Resort.
What a gem of a hotel if you have children.
The receptionist was very warm and welcoming and completed the check-in quickly. We made our way to our room, where we entered our contemporary suite. On entering through your door, you walk into the childrens room which had 1 single bed and 1 bunk bed as well as a cot for a baby.
The room also has a TV with DVD player, a large set of draws and a fan. You continue on past the large bathroom into the huge main room which houses a Queen bed, flat screen tv with Playstation 2 as well as a number of seats etc. The view was beautiful overlooking the sea and the coastline down towards Fistral beach.
The hotel boasts excellent facilities both inside and out so any bad weather has minimal impact on you.
The numerous bars and eating areas were all well appointed and friendly with reasonable prices. The evening meals provided a good selection to chose from, as well as staff that were prepared to speak with Chef to accomodate a picky eating child. We have one!
Breakfast offered a buffet style for full english with a wide choice of the more continental flavours and fruit.
This hotel really has it all, but their greatest asset is by far their staff. Nothing was too much trouble for them.
We very much look forward to staying here again soon.

“5* location, service, hotel, everything!!!!”
8th March
stayed at the sands in feb over school break with hubby and 2 kids 5 and 2 yrs old. we had the family suite, the space was brilliant and the view was priceless absoultely amazing. the kids beds had bedguards on both sides even though they were against a wall [brilliant] asked staff member if they could tell us where the nearest shop was to get milk and they just handed us a full gallon to keep in our fridge. staff cant do enough for you and the food is brilliant and its so clean and the pool and jacuzzi are brill. will defo stay there again and would recommend it to anyone you wont be disappointed theres so much to do inside and outside of this hotel. FULL PACKAGE!!!

“An exceptionally well managed hotel”
5th March
The proportion of staff at this place that were totally and naturally charming and helpful was probably the highest we have ever encountered in any hotel anywhere in the world. Bearing in mind the fact that we encountered 10s of staff this is an amazing achievement for the place. Surely down to some great management somewhere.
The place is immaculate and smart , and has a bit of character without trying to be fancy or hip. Fantastic facilities and a great programme of activities for the kids.
The only area that fell into the "satis" category was the food, we had 7 days of DB&B, it was never bad and sometimes good, but often medium.
Stand out smiles were from Mandy and the lovely girl on reception.

“Excellent weekend break”
1st March
Sands Hotel has an excellent location on the cliffs and the sea views were amazing!
The hotel has a very contempory style and all public areas are spacious, bright and tasteful. The staff are very friendly, welcoming and helpful. The bedroom was very well appointed and extremely clean, with plenty of room to relax. All meals were excellent, with a good choice and presented well. The indoor swimming pool area is very attractive and helps to assist with the 'chill out' factor necessary for any weekend break. This together with the Spa facilities make it a very good venue for an away weekend for a 'girlie' get together.

"A really great place for families ”
1st March
I would thoroughly recommend this hotel if you want somewhere with excellent facilities for adults which also provides excellent facilities for children.
There is plenty to do, nice pool, play areas, indoor and outside and entertainment scheduled. There are also quiet, adult areas. The rooms are spacious and very well appointed, most with a sea view. The rooms are well equipped for children, for instance a little stool is provided so they can reach the sink.
The food was superb and I was very impressed by the 3 course childrens meals which were very well thought out and attractively presented - not a burger or fishfinger in sight! The dining arrangements are such that if you have small children you eat in a separate area and this means that no matter how noisy your children are you will not feel they are disturbing other diners.
The staff were also extremely helpful and friendly. Oh and they have a spa - bliss for mum to have a treatment while the kids are amused by dad! A really nice location too.

"Beautiful location, friendly staff, ideal weekend getaway”
28th Feb
Just had a superb weekend break with friends. Hotel staff were very welcoming and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble. Had a very spacious family room with a wonderful sea view. Bathroom facilities very modern and immaculately clean. Although this is a fabulous hotel for families, we also enjoyed the facilities offered by the hotel.
The pool, sauna and jacuzzi went down very well! We also sampled the Spa, where I had a truly incredible full body massage! I highly recommend you treat yourself to a treatment here. We also enjoyed two beautifully presented meals in the dining room. This is cleverly divided so that adult diners are away from those with young children.
If you want a relaxed, carefree break, in a stunning location I would highly recommend this hotel. We will be going back next year.

"Just booked to stay again this summer ”
19th Feb
We stayed at The Sands last July with our two boys, who were 3 and 1 at the time. Though the weather was typically British, we had the sort of holiday I wished I'd had every year as a child: rock pooling, paddling, kite flying on the beach.. it was perfect!
I can't praise The Sands more highly as a quality family friendly hotel. We had a spacious room (an apartment with a lounge and 2 seperate bedrooms), which was clean, modern and safe. The staff , although many of them were quite young,were all helpful and great with the kids. There were plenty of early evening activities for the children, and on the occasions we used the kids' club, my 4 yr old son had a great time, settling immediately and totally comfortable with the staff. The food was pretty good, and the option for kids to have an early tea is a godsend with two knackered out toddlers! Worth every penny.

"Sands is the perfect place for a family holiday ”
11th Jan
With the kids clubs, organised childrens activities and the adult only dining, everything is geared up for a holiday for all the familty to enjoy and relax. The location opposite the beach is great for the kids and if the weather is not ideal, there is always the indoor swimming pool and games room. The food is excellent and the staff extremely helpful. I would strongly recommend this hotel to any family.

"At last!! A family friendly hotel that lives up to its
billing ”
9th Jan
I read a review of Sands in June of last year whilst staying in another "Family Friendly" hotel in Dorset. It looked promising, and the price was quite literally half of what I was paying at the time. As a single Mum of two aged 10 and 1, and with a full-time job, I look forward to having a break in order to spend some proper time with the kids, and to have a bit of a recharge. My toddler son has a sensory disorder, which leads to some difficult and extreme behaviour at times, and so many hotels are just not suitable for us, however, looking at Sands in more detail, it certainly seemed worthy of a go.
I booked the three of us into a 4 night New Year's houseparty.
Having found flights to Newquay ( toddler does not do car journeys of anything over an hour) it was clear that we were going to arrive 4 hours before check-in, so I rang Sands to ask if it would be possible to leave the suitcase whilst we did some exploring. When we arrived, we found that they had got our room ready early so that we could check in anyway - I was impressed. Even more surprising was their response to the problem that the airline had lost our suitcase. The manager arrived at our door and offered to drive us into town so that we could pick up the bits and pieces (pyjamas, toothbrushes etc) that we would be needing. Not only did he drive us in, but he pointed out where all the various shops were and made sure that we were able to get everything that we needed.
I have never received encountered such a friendly and welcoming start to any hotel stay, either here or abroad.
Once we has settled in it became clear that my daughter was going to have a marvellous time, as she was able to drop into O-Zone as and when she felt like it, to play games and "hang out" with other kids her own age. The facilities are fantastic with plenty of space for the adults to be quiet whilst the kids can behave as kids. The creche was superb, and my son was kept totally occupied and content for a couple of hours every morning, whilst I could have a coffee and go through the newspaper.
Nothing was too much trouble here. Picnic lunches were provided (and lasted at least two days!) I was able to borrow an all-terrain buggy for walks across the cliff tops, The fabulous night-porter was always happy to bring me coffee when my son decided that he wanted to get up and start running about at 5 every morning, and even let him "help" with his chores such as hoovering, which was exceedingly popular.
The food was always beautifully prepared, and with the baby-listening service I was able to enjoy a grown-up dinner with my daughter every evening. On the one night when my son wouldn't settle, the restaurant took our dinner order over the phone, and a 4 course meal, together with soft drinks and a bottle of wine appeared at our bedroom door, at no extra charge.
Without exception, I believe every single member of staff at Sands is worthy of a commendation. For the very first time in nearly two years, I have returned from a break, feeling that I have actually had a break, and I am absolutely sure to return to Sands in the very near future.
I could not recommend it more highly.

