Host & Stay | The Courtyard Retreat — Guest Reviews

Host & Stay2 bedrooms2 bathsSleeps 5

Review Summary

Overall Rating
4.5 / 5
Total Reviews
243
Sources
Booking.com (198) · Airbnb (39) · Vrbo (6)
Most Recent
Apr 2026

Each review shows: source · star rating · date · guest comments. Reviews are grouped by traveler type. Persona ratings reflect the average score from guests in that category.

Ratings by Traveler Type

Pet Owners
3.9 / 5
7 reviews
Accessibility Needs
3.9 / 5
5 reviews
Families with Children
3.5 / 5
3 reviews
Pet Owners3.9 avg · 7 reviews
SharonBooking.comFeb 2026

Usual ease and well equipped. Positive: I’ve stayed there many times. Always in February and with the dog. It’s ideal for that as it’s ground floor and easy for the beach which the dog is allowed on at this time. Negative: I thought it was surface level clean this time. Somethings needed a deep clean, the runner on the bed, the couch has a few spots on. Nothing drastic but never noticed this before.

AirbnbJan 2026

Just returned from a new years stay at the Courtyard Retreat. Location was excellent - perfect for beach access and close to town. Easily walkable everywhere even for our 3 year old. Beds were comfy, the apartment was warm and the two en-suites were a big bonus. Free car parking right behind the property during the winter months too. A few small issues with cleanliness. It was surface level clean but there was some noticeable dust and cobwebs on furnishings and behind radiators. TV doesn’t seem to do live channels, just internet apps which was a pain in the evenings. However we still had a lovely break in this cosy apartment with our kids and dog. Would book again purely for the fabulous location but think a few minor details could be improved upon given the price.

PhyllisBooking.comApr 2025

Could not be comfortable due to dirt. Positive: Location. Negative: Dog feces under the kitchen table. Floors were filthy. Chairs in the kitchen grubby. Fridge not cleaned. Owner of property should be made aware Host & Stay are not looking after their property. Host & Stay terrible company to deal with to get cleaning issue resolved.

HelenBooking.comSep 2024

Positive: Very comfortable and clean beds. Great decor and spacious rooms. Brilliant location for views and walks with dog. Pleasantly surprised with the tea, coffee and milk supplies. Negative: Smell of damp in one of the bathrooms.

MichaelBooking.comSep 2024

Very happy with the apartment Positive: The apartment was over our expectations, the decor and 2 bedroom apartment with own en-suite so convenient to all of us, the apartment right at the big car park in front of the mini golf, we paid 3 days parking instead of use the scratch card on W zone. We will book this apartment Courtyard retreat every time we are back in Whitby from now on. As this apartment is dog very friendly so I does looks like someone home with dog, even has dog’s bed, bowl and ball. Negative: Of course the apartment is not new so some wear and tear and the sink in the master bedroom was drain blocked but that could be fix easily, a few steps to get down to the apartment made it not so convenient to my 85 years old mother with bad leg, but we managed it.

KerryBooking.comApr 2024

Very dog friendly, comfy beds. Be aware of additional charges. Positive: The cottage is very dog friendly, the beds are very comfy and clean. Everything is there that you need. Tea, coffee provided. Towels and toiletries. Negative: I didn't like that they put an additional charge of £25 on top for damage protection. The post code takes you to the front of the property but you have to access the back. Parking is very limited and not guaranteed. When you contact host and stay by email, they don't always reply.

MariaBooking.comOct 2023

Cosy stay in Whitby Positive: Perfect place for our stay in Whitby. The layout of the apartment was perfect with 2 bedrooms both with their own bathroom then the communal kitchen living room in the middle. We loved the decor it was very cosy and tastefully done and had everything we could need plus was very clean. Beds and bedding were comfortable, pillows slightly lumpy but minor problem still slept well. The heating was on before we arrived via a Hive and remained nice and warm during our stay. The to had a good choice of channels including Netflix. Our dog loved exploring the place and the yard. The location was good close to the beach and a short walk to the cafes bars and shops. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend. Negative: Minor things really. Their was an air block or something in the master bedrooms bathroom so it was intermittently making a noise. The parking was very close by at 9 pounds per day not 5 pounds, there are scratch cards that were left so you could park free but I am not sure how easy it was to find one, we just paid as didn’t think it was too bad and nice to have the car close by.

