Pros: Beautiful View of the water, location is close to everything, and a gated community. Helmut also is very responsive if you message him.
Cons: I wish I didn’t have to write this, but it is truly a buyer-beware scenario as the pictures don’t accurately show what you are getting into. I will start from the top:
1) Front Door: The lock is broken. The door itself does lock, but sometimes took us 5 minutes to find the sweet-spot to get the door opened. (Other reviews also mention this, but host fails to fix it)
2) Golf Cart: is a complete disaster. We experienced a flat while using it and it ruined our night as its a must to get around and we were stuck for hours waiting on a repair. It is disgustingly dirty, stalls out often, and you have some fear if you’ll make it up the hills. Not taken care of at all, and we were told its a luxury addition but if its out of service its not his fault. So if you’re booking this knowing you have a golf cart and it doesn’t work, well according to his belief you’re SOL.
3) The Space: While some reviews also complain about needing updates, his responses are that he makes them as he can when it is not booked. You can see constant touch-ups of a different color paint, broken curtains, windows that don’t lock, dirty ceilings and patio screens, broken draws, filthy dishwasher (hand wash prior to using please), yellow old gross pillows, old furniture different than in photos which is not updates as they are reused old pieces that don’t match, a tiny TV, mismatched random dishes/cups/silverware and not enough for daily use, old shower where handles barely turn water off, and a bunch more.
4) Lighting: Picture Grandmas house 1975. Good luck seeing.
5) The Balcony is NOT PRIVATE. Anyone can just walk up to your doors, or windows. On 2 days we had workers on our balcony (from next door, not here because no work is being done here), and another day we had a family looking over our balcony at the water. Steps run up from the public walkway to your stay. No gates or separation of balconies. Also, the windows don’t have screens and it gets hot inside with no AC, so be aware of leaving the windows open when you’re gone or sleeping - easily accessible, and while it is a gated community, its also where many people stay and who knows what they can do.
6) The stairs are noted on his description. We cannot complain because he does warn you, but get ready to get tired before you make it to the door or to the top.
7) You spend your hard earned money, and the host just collects. The amount of money spent daily on this stay should be plenty for additions and updates to be made, but anything that the host “updates” is just another outdated piece or a mismatched item or a cover-up. Look at other stays in Hamilton Cove - they are without a doubt updated and beautiful. The potential here is unlimited, but the care from the host in his property seems solely to collect, and not to spend anything.
Other reviews deemed replies from the host saying to compare it to hotels. You don’t get a pool, or a volleyball court (need you own ball), or putt putt (need your own club), or tennis court (need your own racquet), and hotels in Avalon definitely seem a bit sketchy, but this is somewhat comparable to them and shouldn’t be voiced by the host that you get more at his stay than a hotel, because simply - you do not.
Again, Buyer-Beware.