Parkdean Resorts Windermere
Booking Experience
We booked this trip via the Parkdean website and the process was easy and efficient, although it did require security checks. Whilst I do see why this is necessary, it added a layer of complication that we are not accustomed to.
Check In
Arriving for check in was a little difficult due to the limited parking outside reception. All spaces were occupied, as well as cars waiting along the road whilst guests completed the check in process. We paid extra for early check in as we were not far away. If it was that busy at 1pm, I wouldn’t want to witness it at 4pm when standard check in begins.
Lodge
When we reached our lodge, which was located close to the lake, the door was already open. This felt a bit unnerving. It was also obvious that it not been deep cleaned. There were stains on the bedding and noticeable dust built up in areas, particularly the extractor fans and around the radiators. This made the lodge feel uninviting and I began to pay more attention to the cleanliness throughout the week.
There is WiFi on site, however this does not work. If you manage to connect, the signal strength is not sufficient to load social media or send photos, and then the connection typically drops after 5 minutes. As there is also very limited phone signal across the park, phone data often isn’t available either. Whilst this did not bother me too much, and I could use the trip as a digital detox, it did make researching the local area quite difficult.
The televisions in the lodge also left a lot to be desired. The remotes are missing the battery covers and commands often had to be pressed numerous times before they were registered. There are a few channels available but on ours, most of them had no sound. For some guests, this could be a significant drawback.
Our lodge had a hot tub included and on arrival day, it did not reach temperature until after 9pm. The hot tubs are not allowed to be used between 10pm and 10am so this was not ideal. The jets in the hot tub also did not work, we reported this numerous times across the week but it felt as if there was little urgency in addressing this. It was not until our third evening that somebody from the hot tub company came out to investigate. Whether the delay was due to the hot tub company or the site staff not escalating the issue, I could not say. However, it often felt as though our concerns were not being taken seriously. Despite various explanations as to why the problem had not been resolved, when we left on Friday, the hot tub was still not working.
On a positive note, the beds very comfortable and the walk in wardrobe felt like a touch of luxury.
Service
The staff onsite in the reception were pleasant. However, I do not think complaints are escalated quickly unless guests repeatedly advocate for themselves. Many of the issues we, and other guests encountered were met with explanations but no solution, namely that maintenance staff are busy, the weather is having an effect and that our devices are the reason the WiFi doesn’t work.
Food and Drinks
We ate from the onsite restaurant once during our stay. We chose to click and collect and upon arrival, we were not acknowledged by the man in there until our food was boxed up and handed it to us, despite there being nobody else in the restaurant at the time. Whilst I do not expect a red carpet reception, a simple acknowledgement that we were there would have been nice.
The food was very nice, so compliments to the chef. My only criticism is that the menu is quite limited for vegetarians. It would be nice to see the menu expand in the future.
Locality
The park is situated on Lake Windermere which offers stunning views of the water and the hills surrounding it. There are a couple of benches along the waterfront where you can sit and watch the geese and the water sports which provides a bit of entertainment on a fair weather day.
The local town is only 10 minutes walk away and offers shops, pubs, ice creams and arcades, making it easy to spend a few hours wandering around. The public transport system also seems fairly substantial, although having a car opens countless options for exploring the Lake District.
Final Verdict
The lodge and the park were somewhat a disappointment, but it was a decent base from which to explore the lake district.
Rating – 3/10
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