Accessibility Needs3.9 avg · 5 reviews
MandyBooking.comSep 2025

Nice quiet location. Lovely decor and close to a town. Positive: The decor was fabulous. Bathroom was perfect with walk in shower. Love everything but the cooker was a challenge. The small frying pan and small saucepan didn’t work . We compromised with the two frying pans. The property was so relaxing and everything was sorted. Very thoughtful owners. Will definitely return. Thank you so much. ❤️xx Negative: 10 am check out. I’m disabled and take medication at 9 am. I asked for an extended check out and was told no. Then had a message from booking. Com that we could check out at 11 am if we paid £15 extra. Booking.com really tried to sell later check in at a profit.

ThelmaBooking.comMay 2025

Positive: Location good for our full weekend at Pavilion Negative: Damp smell in master bathroom. Slow draining bathroom sink. Shower doesn't work at low height. Bathroom door knob drops off. One hand towel for 3 adults in master bathroom and one for 2 adults in smaller bathroom. No shelving or storage for toiletries etc. in bathroom. Grubby and dusty in places and stained duvet cover for single bed. Table in kitchen too large to get around and open cupboard doors. Quite high steps at rear of property and area is unlit with uneven ground for elderly guests returning at night. Absence of welcome pack which we have had on all of our other properties. Rather disappointed with this one.

TrevorBooking.comApr 2025

Negative: 1. There should be a handrail on wall to right as you come through first gate as steps are very steep & difficult especially for older guests 2. Bathroom in main bedroom smells from drains & also hand shower does not work as handle does not turn to right to turn on

JohnBooking.comJul 2024

Relaxing, quiet and attractive Whitby West Cliff short break getaway Positive: Beautiful annexe flat with very comfortable beds and very well equipped kitchen. The West Cliff location is good for that areas attractions, beach and Pavilion (though a steep walk back up from the Town Centre). Interior is very nicely decorated and the bag of board games plus bose music speaker and streaming apps were all much appreciated. Negative: Directions for those not arriving by car or taxi could be clearer about how to find the apartment the first time. 3-4 very deep steps into yard really need a handrail, which the showers would also benefit from, for older/less mobile guests. Shame there's no washing machine for longer stays too.

ZoeLBooking.comApr 2024

Lovely Apartment. Positive: The apartment was clean, and the beds were extremely comfortable. Great location near the sea and easy access into Whitby Town. Negative: I have mobility issues, which is why I booked a ground floor apartment. Unfortunately, there were 3 big steps to gain access to the property, which was a problem. Also, there was no parking scratch card left at the property, so I had to pay to park in the pay & display.

Families with Children3.5 avg · 3 reviews
VicciBooking.comOct 2025

Great property but improvements needed to holiday letting management - marketing, guest communication, cleaning and main Positive: A little gem for a family stay in Whitby with our dog. Quality furnishings and bedding made for a comfortable stay. Negative: Unfortunately poor cleaning really let this property down. Received far too many messages from Host & Stay (nearly all in duplicate) trying to upsell damage waivers, early check in and later checkout, even a private chef and wine offer.