"The best holiday we have had in years!!!!!”
18th Oct
From the moment we arrived with our 6yr old and 3yr old the service was outstanding. What suprised us most was how welcoming, lovely and friendly ALL the staff were, from the chatty managers to the cleaning staff (who were the childrens favourite as they tidyed up their teddies soooo nicely)
We were on our Honeymoon and were welcomed to our fabulous sea facing room to a bottle of Champers with a lovely hand written note.
The Hotel was everything a family could ever want.......kids clubs/entertainment, swimming pools, park, football, golf, maze, i could go on forever!! we were still finding extra activities towards the end of the week!!!
the free wetsuit/nets/buckets/spades/body boards and pushchairs made our holiday stress free and lots of fun!! (1st time going surfing!!)
Well, what can i say about the food!!??.........buffet breakfast and 3 DELICIOUS courses each night. Every night we had different and interesting dishes to choose from. It was YUM!!! The kids had 'high tea' 5 out of our 7 nights meaning we could enjoy our 3 courses childfree. The kids food was all homemade and devoured by our 2 little ones.
I must say that i was abit worried about the baby listening service....but it worked a treat!!!
One of our highlights was being treated to live music in the hotel bar....drinking and relaxing while our children slept soundly and safely not too far away....TOTAL BLISS!!!!
Would and have already reccommended Sands to anyone wanting a fantasic relaxing family holiday (we actually have friends already looking into Sands for their next holiday!!!)
The 1st holiday in years that we have not wanted to come home from. AMAZING!

“ fantastic stay, well looked after and great facilities, friendly staff ”
18th Oct
We stayed at Sands Resort mid oct 2010 and we were extremely impressed by what we found.
The hotel was pleasantly smaller than we anticipated and going off season meant it wasn't too busy though there were enough families staying to creat a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The grounds had lots to do for all ages - our 3 year old loved the pirate ship and the diggers, the bouncey castle was a little dewy so he only played on it the once though I can imagine he would have played more if given the opportunity.
Both our childlen spent a couple of hours in the creche/kids club for 2 mornings - they were both extremely happy and the friendly enthusiatic staff even managed to get our 1 year old off for a morning snooze - no mean feat! This was a great facility - I wasn't sure our 3 year old would want to go but he went back for more and it gave my husband and I a welcome break and we then spent the rest of the day with the children on the beach!
The swimming pool was great - a deep end that was deep! This makes a change from pools of all one depth which was lovely and a nice contrast to the little splash pool which our 3 yr old spend a long time jumping in. we took a few swimming toys in with us which kept both occupied for a little onger than normal - the water being warmer than a leicure centre was a nice touch for very small children.
We had a contemporary room with a superb view, and I must admit as we drove into newquay I was horrified at the town and most relieved to find the hotel on the outskirts of town and with the coastal path down to the beach just across the road. It suited us just fine as we had no desire to go where there was too any people and certainly didn't want to be based in town.
The room was perfect for our needs, our part had a huge bed and we could sup a nice glass of wine and enjoy the sunset and watch a dvd of telly, with the children sleeping just down from us in a darkened 2 bed room. The staff kindly put bed guard on the single for the 3 yr old and our baby had a nice cot, both with suit bedding for children.
The room also had a step for small peopel to reach the sink and socket guards in the low sockets. The baby listening with a dedicated listener in the evenings is a brilliant facility and we felt very reassured going to dinner knowing we would be called if either woke up. it was great to feed the children at "tea time" with lots of other families and then have a decent quiet dinner a bit later.
The food was extremely good; a good healthy selection at breakfast and at dinner for the children including fruit and veg and not resorting to chips and beans! The menu for our dinner was not extensive but interesting and with good variety and very tasty with good portions - the only thing I would say was that the food didn't always arrive piping hot but it was delicious and we never felt we wanted to eat out knowing we would have a lovely 3 course in the evening!
The health spa was a bonus and I must admit to treating myself to one of the best back massages I have ever had!
All the staff were very friendly, welcoming and helpful, helping sort out our laundry, posting letters and accomodating the attempts of our 3 year old to be helpful!
One other thing - we brought our own bikes with us and were not sure what to do with them during our stay and the hotel very kindly allowed us to lock them in a bike shed when not needed. This was really appreciated and yet again another part of the attention to detail and the personal touch this hotel offers its guests.
So I would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel as a great place to have a relaxing holiday with children. We certainly will be back for more!

“ Much needed mini break”
13th Oct
We returned to The Sands as we were celebrating our 2nd wedding annversary. We held our wedding reception there two years ago, and have stayed in touch with Leeanne (one of the managers) ever since. As my husband and I and all of our wedding guests received such wonderful service and enjoyed our stay in 2008 we couldn't wait to go back this year. We feel we get a real personal service at the Sands as we have built such a good relationship with Leeanne. This years stay didn't disappoint, and we enjoyed 3 days of excellent food and drink and top quality service. All the staff were professional and efficient and the room was perfect. We had a couple of small issues but they have already been addressed by the Managing Director, and these didn't affect our enjoyment of our stay.
I had a wonderful relaxing spa treatment during the stay and Jane, the therapist was superb, very friendly and knowledgeable.
Our evening meals were amazing, both in presentation and taste! We were spoilt for choice each night, and returned clean plates all round!
All in all we had a fantastic stay at The Sands, and in Newquay in general which we always enjoy. Will certainly be returning again, hopefully for our 3rd anniversary!

“ Great place for relaxing ”
11th Oct
the staff at this hotel make the holiday,they are so helpful and friendly. room tastefully decorated and spotlessly clean. Food was excellent with great choice

“ We will definitely be going back again, again ! ”
8th Oct
We stayed at Sands for the second year running, and plan to do so next year too. It is quite simply a wonderful place to take young children. The design of the hotel has been carefully and cleverly made with babies and toddlers in mind - there are so many useful little touches. The baby-listening service in the evening works really well too; my wife and I got to spend some quality time together too, which is not otherwise possible in a hotel.
Sands combines the relaxation and facilities of a hotel (no cooking !) with the freedom of self-catering (baby listening).

