Belle colline historique Haven -Walk to Town & Water

This review is both very unusual (please see the 27 previous outstanding reviews here, or the hundreds on AirBnB where we have earned SuperHost status) and surprising (given that, upon leaving, the guest messaged, “Our family enjoyed our time together at your home. The children have made many great memories.”). Unfortunately however, the negative review was not completely unexpected as the guest made clear his intention to malign the property should we withhold any portion of his deposit AFTER we thoughtfully inquired into some damage to two of our lovely tables during his family’s stay. We will note that, while he did threaten such a review, he did NOT dispute that the damage occurred during their stay. Our guests typically rave about our very well appointed, well cared for, impeccably clean Victorian Home, often claiming some of their best-ever vacation experiences during their stays. As it IS a historic property, it has been tested for lead without finding any indication of its presence - despite the fact that with hundreds of guests enjoying its comforts during any given season, things get bumped and paint gets chipped. As it IS a historic property, the floors have certain “charms” - one of which is that in some rooms you can pass the time on a rainy day guessing which way a marble will roll when left to its own devices. As it IS a historic property, bringing bathrooms up to our 21st century creature comfort standards requires a creative and fun eye - thus the unique “ship’s head” bathroom designed by a noted local architect, fully compliant with all building regulations and codes, nautical, and generally adored by our guests. As it IS a historic property, it sometimes moves and grooves in the weather - and small cracks appear in the plaster as it is want to do, even under fresh paint. Further, as it IS a historic property, it is appointed with lovingly restored furniture consistent with the period - another feature enjoyed by our guests over the years, and which we strive to maintain in top condition for EVERY guest’s enjoyment. We continue to operate under “COVID restrictions.” As such, we do not presently provide towels and linens as a matter of course. However, when the guest found an outdated rental agreement on the third-party website which indicated that we DID, we of course immediately and graciously honored that, providing everything needed… PLUS extras. We do not take the withholding of a guest’s deposit lightly. We are compelled to do so only very rarely, when the costs to repair are considerable, and never without first reaching out to our guest to ensure that we are all on the same page. In this case, unfortunately, our damage inquiry was met with the threat of a less-than-favorable review. Instead of bowing to threats, we took the steps necessary to ensure the property is brought back to the same tip-top condition it was in prior to their stay, and for the enjoyment of future guests. Finally, on one point we and the reviewer agree: if you are looking for new construction, this is not the vacation home for you. However, if you are looking for the historic charm and comfort for which Martha’s Vineyard is world famous, you will love your stay with us.