CarolBooking.comAug 2025

Positive: Good location. Aesthetically pleasing Negative: 1. The awful damp smell on entering the property. There has been an attempt to mask with strong smelling air freshners which have made for a nausiating stay and us having to leave the door and windows open. 2. The bedding felt damp and wasnt the most pleasent to sleep in the first night. 3. We had to fix the slats on the single bed as it appears that this has not been put together initially. 4. The door handle on the bathroom does not turn fully causing distress to my granddaughter when she couldnt get out of the bathroom. 5.Turning the bed side lights on using the switch behind the headboard and noticing cobwebs and dust from the floor to the top of the headboard and a layer of dust on the floor. 6.The smell of drains in the front bathroom after using the shower which you could not get rid of

BrianBooking.comJul 2025

A good place to stay for a short visit to Whitby. Positive: A good location with direct access to the cliff top. Accommodation which suited our purpose of meeting with family and dogs for a weekend. Negative: Not a lot to dislike as it suited our purpose for a short stay. Not for a long stay or in bad weather.

Friend Groups & Gatherings3.3 avg · 3 reviews
MartinBooking.comJul 2025

smelly Positive: Issued the wrong code which took ages to sort out Negative: mould damp sewer smell as soon as we opened the door, in bathroom theres a large cupboard which stinks because the boilers condensing pipe is fed into an open drain thats allowing the sewer smell to vent into the bedroom and apartment plus mould and damp inside it aswell . Only one shower in the main bathroom worked ? Kingsize bed with a double duvet ? Tv wouldn't do any channels ? The bose speaker system would connect to any of ours or friends 4 phones ? We left messages with contact and stay nobody has phoned us back over our issues

LisajayneBooking.comAug 2024

Would not choose the place again. Positive: Location was fine. Negative: Our friends that stayed with us was not happy about their bed and their bedroom. It felt wet. Also their room smelt damp. The carpet in their bedroom was dirty also there was a lot of dirt and dust in their room. In the main bedroom the tiles on the floor were sharp and needed fixing, also the small shower head did not work.

Paula76Booking.comJan 2024

Positive: The decor is just lovely, so welcoming, bright and modern. In the room/kitchen area.Everything is needed for a short or long stay. Beds were comfortable, and rooms were airy spacious. The location is great and also off the beaten track but localised enough to know where you are along. This also has been quiet. We would stay again 😊. Such a gorgeous little place for friends or family Negative: It was slightly cold in the bedrooms on a night, and we had to use the additional heaters. (But it was an extremely cold weekend) There was also a slight smell of what seemed to be either foist or cat wee smell in the larger ensuite bathroom, when the extractor fan was on. Also, it's not very good lighting in the larger bedroom The first entrance gate opens up directly to 3 steep steps, so take care of the entry. These are really picky points, and they wouldn't stop me from staying again

Couples4.3 avg · 2 reviews
AirbnbNov 2023

Fantastic apartment and value for money. Great location just a 10 minute walk to Whitby centre. Perfect for 2 couples as it has 2 en-suite bedrooms. Free parking out of season at the car park right outside the property. Amazing restaurant just a stones throw from the apartment (PIZZAWEST - give it a try!!!)

CarolBooking.comAug 2023

Enjoyable time with family Positive: Both bedrooms had their own bathroom with heated towel rail and under floor heating. The apartment was well equipped. One of the bedrooms was very spacious. It was nice to be on the ground floor and have a court yard. There was plenty of parking near to the property. Negative: the second bedroom had a small double bed. There was not enough room for clothes with just a hanging rail and no drawers. Unlike the other bedroom which was fine. Nothing to do with the property but as an older couple we forgot how much of a climb it is to the west cliff. In general the property had been cleaned but a few things that had ben overlooked need addressing. The bin needs cleaning and not just a new bag putting in. There was debris of food under the table and cupboard. I even found a pair of panties that had dropped down from the clothes rail.

Birthday Celebrants5.0 avg · 1 review
AirbnbMar 2024

Had such a lovely weekend away, it just wasn't long enough! surprised my grandparents with a weekend away for my Nans birthday so knowing they loved the property as much as us made the stay so much better. Under floor heating in the main living area has given us all ideas about out own homes. Pictures beautifully represent well and hopefully will be booking again in the future.

