Property needs lots of work. Unresponsive owner.
Review Submitted: August 8, 2010
Date of Stay: July 2010
I just got home yesterday from our trip to the Keys. We had quite a few areas of concern when we arrived and during our stay. I contacted Sebastian upon our arrival and he was very arrogant and basically said if we don’t like it go to a hotel. He stated that in all his years of renting his property he has never had any complaints. I do find that difficult to believe.
Upon our arrival (4:20 pm) we walked into a home that was not ready for our arrival. The cleaning service only sent one girl over and she only had the upper level complete. The yard was trashed and completely unkempt. There was broken pool furniture, trash all over, the pool was filthy, outdoor furniture strewn everywhere. The tree house was unusable by the kids as it was loaded with animal (iguana) feces. The same with the sun bleached, worn out, lounge chairs. Outdoors the place looked like a dump. Sebastian stated that the neighbor maintained the yard. He may want to consider hiring someone who actually does that. The place could be beautiful if everything wasn’t so overgrown. The shed is basically a trash heap all around it with broken furniture, piping, and lawn waste. The “Pond” if you want to call it that is just basically a mosquito breeding zone. There is no circulation of water in it and it is disgusting. That whole area was unapproachable as the mosquitoes were so bad. Having that mosquito breeding ground there made it pretty uncomfortable at the pool as well. The mosquitoes were real bad. The “sandy beach” as advertised was no longer there. Just a pile of weeds. The downstairs porch door was broken and could not be closed. The entire downstairs area (outside screen, ice room, and sunroom) reeked of rotten fish. The sunroom was nothing but mold and filth. There was no way we could use it. The entire place needs a serious pressure washing on the outside to make it more presentable. The cover for the pool was thrown in a heap at the corner of the pool.
Let’s go inside. Like I said, upon our arrival the place was not ready. The beds were stripped and the pillows were brown and disgusting. We had to head out and buy our own pillows. There was no way I would use those. There is a roach problem in the home. We killed at least a dozen (various sizes). Sebastian may want to consider investing in a pest control service. The A/C does not work in the bedroom by the laundry room. The door going from the laundry room to the outside does not lock. Upstairs there are several t
Recommended for:
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children
Owner's Response: Our cleaning crew was late in getting the house ready this day. Concurrently, our caretaker neighbor, an elderly gentleman liked by nearly all who meet him, was out of town on a family emergency. A significant thunderstorm came through the night before. It was unfortunate all could not be addressed before check in but it was impossible to satisfy this woman that every effort would be made to address their needs and concerns.
My mother taught me if you can't say something nice about someone, say nothing at all. That is what I did regarding this review for a LONG time.
The retreat is a large, comfortable home to accommodate families interested in nature, fishing, diving and keys water sports. If concierge or bellman services are desired, perhaps a hotel is more appropriate. The Retreat continues to be a favorite reunion vacation spot for many sportsman and their families. It may not be suited for certain, particular types...
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Helpful votes: 9/15