“ Felt a bit disappointed ”
5th Oct
The staff at the Sands all seemed good and were helpful. The girl that regularly cleaned our room was friendly, polite and efficient and the hotel in general was clean.
The grounds were great, we enjoyed the pitch and putt and the kids enjoyed the zip wire, however, a few play things for 1-2 year olds would have been nice outside. The indoor pool is very dated and quite busy at times but I guess it didn't help that it rained for most of our holiday!
The kids club was also a success especially with our daughter who fell in love with the lovely club staff.
Another plus was the free hire of wetsuits and general beach gear, saved us a fortune!
On the downside I did feel a little let down by the room and by the restaurant. We had a pool facing comfort room, the kids sleeping area was at the balcony end and the adult sleeping area by the door with only a frosted window facing into the corridor for light. I understand that pillows have to be allergy free ones but ours were flat as pancakes so if you like fluffy pillows take your own. Maybe I have too high expectations for a 3 star hotel but I have stayed in many and for the price we paid was a little disappointed.
The food isn't great and we avoided it as much as we could, the problem is that you can't just walk out and visit other restaurants as the hotel is a five/ten minute drive from anything so we did feel a little trapped in the hotel at times. There is NOTHING decent in Newquay, infact Newquay is horrible (stag and hen weekends) but there is Pizza Express and you can take away and if you want to go to Fifteen at Watergate Bay you have to book months ahead in high season and kids aren't allowed in the evening. We did however find a nice Pub 20 mins away called the The Cornish Arms (Rick Stein) at St Merryn that did good food, so on a few occasions we'd all eat here, the kids ate a little later than usual and us a little early, then we'd pop back to the hotel for drinks and kids club! The Beach Hut below Fifteen is also good for food and you can take out and eat on the beach which we did most days.
Not everyone has the same taste but we felt the hotel needed a little help in the decoration department, especially the bar which felt like a student Union bar and perhaps a shuttle run to Watergate bay would be idea as parking was a bit of an issue.
There seemed to be many families staying at the hotel on holiday with grandparents and also families on holiday with other families so perhaps this is the way to go so you can entertain each other in the evening?

“Great hotel for families with children ”
28th Sept
We have now had two holidays at Sands and both have been genuine holidays for the whole family. The charming and ever-helpful staff, the childrens entertainment and the baby-listening in all the rooms all make it a place where kids and parents can both enjoy themselves and relax.

“ Great for travelling with a toddler and Excellent value for money ”
25th Sept
Had a really relaxing time, excellent baby listening service. Separate sleeping area for children and even a proper cot.

Thoroughly enjoyed the stay and likely to go back - excellent value for money. Couple of small things to make people aware of - the double bed was 2 singles put together, but the matresses were different heights; room could have been a little cleaner; the quiet adult eating was a little interupted by small children in the adjacent dining area.

We travelled out of school summer holidays, so the price was excellent, hence we could forgive them for the above issues.

“ Brilliant, a hotel that gives couples back some time together. ”
24th Sept
We travelled to sands with twins of 2 and a baby of 18weeks and had a perfect few days.
The hotel was lovely and the staff were brilliant. Our youngest was sick on the bedroom carpet and somebody was with us within 10mins to help clear up.
The best thing about the hotel was the chance to dine as a couple again as they have inhouse child care for all ages. We could choose from listening services or kids club. Our only disappointment was to have travelled out of season and feel we missed out on doing other things with the kids as club activities were minimal as hotel was not busy.... BUT this has wet our appetite to come back in the summer.
Food was good, and you can choose to eat with your young ones if you would like and there is a seperate adult only dinig space.
Location is not brilliant as you had to travl by car to get to most places but I think that is Cornwall all over.
It is just a shame there are not more places like sands

“ 10th Visit and we still enjoy it ”
22nd Sept
Had a great few nights at the Sands on their 'room-filler' rate, staying in a contemporary sea-view suite. Lovely space in the room and second sink very useful. Only problem in the entire suite was that the toddler could reach three light switches from her cot!!
Baby listening service great and staff in general very accomodating, for example when you need to switch from high-tea to family dinner as toddler has overslept, or when toddler has an 'accident' in a public area. Always friendly and eager to help.
Food good, especially dinners. They could do with reminding staff of breakfast times so they don't start taking away things like milk 20 mins before it ends.
Play areas great, lots outside (the maze was a favourite) and the pool indoors. Children can also use the kids club room when not in use by groups.
It's quiet at night, we went to the after-dinner music quiz and were one of only two couples there, however this is not a criticism of the hotel and hey, it meant our odds were good and we won!
Great location for touristy stuff. Porth beach (few mins walk down the hill) good for small people with buckets.
Spa bigger than expected, with average treatment prices.
Have recommended Sands to others and would like to go back.

“ Delicious food, great location, fab swimming pool, such good value ”
22nd Sept
Having left it to the last minute to book a UK holiday we set off from SW London to Sands with our 4 and 7 year olds in August and were delighted. The kids' meals included old favourites with some wonderful dishes that were available later for adults. For example, a grown-up rich beef casserole and creamy mash was wolfed down at children's tea (it's the first time our 7 year old has eaten all her mashed potato - normally she hates it). All the staff were young, bright friendly and professional.
The evening adult meal was delicious with several courses and a good wine list (what a brilliant idea to have the dining room triple zoned in the evenings according to family eating, eating with older kids or kid-free....other hotels take note - this is the future. I adore my children but after a whole day of looking after them on holiday I want to have a glass of wine with my husband in a solely grownup dining room!).
Sands was clean and well decorated throughout and had a busy happy feeling about it. For years we've gone abroad to barrack-like Mark Warners and Club Meds and although the reliability of the sunshine has been nice, we have felt like cattle. Not so at Sands which is small enough for the personal touch but big enough to provide a very nice indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi (both much better than the dreary one at the swish Thurlstone Hotel we also stayed at in August).
I also think that Sands is so much better value than the hotels in the Luxury Hotel group - which we found very much style over substance and at least twice the price of Sands.
We are already planning to visit Sands next summer. Only problem since coming back and chatting about our holidays all my friends now want to go there and I'm a bit worried it'll be booked up.

“ 10th Visit and we still enjoy it ”
7th Sept
My wife and I and our ten year old son have now been to Sands ten times since 2003 and we never tire of the place. The location is perfect, overlooking the sea and far enough away from Newquay to be peaceful.
We stayed in a pool suite which is very quiet and gives good views of the surrounding countryside. The room is comfortable and the bathrooms have recently been refurbished.
There is so much to do that the weather never bothers us, (it wasn't particularly good this year). Our son spends the morning in the O zone club whilst we have a game of golf on the 9 hole course. The indoor swimming pool is very warm and on a few occasions we had the pool to ourselves.
The food in the restaurant is excellent both for the children's early tea and the evening meal.
The friendly staff, the excellent service and the relaxed atmosphere are the main reasons that we return year after year.
We have already booked for next year and are counting the days until we return.

“ We love Sands!” ”
7th Sept
This year was our sixth visit to Sands and it gets better every year. Perfect for a family holiday and we will definitely be returning. The rooms are huge and I love the refurbished bathrooms. The facilities are regularly upgraded and the children love the evening club, which is free from age 7 upwards. This gives the parents a chance to dine alone if they wish to. The food is very good and the staff are helpful and friendly. There is plenty to do outside the hotel too, even if the weather is poor. Yes it is a bit expensive in August – but look what you get for your money. Highly recommended.

“ Great place to stay with young kids with beautiful beach views away from the city center ”
6th Sept
We are a family of five with kids aged 8, 5 and 2. The Sands is less than a 10 minute cab ride (5 pound cab ride) from the rail station. We didn't have a car, but found getting around by cab or bus a breeze (Western Greyhound bus #556 stops about 50 yards down the road). The hotel is not in the center of town, which is a good thing as it's in a quiet stretch just north of the town.

The resort itself is exceptionally child friendly, with very friendly staff. The indoor pool is not huge, but great for the kids (and there's a small wading pool as well). For adults, there is a small hot tub and sauna in which you need to reserve your own slot (never a problem). There's also a small chip and putt (longest hole is 88 yards), a mini golf course (asphalt), a small football field and a tennis court (asphalt). There's also a playground, a small maze, and a zip cord ride - all of which the kids loved.

