Unique Homestays

We’ve just returned from the most magical stay at The Nightjar in the Cotswolds, and I truly can’t recommend it highly enough. From start to finish, everything was exceptional; the house itself, the beautiful grounds, and the idyllic location. It’s the perfect countryside escape, with the house offering absolutely everything you could need and more. Our days were spent outdoors enjoying the pool, sauna, and hot tub, while our evenings were filled with games and cosy film nights in the most incredible cinema room. If you’re looking for an unforgettable getaway with friends or family, Nightjar is an absolute dream and I cannot recommend it enough!

Four Hundred Summers stands within beautifully manicured gardens. However, while it is advertised on Unique Homestay’s website as an ‘utterly quintessential luxury Cotswold cottage with all the feelings of flapjack-scented homecomings, this was not our experience. We booked a 7-night stay over Christmas 2025 to celebrate my 60th birthday and our wedding anniversary alongside Christmas itself but we quickly identified a whole host of issues relating to the cleanliness of the property and subsequently left early on Christmas Eve. We were so relieved to get home. The kitchen was particularly dirty with thick dust and grease on all of the skirting boards, food debris on the floor and sticky fingerprints visible on most of the cupboard doors and handles. The kitchen knives were also dirty and had to be washed prior to use as was the pan that we picked up to cook dinner in on our first night. The brochure for the house was also unpleasant and didn’t lend itself to being thumbed through for ideas on where to eat out. Overall this property was unhygienic and not what we were expecting. We contacted UHS by e-mail within 2.5 hours of arriving and rang them the following morning. We sent many photographs of what we found and felt their response was professional and supportive. They liaised with the owner and attempts were made to rectify the problems by sending in the cleaning team whilst we went out for our anniversary meal. Unfortunately they decided to attend 2 hours before the agreed time which I felt placed us in a very uncomfortable position, heightening the stress we were already under. On our return later that evening, some of the issues we had raised had been addressed but when I subsequently found food debris along with human hair underneath the main sofa cushions, I knew we couldn’t spend Christmas here let alone cook our Christmas meal. We therefore made the decision to travel home the very next morning along with the turkey and all of the trimmings we had bought locally. While we were able to get a full refund, we cannot in good conscience recommend this property.

We've just returned from a last minute trip to The Outpost in Conwy, our first experience through Unique Homestays but certainly not to be our last. Rebecca the owner was warm in her interactions and so personable, she really has considered all of the important little things that even we hadn't realised we might need whilst away. You access the property via a private little bridge and then it's just you, the wood fired tub, the stars, the sound of the stream nearby and calls of the resident tawny owl. The inside was clean, spacious, warm and characterful. It was the relaxation we needed and it felt nothing short of majestic, to hide away at this beautiful home in it's own little woodland.

We have been to "The Fable" several times now. Actually, I don't want to review it, so that not everyone knows how fantastic this cottage is. It is perfectly and stylishly furnished, located in a fairytale setting and leaves nothing to be desired. For us, the well-maintained hot tub and the fact that dogs are very welcome (there are even dog cushions and treats for our four-legged friend) are definite plus points. What can I say... I will recommend it to my friends and we will definitely be back next year.

Another very Disappointing Experience at ‘Serpentine’ (Reflections) in Cornwall Unfortunately, our stay at ‘Serpentine’ (also known as Reflections) in Cornwall was a very disappointing experience. I highly recommend reading both this review and others before deciding to stay here. Our stay did not meet the price point or reflect the advertised photos. We encountered multiple issues during our time there, including: Rising floor tiles throughout the property. Stained laundry that was not up to standard. A broken BBQ that made it impossible to enjoy the outdoor amenities as expected on arrival The housekeeper still on the property when we checked in at 6:30 PM putting together a new BBQ A lack of basic amenities that were advertised but not provided. Upon arrival, we noticed that the property didn’t have many of the features that were promised, such as working electric blinds (they remained closed for the entire duration of our stay, leaving the rooms without natural light). We also experienced a significant roof leak on Saturday night, further compounding the frustrations. The property feels in need of some maintenance, love and attention. For the price we paid, we expected much better quality and service. Unfortunately, our experience at ‘Serpentine’ was far from what was advertised, and we would not recommend staying here. Unique home stays did their best to achieve a refund from the owner, however the owner lacked compassion or understanding and offered us a 10% reduction. This left us feeling taken advantage of. Please use your hard earned money wisely and do not choose this property.

You pay a premium for a rental and it is not worth it! Beds were uncomfy, house extremely hot and everything need a bit of TLC! I got charged for sleeping in another room £175 in the house which should have been ‘locked’ for one night, as I couldn’t sleep in one of the other bedrooms due to it being uncomfortable (bearing in mind I’m 7 months pregnant). I offered to pay for cleaning of the room but they insisted taking £175 from my deposit. We also changed the dates and they charged us £30 admin fee….money grabbing company, not a premium service….avoid at all costs

A Disappointing Stay at Four Hundred Summers – Not Worth the Price I was genuinely excited about my stay at Four Hundred Summers, a property listed on Unique Homestays, but unfortunately, the experience fell far short of expectations — especially considering the premium price paid (£1054.20 for 5 nights, after applying nearly £200 worth of loyalty points). From the first day, I noticed a woodlice infestation in the bedroom. While I understand countryside homes may attract some insects, finding up to 15 of them crawling on the floor daily was distressing and unacceptable for a luxury property. I reported this to the owner, who assured me they were harmless, but no action was taken throughout my stay. Other issues included: • A wooden hot tub that we couldn’t use due to limited firewood. We were given only one basket inside and one in the potting shed. Any additional logs were locked away. I ended up buying my own logs just to use the fireplace. • A leaking tap in the bathroom that created a constant dripping noise. • Half-used toiletries on arrival, which were only replenished after I chased for them. • A small dead mouse in the garden — unpleasant, regardless of the rural setting. Despite submitting videos and photo evidence, Unique Homestays declined to issue a refund or meaningful compensation, offering only reward points I do not intend to use again. I’m sharing this review to help other guests make an informed decision. For a brand that markets itself as a provider of exclusive and high-end stays, the service and response were deeply disappointing.

We’ve recently returned from a week long stay at the Brandy Thief and were blown away by the location, sea views and gorgeous interiors of the property. The cottage was beautiful and one of the most comfortable properties we’ve ever stayed at. It had everything we could possibly need and more. It’s been finished to a very high standard with beautiful furnishings and decorative items. There are historic photos in every room telling a story of the cottage and local area which is such a nice touch and add to the ambience of the cottage. We loved waking up to the sea every morning and being able to hear the waves crashing when we opened the window. The owner, Tina, was so helpful both before and during our stay, giving recommendations and suggestions to us. The village pub is a short walk from the cottage and is worth a visit (or 3) when staying at the cottage. The food was good and the staff welcomed you in like a local. Usually when our holiday comes to an end we find that we’re ready to return home, but not this time. We were very sad to leave the Brandy Thief and could easily have stayed for longer. We hope to return one day.