Reviews of the Budock Vean

Here are a selection of reviews we have had from guests, collected from Trip Advisor and Booking.com

Couldn't have been better

An ideal location, beautiful scenic grounds. Very comfortable and spacious room (Signature suite). Excellent food and helpful, friendly and attentive staff. Also worth mentioning was that we appreciated the hot food being served on hot plates (not just warm which seems to be the norm these days) which enhanced the enjoyment of the food. Spa treatment was excellent, and the staff there were also friendly and attentive.

Date of stay: September 2022

Complete luxury

I have had the pleasure of staying at this wonderful hotel for the last 6 years, and have gone twice this year (2022). The room was modern and clean, food was exceptional and the staff so warm, friendly and welcoming. The bar manager is fantastic as are Mo and Tina in the restaurant (and all of their staff). I can't recommend this luxurious hotel highly enough. I always look forward to going back - it has a family vibe about it. Just beautiful.

Date of stay: September 2022

A wonderful retreat

A wonderful retreat from the pressures of life in these difficult times. Just had a 3 day stay at the Budock Vean Hotel in south Cornwall. It was a truly memorable experience. I was in the area for business reasons and decided to make the most of the trip. The hotel is beautifully appointed and set in the most glorious grounds with a path leading down to the Helford estuary. The gardens were delightful and the flora stunning. The staff were most attentive and friendly and courteous. The highlight though was the food. Dinner each evening was simply stunning. Fish clearly featured prominently, and was just amazing. I cannot recall a time ever when I was impatient to view a menu. It was backed up by a well chosen and reasonably priced wine list which complimented one's choices. Put simply, we cannot wait for our next trip down to Cornwall so we can stay at this exceptional hotel. Well done to all the staff at the hotel.

Date of stay: August 2022

Relaxing short break

Just returned from a short stay with friends at this lovely hotel. We were upgraded on arrival to Signature rooms overlooking the golf course, which were very spacious and comfortable. It is in a beautiful setting with the gardens going down to a small beach on the estuary from where we went on an amazing kayaking tour of the Helford estuary. The hotel, grounds and golf course are very well kept and it is within easy walking distance of Trebah and Glendurgan gardens, both well worth a visit. But the highlight of our stay had to be the staff - in the bar, restaurant, spa and room cleaning - everyone without exception was friendly and provided a first rate service. We are looking forward to our next visit in November with some more friends - it will be colder outside (not in the high 20s as it was this time) but hopefully the warmth will come from inside this very friendly place.

Date of stay: August 2022

Spa treat - mum and daughter time

From the moment we arrived and were greeted warmly and courteously by Olivia who was so lovely and made us feel welcome and special. The welcome letter gave all the information that we would need for our day, personalised and informative. Our massages were fantastic with the girls being attentive and thorough. The pool area and hot tub were clean and lots of fun. Our waiter, Terry, was friendly, courteous and extremely helpful due to a strict dietary requirement. Both Olivia and Terry are a credit to the hotel. We had an amazing day and experience which we highly recommend - will definitely be visiting again. Thank you - five stars.

Date of stay: July 2022

Perfection

My husband and I have stayed at Budock Vean before but this time invited my Daughter and our 14 year old Grandson who is on the autistic spectrum to join us. I can't fault the staff who were so helpful and patient with him and would recommend this peaceful hotel to anyone who might be thinking of a holiday with their child with similar disabilities. He loved the pool and jacuzzi and the woodland walk to the river. All the staff are friendly and nothing is too much trouble for them, they truly are exemplary.

Date of stay: July 2022

Special Spa Day

We just want to say a massive thank you for making our spa day last Friday so lovely. From the moment we arrived you were all so friendly and welcoming. The treatments that we had were all amazing and very relaxing. Everything from the start of the day to the end of the day was just so perfect, you ladies are a credit to the Budock Vean and should be really proud of the way you make spa days so special for everyone. Please pass this on to your manager as you truly deserve recognition for putting your clients first and going that extra mile. We really appreciated you all.

Date of stay: June 2022

Beautiful relaxed lunch

Really lovely sitting overlooking the gardens, we sat outside on such a beautiful day. The staff are very attentive, very good service and we felt very looked after. The food was fantastic, good size portions. I would definitely go back.

Date of stay: June 2022

Family Holiday

All but one of our guests stayed in two of the holiday cottages (Beavers Lodge and Beavers Dam). One guest stayed in a Signature room within the hotel. The setting of the hotel is superb located on the Helford estuary. The facilities are very good, including the pool, sauna and jacuzzi; tennis courts; and a quite challenging 9 hole golf course.

The two self catering cottages have all six bathrooms recently upgraded to a high standard. The accommodation was very generous in size. We dined in the hotel where the food was excellent, the staff attentive and welcoming.

