Frustrating experience with our stay and the owner’s behaviour.
Just before check in time we were advised that there is ‘a low amount of water’ (there is no mains water supply on bruny, each house has a large water tank), should be sufficient for use for the night and that water would be arrange for delivery the next day.
Upon check in, we turned on the tap there was not a single drop of water available at the property. We could not even use or flush the toilet. With the island accommodation booked out completely there were no alternative options at such short notice.
The owner assured us that this ‘has never happened’ and that ‘all water is delivered from the mainland via ferry and you’ll get it tomorrow.’ What we learned subsequently from others on the island was completely different. We understood the owner was made aware that the property needed water much earlier in the day by her cleaner, but left it too late to get water delivered for our stay as she wanted to rely on rain to refill water tanks (and avoid paying for water delivery). We learned this was a common occurrence with the owner and the property running out of water.
Only after calling the owner out on her actions and asking her for a solution, did she reluctantly offer us a paid meal (since we couldn’t use the kitchen to wash or cook anything) and one night refund — we think that is the bare minimum given she left our entire family completely in the lurch scrambling to find water from her cleaner and nearby hotel and using the hotel for trips to the bathroom.
The above situation should have been handled much better.
The cottage itself is getting more run down — there is a large missing tile on floor in living area which is a trip hazard which we’ve been told has been there a while now and owner has not gotten fixed. Windows sticky taped up. Curtains in first bedroom doesn’t quite draw to close and bedroom handle comping undone.
Would stay somewhere else with a more responsible host and a property that is better maintained.