All Reviews4.3 avg · 79 reviews
louiseBooking.comApr 2026

Really lovely property, well positioned, had a really nice family time at the property and in Whitby Positive: Really lovely bedrooms and bathroom, well equipped, nice position to walk into Whitby town and the beach. Negative: Stone floors in the lounge area, would have been nice to have a softer rug.

ColinBooking.comApr 2026

A beautiful apartment in a fantastic location but a bit grubby. Positive: A beautiful property in a great location! Negative: Not very clean on arrival including cut hair in the main shower. The cafetière leaked the bins outside were overflowing and there was no recycling bin outside.

AirbnbApr 2026

Lovely place to stay, very comfortable and great location

KarenVrboMar 2026

No scratch card, they said they would deliver one but it was too late and I ended up with a 50 parking ticket

GB9999Booking.comMar 2026
GregBooking.comFeb 2026

would highly recommend Positive: wonderful modern place, great location, very clean and great coms from the hosts. would really recommend!!!!!! Negative: nada!

RichardBooking.comFeb 2026

Nice apartment but a few issues Positive: Nice apartment great location Negative: Sinks blocked bowl under sink to catch all the drips. Microwave dirty bake beans all over. Need blinds on the patio doors

AndreaBooking.comFeb 2026
AirbnbJan 2026

Lovely little hideaway. Beautifully decorated and comfortable. Quick and responsive communication, nice option to check out later which we took so we could have a relaxing last morning.

JenniferBooking.comDec 2025
BurnsBooking.comNov 2025

Positive: Great place Negative: Damp, feisty & smells from bathrooms

christopherBooking.comSep 2025

Great Positive: Location & property

HelenBooking.comAug 2025

Wonderful stay Positive: Nice clean comfortable all you could want Negative: No washing line to dry swimming things

susanBooking.comAug 2025

Excellent accommodation Positive: Everything Negative: Nothing

OlowolafeBooking.comAug 2025
KevinBooking.comAug 2025

Good location for a short break Positive: Good location and had everything we needed for a short break Negative: Nothing

AirbnbAug 2025

Lovely apartment, very comfortable beds. Location is great for exploring Whitby.

KayBooking.comAug 2025

Five days in Whitby Positive: Lovely little apartment. Comfortable beds. Clean. Well equipped (though the kitchen could do with an oven glove and more tea towels). Each bedroom having its own ensuite was good. Would stay there again. Negative: Took a while to gain access, wasn't told we had to go round the back. A note on the front door would be a good idea. Had to ask for additional car parking tickets to cover our stay. There is damp/mould on the wall in the cupboard that houses the boiler, which makes the ensuite and bedroom smell unpleasant. Only the right side of the toaster works. Having said all that would stay there again.

NoorBooking.comJul 2025

Nice flat near to the Whitby Pavillion Positive: The flat is well decorated. Rooms especially the master bedroom are big and comfortable. Location of the flat is ok. It’s close to the beach and we could walk to the pier and town center. Self check in was easy with very clear instructions. Street parking was quite easy and we appreciated the parking coupon provided by the management company. Negative: If anything to comment on, I’d like to suggest putting a carpet in the living room. With no house slippers, the floor was quite cold. But we managed.

PiotrBooking.comJul 2025
ChrisBooking.comJul 2025
TimBooking.comJun 2025

Positive: Accommodation was comfortable

AndreaBooking.comMay 2025
AirbnbMay 2025

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StephanBooking.comMay 2025
SharonBooking.comMay 2025

Great stay lovely accommodation Positive: Good location well equipped and clean

JuliaBooking.comApr 2025
JaneBooking.comMar 2025

Positive: Layout and deco lovely. Location excellent Negative: Tiny issues with the location of key box. However staff very helpful in resolving this issue

LisaBooking.comMar 2025
LianeBooking.comMar 2025
AirbnbMar 2025

We had a lovely stay Everything was as stated Great location Great communication Would book again

