Cute home,great location,needs work to be "luxury"
Cute home,great location,needs work to be "luxury"
Submitted: January 1, 2013
Stayed: December 2012
There are big plusses and some real minuses for this property that we rented for a week over the 2012 Holiday. On the plus side, the location is just perfect with million dollar views of the ocean and a short walk or drive to the best of everything La Jolla offers. The front porch is may be the best spot on this stretch of the beach to sit for hours and enjoy the views. Inside the home, the smallish living room is comfortable and also offers great views with a new TV and comfortable furniture. Two of the three bedrooms are also nicely furnished and provide access to the back patio area that has a really nice hot tub. On the minus side, the house is an old cottage and still in need of work to bring it up to the "luxury" level advertised. We had one toilet that was in need of replacement malfunction with the first flush and was unable to be fixed during our stay, leaving us with just one bathroom for all to use. They attempted a fix but claimed the replacement was too extensive to handle during our visit and thus we were left short for our group of 5. While the master bathroom is finished nicely, that second bathroom (with the bad toilet) is very small with the most basic tub/shower and curtain that doesn't rise to "luxury" standards. The third bedroom was also a disappointment as it is tiny with a single bed and underneath trundle (not truly two beds as described) and the trundle was even blocked from use by the large desk seen in the photo in front of the window. The rental agent claims the trundle could be used if the desk is positioned correctly but unless it is placed in front of the closet, blocking its use, I can't imagine how else this tiny room can hold two beds and that desk. Lastly, the hardwood floors are in dire need of refinishing and the kitchen lacks the basic cooking supplies one might expect in a "luxury" rental. We addressed these concerns, particularly the issue of the weeklong non-working toilet, with the rental agent and the owner rejected any suggestion that we were due a rental fee concession despite not being able to deliver what was promised. That was a very disappointing response given the promise of "luxury" accommodations. The location can't be beat and the cottage has many charming features but be sure you can fit your family/group in this 2 1/2 bedroom space and that these other issues have been addressed before proceeding as our experience was that they won't make up for deficiencies once you have arrived.
Owner's Response: We appreciate this Guest's feedback, as we strive to provide the highest level of quality in our luxury homes. After receiving this review, the homeowner turned away all bookings during the month of January, 2013, to complete a $30,000 remodel to complement the location of this charming multi-million dollar ocean front home. These renovations included hiring a professional interior designer. All the hardwood floors were refinished. All the windows were removed so that the window trims could be re-painted. The interior of the entire home was painted. Other updates included new lighting throughout and the installation of new state of the art wall-mounted large flat screen TVs. The yard was newly landscaped with new plantings. A new King size bed was purchased for the master bedroom, a new Queen bed was purchased for the second bedroom, and the twin beds in the third bedroom are now re-arranged so that they are easily and comfortably accessible. New linens and towels were purchased as well. This home is already booked for most of the summer to returning Guests that enjoyed the home in its previous condition. We hope that our returning guests and future guests will enjoy the newly renovated and upgraded Ocean View Village Home in the heart of the Village of La Jolla!
Helpful votes: 3/3
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