Darwin Escapes Reviews 

We booked the log burner lodge in the Lakes and I was happy with the lodge. Quite pleased to have a washing machine. The bathroom was huge and the shower was refreshingly hot. A lot of places I visit now have the water set to a temperature that I find not hot enough. The lodge was clean and the bed was really comfy. I prefer the smaller or more remote sites and this one was really nice. We cooked in the lodge most nights and the kitchen had everything we needed. There was a restaurant on site which we are planning to use on our last day. Only minor complaint would be the very small and expensive shop.

Booked week in Boscatle sea view van 48
Half way through week
Was making bed took off sheet and discovered disgusting matress looked like pee stains and ink stains and matress cover was stained in same place as the ink stains and on matress
3 days left we complained to housekeeping nobody came
So we slept on top of the single mattress from other beds
Obviously this was not considered a complaint as followed up by two emails when home
First email to customer communication said I had emailed wrong department
So second email to right department was never answered
Bad customer service

⭐ 1 Star – If I Could Give Less, I Would

I booked a four-day UK stay with Darwin Escapes last February and paid a deposit, believing their promise that the price would be honoured. Due to a bereavement, my circumstances changed, and when I checked their website I saw the exact same accommodation now listed £400 cheaper. I contacted them expecting at least a bit of compassion or basic customer care. Instead, I was met with a cold recitation of their terms and conditions and a flat refusal to adjust the booking, despite the situation being entirely outside my control.

I explained the bereavement. I explained the price drop. Nothing. Not the slightest attempt to help, accommodate, or even show humanity. In the end, I had to cancel and lose my deposit — only to then book the exact same accommodation through Hoseasons for £400 less, with staff who were not only helpful but actually kind, something Darwin Escapes seems completely unfamiliar with.

The contrast between the two companies is unbelievable. Darwin Escapes felt robotic, uncaring, and rigid to the point of absurdity. Hoseasons felt like dealing with actual people.

Be warned: if you need flexibility, empathy, or even basic customer service, Darwin Escapes is not the place to find it. Save yourself the stress and go with a company that treats its customers with a bit of humanity — Hoseasons certainly did.

We recently stayed at Blenheim Lodge Retreat. We booked for four nights and decided we would extend if possible to 6 nights. I went to the reception (I have to say the service here is 5 stars) who kindly checked if our lodge was available for 2 extra nights and it was. They could not book it and advised they would alert the reservations team. Here is where it all goes badly wrong, we knew the two nights was £345.00 but got a link saying £455.00, which was the price for three nights. When I requested a reason we were being charged for two nights the same as three nights, I was advised they use "dynamic pricing". As a current guest, which would have meant no need to even clean the lodge, we were very disappointed. We chose not to extend with Darwin Escapes and found an alternative near by for £302.00, so I suppose I used dynamic pricing to go elsewhere. The lodge also was not fully booked as we left, so seems crazy to turn down a booking by a current guest on the chance you may get a new booking!

I arrived late on the Monday, but having been here before, I gave reception a heads up, and the lodge was open. Allocated Edenbridge No 1. Being spider season I was greeted by 12 of them in bedroom, bathroom, and livingroom, which were swiftly relocated outdoors. Numerous cobwebs behind doors, across cupboards, on ceiling, at the back of bedroom TV, but this has always been my experience of lodges. Other than that clean but dated in some parts. The nightmare begun when trying to sleep, though the traffic lessens at night it doesn't stop, with lorries and buses still going up and down the busy B road, and being situated next to the entrance, the sound just thunders down the through road. No shielding for this lodge, by other lodges. There was no where to escape in order to sleep. I tried ear plugs, fan, and brown noise on my phone but nothing helped. After 6am I rang reception leaving a message. After another phone call in which I requested a move to another lodge, I was told no, and " to have a nice day." Of course I was unable to sleep in the day either, as the traffic increased, and then a chainsaw struck up. Giving up, I ran a bath, which came out very slowly, and took a while to fill. I then went out for a walk to the garden centre and the traffic was thundering up and down, large dumper trucks etc. On returning I took walks around the site at different times into the evening, up until gone 10pm, and there seemed to be a number of empty lodges, no cars parked outside, no lights on, and curtains opened at the front. So to me it looks like there are vacant lodges on site, so I could of been rellocated. I've been here when it's been packed out, and this wasn't.

So it's now 22.21, and I'm left wondering if this company would rather lose a return customer, than have just moved me as requested? After all, it now looks to me that, knowing that it's a lottery as to where I would be placed in future, that even if they could do something to improve a customer's experience, they simply wouldn't.

