Cornish Gems Reviews 

Beautiful little fantastically furnished cottage in a quaint friendly village.
A proper relaxing experience.

Spent a week at the Trick in Carbis Bay. First impression not good - the fridge hadn’t been cleaned also the gas hob - kitchen taps loose. On a positive note the location was great. Wouldn’t stay here again.

Just a very well presented cottage, clean with plenty of space. Very quite but just a 5 min drive to the beach.
Perfect if your looking to relax 👌

We had the best 7 days at the Calf house,
On arrival it was everything and more of what we had expected, absolutely beautiful cottage, hot tub, gorgeous bathroom...in a secluded spot ,really quiet too.
Only a short drive to either shops or the beach..,we love Cornwall and have already booked again for next year .
Thank you Gems

We have used several agents in the past for Cornish holidays and Cornish Gems are a cut above the rest. The staff were very helpful and efficient treating us as like a special customer. We particularly appreciated the follow up call on our first full day in the cottage to check that all was to our liking. Cornish Gems made the holiday experience very enjoyable. The cottage was well described and suited our needs. Many thanks Cornish Gems

We have been lucky enough to stay in a number of Cornish Gems over the past years. From Treetops, Ocean Cliffs, Mill Cottage, Wickham House, ELYNGLAS, BODRIGY (the most amazing house ever we got a covid deal on it otherwise too costly for us but OMG). Our extended family have also stayed in a number of properties for their hols with them. They are the best company we have used to date for this country. Always helpful, good call ins and check ups. Updates on any issues like locks, windows or things not working as should. All the properties we have stayed in have been wonderful. The log fires we love, the views, the cleanliness, the CORNISH GEMS BAGS - HELLO!! We use them for our shopping at home - never stop them please CG!. We have stayed at Ocean Cliffs twice now and are sure to return when we can. The most wonderful sea view - we were there for the recent storm and it was amazing to watch, sat inside all cosy and with the fire over Easter. Very lucky. Beach days, ice creams, and rain but knowing going back to our home from home. Delightful. This time was great to know when the hot tub checkers were coming to test it etc and they even came a day earlier than said which made more sense so half way through hol for us rather than nearer end. Thank you to Cornish Gems for once again enabling us to stay at this owners beautiful apartment, and even extending a little. Are the holidays cheap? No. Are they worth it - yes! Nothing in this country seems to be cheap anymore and yes holidays abroad may be cheaper sometimes, but we adore Cornwall and go as an extended family with our two little girls and my parents & this is the perfect place for family times and memories. Highly recommend Cornish Gems and Ocean Cliffs. If we ever get the money to return to Bodrigy we will be there in a shot.

The 2nd time we have used this company and the properties have exceeded our expectations. From booking to check out, nothing was too much trouble. I sent a couple of emails with enquiries whilst I was staying and each time they were resolved quickly and efficiently. Will definitely use again.

I absolutely hate writing a negative review if anything I would promote a business or service but this really does need to be highlighted.

We stayed at the lovely tregonce farmhouse in padstow. I think it’s our 4th or 5th stay there. It’s a lovely property, excellently located and immaculately clean. So for those reasons it’s a 5star anyway of the week.

Over the years we have had issues but they have been resolved quickly (ish) for instance the heating didn’t work I believe 18 months roughly ago and it was fixed the following morning. No issue and no compliant from ourselves.

Last October the handle came off on the door, we were locked out (no car key or other access ) for around 2 hours in the rain, the service then wasn’t great and I ended up asking a neighbour for a screw driver and took the door knob off and the following day it was fixed. We didn’t complain other than to raise our frustration. No compensation offered for the fact that we were left outside for 2 hours in the rain soaking wet but we let it go.

This time however april 2023 was disgusting service

Basically the cost of renting the farmhouse is quite costly £2500-3k for a week so it’s not cheap and really for that money you expect HEAT!

We arrived on the Saturday and it was chilly but we thoguht it was just us and didn’t think too much about it

Sunday morning we contacted by phone Cornish gems who replied by text to say someone was coming out (no offer of any logs or anything ) we have no heating at all and only enough water for 2 quick showers at a time (45 plus min wait in between)

So day we get home around 7pm to a note from the engineer (no updates from Cornish gems in the day so we assumed all was good) saying he’s left us two plug in little heaters

I text Cornish gems who said they were unaware of this (why they hadn’t chased their contractor engineer up I don’t know )

The lady chased for news and advised basically they’re waiting on a part !

