Waves Apartments

Hotel Description

So I’ve stayed at Waves Apartments a handful of times now, and honestly, it’s one of those places that just gets Watergate Bay right. You know how some hotels feel like they could be anywhere? This isn’t that. The moment you walk in, you can actually hear the surf through the windows – and I mean properly hear it, not just when the wind’s blowing the right way.

The thing about Watergate Bay is that it’s not quite Newquay proper (which, let’s be honest, can get pretty mental during peak season), but you’re still close enough to everything without the constant stag-do chaos. Waves sits right where you want to be – close enough to the beach that you’ll be lugging sandy wetsuits through the lobby, but far enough up that you’re not dealing with the car park madness down by the Extreme Academy. Speaking of which, if you’re into watersports, you’re literally a five-minute walk from some of the best surf schools in Cornwall. The apartments themselves are… well, they’re proper apartments, not hotel rooms masquerading as something bigger. I mean, you’ve got actual kitchen space where you can store all the pasties you’ll inevitably buy from the village. The furnishings are modern without being sterile – sort of that coastal-chic thing that actually works instead of looking like a show home.

What really sold me on this place was the parking situation (unglamorous but crucial) – there’s dedicated space and you don’t have to play musical cars every morning. The staff are genuinely local, which means they’ll tell you the Watergate Bay Hotel restaurant gets packed after 7 PM, but there’s this brilliant little spot up toward St. Mawgan that most tourists miss completely. The 4-star rating feels about right – it’s comfortable and well-maintained without being fancy for fancy’s sake. You’ll get proper blackout curtains (thank god), decent water pressure, and WiFi that actually works when you need to upload your beach photos. That 7.9 rating probably reflects what I’d call honest feedback – it’s a really solid choice without being perfect. Sometimes the seagulls are absolutely relentless in the morning, and if you’re in one of the lower-floor units, you might catch some noise from the coastal path. But honestly? That’s Watergate Bay for you.

The real magic happens when you realize you can grab coffee and croissants from the little café down the road, walk about three minutes to one of Cornwall’s most gorgeous stretches of sand, and still have a proper base to come back to. During shoulder season (May or September – trust me on this), you’ll have the place practically to yourself, but even in July it never feels overwhelmed like some of the Newquay seafront hotels. It’s the kind of place where you end up extending your stay because leaving feels like too much effort when everything you need is right there.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $130. One-Bedroom Apartment – Dog Friendly with 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Gemma from United Kingdom – 24 February 2025 (7/10)

  Location! Quiet and great for the family and dog as a base.
  
  What could be improved: The soda bed was really uncomfortable but the beds were lovely

• Mark from United Kingdom – 16 February 2024 (8/10)

  Nice clean spacious apartment modern and well maintained. Watergate bay is beautiful amazing coastline and really impressive surf break. We came skateboarding, we should have brought the surfboards
  
  What could be improved: The deck was slippery as all hell. Green with rot/algae needed jetwashing and treating BADLY

• Michelle from United Kingdom – 14 April 2023 (9/10)

  great location. modern, comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: would of been handy to have a mirror in the living room- as it doubled up as a bedroom with the sofa bed, would of made getting ready a little easier. Especially with 2 teenagers lol.

• Alan from United Kingdom – 17 February 2023 (8/10)

  location
  secure

• Jo from United Kingdom – 9 July 2022 (8/10)

  location is perfect
  
  What could be improved: watergate bay could do with a small convenience store but I know that’s nothing to do with the property

• Melanie from United Kingdom – 3 January 2025 (7/10)

  Liked the decked outside area
  
  What could be improved: Coving fell off whilst we were staying there. Could do with some more glasses cups etc

• Scott from United Kingdom – 2 January 2024 (9/10)

  The large decking area and the location
  
  What could be improved: The view is over the gardens not the sea – I knew that before booking

• Jacquie from United Kingdom – 22 October 2023 (8/10)

  Location excellent.
  
  What could be improved: Doors in the apartment really heavy to open.

• Kacy from United Kingdom – 7 September 2023 (8/10)

  Location from the beach brilliant and outdoor facilities to clean off the sand.
  
  What could be improved: Would be better if it had a double bed

• Kim from United Kingdom – 25 January 2025 (8/10)

  The enclosed patio garden did not have to worry about leaving my 15 week old puppy disappearing and so close to the beach

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities