In the end, our stay at the cottage was lovely, and we had a wonderful time. The cottage wasn’t exactly what we expected, and at first, we were a little disappointed. But the charm of the outdoor area, the character of the neighborhood, the sweet dog named Juno, the drive way full of sun at midday, and the convenience and good communication with Courtney made up for what was lacking.

We had a few issues with the place that we were easily able to put aside and joke about for the rest of the trip. The cottage is actually converted garage, so natural light only comes from the front door and window, and most of the floor is that speckled concrete – cold and dirty. This also prevents air circulation, which was not a good combination with the dog smell. The place has dorm-like feel, with all the personal pictures, knick-knacks, and mismatched decoration. At least there was that great Bob Marley poster, which made up for the otherwise lacking aesthetics.

The cleanliness of the place was also a downside. Despite our relaxed, flexible, and low maintenance attitudes, the hygiene of the cottage irked us just a tad – it wasn’t anything horrifying, just not up to par with other airbnb places we’ve stayed. There was dust on wine glasses, half-clean dishes, and every time we walked in, the pervasive scent of wet dog hit us. But Courtney did provide candles and air freshener ☺

The cottage was also missing paper towels, which I could have asked Courtney about, but shouldn’t have to. Although the kitchen was functional, there is little surface space for preparation. The hot tub attached to the main house would have added a lot to the experience, but upon asking Courtney, we were informed that guests are usually not invited to use the hot tub. I totally understand, as it does sit directly next to a bedroom of the house, but it would have been a really nice addition.

This place is also not the most private. The only window has no curtain, and opens up directly to the backyard, which residents of the main house frequent. The cottage is also just steps from the main house.

With all of that said, I would recommend this spot for maybe a couple of friends, but it is not the place for a romantic get-away. It is not a spot where you necessarily want to hang inside – if you plan on spending most of your time in the cozy backyard or off of the property, it could work. Courtney was helpful and communicative, and also allowed us space as well (the perfect airbnb combination).