Again no offer of anything else logs etc

So I’m expected to what a 4 bedroom 3/4 living roomed house with two plug in heaters ! I spent the night moving heaters around and we spent another night going to be early in our hoodies etc

Monday no heating again and I messaged and said if no heating I require logs and towels (as I cannot dry the towels on the radiators as there is no heat )

I was advised as well to wait 30 mins for showers ! Mental

Tuesday no heating no more logs we complained again and was advised by a Cornish gems agent that we could dry and wash our towels In The dryer !! I pointed out that I had come away for a holiday not to do a load of washing etc

Then he said can the heat of the house not dry the towels! Honestly I do not know what these people are thinking it’s an incredibly cold house when not heated and it’s a lovely house when it is heated

I insisted more logs to be dropped off

Wednesday no heating finally 6 bags of logs dropped off - Wednesday was the brunt of storm noa so we spent a lot more time in the freezing property and used the logs that day but had to ask for more logs which were eventually dropped off 6pm Thursday

We were desperate to go home but the issue we had was we were having extensive works done at home so we have no kitchen at home so it was go home to no kitchen but warmth or stay in the cold with a kitchen ! Also we had booked a lot of things that week and when we tried to cancel the things like meals and water sports we were told we would lose the money so it was a case of lose around £650 in bookings or stick it out

Our daughter and partner gave up on Wednesday and headed home and we hung out planning to go Thursday but then tragedy struck as outside the front door and gate there is no drain for surface water and due to the rain it was flooding (water was also coming through the windows !) my son slipped on the water and crashed into the front door splitting his head open and requiring 5 stitches ! We spent a few hours at Newquay hospital who were amazing but it meant we had to stay another night as he was advised to rest

I advised Cornish gets of this also but haven’t even had the courtesy of a reply or “I hope he’s ok”

Thursday at 4:30 one of the boilers was finally fixed to allow a mild heat but we were advised you can’t use the cooker or it will turn the heat off ! If you turn the cooker off it should come back on !

We have asked for a refund of sort of the fee paid and we have asked for a reply and an apology but nothing

It’s very disappointing on the treatment we had and it was a very awful week

Also to add insult to injury on Thursday Cornish gems had the audacity to call us to actually ask if we could advice on the work that’s been done to the boiler as they hadn’t managed to speak to the engineer !

Since emailing Tim from Cornish gems has called and an apology has been given and and he was very helpful and decent to speak to

Seamless experience. Right from booking online to arrival and departure everything was easy. Will definitely use again!

Cornish Gems made booking a holiday an easy and stressfree experience. The property we had chosen, Trevanion Cottage in Coverack, truely was a 'Cornish Gem'. It was made warm and welcoming for our arrival and was spotlessly clean. The owners had left the most amazing welcome pack! Thank you to both the owners and the team at Cornish Gems for a wonderful holiday stay.

We arrived at Barrett’s Zawn in the teeth of a south westerly gale. The property is very exposed, close to the south west coastal path . So on a good day the views are superb. Unfortunately, the house was very cold and unwelcoming.Central heating not on .Soon remedied, but it took a couple of hours to warm up , by which time the children were ready for bed. More woe, there was no hot water and no instructions to help remedy the situation. Several phone calls later and following a hunt for the hidden key we gained access to the boiler controls and managed to switch the hot water on ….too late for the children of course.(Barretts Zawn does not provide any Children’s toys by the way)
The following morning the dishwasher saga begins, when we are greeted by unwashed dishes in a pool of dirty water. More phone calls, lots of suggestions as to how to remedy the situation, none of which worked . So we resigned ourselves to washing dishes by hand . An engineer was dispatched but made no difference. Lots of valuable holiday time wasted.The dishwasher was eventually replaced as we left.Putting these unfortunate issues on one side, Barrett’s Zawn is a comfortable property in a unique position , but it does not live up to its marketing hype. The kitchen area is small and not so well equipped .The dining table is very utilitarian , and strangely screwed to the floor. The chairs provided are on a different level to the bench seating. Lovely to have an AGA but the extractor fan is inadequate . There are some comfortable sofas in the lounge area, but a rather odd set of bench seats beside the log burner , which serve no purpose. The beds are comfortable ( although some of the double duvets are past their best ) One of the radiators in the master bedroom is not working properly , and there were reports of a blocked sink in one of the other bedrooms. There is a small utility area on the ground floor with clothes washing facility , but limited drying area, and no external clothes line .
Thanks to Cornish Gems for your brave attempts to improve our experience.However, we are left with the view that Barrett’s Zawn was just not as prepared for our visit as we would have wished.

