1
The good, the bad, and the ugly...
The good: Lovely bay inlet, great sunsets, nice neighborhood, clean (as clean as a place this rundown can be), and reliable Internet. The bad: Poor condition, poorly stocked, badly needs updating, dank carpet and old uncomfortable furniture should have been thrown out a decade ago. Screens are ill-fitting with large holes letting in mosquitos, toilet runs and sink drips into a bucket, sliders are rickety and come off tracks, no fans (except one old noisy box fan) to move hot, humid air around, most stove burners inoperable. Basement master bedroom badly needs a dehumidifier – it smells of mold and is very damp. Fold out couch should be thrown out – upper 1/3 is a board and even with supplied foam piece gives a horrible night’s sleep. Also the bed is directly on the floor and large, biting ants crawled in the bed at night. No bathroom in basement bedroom – have to navigate metal spiral staircase at night. Washer is locked away from guests. I stayed 2 weeks and should have been allowed washer use but it was “accidently locked the entire first week. Renters are warned to conserve water but there are no water saving measures installed e.g. high-efficiency washer or Water Sense faucets. Each guest is allowed ONLY ONE TOWEL PER WEEK. The ugly: Here are the safety issues that gave me concern: 1) the type of deadbolt on both exterior doors is outlawed by most building and fire safety codes. The deadbolts - called double-cylinder deadbolts - take a key to open from the inside of the house risking that a person/s could be trapped inside. I left the doors unlocked at night – not my preferred choice!; 2) needs an electrical system update. Many sockets don't work, wall light has short, kitchen/dining space is rigged with an extension cord; and 3) the spaces between the deck rails are huge making this deck unsuitable for small children. Doesn’t Maine have any building codes or fire regulations? Because of all of our day trips, I learned that there are many better options for the money (with more than one towel a week, too!). Had I paid a bargain rate for the cottage I would chalk it up to “you get what you pay for, but the weekly fee was significant and equal to a good quality resort. Nonetheless, we fled 5 days early. My lesson learned: Reviews are fine if you are choosing a restaurant, but betting your vacation on the opinions of others is high risk. I apoligize to my family for dragging them to this John Candyesque "summer rental."
Owner's Response: Every few years the cottage dos not meet a guest's expectations. I only found out after they left that they were so unhappy, and am sorry for that. I want people to enjoy their stay.
However, most of what is mentioned here is an exaggeration or a lie.
Here are the facts:
She had access to the washer but did not know how to use it (close the lid and it will fill with water).
There was a NEW fan in an upstairs closet.
There were EXTRA towels in a dresser.
THERE IS AND NEVER WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE STOVE.
All electrical sockets work and there are no "shorts". What happened with the "electricity" was that she turned off a wall switch that controlled the light on the other side of the room.
The listing states only one bathroom, so I'm not sure why she expected a second one in the downstairs.
The downstairs can be damp, but there IS a dehumidifier.
The sleep sofa is much more supportive and comfortable than others I have slept on, but everyone is different in this regard.
I do AGREE that the locking system should be changed and am implementing that this Spring.
There are new swivel chairs in the living room, and the kitchen is FULLY stocked with all cooking utensils, pots, pans, even martini glasses.
Regarding price: "good quality resorts" for 4-5 people start at higher prices than the cottage.
My impression of these guests were that they were used to upscale resorts and should not be renting a cottage in Maine.
Helpful votes: 3/3
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
No