The rooms were clean, and smartly designed with an additional sink outside the bathroom. Our room had a water view, which we thought was worth the extra money as the sunsets were absolutely amazing. The rooms also had dvd players, 2 tv's and free internet access.

We only had breakfast at the restaurant, which was basically cereal, fruit, eggs, beans, sausages, croissants / breads and tea / coffee. There is also organic baby food for infants, which is a nice touch. It did get a bit tired by the 4th / 5th day - but that's probably to be expected.

Overall, we had a great time and would definitely go back.

“ Absolutely Fantastic - Highly recommended ”
3rd Sept
Wonderful family oriented hotel with great location and outstanding very friendly staff.

Was going to book a last minute one week deal in Portugal but didn't like the £3K+ hit for anything half decent. So, looked at Trip Advisor and got a last minute deal at this hotel for 5 nights in a "contemporary suite" which is basically sea views, huge king size+ bed, bathroom and separate bedroom for our two boys (aged 6 and 4). We were helped by fantastic weather everyday.

Family orientated hotel with everything you need. The room was excellent, very clean, the location is excellent, the staff were superb and the fellow guests (please forgive me for saying this but it's important to be honest!) were polite middle class educated types with children of similar ages.

General facilities were fine including small heated indoor pool, outdoor pool (far too cold!), tennis courts, crazy golf, mini golf and multiple play areas for the kids. There's even a maze! What was really great was the free wet suit hire, buckets and spades, push chairs etc - they've thought of everything! There were also fantastic kids clubs which our children loved.

The food and wine list was good enough. Jamie Oliver's 15 restaurant is down the road and there are some fantastic restaurants nearby and slightly further afield in in Padstow etc.

We left feeling refreshed, happy and would definitely return.
Highly recommended.

“ Excellent all-round break for family with young children”
3rd Sept
Sands is very well geared to family holiday needs - our 8-year old enjoyed the daily club activities, we got to eat and drink in adult company quite a lot, the grounds are good fun, the food was really excellent every day, the hotel has a relaxed and spacious feel. Decor is unpretentious but pleasing, cleanliness very good. It's pricey but you get a lot for it. The staff are extraordinarily friendly and helpful.

“ AMAZING !!!!!!!”
29th Aug
Returned home yesterday and can't wait to go back!!! The hotel was fantastic and the staff could not do enough to help. Our children are 2 and 4 and they both went to the playgroups in the morning and loved it. There was lots to do for them which meant we could have a rest. There is also childcare and baby listening in the evening which means we could enjoy a glass of wine and a lovely dinner knowing that the children were being looked after. We will definitely be booking again soon.

“ A wonderful holiday...” ”
25th Aug
Our first holiday in a hotel with our boys (aged 4 and 2yrs). We had alovely time. Had reservations that the hotel could be 'good value' considering the prices but found that we had a lovely relaxing time as well as the children, hence money well spent.
Great facilities on tap, wonderful beach across the road and down approx 120 steps (hard work but well worth it), lovely staff and a brilliant room listening service which allowed us to eat in the adult's only restaurant for a three course meal each night. A real, real treat!!! On the one occasion when our children didn't fall asleep by 8.30pm, the meal was delivered to our room... beautifully wrapped and delicious. This was typical of the hotel's flexibility in ensuring the holiday was great.

“ Fantastic family hotel ”
25th Aug
Just returned from a 4 day stay at Sands on one of their gap filler deals. Have always stayed further up the road at well known family hotel in Mawgan Porth!!! but as they do not do short breaks during high season decided to try Sands. Really glad we did. The staff here really make the experience. It is unusual I think to find people in this industry who genuinely look like they enjoy their job, but the staff at Sands really seem to care.
We stayed in an inter connecting room facing the countryside. We had a really large room and our 3 yr old had 3 beds to choose from in his room!!!. bathrooms were great size and the added benefit of a microwave was brilliant on the night we just wanted to feed our little one in our room.

The only downside to this room (51 and 52) was its position right above the kitchen. At mealtimes the noise was really bad and sadly this coincided with trying to get our son to sleep before we went down to have our meal.
The food itself was good although I do think that Bedruthan does do it just a bit better.
In terms of things to do we couldn't fault the hotel, kids facilities are excellent , so much to do and the wall of info proved invaluable on the days when the weather was poor.
Kids clubs were good and the visits from the Zoo and Aquarium were a really good idea.
I absolutely love this part of Cornwall and the only problem I have now is which hotel to choose. I have to say I think there is def a new contender for my favourite hotel crown !!!
Thankyou sands for a brill holiday!!

“ Lovely family hotel with something for everyone. Food excellent.”
25th Aug
Stayed here for 4 days with the family and had a lovely holiday despite the weather. The food was excellent. The room was very good with a scenic view over the bay. I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a family holiday.

“ a haven for families ”
23rd Aug
We have just returned from Sands - our 7th or 8th visit over the last 10 years. Over this time the facilities have improved, the rooms are of higher standard and the restaurant has really taken a step up - and we were happy the first time! This is not inexpensive but is good value. The staff are just wonderful, many having been there for many years. Even when the weather is not great there are things to do (this year we all learnt survival skills with a wine box and a mobile phone battery!).
We all came away having had a holiday and all managed to spend great time together and apart.
As our children enter their teens there may be less for them, but we are sad to say goodbye and would whole heartedly recommend this to any young family.

“We so did not want to come home ”
24th Aug
I think that the staff are a big part of what makes Sands so special - nothing was too much trouble and they all seemed to genuinley enjoy working there and were a happy bunch.

We were at the outdoor pool one morning and the pool maintenance man must have overheard us saying that it was shame we didn't have some toys to play with as it wasn't yet warm enough to swim. 5 mins later he was back with a soft football, a tennis ball and some floats (equipment that other holiday makers have left behind and Sands just keep a stock of).

Sands has a Surf Shack where you can borrow buckets, spades, fishing nets and wind breaks - those sort of touches are what make you want to return.

The new outdoor equipment (we last went 5 years ago) is fab. A zip wire, football pitch and wooden climbing frame/adventure area were used daily by my children (9 and 5) plus there is a basketball court, area for mini tennis, pitch and putt golf course and a bouncy castle (staff supervision required).
The children both had a few sessions in the various clubs and were always keen to go. The staff were friendly and again, seemed to genuinely enjoy what they were doing.

The food was fantastic - 4 choices for each course and the soups were specially good.

I was impressed that the gym had new cv equipment (2 treadmills, 2 life cycle bikes, 2 cross trainers and 2 rowers.) I was disappointed with the free weights and mentioned this to a member of staff, also commenting that there were no mats. The very next day there were 2 mats and some more new free weights! Apparently they are planning a gym extension in the next 18 months and will properly equip a free weights section then.

We considered extending our stay - that's how happy we were with Sands. And we will definitely be going back. They seem to have got the right mix of everything for a family with young children.

“ Not just for families ”
20th Aug
I decided to visit cornwall for a weekend by myself, having never travelled alone before i was a little self conscious.

The hotel was beautiful, and every member of staff i came across - reception, bar staff and waititng staff made me feel at ease, were really friendly and couldnt do enough for me, making my stay a great experience...although sold as a family hotel, which it does a great job of, it is also set out in such a way that this doesnt encroach on holidays of people not travelling with children.

I also had the best back, neck and shoulder massage in the salon on site that i've ever had!