We have just returned from a visit to The Beach Barn, a property booked through Cornish Gems. We had stayed previously at the property when it first listed in 2018 and it was a perfect fit for a break. The booking process is simple, and we received a call confirming the booking.

Having travelled 365 miles to reach the property, we were glad to walk through the door. It looked as good as it did in 2018, extremely clean and well appointed. But this is where it goes a little off track.

When we arrived, there was no heating and it felt like there had been no heating for several days. As it was underfloor heating we tried to adjust the thermostat and thought it would just take a while to heat up. We waited until the next day, but it was extremely cold so we called Gems, but the person on the phone couldn't help and arranged a call back. Once we got a call, I we were asked to find the hidden key safe and get the management keys, enter a private area and flick the fuses not knowing what had cause the electrical issue.

Whilst this did the trick, we never heard anything else off Cornish Gems throughout our visit even though they say in their booking process they will give you a courtesy call after check in.

We experienced other issues whilst there, but we thought we would explain to them when the called. But they never did and still havent! Shortly after checkout the main party member got a feedback form, where they explained the issues, but we loved the property. We didn't make a call for any refunds, discounts or even complain officially.

So it was a little disappointing to then receive an email about the feedback that basically just said sorry. We know we should have called you, but we didn't? And that we should have called them to allow them to try and correct the issues. My expectations were after leaving feedback -Were sorry about the issue we will send someone to look into it. Not if had you called us we would have fixed things, if that would have been the case why did you expect a guest to go into a private area and mess with the fuse box.

Now in fairness to all, maybe we should have called them with the issues rather than wait for the courtesy call from them but they do state they will make a courtesy call as mentioned in their booking confirmation. Having just spent two years looking after someone with dementia we just wanted a simple hassle free break and didn't want to make a big thing out of everything.

Cornish Gems shine with their list of properties, and I will say that this is the cleanest holiday rental I have ever stayed at. And as well appointed as the inside of the property was, the lack of attention outside was really disappointing.

No Heating for 24 hours, Extractor fan in bathrooms not working, Finding external doors left unlocked, the patio area to the hot tub and around the hot tub was muddy and dirty ( Yet a USP of their property is the garden and hot tub). It was so muddy, we used the hose pipe to clean it so that we didn't walk it into the property. The hot tub itself has jet covers missing, decorative and front panels missing).

The also failed to mention that two properties opposite are being redeveloped, so I was a little shocked to have a strange builder stood in front of the bedroom window at 8.30am on a Sunday morning.

Would I use Cornish Gems property again, probably. They have the best range of properties and on both occasions of using Gems their properties have been spotless.

But rather than a dismissive and brush off email to feedback you asked for, a call or generic response may have been better. You can't apologise and then say but you should have called us.

Easy booking system. Property lived up to expectations, very well equipped, comfortable beds and sofas. Location was excellent with fantastic sea views.

The property was wonderfully situated next ti the sea with excellent views. It was beautifully presented, nicely furnished and well equipped.

Cornish Gems were an excellent booking agency who were incredibly attentive and kept in contact with us making sure that our stay was pleasant.

We were sad to leave the property.

First time renting through Cornish Gems and not disappointed! A very helpful, personal experience.
And the property did not disappoint either... it lived up to the website description, which is not always the case.
I will certainly use this company in future.

This was our second booking with Cornish Gems, easy booking system which gives excellent descriptions of the properties and photographs, which when you are arrive are per the website description and photographs are true reflections.
The highest standard of properties given we choose Dog Friendly stays.
How wonderful to find such a great company, we will be booking again.
Highly recommend.

Second holiday booked with Cornish Gems. As always....
Easy online booking
Fantastic customer service.
Wonderful apartment 'The Trick'
Can highly recommend.
Third Cornish Gems holiday already booked for June.

Beautiful, well-maintained and spotless house. Full sea-views. Two minutes walk down the garden and steps to the beach. Exceptional and personal service from Cornish Gems.

We stayed in Tredinnick Dairy for Christmas. The cottage is very lovely and extremely well equipped. V v comfortable. And v v clean. Very nice to have the check in call. We had a very good experience.