Ex Sykes Owner (thankfully). When we purchased our cottage it was already a holiday let and had been for years, through Sykes, so we were unfortunate enough to take on an existing contract, not knowing what they were like. I’d already done a changeover for the cottage, whilst the sale was going through and was shocked and appalled at the state of the place. I came out after and said to my husband that if we’d booked it for a holiday I’d have walked straight back out and insisted they found us somewhere else. I was shocked - having had cottage holidays for 20 years with other companies, I couldn’t believe how they could get away with it. When the Sykes ‘rep’ came out to get us to sign the contract after the sale had completed, even she was mortified. She said if Sykes had ever bothered to come out and check it, they’d have taken it off the books. ** Note: Sykes DO NOT inspect cottages once they’ve got owners to sign up! ** We gutted the place, and 6 weeks later the same rep came back and couldn’t believe it was the same property. Fast forward to March 2020 and the pandemic… we were shocked and appalled by how they were treating both guests and owners, lying to both, pitting one against the other. We gave notice and are now thankfully, finally shot of them, and ‘going it alone’. They are absolutely horrendous to deal with - they don’t care a jot about guests or owners, just so long as they get their booking fees and commission. Shocking customer service, unethical and completely without morals. Steer clear.