“ Fantastic stay in a wonderful hotel. Great staff too ”
18th Aug
I stayed for the 2nd year running at this hotel and again it was superb. The staff in the nursery were very understanding and great with my two kids. One of my children has down syndrome and her behaviour can sometimes be quite challenging in new situations but the staff were very capable and a delight. I had no doubts on them being able to manage with my two kids who are both under4. They loved their morning sessions.

On a different note I thought the facilities were excellent for young children. Lots of space and facilities around the hotel to keep kids amused. The restaurant is also very good and excellent value. I will be back next year....no doubt!

“ A perfect stay ”
18th Aug
I must say that we, this is my wife, my 11-year-old daughter and I, had two perfect weeks in Cornwall. The hotel is situated near NEWQUAY but far away from the noisy town and perfectly situated near the ocean. The service, the room, everything was excellent, well, even the weather was not too bad....

“ These people really know how to run a hotel for families ”
17 Aug
If you are parents with young or youngish children looking for a family holiday that gives you a real break and is rewarding and enjoyable for the kids then this is the place. We've just returned from our third stay, and this time we took some friends along as well - they loved it too. The hotel and its grounds are rich in facilities for children and adults alike. Ther staff are friendly, responsive and unobtrusive. The restaurant is excellent and the service great. It's hard to fault Sands - we think it is unassuming and low key in a positive way that caters for many tastes, cultures and classes of people...but most important they seem to understand what modern hard pressed families need from a holiday!

“ Back Up To Standards Again ”
17th Aug
After a blip when we stayed at Easter out stay in August was top notch. Once again the owners have invested funds on the site - this time a new shower area in the pool facility - full marks to them for striving to improve the facilities. The staff were great as usual - we had a few problems with our door locking mechansim and it was sorted with a degree of courtesy, professionalism and speed that other hotels could learn from. Indeed the staff make the place - for example our waitress was clearly a little inexperienced - but she made up for the occasional mishap with her enthusiasm, fiendliness and general desire to do the best job she could.

The rooms are pretty large, clean and quiet in the main

The play area for kids is great - I could barely drag my son off of the zip wire! Probably the only think the owners need to think about is the evening entertainment - and whether there could be more seating available for parents who want to sit with their kids but do not want to be in the disco / quiz etc

To be honest I can't speak highly enough about the place!

“ Another fantastic week at great Hotel ”
5th Aug
we have just spent another week at Sands, our 4th visit, and we had a great time. Facilities and child care are amazing and the staff are all great, very helpful. Our room is great and we all slept very well. The food was really good. To be honest I cant fault the place. It works for families with mixed age kids and couples alike there is always somewher to go, sit, visit etc If there was one thing I would change if I could that would be make it a little cheaper so we could go for longer!

“ If it wasnt for that drive ”
29th July
I could go on and on about this resort (and it is, rather than just a hotel), but I think pretty much everything has been covered ( even the crying when we had to leave!). I will say however, that the staff must be congratulated, they were excellent! Nothing was too much trouble, they were friendly, helpful, enthusiastic, the list goes on. After much reseach, we chose Sands over another highly rated rated nearby because of the friendly and helpful conversation my husband had when he rang to make some enquires. A rarity today so thank you everyone for helping us have such a lovely two week holiday! We loved it! Our toddler loved it! My In-Laws loved it! Next year I'm hoping my brother, sister and sister in law and their families will love it as much as we did.

“ Perfect stay We will be back ”
28th July
We have just got back from staying at the sands and we had the most fabulouse time. We booked on a whim and were not expecting to be blown away but we were. The rooms were excellent- the ideal set up for children. we made use of the baby listening service on both nights of our stay and stayed in the adult only section of the restaraunt over looking the sea. the food was good with plenty of choice and our 18 month old loved the high tea and having breakfast with us. The swimming pool and spa were both very good and the trip as a whole was laid back and relaxing. the staff were accomadating and helpful and the entire hotel was well designed and clean. The activities for children were excellent with nursery and children's clubs as well as bouncy castles a maze and very good play areas. what more can I say- we loved it and are going back in September.

“ Amazingly willing and amenable staff , intuitive to family's all round needs.”
27th July
we have a new baby,2 and 3 year old. Eating and sleeping was easy. the listening service allowing us to sneak off for dinner was very diligently provided for. the service personnel, quick,responsive and very in tune with the challenges of this age range.Good amenities and what better way to end the day than watching the toddlers belt it across the mile long beach down the road.Brill.

“ A pleasant trip ”
27th July
My wife and I stayed at the Sands Resort for four (4) nights on a half board basis. We met up with our Daughter, her husband and two children -- they were staying for eight (8) days. My wife and I had the benefit of a family room which was naturally very roomy with a king size bed and two singles, plus a cot. The staff at Sands were unbelievably friendly -- nothing was too much trouble, especially where our two grandchildren were concerned. Nicholas, our Polish waiter was exceptional, very kind, quietly spoken and a dream of a waiter.. The resort was clean, the facilities good and the food OK. By that I mean not exceptional but very acceptable. Drinks about the right price. Overall, we had a very nice time and I would be more than happy to recommend the resort. I would rate 9 out of 10. Mr J.S. Woods & Mrs L.D. Woods.

“ Having just left after an 8 night stay, our children wanted an immediate return!” ”
26th July
The staff are conscientious, extremely courteous and professional! It was our 4th time and it's super to see ongoing improvements, the bedrooms having been upgraded since our last trip.

“ Amazing hotel, perfect for family trip ”
15th July
Just had to add, we've been to the Sands Resort 4 or 5 times, it is such an amazing place, the family suites are amazing and the kids are so well catered for.
If you get a chance chat to the people who work there, they are so nice and friendly and will advise you on the best local attractions, pubs and restaurants.

“ A rare chance to relax with two young children ”
13th July
We stayed for a week and after our initial slight disappointment at the location of the hotel right on the main road, we checked in to our room which was fabulously spacious and looked newly done. From then on, what can I say - the staff were fantastic, the food was excellent, the childcare was amazing, the grounds were lovely, sea views stunning.....I could go on. Basically any initial concerns we had were quickly dispelled - we will definitely be back, Our 3 year old and 8 month old had an absolute ball - with two truly exhausted children at the end of the day we took full advantage of the baby listening and settled down to a great dinner every evening. Our 3 year old cried when it was time to leave and I have to say I wanted to join her.

“ Fantastic...wanted to stay longer ”
12th July
Just returned from a four night stay at Sands Resort with our two young daughters. Where to start...when we arrived it was two and a half hours before check in but we wanted to see where it was and my little one needed the loo so i explained at reception and they said our room was ready so we could check in now! We booked a comfort room but when we arrived although the rooms(master linking to the kids room) were clean and modern i was put off that the master room had no view but a frosted glass window on to the hallway. I went downstairs to see if there was any avaliability for the contemporary suites and the bloke on reception went out his way to make that happen...so a BIG thank you. In fact thank you to the lady who showed us the suite before changing it...she got the porter to carry our bags over...this wouldnt happen in a normal three star.
Kids club great all of the ladies friendly and extremely approachable. This was the first time my baby daughter been left in any creche etc and they managed to settle her each night within minutes...and shes going through a very clingy stage so it can be a hard task!
We will defiantly be returning but also we would like to try the sister hotel bedruthan steps four star although i hear that sands resort is just as good.

