Reef Surf Lodge

Good short holiday. - 06 Apr 2009
I stayed here with my friends (aged 15 and 16) for 3 nights (2nd April to 5th April) for our school had closed early due to 2 inset days, and we thought it would be less busy. We caught the train from Bristol and it was quite a long journey however when we arrived it was a short journey to the lodge and when we got there we checked in quickly. The staff at reception were very nice and told us about were we could go in Newquay and where the best shops were. They went through a few rules such as no loud music, no fires, no alcohol in rooms (none of these were an issue to us). We spent much of the time shopping and exploring the town, it was great fun and there was staff in the lodge round the clock ready to help us with anything we needed. It was great an i would defintly go back there again.
Submitted by: Hayley - report abuse

REEF SURF LODGE WAS AWFUL - 16 May 2008
Hi me and my boyfriend went to newquay wanting to go surfing. we checked the lonely planet guide which highly recommended the reef surf lodge, based on previous experience of lp recommendations this was the natural choice. However the lodge leaves much to be desired. Firstly honestly. When we tried booking our holiday seven weeks prior to arrival we were told rooms were booking fast and there were no twin rooms available, we would have to book out a triple and buy the additional bed. We called the next day to find out that actually there were ample twin rooms available, which we found bizarre but thought nothing more of it and booked our holiday. However when we arrived we paid 60quid deposit for unreasonable terms- you cannot eat hot food or consume any alcohol in their rooms or you risk losing the full deposit. The room itself was very small and we were given bunk beds when in was implied beforehand that we could put the two twin beds together instead of a double. Although there was a nice tv, and cd player and the room was spotless several practicalities were overlooked. For instance no chairs or even weirder no towel rail despite large bathroom. Our surfing lessons were good, but relatively short on water time- 1015-1215 when it was implied in booking we had booked 3 full days lessons. And their hire prices for afternoon equipment are double the local rate (200m up the road) wetsuit 10pounds at reef for 24hrs, fiver anywhere else. Unfortunately our flight home was cancelled on our last evening and we had to return to newquay overnight as the next flight was the following morning. We called reef, knowing that the lodge was next to empty hoping they would offer us our room at a reasonable rate. Again their honesty was called into question, they claimed it was full- and offered us an alternative room at 26.50 per person (the original three night stay inc 3 lessons was only 80 per person) In the end we went to Belushis, who despite being very friendly didn't have ant twin rooms. A local guy directed us towards the Escape lodge, who offered us a room at 16 per person, and were happy to take us in even though it was 2230pm. Additionally they went out of there way to find us a double bed en suite at no extra cost as they felt we had a rough night. Many thanks to ross, who ran back and forth to try at least 4 different rooms. Escape is a nice lodge, no fancy tv or cd player but fairly cheap and cheerful. Also clean enough. The staff are nice, they'll do their best for you, they also have an associated surf school and you would be much better of staying there to begin with- and richer too! I WISH I HAD TAKEN THE ADVICE OF OTHERS ON TRIP ADVISOR> DO NOT STAY HERE> DO NOT DO NOT!!!
Submitted by: sarah dawson - report abuse

Fistral backpackers rawwwkkks - 15 Mar 2008
Sweet... Hey I noticed a neg, on here and had to Wright about the place, Well its not 5 star but its real. There is no hen parties or stags its cool place with no hassle. If your the kind of surfer I am and can wake up on a beach in the sand every day while travelling then this place is cool. it has some of the best surf DVDs I have ever lade eyes on and the owners are cool, but a bit slow. The walls are decked in cool surfer photos and there is a history in the place with real surfers. Its got a sweet view and gets the sun all day long. And a safe place to keep your boards with cctv. It do's not attract townies so its cool. The rooms are not the best but it beets sleeping in the street or on the head land plus John the owner will not scream at you for having your board and wety in your room or hanging from the window to dry. And if you get on with the residents its even better. Its a real surf shack for real surfers who don’t care about poxy townie rubbish and just want to surf. The kitchens cool, microwave, oven, hob, etc. Sky TV with all sports and movies and 2 chill out rooms a cool back garden with a nice vibe and the recycling is really good, its a environmentally friendly place. Its grate as there is a wet soot wash room, out side shower and storage for all your stuff in the rooms. And free hire of snorkelling gear, skim boards wet soot’s Spare surf boards etc and I think all the surf stickers on the windows and walls make the place amazing. excellent accommodation fully Recommended but if you are the type of fashion Vic tome that like’s the Hilton style accommodation this is not for you it is what it says it is a hostel and back packers.
Submitted by: Steve The Dude - report abuse

