High expectations
Submitted: October 16, 2012
Stayed: October 2012
Here are the questions VRBO.com suggests I answer, and so I will.
Was the listing description accurate regarding the location?
Listing description was accurate of the location. Princeville is beautiful, and this area in particular is really nice- very close to St. Regis- and a nice area to walk, jog, and close to beaches and golfing.
Did the listing photos accurately reflect the rental’s appearance and amenities?
Photos were accurate! The property is nice! Note: swimming pool is really small.
Was the property clean and well-maintained?
We arrived at 3:30pm, and the property was being cleaned by a crew, so I know it was "clean". However, there is a REALLY fowl odor that comes from the garage- garage is downstairs with laundry/foyer, which opens into the Master and another bedroom. The best way I can describe the odor is "mildewy", but it's pretty strong- you want to open and close the garage door quickly when entering that area.
Was the owner helpful in answering your questions or concerns?
When I was interested in booking the property, I had no problems getting a response, but when I arrived at the property and we had issues- I never heard a peep out of the owner. He was quick to tell me how great the property was in the beginning, even CONFIRMING that the condo had air conditioning (we were there for our wedding and honeymoon & this was an important feature for us), when in reality, it has a very small floor unit that is supposed to cool between 300-500 square feet (in a living room that has large vaulted ceilings and lots of sunlight)- so it was impossible to stay cool. We also arrived during a time that the "trade winds" were down, but honestly, I couldn't imagine being comfortable in this place even with high winds.
Would you recommend this property to a friend or relative?
No
What nearby activities, attractions and restaurants would you recommend?
Queen's Bath is absolutely beautiful, and very close! The Foodland there in Princeville sells pre-marinated Huli Huli chicken, and it's awesome! Hanalei is just a short drive, and it's such a fun little town! We ate lunch at "Bubba's Burger's" one day, and it was wonderful! Lots of great food options around the area. Princeville itself is a nice location, but be FOREWARNED that even though this condo advertises air conditioning upstairs, it does NOT work efficiently- so if you're sensitive to the heat, or use to a/c, do not book this condo. Otherwise, this is a nice property- lots of room
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children
Owner's Response: I do take exception to all but one of the negative comments.
1:Air conditioning: There is indeed an a/c unit upstairs, which is intended to provide cooling for the living/dining area on those rare days when the heat can be unusually high. I suspect that, upon the guest's arrival, the blinds to the southern exposure windows were wide open.
Apparently the ceiling fan to the upstairs area was not operational.I presume that this malfuction had occurred recently, as this was never mentioned by prior guests.
A new fan has been ordered, and is to be installed within the next few weeks. For good measure a new fan is also to be installed in the master bedroom.
2: "Musty fowl smell" emanating from the garage: Kauai is rainy at times, with resultant increased humidity in garages without windows. Common sense suggests that simply opening the outside garage door to provide ventilation for a while on rainy or damp days would prevent and clear any mustiness.
3: Inadequate owner responsiveness: I make the initial contact with future guests. Then, once terms have been agreed upon, I refer the client to the property manager. The management team in place is, based on my experience and the experiences of previous guests, excellent and very responsive. This particular client was told that a repair person would arrive the day after she made the complaint about the upstairs fan--she was apparently unwilling to wait, and vacated the premises for good.
4: Please refer to reviews by other guests for a more realistic evaluation of the property.
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