We were looking for a cottage on the water that our family of five could stay comfortably and we could bring our two dogs. This cottage seemed to fit all those qualifications. However, aside from having to bring our own sheets, towels and toilet paper! we were asked to be there for check in with a 30 minute window and to phone 15-30 minutes before our arrival. The cell service is sketchy at best, but we tried our best to do exactly that. However, no one met us upon our arrival, as they were busy cleaning and removing garbage (which each renter is supposed to do themselves). They did not return until after 7:30 pm, when we were told to meet them at 2:30.
That was fine, and if that was all, could be over looked. However, the fridge was clearly not working. The freezer was frozen shut by a block of ice, and the fridge was not cold, despite being on. It also continued to leak out the back all week. We contacted the owner numerous times on our vacation about this problem, as we had insulin in the not so cold fridge, and we wanted to make sure the fridge did not stop working. We were told someone would be there on Monday, and no one arrived, then told it would be Tueaday, again, no one. So we stopped telling them about it, adjusted he fridge somit was colder, and continued on with our trip.
Several light switches were broken or lights not working. In one bedroom, a table lamp had to be plugged in and out in order for there to be light. He light in the shower did not work, and someone's soap and shampoo travel packages were left opened in the shower. We left them there.
Above that, the out door chairs were all broken, either the back was cracked or the seat, making them very uncomfortable to sit on without a towel. This is from leaving them outside, or people taking them in the water. Either way, they are in desperate need of replacement.
Worse than all of that. One of the main reasons I booked this cottage was because they recently had a kitchen Reno, so I thought that would be great. We have stayed in many rustic cottages before, and do not expect top of the line quality in things, but just he basics. There was only one pot with a lid that fit. The others were either too big or too small. The only kettle we could find was a boil on the stove kind, which is fine, except that the lid was rusted, so we put tin foil on the top every time we boiled things. And when I went to put our food into a cupboard, I found not only were they dirty, but there were blue pellets spilled everywhere. I come to find out it is mouse poison, and it is obviously poisonous to our dogs and ourselves!! So upset by this.
And finally, at the end of your stay, you must make a trip to the dump, with the one clear garbage bag they provide you with (if you need more, you must buy your own) and all your recycling. Having three kids, two dogs and a car load of stuff, it would have been impossible to put the garbage in our van for the 15 minute trip, so my husband had to make a separate trip before we packed the car. 30 minutes out of his vacation to do this, plus the two days sort of waiting around for a fridge repair person.
All in all for the price we paid for this cottage, my expectations were much higher.