MariaBooking.comMar 2025

Perfect Whitby stay Positive: Our second stay here. Perfect location near the beach and short walk to town. Parking vouchers were provided for 2 cars so nil to pay. The place was nice and warm on arrival and throughout our stay, the underfloor heating is a nice touch. The place is very stylish and homely with everything you need. Negative: Nothing

JennaBooking.comFeb 2025

Fabulous stay Positive: Lovely property, very comfortable, clean and great location Negative: Nothing

JanBooking.comJan 2025

Perfect for our group of four adults. Positive: Close to centre of town without being right in it. Walking distance from everywhere. Large comfortable beds. Cosy and quirky decor. Nice and warm despite the freezing weather outside. On street parking outside. Negative: My wife said there was a slightly damp smell in the larger bedroom but I didn’t notice it.

RebeccaBooking.comJan 2025
GrahamBooking.comDec 2024

Comfortable, well equipped, great location. Positive: Warm, comfortable, very well equipped and excellent location. Negative: Could have been cleaner. Oven in particular was in need of a deep clean.

MelissaBooking.comDec 2024

... Positive: they cancelled 9am the morning we was going we were actually just setting off

AirbnbDec 2024

Very enjoyable, good location

AirbnbOct 2024

Very nice place to stay. Warm and cosy. Comfy and clean beds. Great kitchen equipment, all we needed. Thank you

AirbnbOct 2024

Nice apartment, good location. Damp smell in main bedroom en suite

AirbnbSep 2024

All good definitely be back soon 😁

AirbnbSep 2024

We enjoyed our stay , good location lovely accommodation , beautifully styled . A bonus having a car park at the rear of property that was free after 6 pm a certain bonus for Whitby would love to stay again

AirbnbSep 2024

It was the perfect retreat, cosy beds and lovely decor. We found it a bit cold/damp and there was some mold on the bathroom ceilings. Apart from that we had a great stay and will definitely be coming back to Whitby!

AliBooking.comAug 2024
GillianBooking.comAug 2024

Well resourced property and good quiet location. Positive: Facilities in the property were excellent. Location was very good and easy to park nearby once permit had been delivered. Negative: Level of cleaning was poor, particularly in the bedroom where dirt and fluff were all over the floor and around furniture.

KarenBooking.comJun 2024

Good on the whole but few niggles Positive: Well equipped, nicely furnished and spacious Negative: Parking permit not provided - had to chase Host multiple times. Accommodation quite cold and musty smelling in parts

LouiseBooking.comJun 2024
JanetBooking.comJun 2024
RuthBooking.comMay 2024

Convenient place to stay in Whitby. Positive: Two bedrooms, both en suite. Convenient parking. And for Pizza West, a local restaurant. Internet was included although on Booking.com it said it wasn’t. Negative: The fact we had to pay a non-refundable damage deposit of £25. Why wasn’t the property covered for such insurance? Never had to pay this before ever. Booking.com said it was £250 fully refundable, but that wasn’t true either, as £10 was kept back. It felt like sharp practice. The bathroom door knob dropped off, in fact it looked like to screws had never been in the flimsy door. The description on booking.com said there was a terrace, a garden view and a patio. Only one of those was true: there was a patron with table and chairs, but no garden view and it was hardly a terrace. I know that notes were available about how to use the facilities, but they are not always convenient if your phone battery is dead. A set of notes in the house, especially using the tv, would have been helpful.

WrightBooking.comApr 2024
AngelaBooking.comApr 2024

Great stay warm clean and modern great location Positive: Great location clean modern and good facilities Negative: We stayed 4 nights and had two car’s it would have been helpful to have a permit for the 4 nights at least for 1 car

CharlotteBooking.comApr 2024

Positive: The apartment was lovely, clean, and modern. The location was great, away from the hustle and bustle but within a 10-minute walk.

DavidBooking.comMar 2024

Wonderful apartment but poor communications Positive: Facilities and location. Negative: No parking scratchcard. Poor communication: I voicemailed Charlie on our arrival because of the parking issue. There was no reply. After our departure from the property, I again emailed Charlie regarding a pair of ear studs we had left behind. Still no reply.

