I’ve been wanting to write about our lovely experience over at the house in Hamilton that we rented for 3 nights. The house itself is very comfortable, large, and has all the needed facilities, inclusive of a working washing machine and free wifi. The swimming pool and hot tub were somewhat redundant, but that was only because we came and stayed in the winter. The house owner Christina was pleasant and friendly, very easy to get along with. All bedrooms, 1 master bedroom and two normal bedrooms, each hosting two single beds, were very comfortable and tidy. To add to the charm of the house, there is a lime tree at the front door, so close that you barely have to get off the doorstep to pick the limes, and a golden grapefruit tree in the neighbor’s back yard. The neighbor, Heidi, has no problems with you strolling into the garden to pick as many grapefruits as you like, again, very friendly.

My only qualm with the place is the kitchen. Oh no, don’t mistake me, it’s a lovely kitchen and everything works, and all plates, cups, bowls and tableware were all clean and usable. But there are a few things that we needed to clean out ourselves before we could use them, including the oven, the pots and a few kitchen utensils. It wasn’t so bad that we couldn’t use them, it only took a five-minute cleanup to get those parts back to full cleanliness.
We were very happy to find that every room came with very good towels, and so happily continued to prepare for our showers, but then were very surprised to find that the washroom had lacked the most basic of all shower necessities: shampoo and bath soap. A quick search of the house and it’s bathrooms revealed that there was none to be found. It was unexpected for the rental cost NZ300 per night, and we flew into a panic and had to rush out to the nearest store to buy the much needed shower necessities.

As a travel writer, I make it a point to leave the house in as clean a state as it was before I came, if not cleaner, because I understand that, as guests, we are not entitled to do what we will with the house, and then leave the owner to clean up after our messes. It’s always important for us to respect the property we are given.

Overall, a very cozy house to stay in, and a very lovely neighborhood, save the lack of shower necessities.