“ Just what every family wants ”
12th July
Modern hotel, great rooms and facilities, superb food and happy kids. We returned after our first visit last September as, altohugh a 6 hour drive, you can't go wrong. From playing tennis, football or golf, to getting lost in the maze or taking a dip in one of the pools - and that's just for the kids. Sensible family rooms and eating arrangements which just make things so simple - kids eat and, when they are in bed, parents eat and not self serve 'chips with everything' but choices from a proper menu. The hotel is right on the beach and, although that beach is 120+ steps down from the cliff top, its brilliant and one of many to choose from. All this and plenty of family activities in and around Newquay, with Dairyland and Lappa Valley well worth visiting. We will be back :O)

“ Amazing hotel facilities, food and service in a great location.”
8th July
Having checked all the great reviews we wondered if Sands would live up to our expectations but It exceeded them. It's just far enough out of Newquay to enjoy the view of it but miss the bedlam and it's above Watergate Bay which is stunning. The hotel and rooms are very clean and modern. Our contemporary suite had a wonderful sea view. The hotel seems to be run by teenagers or maybe we are just getting old, anyway they were all cheerful and willing to please - what more can you ask? The food is excellent and we looked forward to every meal, 5* food in a 3* hotel and very reasonable drink prices.

The facilities are incredible, everything is there especially for children. Our grandson spent ages on the scaled down football pitch and tennis court. We didn't expect a the maze or the super 9-hole pitch and putt course. And no extras, bats, racquets, clubs, surf gear, everything was inclusive.

Overall an excellent choice for a family with children.

“ Excellent family hotel ”
7th July
This is a family Hotel positioned on the cliff side with breathtaking views of the surrounding coast and sunsets. The Hotel is set up to provide maximum convenience to young families with facilities such as baby listening in the evening and buggy loan along with hire of baby back-carriers etc. This does result in a busy atmosphere that might be a little overwhelming for visitors hoping for a quiet retreat although the busiest times (breakfast dinner etc.) are easily avoided. The Hotel also offers a spa, inside and outside swimming pools that are modest in size but clean and well maintained.

Facilities in and around the area are replete and there are many high quality visitor attractions. The headland walks to nearby beaches are also easily accessible and offer stunning views. The adjacent beaches are amongst the best in the UK.

On first look the external aspect of the Hotel is a bit daunting, perhaps reflecting the heritage of the buildings and a rather individual style of decoration, but don't be put off by the appearance. The standard of internal finish is high and the grounds are quite extensive and well kept. Parking was easy.

We found the staff very helpful, friendly and courteous. Baby-listening was invaluable for concerned parents who want to enjoy a “normal” evening. The restaurant and bar facilities are very good! We have returned once already and will do so again.

“Great Family Friendly Hotel ”
1st July
We stayed at the Sands a few weeks ago. We were a bit nervous as we usually wouldn't stay in a 3 star resort but the reviews were very positive. We were pleasantly surprised. We had booked a contemporary family suite, which had 2 rooms, both with TVs, kettle, fridge. Bathroom was a bit small but fine, and everything was clean. Nice family friendly touches, like steps for kids to reach the sinks, and nappy disposal bins. The baby listening service was a boon, we preferred to eat without our children after they'd gone to bed. The meals were lovely, and it was definitely worth going for the dinner bed and breakfast option. Drinks were very reasonable, you didn't feel like you were being fleeced at every turn. Kids meal times were a good idea, they could make a mess and shout a lot and you didn't feel bad about it. They even had jars of baby food, which was great.
Facilities were good, the outdoor pool was shut when we were there, but it wasn't that hot anyway. Indoor one was fine, although I can see it being crowded at busy times, especially as there aren't many changing areas. The kids clubs were good and reasonably priced, and there was entertainment for children after their tea. Good play areas too. All in all, would definitely recommend it

“ What a brilliant hotel ”
23rd June
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Sands. It was the first time we'd stayed here and we'll definately be returning. The staff made us feel extremely at ease and were on hand at all times to help. The buffet breakfast was plentiful and the 3 course meal we had each night was a dream come true! Even the kiddies tea at 5pm was delightful, as not only was it nutritious, it was relaxing as everyone was in the same boat , all struggling to feed our excited and hungry kids!! We made full use of the baby listening service wihich I was a bit tentative about doing,but I can honestly say it made our holiday . To be able to sit down, relax, have a chat and eat fantastic food for 6 nights in a row was the icing on the cake!
We used the swimming pool every day which was always clean and our 5 year old loved the adventure playgrounds, zip wire and maze. The entertainment for the children after tea was a brilliant idea as it gave them a chance to wind down , and the times we used the kids club were met with 'I want to go again!!'
Our baby had an allergic reaction to some food while we were there, and because of the way the staff reacted so quickly to help , he was luckily Ok. They were on the ball with the first aid and paramedics and I'll be forever thankful how they dealt with the situation.
Big thanks to Leanne (manager) on the desk for her kindness and thoughtfulness.
We will be recommending this hotel to our friends, purely because we actually felt so relaxed and de-stressed there- a huge achievment when holidaying with small children!!

“ Perfect family hotel ”
23rd June
If you are wondering about going away to a hotel with young children and feel it might not be for you, think again, this hotel has everything you could think of and more to make your precious time on holiday an enjoyable and relaxing experience. If you look at the hotels website you will find all the information you require, they are honest about everything, but, I don't think they tell you enough about the excellence of their staff and the quality of their food, rooms etc. Also, as has been stated before, there really is no need to worry about the children 'letting you down', as the restaurant is designed to keep the little ones and their anxious parents away from the 'grown ups'. We have stayed in top quality hotels in a number of different locations, the only difference. as far as I can see, is the use of free slippers, expensive soaps etc. and towelling robes. As the slippers and the robes are not always a perfect fit, really The Sands offers a much better opportunity for value for money. I doubt anyone would want to go self-catering again once they have plucked up the courage to use this hotel. Oh, I nearly forgot, the best bit is they do not accept pets, a real bonus as we have allergic and asthmatic members of the family, it is amazing how the majority of places are 'pet friendly' and are therefore totally off limits for us.

“ Haven't been able to find a place in the UK to match it ”
10th June
Purpose built family suites, baby listening while we ate wonderful 3-course evening meals, a great kids club, kids meals at tea time, free buggy hire, free wetsuit hire, plenty of buckets, spades, fishing nets, body boards, tennis racquets, golf clubs etc to borrow - I can't say enough about this place. The staff made it truly stand out, though - they were so friendly and helpful and it made such a difference. All for an excellent price too. We will be going again.....

“ Great location but... ”
17th June
Been to this hotel half a dozen times over the years - initially with my young children, latterly as 'adults only'. Great location, great staff - but twice now we have arrived on a Friday/Saturday night when there has been a wedding reception taking place, and, quite frankly, the thump thump thumping of the disco music until the early hours is NOT funny - even a TV and/or hairdryer doesn't drown out the noise. This seems terribly bad to me considering that it is mainly families with young children that this hotel is targeting - I don't know what the answer is, short of them building a separate extension for these function nights - but it seems an awful oversight for somewhere that otherwise caters so well for children.

