I was very disappointed with my stay at Claudia's property. There were many issues and I was very surprised, since there were a lot of good reviews, and that is why I chose the listing. To prevent these issues from inconveniencing others, I will summarize in this review.
Claudia's listing is not accurate. It is also missing information that would help a prospective guest make an informed decision about whether to stay there or not. The photos are out of date or inaccurate - there is one photo showing a wooden fort that is no longer there. The photos need to be updated showing clearly the private and shared areas of the property.
The listing states it is a private house. The listing does have its own front door, but at the back of the house, it is not private. The listing is part of the owner's house, which has been separated into a one-bedroom apartment, with a door from the street at the front and steps down to the garden at the back. The listing states that it has a washing machine, however, there is no washing machine in the listing itself, it is downstairs underneath the house and it is in use constantly by the owner and her family.
I was told when I arrived that the garden was private for the guest, however several times there were other people in the garden, there being access by a gate from the owner's outside space to the garden and the room containing the washing machine. For me this was an issue, because I was staying there with a young child and it is important to know if there is a private enclosed space and that no other people are going to access it.
Due to the conversion, there is a lot of noise in the listing. In the evenings, there was a lot of noise from footsteps, voices, and dishes, as well as noise coming from the stairwell. It is usual to have some kind of noise from neighbours in an apartment, however, the listing states that it is a private house and it is therefore misleading, since one would expect less noise in a private house than an apartment. Also, because it is a conversion, the water supply is affected by the owner's activities. For example, when the owner was watering the garden, it was not possible to use the bathroom sink or shower, because the water supply was affected.
Also, it states in the listing that there is a table at the front for use by the guests. This was in use a lot by the owner and her family/guests/neighbours and is not for sole use for the guests. Also, in COVID times, this would not be appropriate. There did not seem to be much adherence to COVID protocol in this way, as it states on the listing. The inside of the listing was clean according to the clean and safe protocol, but the shared areas (outside table, washing machine area) did not receive any attention.
I have only given 3 stars for the cleaning, because, although the inside was spotless thanks to Patricia the cleaning lady, these other areas were not considered properly. Also, the small road outside of the house where the parking spot is was filthy with dog mess. A neighbour's dogs run loose through the day and no one is monitoring the mess or clearing it up.
The parking itself is a huge issue. There is a restaurant on the corner of the small lane/cul de sac where the listing is, and this creates a lot of traffic at certain times of the day. There is limited parking at the listing, and at certain times you may be blocked in or without a space. To leave the parking spot offered near the house, you need to reverse uphill through a narrow space between two walls, out onto the road. I advise full protection for your hire car if you are using one. Also, I noticed broken glass from a smashed window (possibly) in the small parking area near the restaurant and this was after I was advised not to leave my car there overnight if at all possible, so I think there may be an issue with that parking area.
The listing mentions a 5 minute walk to the nearby village, however it is longer, maybe 10 minutes. This involves crossing an extremely busy road with cyclists hurtling along at speed and a blind corner to exit. Take care.
There are some safety issues at the listing worth mentioning. There is an open fire for use by the guests, but the listing does not have a smoke alarm. I think this should be a basic essential to keep everyone safe. Also, when the electricity went out one time and I checked the breaker box to see what the issue might be, I found a bottle of flammable liquid inside the breaker box cover. There is a towel rail provided, however it only works if you plug it into a socket on the wall and turn on the lights in the bathroom. This did not sound safe to me, so I decided not to use it.
There are two rugs that are extremely slippery, and both my son and I slipped and fell on them when we first arrived, so I put them away. This property needs a full safety review.
Other small inconveniences include: there are no drawers in the bedroom for clothes, so I had to leave piles of clothes out. There is a plumbing issue in the bathroom, which means that the sink does not drain for some minutes and the toilet is prone to blockage. The dishwasher is opposite the stairs in the kitchen, which have been blocked off. It is not possible to fully open the dishwasher door, which makes it less convenient to use it.
Regarding the location - Claudia enjoys a pleasant location for her family home and the