The beds are firm, so like me, you may want to bring a spare duvet. And if you are turning up late make sure you get the basics as the shops are a drive out. I've had lovely experiences here, and have recommended this place to friends and family in the past, but this has affected my opinion. I always think a better gauged experience can only be gained after a number of visits to a place for continuity, and sadly when all is well, it's great, but when it is not, does it even matter to this company?

Piran Meadows was my third stay at a Darwin Escape. The previous two stays were excellent. But this time, I raised a list of 11 issues when I returned my keys. I'm not sure if the keys were picked up by the cleaner with the note and the note discarded (especially as most of the points related to hygiene/cleaning issues, or if the note was given in but ignored. I have had no response.

We had a terrible experience at Piran meadows due to the unclean/not fit for use caravan.
Since returning have tried to raise this with Darwin escape and their customer service is as bad as the caravan.

This would likely have been a very different review had the events of last week from Thursday onwards played out differently. It would've been a fully 5 star review about how much we'd enjoyed our 4th stay at this resort. How much my 10 year old son enjoyed the pool and activities, how the food in the Boardwalk had gone up a notch and was absolutely delicious. The fantastic night time entertainment with KJ, the gorgeous, extremely talented Tegan and the rest of the staff who's names I didn't get. The super professional bar staff and ever attentive resort staff but the holiday turned at 6 am on Thursday into a disaster.

Now, obviously, the resort is not responsible for Welsh Water's dismal failure in dealing with a burst water main that took out the water for an entire county for 3 days. I water main, an ENTIRE COUNTY. What they *were* responsible for was communication, or rather the complete lack thereof.

Thursday morning, I got up, went to the toilet the went to wash my hands. No water, the cistern was not refilling. I stepped out of the van to see if anyone else was experiencing it and was told that the whole area was without water and was likely to be so for the whole day. We made the decision to go out for the day to somewhere outside the area. Still no communication.

We returned in the evening to find that some staff on the site had given out bottled water. We'd managed to get some on our way but again, no communication. We decided to have a look round the camp to see if there was any more to be had to find that a member of staff had filled a water butt with water and left it in the back of a land rover for people to fill buckets/ tubs with water for flushing. We managed to fill a the washing bowl and some water bottles. Still no communication from the site. We only found this by chance.

Friday morning, STILL no communication from the camp, Darwin Escapes or Hoseasons. Consulting the Welsh Water website made it clear that the situation would not improve before Saturday when we were due to leave so again, we went out for the day. Another 3 meals out, travel, expenses for buying drinks during a very hot day and all that entails.

We returned to the camp at 7:30 pm having purchased more water, wipes for washing and antibacterial wipes for the surfaces to be met by a security guard telling us that the site was now closed and we would have to leave. So we had to pack up at 7:30pm and set off on an hour and a half drive. It's a good job we hadn't gone using public transport and drunk alcohol.

I have no issue with the site closing. It's a decision that should've been taken first thing in the morning and COMMUNICATED TO ALL GUESTS but no. No communication whatsoever. No phone call. No email. Nothing. Even now, writing this on Tuesday 19th August having left on Friday 15th August I have had NO communication from the site, Darwin Escapes or Hoseasons other than 3 requests for reviews and a £30 off (Ha!!) voucher for early booking my next holiday. Everyone involved in these organisations has totally failed to take care of me as a guest or follow up afterwards. They are a joke and a disgrace. I am absolutely raging at this point and waiting for a derisory offer of a refund for 2 days lost that misses the entire point.

Don't book with Hoseasons or Darwin Escapes

Arrived today at Bath Mills Lodge and I'm genuinely impressed. The staff welcome was warm and friendly and they even helped to arrange bringing my delivered groceries to my lodge. Incredibly helpful.
The lodge is clean, comfortable and the site is peaceful and because of the way the lodges are laid out, you're not overlooked at all.
The fridge is a good size for a weeks stay and the bathroom is very spacious.
If the rest of the stay is like day one, I'll definitely come back. So far 10/10

Not dog friendly!
Recently visited talacre beach.
Cheap get away, however had to pay £50 to take our dog. Nothing provided for this amount. Facilities on site were not dog friendly and you couldn’t leave your dog in the caravan! Why say you are dog friendly when this obviously isn’t!

I used the Darwin Escapes online form to ask a query before making a booking. Over a week later and still no reply. Poor customer service.

Edited following Darwin Escapes reply :
1. My name isn't Jess
2. As per my review, my complaint wasn't regarding a current booking
3. You replied 10 months after i posted my review......