“ This Hotel is totally geared up for the benefit and enjoyment of the guests ”
10th June
When my wife and I agreed to travel to Cornwall for a five day stay at the Sands resort with our son, his wife, and our two grandchildren, five and nearly three, we didn't quite know what to expect. We are used to staying in five star Hotels and we are both quite picky. There are many lessons to be learned, by some of the five star Hotels, about how to provide for and look after guests and the Sands resort could certainly teach them a thing or two! Smiling, helpful staff who are working with a difficult clientel, young children. Spotlessly clean bedrooms and bathrooms, excellent food in the resteraunt and a range of activities to keep everone happy. The kids clubs are great and allow the parents some resting time and the child listening service in the evenings allow them a stress free dinner. Our grandson tested the system by calling out just after we had gone down for dinner on the first night, a member of staff came into the dinning room to advise us and a quick visit to the room settled him down and we heard no more from him. There are lots of activities for the kids during the day to keep them happy and the parents can pamper themselves with some of the spa treatments. All in all this is a great, reasonably priced, treat for the whole family and we will certainly be more than happy to return.

“ Great Staff - Lovely Views. Good Food and Kids Club ”
9th June
Just returned from 4 nights with the kids (Boys aged 8 and 4). Stayed in room 34 which had beautiful views, was spacious and attractive and has a great lay out for kids (Twin beds for them at the rear, little corridor with bathroom then master bedroom with great views at the front. The staff were the friendliest and most helpful I have come across in a long while. Lots to do in surrounding area. Kids loved the holiday AND the kids club so we were able to have lovely adult dinners with friends every evening and then pick up happy kids at 9.15pm. Our small issues were dealt with immediately and to our satisfaction.

“ Just returned from a 5 night stay ”
6th June
Just returned from a 5 night stay with two small children and grandparents in toe. Had a fabulous time and really can't fault this hotel. It offers excellent value for money, everything you need for a young family and completely relaxed. Nothing was too much trouble. The staff were delightful, excellent kids clubs and baby listening service allowing adults some quiet time too. We stayed in a contemporary suite, which was clean and well equipped with a child step in the bathroom, nappy bin, door gates, tv and playstation. Hard to believe it is only a three star hotel. We hope to return next year!

“ If you have kids you must stay at Sands ”
4th June
We have just returned from a five night holiday to Sands (we have a 6 and 3 year old). They are so geared up for children, they make you feel extremely welcome and do not appear to be watching 'your every move'. The staff 'go the extra mile' to help you and nothing is too much trouble. The kids clubs, the high teas, the Maze, the junior tennis court, the zip line, baby listening - all wonderful. We usually take self catering holidays ie cottages/caravans but having been to Sands, it has made us think that this is the way forward. Well done Sands. You get my vote!!

“ Excellent rooms, service, views, staff ”
4th June
very attentive staff, some really interested in serving the customers and engaging with us
Our room was a contemporary one with an area for the children that was brilliant, our view from the 3rd floor was excellent across porth beach to Newquay, facilities in the rooms were very good with the dvd/playstation etc likely to come in handy if the weather had been bad.
Location wise very nicely perched on top of cliffs, good for a bracing walk/run, depending what you like turn right out of the hotel for countryside, quiet(er) beaches and padstow area or left for Newquay and its beaches
Hotel had a good pool and excellent childrens clubs with well attended visits by zoo and aquarium, i saw the biggest crab ever crush a walnut in a single claw!!!
good outside play areas, unfortunately not enough time to take advantage of all facilities
I liked the room the best

“ Stress free holiday with young children ”
1st June
Fabulous hotel. Everything very child friendly, early evening meals for kids meant we could eat later using the free listening service. Food great. Room fabulous - great view of ocean. Very close to sheltered sandy beach and easy reach of numerous kid friendly venues. Facilities at hotel for play for differnt age groups great. We have 3 year old twins so used the kids club the morning we left so we could pack in piece and they had a great time there. Cant recomend enough if you are travelling with a young family. We will be going back!

“ Most child friendly place I've ever been ”
25th May
Just back from a long w/e at Sands. They have thought of so many child friendly features from step stools in the bathroom, baby gates in doors, spacious rooms, microwave available in dining room, a shallow heated indoor kids pool, and two fab playgrounds (one for younger and one for older with zip line). We didn't use the baby listening or attend the kids clubs, but they were on offer. The dining room is well organised so that if your child is being a kid you are in the presence of other families who understand. My family liked having the same table everyday to create some predictability and we didn't have to wait to be seated. The food was great and my kids (ages 2 and 5) were quite happy with their 3 course meals as well. Very friendly servers.
About 100 feet down the road to the left was a grueling load of steps down to an excellent bay. It was well worth the walk. Borrow (for free) some wetsuits and body boards from Sands and have a blast. Also spent another great day further down road at another cove with more activities: Lucky Glaze?
While I say that it was very child friendly, there were only a few families there and very quiet. I think the hotel was quite full with a tour bus of retired Germans who seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.
A couple of things to know though - you can't step out onto the balconies and there is not air conditioning.
We found out about this hotel from a friend with young children who has come for the past two years as well. Can't go wrong.

“ Parents dream hotel ”
21st May
We have just returned from a week at this hotel and will be recommending it to all of our friends - especially those with young children. We could not fault the hotel, its facilities or its staff. They have thought of pretty much everything to make life easy for parents with young children with babylistening (meaning you can eat on your own in the evening and chat to other adult guests without the usual interruption and mealtime chaos!), rooms with an adjoining separate section for the kids, pushchairs you can borrow, sterilisers, microwaves, separate childrens tea (food quality was excellent throughout our stay), creche facilities (also excellent). Even little things like a nappy bucket in the loo, night lights in the children's part of the room, etc etc. The swimming pool, outside play areas and spa were also top quality and we all had such a lovely week. Finally, the staff could not do enough to help out and respond to any request. We were extremely impressed and only wish we lived a little closer as the worse part of our week was definitely the journey to and from Cornwall (eight hours in a car with two small children far from fun). We will definitely return.
Oh and the location is great. Just outside Newquay and close to Watergate Bay and Padstow. Quite a lot of things to do with the kids and beaches are stunning with good facilities too - would have been even more perfect had we had nicer weather!

“ Great place to stay with young kids ”
21st May
Excellent hotel- great service, very family friendly; baby listening service great for having some time on your own in the evenings. Didn't use kidsclub but facilities looked good. Nice indoor pool and outdoor one looked great ( too cold to use!). Clean rooms. Great food both for adults and children. We will definitely go back. Spa facilities also good.

“ A great Cornish break ”
19th May
An excellent base from which to explore Newquay and Cornwall, especially suited to the younger family. The room was spacious, very comfortable with a great sea view. St Ives, St Austell and The Eden Project were all a short journey away. Newquay centre was a 20 minute walk away through beautiful scenery.

“ For families that don't have Grandparents/babysitters living close by...look no further!” ”
18th May
For families like us that don't have willing Grandparents/babysitters living close by and need a family break...look no further.
The best things Sands offers our family;
~ Children have their dinner in the early evening (and as everyone is in the same boat you don't feel uncomfortable if they make a bit of noise or mess!)
~ Adult meal together EVERY night followed by coffee in the sea view lounge (bliss)
~ On site leisure facilities (kids clubs, baby listening system, pools, gym, spa treatments, adventure playground, maze, TV lounge & more)

Obviously it can work out pricey, especially during high season, but it is TOTALLY worth it.
We are shortly returning for our 4th visit in 12 months.

“ A fantastic break for all of us ”
11th May
A really great hotel if you have children. The staff are really friendly, helpful and energetic. The rooms are modern, clean and we had a fantastic view. The baby listening meant my husband and I felt we had been out four nights on the trot! The spa has fantastic treatments and wonderful therapists. The food was really good and a varied menu meant we didn't get bored with going to the same restaurant.....the only disappoinment was some of the puddings didn't match up to the quality of the other courses...but that's being picky. A great holiday in a great location we shall definately go back!

