If these things are OK with you...
Submitted: April 2, 2012
Stayed: March 2012
Ocean View Coffee Farm expects guests to clean their own accomodations, including:
• Bagging up the garbage from several waste cans in the room, putting a new liner in each can, and hiking all these bags up a steep/slippery hill to the garage, and (as long as you’re at it) making sure “cans in garage have liners as well.”
• Launder any towels you used--using only COLD water. Their instructions are very clear about putting your towels in the provided washing machine—using cold water—and turning the machine on before you go. Now, I don’t know about you but I prefer my towels washed in hot water, especially when I’m sharing them with strangers. (I actually had the crazy idea that hot water was a given!) And I don’t want them washed by the previous guest, either.
• Strip the beds and pile up the bedding for them.
According to Ocean View, having guests help clean “keeps the cleaning charge as low as it is.” Personally, I think THEY should take out the garbage and wash the towels/linens, too—even in hot water. (And if you can’t afford to use hot water, or clean the rooms, maybe you shouldn’t have guests.)
Another HUGE problem: NOISE. The resident rooster (and his neighbors) decided to call to each other, starting as early as 11pm and continuing until dawn, most nights, every five minutes or so. Just when we thought he was done: COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOOOOO! Even with my good earplugs I could still hear him.My husband and I had to relocate to the hide-a-bed. (I really cannot stress enough how loud our rooster friend was. Cute he may be, but not at 3 a.m. when you haven’t slept already one night and have two more to go!)
Tthe grassy hill folks have complained about really is steep and slippery, and is the only way to the bottom unit. It should have some kind of stepping stones or paving and should also be better lit at night.
The good things: the room itself was nice. The pictures provided are accurate. Frankly, if not for the rooster, the grassy knowl from Hell, and the ridiculous room-cleaning demands, this might have been a nice place to stay.
Hopefully they’ll change their rules but, as of our visit in March 2012, Ocean View’s instruction page for “guests” contains a whole lot of ridiculousness, in my opinion. My advice: ALWAYS ask for the rules BEFORE you book. I know I will, from now on.
Owner's Response: The "Home Instructions" are provided at contract time well in advance of arrival. Detergent sanitizes laundry, not water, btw. I think the request to place garbage in the garbage cans is pretty generic and goes without saying, however, we have to actually ask people to please do this, (yes there are those who don't realize garbage goes in cans and cans should have liners in them first, I think this is a good example). We have a nice couple who clean and take care of garbage collection as in Hawaii there is no organized garbage collection service. It also helps to be a bit more aware of ones footprint when waste is something you have to manage (how much garbage did these guys generate anyway?). Below are the sections of the contract verbatim: Garbage: Please use liners in the cans, the box is under the bar, or in the outdoor kitchen in one of the cabinets. When full, please place bags in the cans in the garage. Make sure cans in garage have liners as well.
Departure Checklist: Please be sure all pots, pans, dishes and silverware have been cleaned and replaced to their proper location. Any dishes you may use for your last mean should be in the dishwasher and the dishwasher turned on before you depart.
The appliances should be left in the same condition you found them.
Please strip the beds and pile up all bedding. Towels should be placed in the washer and the washer turned on before you depart. Please do not overload the washer.
Remove any garbage from the unit and place in the garage in the cans provided.
Replace the key in the lock box.
Thank you so much for doing the above. It helps us keeps the cleaning charge as low as it is.
Have a great stay!!
Helpful votes: 2/4
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