The lodge was wonderful. The restaurant was awful. We usually go there for fish and chips. The chips were over cooked and had skins on. The fish was just okay. No choice of peas ( garden peas don't go with fish and chips) . I ordered a waffle with glased banana and ice cream. The banana was dried!!!! Very disappointing won't be going again. They weren't interested in my genuine complaint. They said they hadn't had a lot of customers. Im not surprised.

We have booked for 4 adults to visit Blenheim Palace first weekend in December paid the deposit & tried to reclaim the 20% off voucher for entry to the palace & gardens (the whole purpose of booking the trip) sadly those dates are blocked out so I’m unable to book. In the past month I’ve emailed twice and completed a contact form followed by calls to the reservations number but nobody answers/replies! It’s awful customer service. (the home ownership team answer immediately) and now I’ve lost faith in dealing with this company. Our booking is just over £800, which we obviously want to enjoy so please Darwin escapes, value my custom by replying so reviews like this are avoided.

We wanted to stay at Blenheim Palace for a short break and on checking the availability calendar regularly we were reassured that the dates we required were available. When it came to making the booking I selected the dates and then proceeded to complete all the personal details. However, when I attempted to make payment I received a coded error which seemed to indicate that there was no availability! So, I tried to telephone and after selecting the booking option I was advised that someone would be with me shortly. Then after that a message that my call could not be taken. No reason given or suggestions when would be a good time to call back! So I sent an online message asking for help to which I have not received a response! This would have been our first stay at a Darwin Escapes site but it seems they don’t want our business which I’m happy to place elsewhere.

We booked four lodges for my husband’s birthday at the Blenheim Palace resort. We could not have had a more positive experience! Nothing was too much trouble for the staff - from the booking experience to when we were actually at the resort. Jessica and Karen were amazing! Emails were answered quickly and all of our questions were answered. A slight problem with the decking in our lodge was sorted with the hour. The lodges were beautifully equipped and comfortable. Excellent private field for dog walking and easy access to Blenheim Palace.
Will definitely be looking at going back!

If you have a problem that requires the engagement Darwin Escapes management, then don't expect any form of engagement from the company.
As several other reviews point out they simply ignore you.
First I raised a "feedback comment" and no response, I then emailed the Area Manager (Mike Webster) and still no response.
Most site teams are very good, but Darwin management are failing in their duties

We stayed at Kilnwick Percy Resort and Golf Club. Restaurant very modern, outside area lovely staff friendly and food good value for money. Not enough comfortable seating when weather’s not great. Lodge far from luxury, very disappointed as we’ve stayed at several Darwin sites before on numerous occasions. Mismatched furniture, clock with no battery in it, no scissors and warped frying pan, no hairdryer/ ironing board which have always been standard at other sites, rusty bin, kitchen cupboard doors not closing the list could go on and on, No privacy around hot tub. Sorry Darwin if your advertising lodges as luxury holidays that’s what you need to provide.

Stratford lodges...so relaxing and quiet
Beautiful and cosy inside

We stayed at Keswick Reach in the English Lake district.
This site is well run and in a good location for North Lakes.
We stayed in a Turner 4 (number 128) which was very spacious and well equipped.
However, it is starting to look used.
We encountered the following problems which were fixed promptly by friendly staff:-
The Central Heating and Hot Water stopped working.
The mixer Tap in the ensuite was wobbly.
Two LEDS lights were flickering.

A shower mixer temperature control seized on hot and was temporarily fixed.
Also, there were a lot of small marks/stains on the blinds and walls.
A gutter downpipe was leaking but not causing a problem.
In our opinion, this unit could do with a minor refurb.

We stayed at Rivendale Lodge Retreat.

Firstly, the cleanliness was appalling. There was a layer of dust everywhere: on the blinds, towel drying rails, lights..., and rubbish under the sofa. The bed linens and towels had stains and hair. Additionally, there was only one protective cover for the extractor fan's sharp corners.

We were only provided with three sachets of coffee for four adults and one small complimentary shampoo and shower gel, which was not enough for even one person.

There was no teapot or cafetiere to make coffee, which was very strange not to find in a Premier Lodge.

We had only four forks, knives, and spoons, and five glasses, which we found not very environmentally friendly, as we constantly had to wash them, using more water. If we had more utensils, we could have saved more water.

We couldn't use the hot tub as the smell of cow manure from surrounding farms was unbearable. We were also unable to sit outside because of the smell.

Another disappointment was that there was nowhere to have a walk in the evening. The site had overgrown grass, and the pictures added to the Darwin Escape website were misleading, as this site didn't look as advertised.