We left at the crack of dawn from suburban Hertfordshire on 27th December, ready for a little rest and relaxation, by the seaside. St. Ives in Cornwall was calling and we were excited to be spending that usually rather dull between Christmas and New Year few days, together as a family. Three nights of bliss were to follow, we knew it would be a lovely break, but we were unprepared for the total and extreme beauty of St. Ives and the perfection of Carbis Bay Hotel, Spa and Lodges, perfection is what they strive for and that is exactly what they achieved during our stay.

We arrived, the four of us and the family dog, Hero, to be greeted with a festive glass of bubbly while waiting for our three bedroom lodge to have the final check. Lodge ready, luggage delivered and a little tour of the very recently launched lodges  was a promising start.

We were staying in a rather spectacular three bedroom, three bathroom Beach Lodge (1,668 sq. ft). The Lodges are the most desirable residences on the Carbis Bay Estate and are situated directly on the beach, they combine seaside chic with hot tubs and roof or beach gardens. These lodges boast a spacious open-plan lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows that lead to a private sun deck, they also feature balconies fronting onto Carbis Bay beach, we felt completely at home straight away. While staying in the Beach lodge we were free to use the hotel facilities, which included the award-winning dining, C Bay Spa, conservatory, terrace bar and lounge. During the warmer months there are even more facilities, including beach and water sports and the Sunseeker motor yacht for a fun and glamorous coastal tour.

The soft furnishings in the lodge were luxurious and stylish, simply stunning with a coastal theme, designed by Jose Baker, combining individual soft furnishings with coastal-inspired textures. The latest technology from Bang & Olufsen and bathrooms from Perrin & Rowe, created a home-from-home feel. The bathrooms feature a powerful shower, fluffy towels and gowns and gorgeous bathroom smellies. The bedrooms, all three were spacious, chic, comfortable and designed with comfort being of utmost importance.  The view from our master suite to the beach was breathtaking, a view you would never tire of, especially for us landlocked people. We had direct access to the beach via the private beachfront garden and  enjoyed watching the grey seals frolicking in the waves, the pretty cliffside waterfalls creating patterns in the sand and loved the sound of the waves lapping onto the beach.

The main living area of our lodge had a very modern kitchen area, including a microwave, dishwasher,  instant hot water and filtered cold water, massive fridge freezer, a Nespresso coffee machine and all of the utensils needed for everyday cooking. There was a very thoughtfully prepared hamper full of Cornish goodies – crisps, cookies, tea, coffee, nuts, a freshly baked lemon drizzle cake, fresh bread and fudge, and a very welcome bottle of Champagne.

We didn’t really get a chance to use the roof terrace, but it would be a wonderful spot in the Summer, it’s a great private sundeck with a Villeroy & Boch hot tub, perfect to idle away the day, while soaking in the dramatic coastal views.

Every evening we went to the Beach Club Restaurant, but prior to that we were treated to delicious delicate canapés and Champagne in our lodge, the perfect preparation for our evening dining.

The Beach Club Restaurant is a casual dining experience, with  cool and vibrant decor. The food here is delicious and the menu quite exciting, it features everything from locally caught fish, wagyu beef burgers, King prawn pasta dishes, steak, Lebanese lamb, scallops, squid, fish and chips, the list is endless and there are also ‘specialities of the day’. The ambience here is fun and casual, and the service is great. The cuisine is just sublime, we ate here all three evenings as it catered to all of our desires.

We all took full advantage of the C spa, a small and very special spa offering a heated outside pool with loungers for those slightly warmer months, a sauna and a steamy hot jacuzzi. The beauty treatments were fabulous, I had a Lava Shell back and legs massage, the therapist expertly lulled me into a deep a dreamy restful repose. The room was warm and cosy, the therapist extremely professional, she carried out a beautiful treatment. As I finished my treatment I was ushered into the relaxation room, where I could wake up a bit and further enjoy those stunning beach views with a glass of bubbly.

Two of the three mornings we were there we went to the hotel for breakfast as we had our pro tennis playing son with us, he needed a big hot feast to start his day. We all enjoyed the fresh fruit, yoghurts and pastries from the buffet table, but particularly love the freshly cooked full English breakfast, products sourced locally of course. it’s always the perfect way to start the day and got us beach walk ready.

We spent hours and hours on the Carbis Bay beach, the weather was great, mild yet sunny. We walked for miles, around the cliffs to the next bay, when the tide would allow, it was the perfect way to burn off the excesses of Christmas. On our last morning we decided to enjoy our limited time left in the comfort of the lodge and requested room service for our breakfast. We were delighted when a traditional hamper arrived full of goodies, so we made use of the stunning oak dining table and Nespresso coffee machine, while reading the Sunday papers, before our final walk on the beach, then sadly it was time to leave.

In conclusion this was the perfect escape from the madness of the festive season and business, a great way to fill those few days while avoiding the sales! Our time at Carbis Bay Hotel has been perfect in every way.