The things we liked about our experience were:
- the owner Jim: He was very nice and helpful. He personally checked us in and checked on us halfway through our stay. When we needed something he was easy to reach and accommodating.
- the spaciousness: The house was more than enough for three people plus a dog. We didn’t even need to use the bottom room so we stayed upstairs.
- the fact it was pet friendly: The fenced in backyard was very pet friendly. The city dog loved the space to run around.
The part of the experience that could have been improved:
- the lack of and quality of amenities: The property is very bare bones and could benefit from adding “no frills” to the descriptions. Towels and some kitchenware are available, but there wasn’t much of it and the towels were very rough. We had to use our own paper towels, shampoo/soap and toilet paper since there was very little stocked in the house.
- the cleanliness: the floors, especially the bathroom floor, was fairly dirty. The bed linens were discolored/stained and the master bed’s mattress could do with replacing as it sags in the middle.
- the booking process: This may be more Vrbo’s fault, but we originally booked the house for 4 nights at a certain cost per night plus fees including 4 nights of dog fees. The owner, Jim, had to let me know after I paid for the 4 nights that there was an issue with the listing and it was only available 3 nights. He kindly offered a partial refund, but what was refunded was less than covering the one night of lodging and dog fees we weren’t able to stay for. Again, this could be a VRBO issue but we were very disappointed to lose a day, some money and not receive any communication on the issue from VRBO directly.
Summary: Although we found our host and the area to be very nice, our overall experience was not what we expected. If you’re a large family looking for modest lodging less than half a mile from the lake and you don’t mind bringing your own things, then the house could be right for you. If you’re a smaller group or hoping for a getaway with more amenities and quality, a hotel or other house in the area may be a better fit as we learned.