Barefoot Retreats Avis 

We had a lovely week at End Cottage in Thornham. The house was immaculately clean, beautifully decorated and really well equipped. Booking was easy and Barefoot Retreats called us the week before to check we had all the information we needed and offer further help. I wouldn’t hesitate in using them again.

We used barefoot retreats to book our stay at 10 Sandells Walk in burnham market. Can’t fault the house, good location and comfortable property but very disappointed with barefoot retreats. Unfortunately on leaving the property we left behind a large bbhugme pregnancy pillow which cost £150. When arriving back home we realised so contacted barefoot retreats the next day to ask them to arrange shipping at our cost. They advised us that it wasn’t in the property. The only people that had been in following us leaving were the cleaners. A large pregnancy pillow is not something you can really misplace and more likely that it had been stolen. Obviously our fault for leaving it behind but when using a reputable company such as Barefoot retreats you would think your belongings would be safe. So if you do decide to book a stay with barefoot retreats please ensure you keep all your valuables as safe as possible and don’t leave anything behind because clearly they have untrustworthy people working for them and you properly won’t see your belongings again. We visit Norfolk twice a year but won’t be using barefoot retreats again after this experience. After spending over a £1000 on our stay we are now having to spend another £150 on a new pillow! Very disappointing end to our stay!

Be very carefull when booking through Barefoot Retreats because they do not have a free cancellation offer. I have stayed many times with them and everything was OK but this is a bad side of their service to customers.

We arrived at our property at 16:20 bearing in mind check in is 16:00, cleaners were still cleaning the house I asked if it was ok to bring our bits in as we have a small child. One cleaner turnedround and said ‘no you can’t unless you want us to clean you too, please leave until we are gone’ we were totally shocked. Around 15 minutes later a barefoot van turns up, a lady stepped out and was extremely rude to my party. She said ‘we were not welcome until cleaners have finished’ I asked for her name and she was very rude and starting getting very angry at us. She then said it was Lucy, not sure if it really is or was a lie. We had no toilet rolls or coffee. We will not be recommending this company to anyone. BOOK WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

We stayed in Docking. Barefoot Gave instructions to get the key from a box on the wall on arrival to enter the holiday home.However there was a weird welcoming committee as we pulled into the courtyard. We could see the key was in the front door of our rental and the door open ! This was 16:10, ten minutes after check in. We thought what on earth is going on are they still cleaning at this time ? A man in the courtyard came right up to my car and said , do you know where you’re going? I said yes here at the first house as I could see the name of the property that I had booked. I asked the man, who are you ?
He did not introduce himself but preferred to say I will get the owner. I said there’s no need we have been told to find the key for our rental on the box on the wall, but oh no he went round the corner and brought the owner back . We could not even park the car and relax from our journey ! It was really weird. We were not expecting to be vetted by the owner of this property. That is exactly what happened as the property has been clearly set up like a show home and our feeling was that the owner wanted to ensure that we were not going to ruin the place. Not a great start.The good part of the holiday stay was a lovely freshly baked cake and a welcome pack were there on arrival in the property. There were also coffee, tea and toilet rolls and toiletries in the property which was very welcome.

We have used Barefoot Retreats many times. Holiday properties of a high standard, always clean and any issues quickly resolved.
Would always be my go to holiday rental company when holidaying in Norfolk.

We rented a cottage in Burnham Market and it was a lovely rental apart from flashing under shelf lighting (due to transformer failure) non operational underfloor heating in bathrooms and bulbs in overhead lights in bedrooms plus no scissors! All this was reported on Day 2 of 7 day rental - recorded by the team with no action! Sad as on the face of it - it seemed a super operation!

We had a wonderful week away. Everything very smooth when a leak occurred. Guy arrived within 30mins as leak involved electrical guff.
Fabulous clean beautiful property. We stayed at 35a West Barn. Lovely basket of goodies on arrival which was a lovely touch. Would recommend and we’ll definitely be back.

The worst managed booking company I have ever come across.
Made an attempt to move our booking following a change in Covid regulations the most painful and stressful holiday-realted incident I have endured.
In fact I am still waiting from them to respond 3 months later. Apparently it takes that long for them to contact the property owner...
Oh and don't belive them when they say they will call you back. They won't.
If you are considering booking with them, all I can say is don't.

Will not respond to questions regarding COVID cancelation policy. Suggest you book with extreme caution.

Regarding Barefoot Retreats Norfolk 06.07.20
Be wary when paying this company, a deposit.
Our holiday was to be in Thornham, Norfolk and we booked accommodation together with dinner at local restaurants during the week beginning June 6th, 2020. The accommodation was with Barefoot Retreats and we paid a deposit of £???. Then came the Corona Virus.
My wife and I are in our 80s and I have several underlying health conditions which means it would be unwise to risk mixing with other tourists.
Just before lockdown, it was obvious the virus was spreading, and I thought it right to explain my reasons and let the restaurants and Barefoot Retreats know in good time that we would be cancelling. The restaurants were appreciative of this and Barefoot Retreats said they would try to resell our slot and refund the deposit.
As it turns out, the lockdown prevented the accommodation being used and a week ago I was expecting the company to telephone me. Instead, I telephoned Barefoot Retreats to ask if they would refund me the deposit.
All I got in return was a statement (clearly being read), that I had cancelled before the lockdown when their rules did not allow for a refund. I responded saying this was unreasonable adding, I had cancelled with their interests in mind as well as my own.
Three times the statement was read to me before I asked to speak to the manager. I was told there was no one available but that the manager would telephone me. That is a week ago and I have heard nothing.
As this virus is going to be around a while yet I suggest anybody dealing with Barefoot Retreats should make sure they have insurance to cover what they pay the company. We have fond memories of Thornham as, until now, the people who work and live there are so helpful and friendly. We have not used Barefoot Retreats before and will not be using them again. They have cast a shadow over previous memories.
BGB
23.07.20 It took my complaint posted 6th July 2020 on Google Reviews, to persuade the manager of Barefoot Retreat to respond to my request that they telephone me. Not that they then showed interest in refunding our deposit.
All I was told was that they had been in touch with their lawyers who had told them they did not have to refund the money, even though the Corona Virus lockdown prevented the letting of the property during the period of our booking. Barefoot Retreat told me, “You should have taken out travel insurance”.
I continued to reason with them but all they said they would do is, ask the owner of the property if they will agree to a refund. As was the case when last I had reason to speak with them, I have heard nothing more these last 16 days. Do I assume that means a No, or is it that this is the way they do business and in the hope that the issue will go away?
To the owners of the Bell Tower in Thornham, Norfolk; have they paid you our deposit and did they ask you if we may have a refund or allow the money be used as a deposit on a booking of the property about the same time next year?
The Corona Virus, we are told, is likely to be around for some time yet, possibly years. In which case, to anyone booking properties with Barefoot Retreat, my advice is, add the extra expense of travel insurance with your deposit.
BGB