“ A great holiday”
9th May
Having be caught up with the volcano ash and not able to fly, we booked last minute at this great hotel. We had a 2 bedroom room, which was great with two young children. The room was cleaned and tidied every day, which was lovely to come back to. The listening service was great, so we were able to enjoy an adult evening with great food the restaurant offered. They had an early tea for the children. We only used the kids club once but the staff were really friendly as were all the staff in the hotel with out exception. We used the pool every day, which was warm and clean.My husband really enjoyed having the golf on site too. Definatly recommend for a family with young children.

“ Very family friendly, we'll be back!”
29th April
We enjoyed a 3 night break in a very spacious, 2 bed ground floor "apartment". The baby listening service and the cheery staff on reception certainly left us at ease to enjoy good meals in the restuarant that overlooks the sea (after a quick drink in the bar watching the sunset first!) Our 2.5 year old loved the warm pool,and tried and loved gnocchi for the first time at children's tea time. Because the weather was so good we didn't make full use of the facilities, however they all looked great, the grounds are well kept and had lots to offer too. Will almost certainly stay again next time we come to Cornwall. Our room was cleaned and tidied each day, and we thought the way in which our daughters teddies etc were arranged ready for bed time was a lovely touch!
It was also a refreshing change to see all the staff happy in their work. Excellent.

“ Very comfortable and welcoming ”
28th April
We were made very welcome. Unfortunately didn't have time to use the facilities this time as we were helping our daughter move, but we will be back and intend to make use of the facilities next time !!

“Just Brilliant ”
27th April
Have stayed twice, both times out of school holidays, and Sands offers excellent value for money (and better than the sister hotel, Bedruthan Steps, just up the road). The large rooms looking out to the sea are really two rooms in one - one for the kids and one for the adults which means you don't have to creep around in fear of waking them. And the excellent baby listening service means you get to eat a fab evening meal in peace whilst watching the sun set over the sea! All the facilities are clean, well maintained and fun. The staff are all friendly and helpful and the children's clubs offer a welcome break but don't break the bank. The maze, play parks, golf, low-key evening entertainment, table tennis and games room contribute to having a busy but relaxing stay. The beach is a two minute drive down the hill and Watergate Bay is a 30 min cliff-top walk away (do-able with a Phil and Teds).

“ Brilliant hotel : family heaven ”
27th April
This was the first time we stayed at the Sands and we were very impressed. The staff are welcoming and can't do enough to help. The room was nicely presented and very clean and the maid service was lovely (with personal touches like the kids toys being tucked into bed and books laid out for reading!). We had hoped for a break but there was so much to do, the kids were up early ready for the obstacle course, maze, zip wire, table tennis, golf, climbing wall etc.... Not much sleeping in then, but for those of you with kids, you will know happy, occupied children is wonderful!! The tv and play station in the room came in handy as well though! The food (breakfast only) was good. Being able to borrow equipment for use both on site and on the beach was invaluable. Thanks for a great stay!

“ Great hotel - excellent value for money too!”
23rd April
We go to Sands regularly and we were pleased to see that their usual high standards have been maintained this year too: staff members are very friendly and welcoming, the rooms are clean, hotel facilities are excellent and the food is fantastic - delicious, locally sourced and beautifully presented. Ocean Breeze Spa is a gem. We would thoroughly recommend this hotel. Excellent value for money too.

“Quite a gem”
22nd April
I wish we knew about this hotel twenty years ago when our family were small.
We have travelled far and wide and stayed in all sorts of hotels.
Sands has so much to offer for a relaxing break away with the family.
The weather during our stay was perfect, beating all Eurpean destinations.
The informal relaxed atmosphere with a a very high standard offered both
simplicity yet sophistication and very good quality.
Can't wait for the next break!

"Absolutely Fantastic!!!”
22nd April
With 3 children we were looking for a nice hotel for a little bit of luxury but it had to be child friendly!!! Sands is by far the best UK break we have had with children, fantastic hotel, great rooms with a view to the sea, brilliant food and great service!! Highly recommend!

"Brilliant”
16th April
We stayed at Sands as part of an extended family to celebrate a Golden Wedding. Despite being a group of 22 we were well looked after; spacious rooms, suites, huge comfy beds and fabulous sea views. Mealtimes were complicated with age range from 4 to 74 and we chose to eat together, but it was all done done efficiently and with great humour. The food was absolutely superb and although it might seem pricey, it really isn't as you are getting something well above hotel catering standards - was told that management had decided to send perfectly good chefs to Paris for courses and the results were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff at any time and lots of facilities, games, wetsuit/body/surfboard hire etc was free rather than charged extra. We stayed on as a smaller group after most had gone and sampled the hotel in a different way - plenty of adult areas in the evening to escape from kids if you wanted to. All in all we couldn't fault anything and would not bother to look anywhere else to stay when down in Cornwall again. The website if anything underplays how good Sands really is.

"Very Family Friendly Hotel ”
16th April
We stayed at this hotel last september with our 3 month old son, they supplied all the bulky things that we didn't need to take (i.e travel cot, sterilser etc). The staff were very friendly when making the booking and very friendly when we arrived. It was very reasonably priced but it was in term time that we stayed. The food was outstanding and it was great to be in a designated dining area with children of the same age so it doesn't annoy any other people when your little one crys. It was also very easy to get everywhere from this location, you are about 5 mins drive from newquay and it is only a short drive to other lovely places cornwall has to offer. The babysitting service was great, which meant my husband and I could enjoy a night to ourselves. Definately recommend this hotel to anyone as it caters for all families with children of all ages, it would probably be a great place in the summer to go.

"Exceeded our expectation ”
14th April
My husband, ten year old son and I decided to go to Cornwall at the very last minute as the weather was good and we wantet to cycle the Camel trail. I found the Sands Hotel when I googled last minute breaks in Padstow. On the web site the hotel looked okay for a two night break and when I telephoned to make further enquiries the member of staff was very pleasant and helpful. So we jumped in the car and set off. On arrival I was rather concerned that the hotel was nearer Newquay and wondered what we would do with our bikes. No problem the Hotel has a bike shed ! The staff were polite, helpful and friendly, the food excellent and everything was very clean and in good repair. We stayed in a contempory suite which could have slept five and I would imagine be very suitable for a larger family. As a family who tends to do 4 star trips we were really impressed. The location is near some lovely beaches. We enjoyed cycling the Camel trail which took about fifteen minutes to drive to, had a 7am swim in the hotels small but adequate pool, played table tennis, pool, 9 hole golf and croquet, all included in the price ! Before we left we were shown around some of the other rooms and we fully intend to go back again with members of our extended family as we feel the hotel will be a lovely place to enjoy being together with something to offer everyone.

" Ideal for families with young children ”
14th April
I've just spent a week at this hotel with my partner and one year old and can really recommend it. They've obviously worked really hard to make it as easy as possible to look after your children. We loved the children's teas, pool and play areas. The baby listening service was great and allowed us to have a quiet dinner together. The food was excellent and the service can't be bettered. We had a room which has obviously just been decorated and it was very comfortable with an enormous bed. It's not ideal to have a cot right next to the door but this didn't prove to be a problem at all and if it is, they provide you with a travel cot. My one year old slept for 13-14 hours every night which is a record so I would recommend it just on this!!!