Date of stay: June 2022

Amazing spa experience

Just had an amazing spa experience with Megan. Professional, knowledgeable and so friendly. The hotel itself is set in beautiful grounds on the Helford River making the whole experience a peaceful getaway from busy life. With the hotel being on our doorstep we will definitely be returning.

Date of stay: May 2022

Our 56th return stay

Our room was spotless, the sheets and pillowcases were changed regularly. The quality of the food was, as it always is, excellent. The staff are always friendly and helpful. Terry is a gem also Wendel, Mo, Lana, Zac, and Martin the owner. Beautiful valley garden leading to "Abrahams Bosom", a peaceful tributary on the Helford River. All-in-all you cannot find better.

Date of stay: May 2022

Birthday visit for a couple days

Booked via direct phone call for my 67 years young birthday visit which was absolutely amazing. My Signature room was truly delightful, inviting and cosy. I enjoyed the swimming pool sauna and hot tub plus my evening meal with a special Helford birthday card waiting for me at my table with sincere wishes for my birthday. The walk through the gardens down to the Helford River were amazing, and resting in the sunshine for 40 winks made my day. Again, my evening meal was divine and breakfast was also very enjoyable. Can’t wait to return to enjoy the friendly staff who were all very supportive and caring. Thanks to you ALL.

Date of stay: April 2022

Return visit to Budock Vean

Last time we were there Covid regulations had only just been relaxed so there were still quite a few restrictions in place. Staff are still wearing masks & there are plenty of hand sanitisers throughout the hotel & guests are encouraged to maintain social distancing, but the hotel had a much more relaxed feel this time. We travelled as a couple & my husband pronounced this visit the best stay anywhere - absolutely perfect. There is great attention to detail. For instance, once you’re logged onto Wi-Fi that lasts for the length of your stay - so many places you have to go through the password rigmarole practically every time you use a device. Food is marvellous with plenty of choice. Bedrooms are spacious & comfortable. Staff are efficient, friendly & knowledgeable.

Date of stay: April 2022

Booked for one night, so lovely I stayed for 2!

I booked for one night, but it was so lovely I stayed for 2. Beautiful peaceful setting, beautiful interiors, and food, not forgetting the fabulous swimming pool. The staff are exceptional, made me feel very welcome and even dried out my soaking wet coat overnight. There was nothing to not like here!

Date of stay: March 2022

Gourmet weekend at Budock Vean

Our time at Budock Vean, from the moment that we arrived until the time we left, was an absolute delight. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. Our room (14) was very comfortable and had a great view, we were able to hear a busy woodpecker pecking away on both mornings. The garden was just coming into flower and led to a secluded beach with great views. The food and wine were first class and the presentations on both nights were both very informative. Plenty of interesting sites to visit in the locality. An excellent weekend.

Date of stay: March 2022

Absolutely Bliss!

Short visit for overnight stay, which was beautiful and enjoyable after a wonderful swim, sauna before at excellent evening meal with a glass of red wine. Enjoyed every minute of my stay and can't wait to return sooner rather than later. Thanks to all the team for their support.

Date of stay: February 2022

A jewel in the crown of Cornwall

The ambience of this hotel is outstanding. Our children treated us to a one night stay. We have travelled worldwide but found there is something magical about this hotel Attention to detail in every aspect is high priority. The WOW FACTOR!!!!

Date of stay: February 2022

Cornwall at its January best

Foreign sunshine was just not possible this January but 3 nights at this wonderful family hotel on the Helford River was a delight. Recommended by friends for a relaxing quality stay in a country house with excellent accommodation, great food and genuinely friendly helpful well-trained staff didn't disappoint. Next time we will avail of the super swimming pool and hot tub, the Elemis spa and trips on the river. This time it was the perfect base for visiting the small harbours and villages on the south and north coasts of Cornwall - without the traffic hassle in summertime. Just what we needed.

Date of stay: January 2022

An incredibly special place that exceeded all of our expectations

Budock Vean is much more than a hotel. It is a place to relax, be treated to incredible food and be cared for by friendly and ‘can do’ attitude staff. The tone is set by the owner, Martin Barlow, and runs through all of his staff.

Eleven members of my family gathered at the Budock Vean for a Christmas and New Year family reunion. The holiday events were fun and very special, especially the New Years Eve black tie dinner and dance. I cannot speak highly enough of this special place. We will return.

Date of stay: January 2022

A golfing break

Superb hotel, nothing was too much trouble. Excellent staff. First class food with a good choice for dinner and an even better choice for breakfast. Super wine list and good choice of beer and cider. Beautiful grounds, very well equipped rooms maintained to a high standard.

Date of stay: December 2021

Memory lane

It is some years since my wife and I last stayed at BV so I was delightfully surprised that, despite the dreaded Covid constraints, the hotel was as good as I remember. Major building improvements and tasteful refurbishment has taken place. The service, despite obvious inexperience in several of the staff, left little to be desired. Very glad we decided to come and sure I will repeat the dose without waiting so long. Excellent - well done Budock Vean.

