Mediocre
Submitted: March 12, 2012
Stayed: January 2012
The setting is indeed beautiful and the location excellent, but the unit itself did not live up to my expectations based on the pictures and all the 5-star reviews. Even taking into account that it's in an old barn, the place had a very unfinished and yet somehow simultaneously worn feel to it, and a lot of the carpentry appeared to have been done by amateurs. Perhaps it's best just to give some examples. For instance, the tile in the bathroom didn't cover the whole floor, and the tile (which extends into the adjacent room) seems not to have been grouted; also there was no toilet paper holder. The "writer's nook" in the pictures is gone (replaced by a small couch) and that room has an area rug siting on a bare plywood subfloor. In a few places, the walls/ceiling were just unpainted plywood/strand board. Also, one of the electrical outlets had a badly cracked faceplate, and another had none at all. Certainly, it's by far the least nice of the three VRBO places I've stayed at in Santa Barbara, though it should be said it is also the cheapest.
Owner's Response: It is unfortunate that this gentleman stayed when he did. He did not tell us the reason he left early, although asked, and we gave him a complete refund for the unoccupied days. He caught us in the middle of an upgrade. We had taken out the modern desk and were looking for an antique to match the character of the barn. We have an antique solid oak desk, new rug, new pillows on the deck, and all other issues in his complaint have been addressed. The couple presently staying are so happy that they have already booked for next year.
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