AnneBooking.comDec 2023

Brilliant apartment Positive: Beautiful apartment and great location on cliff top. Easy instructions for access. Great facilities and lovely beds. Negative: The back lane entrance path is a bit dark.

AndreaBooking.comNov 2023
JonathanBooking.comNov 2023
AlisonBooking.comOct 2023

Lovely apartment, we will be back Positive: Cosy, well laid out, very comfortable beds Negative: Door handle to en suite in main bedroom is faulty- cannot be opened from inside - I got locked in! Slight musty smell throughout due to being below ground level and no ventilation

Booking.comOct 2023

Disappointed Positive: Beautiful decor Negative: The en-suite from main bedroom had a horrible smell of urine to the point we didn’t open the door and used the other bedroom

GillianBooking.comSep 2023

On this occasion average. Negative: On arrival the property was dirty - no clean carpets, dog biscuits in the lounge, one toilet roll, dirty toilet etc and bathroom was not clean. I rang the hosts who sent someone to clean it - it was adequate but not as good as when I originally went last year. I took lots of photos skirting boards have never been touched, couch was full of bits between the cushions and left untidy. this property needs a deep clean.

AirbnbSep 2023

We really enjoyed our short 3 night stay. The pictures capture the space and internal rooms nicely. The host provided a well equipped kitchen for self catering and the master bedroom and bathroom was a good size and had a high quality finish. A great location and a short walk down to the centre of Whitby town and to the sea front. A couple of things let the property down, with the general cleanliness not 5*, with many dusty areas and some marks on windows, mirrors and the TV. Sadly our last night was also disturbed in the early hours of the morning with some loud neighbours. This was the only time we heard them during our time here but put a spoiler on the stay. The host was really informative and provided lots of information which made it easy for us. Thanks again, we look forward to visiting Whitby in the future.

DaveBooking.comSep 2023
ChristopherBooking.comSep 2023

Great break away

AirbnbAug 2023

Great location and nice place for a short break.

AmyBooking.comAug 2023

Amazing Positive: Great location, had everything and more you needed! Perfect find

Booking.comAug 2023
henryBooking.comJul 2023
VictoriaBooking.comJul 2023

I’d stay there again Positive: Thoughtful touches, felt like a home Negative: There was a hole in one of the towels

LindaBooking.comJun 2023
PAULBooking.comJun 2023

Its a very old building but once inside flat is Nicely furnished and decor looked fairly recent. Positive: Location was good. Furniture and facilities were good Negative: Not at all suitable for elderly, steps from gate to Courtyard are extremely steep, don't think there was a rail to hold on to. Step down into property very high and 2 steps up to small bedroom. Even though my wife enquired. Both showers had dirty grouting and mould and dirt in and around the drainage plate. The sink in the small bedroom was blocked taking several hours to drain

AirbnbMay 2023

Beautiful apartment, and not far to the beach front. Local to everything you need by foot. Would definitely recommend and would definitely return.

EmmaBooking.comMay 2023
JamesBooking.comMay 2023
AnnaBooking.comApr 2023
AndrewBooking.comApr 2023

Negative: The apartment was cold. Unsure if the underfloor heating didn’t seem to function. Resorted to electric heaters.

DavidBooking.comApr 2023

nice property very central to all amenities Positive: clean good facilities Negative: underfloor heating did not work

AnnBooking.comMar 2023

Beautiful apartment, easy checking in and well informed before, during and at end of our stay Positive: Great location, beautiful apartment, very clean with everything you would need, tastefully decorated, very quiet and lots to do Negative: Instructions how to work hob and live tv

MichelleBooking.comMar 2023

We had a very enjoyable stay, close to all the amenities Positive: Great location. Good size, it had everything you need Negative: Access via muddy pathway

PaulBooking.comMar 2023
LeahBooking.comMar 2023
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View rate calendar · Full listing · Reviews as of Apr 2026