What a rip off... - 02 Sep 2007
Where to start?? We get there...and have to cough up £30 cash EACH for "good behaviour bond money" and sign a gazillion and one rules about not having food in the bedroom etc etc...all a con to get you to buy the food there. Get to the room, no towel, no soap, no loo roll, no towel hooks, 6 bunkbeds squashed into the tiniest room ever, no floor space, barely enough room for the 5 of us, no wardrobe/mirror/anywhere to put clothes, 2 plug sockets in the entire room, the list goes on... We got told half way through our stay that a complete stranger would be coming to stay in our room just a couple of hours before they were arriving, so we're paying all this money and we don't even get our own room. The website said live entertainment, parties and dance floor - there was none of this... We knew we didn't get breakfast but they said you could pay for it so we asked about that and they said we had to go just "around the corner" to a completely different place to get it so you couldn't just pop down in your pj's and this place turned out to be a good 15 min walk so that was totally pointless. BUT the worst part of our whole stay at this place was the complete rudeness of the staff. They were impolite, moody, unhelpful and really looked like they could not be bothered even though all they did was sit at reception filing their nails all day. Oh and i forgot to mention the fact that the key cards to the room kept just randomly not working...not handy if your coming back late and can't get into your room! And the mini tv screens in the corridors? Absolutely bloody pointless. My advice, go somewhere else, reef surf lodge sucksss.
Submitted by: Robin - report abuse

Fistral BackPackers, Newquay - 14 Jun 2007
Worst lodgeive ever stayed in! i no its cheap but what i was paying was way to much for what we got. the bunk bed had no ladder plus a piece of wood missing on the top bunk so a person would easily roll out. There were2 toilets to share between about 10-12 rooms, in which all had min. of 2people in each. one shower to share between 10-12 rooms. the shower had a moldy shower curtain!! and they complained to US about hygiene???? hence why we couldnt takein our own pillows! this place was disgusting. the owners really didnt have a clue! they would be up at 8-8:30am hoovering!!! not good for when your on holiday! they front door is always open so not very good security! i would never stay in this place again! and to be honest i dont think this place is up to standards to even be running! if anybody has info on who i can contact to complain properley please email me. thankyou
Submitted by: Georgina Hill - report abuse

Not for surfers at all - 29 Dec 2005
One of the worst 'hostels' I stayed in, not enough space in the room; no space (let alone hooks!) in the bathroom; bad house music played loudly in the corridors so you cannot hear that wide screen telly they boast about; unfriendly staff- haven't heard one apology despite us complaining 3!!!! times during our 3 night stay. According to articles and web we are clearly their target group (surfing, professional girls in their mid twenties looking for a fun but relaxing weekend away!) however they seem to be happier catering for the stag crew. Expect 20 signs in your room stating what you are not allowed to do, and that you WILL lose your 'good behaviour bond'. Nice.
Submitted by: Anon - report abuse

Miss - 23 Oct 2005
On arrival my group of six girls were very dissapointed to find rooms that we could barely move around in and bunkbeds that were bascially singles with an extra foot stuck on the side! Do not be fooled by the photography on the website it is very misleading. Also, they play music until three in the moring which is not helpful as we were all exhausted from surfing. The others guests are more likely to be stag weekenders than surfers in the summer too.
Submitted by: Anon. - report abuse

SUPER STAY - 23 Aug 2005
I have just got back from a long weekend in Newquay and the Reef Surf Lodge was a good choice, although we never had a flat screen in our room i thought it was big enough and there were four of us girls trying to get ready so it must have been roomy. The best part was the late night bar we stayed there til 4am most mornings and it was kicking the people we met in there were great and made our holiday. I would recommend going. It is also really central so easy to get to.
Submitted by: Chelsee - report abuse

reef surf lodge - 10 Jul 2005
Not impressed. Waited an hour and a half to get into our room on arrival (without an apology but an excuse of being short staffed). Staff that were there were unfriendly, we only saw them when we checked in and out. Six of us shared a room, with three bunkbeds. We were convinced it was a room for four people, with an extra bunk (considering it was the width of one bed and the length of two). But when we asked the staff they were less than friendly or helpful. Also, music is played throughout the lodge in the corridors, the music came on at 9 am and didn't stop until gone midnight! Hardly the thing you want when you want a lie in after a late night!! Two much money spent on the flat screeen tv's and cd players and not enough spenton making the rooms big enought to accomodate the size of the group. May be ideal for surfers, but we were not impressed.
Submitted by: kay - report abuse

Brilliant .. - 11 Apr 2005
Brilliant .. Great coaches and excellent accommodation fully Recommended
Submitted by: Malcolm - report abuse