Date of stay: December 2021

Cannot wait to return

Have been lucky to visit Budock Vean Hotel several times over the years but earlier this year we decided to stay in one of the cottages (Beaver Dam) which we loved and have just got back from staying in The Old 19th and was blown away by how spacious and amazing it was. The kitchen is large and perfectly equipped for 8 people, as is the lounge and a delightful conservatory means everyone can be together very comfortably or if you want some quiet time you can escape! Beds are large and comfortable and a great garden for sunnier days. We took our dogs and the walks from the hotel are amazing and as well as the hotel’s beach we found 4 new secluded beaches all within a couple of miles. Some of us headed to the spa for massages and facials which were great. We cooked a few times but also enjoyed eating at the hotel or popping in for cocktails ( recommend the Cosmopolitan and Old Fashioned) or some afternoon tea.

Upon leaving we rebooked for next year and cannot thank all the staff who make your stay such an enjoyable holiday. Cannot wait to return.

Date of stay: December 2021

Great Weekend Break

This is a fantastic hotel. The staff and service is excellent and the food is superb. Had such relaxing 3 night stay in a really comfortable hotel with great facilities. Their Covid 19 policies to keep us all safe are great and made us feel very comfortable. I can’t recommend the hotel enough for a totally refreshing and relaxing break.

Date of stay: November 2021

Third time says it all!

Amazing service from all of the staff and delicious food in the restaurant. Loved our Signature room with its gorgeous view over the golf course. We stayed to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and were not disappointed.

We enjoyed the walk down to the picturesque foreshore, through the lovely gardens and in fact, extended this walk along the private path to Helford Passage and along the coastal walk to Glendurgan Gardens.

The food, at both breakfast and dinner was amazing and we would like to particularly mention Jordan and Max who served us meals and Farrell, in the lounge and bar, all with a very friendly attitude, always smiling. In fact nearly all members of staff we encountered were exceptional at their jobs.

The question is; would we go again? As this is our THIRD visit, I can safely say yes, we will, especially staying in the Signature rooms, which have been recently refurbished. Thank you Budock Vean Hotel. We can’t wait to return!

Date of stay: November 2021

Totally impressed

The staff and service are exemplary. Their Covid 19 regulations which are in place are adhered to unfailingly and we felt safe all the while we were there. We took our dog with us and were provided with a suitable room which was spacious and very comfortable. We cannot speak highly enough of the restaurant. The service, food, and environment are to die for. We had no need to leave the hotel or its grounds. There are plenty of walks for the dog and the Ferry Boat Inn is well within walking distance but be prepared for steep hills. The swimming pool and facilities are very good, especially the hot tub!!
You will regret not staying here!!

Date of stay: October 2021

Absolutely superb. A magical stay!

We stayed here for 5 nights for our holiday. We normally holiday abroad but I can honestly say we returned from the BV more rested and relaxed than we have ever felt after a holiday abroad, even though the weather wasn't kind!
The hotel was so clean and we felt completely Covid safe. Our room was lovely, with good quality bedding and toiletries.

I cannot thank the staff enough. They were so polite and attentive throughout our stay. The staff worked incredibly hard in all areas of the hotel - dining room, housekeeping and restaurant. Nothing was too much trouble. The facilities were great and well managed. We paddle boarded from the hotel foreshore, played tennis and dabbled in the golf. The swimming pool was lovely and beautifully clean.

The food was outstanding. Local produce, beautifully cooked and presented. The food was a real treat. We didn't eat lunch because the breakfast was so filling but there is a lunch time and afternoon menu.

The location of the hotel has plenty to offer, with National Trust gardens and historical houses nearby. I find it difficult to fault this hotel. We will be returning with our parents and children because there is something for all ages. Thank you BV.

Date of stay: October 2021

Excellent, caring hotel and staff

We have been visiting this hotel for over 10 years and have always had first class service. The staff, from the moment you arrive, are so friendly and helpful and really go out of their way to ensure you have a fantastic stay. The rooms are very clean and comfortable. The food is excellent quality and the wine list extensive. There are lots of comfortable seating areas in different lounges. The grounds are beautifully kept and the swimming pool and sauna/jacuzzi provide a lovely relaxing area. The spa treatments are professional and well priced but very popular so you need to book ahead.

Date of stay: October 2021

September in Cornwall

We return to Cornwall most Septembers for a short break. We have stayed at Budock Vean several times over the years. The Hotel is traditional with an English level of service. Not flashy but your comfort is assured. The Restaurant serves exceedingly good local food probably the best available locally now The Cove has changed hands. The amenities are good with the Nine Hole golf course on the door step. The walk down to the river to the peace and quiet and a view over a world famous River it unforgettable. The hotel in September, attracts couples in their retirement but many have visited tens of times before. That in itself speaks volumes.