I really wanted to love this property, but it fell short of expectations due to a lack of care and detail. I loved walking up the garden path when I arrived and the look of the house when I entered. The bathroom was a bit of a question mark and then the bedroom was a complete letdown. My impression is that this is a great house with house proud owners, who have left it to rental agents and trust them too much, based on glowing reviews by guests who gloss over the flaws. I hope my comments are taken as advice to clean up the place and bring it up to its real potential.
It does have a lovely garden and the living space is architecturally pleasing.
The bedroom and bathroom are a bit of an underwhelming afterthought. Others mentioned the wet toilet as “quirky” and it is described by the owners as “European”. Well, it is neither. What it is, is a ship’s bathroom with a shower over the toilet and no privacy from the road. After a shower, the toilet is wet and one can not walk between the bedroom and the living area - you have to go around the outside.
The bedroom has a dirty, stained, cheap cloth “wardrobe” with the filthiest of dusty, rusty fan stored inside. Stained, cheap curtains with holes hang from flimsy curtain rails. The mattress does indeed need to be replaced. One feels the springs.
Closing of windows are emphasised by the owners- both for security and bugs. Not a single window can be closed however. Window latches are broken, sliding insect screens torn and unable to slide closed.
The chairs at the kitchen counter are too low for the table surface, unless you are really tall, or can eat with your plate above chest height. Cushions might help, or higher chairs.
Don’t look up, the lamp shade has not been cleaned in ages and the dust and insects look unappetising. The kitchen has everything you need, but the appliances are far from modern/new and the fridge is extremely noisy.
Basically every thing looks fine on the surface, but feels slightly grubby underneath.
The view is of the lush and green and lovely garden. Do not expect the sea views of the photos, except if you stand in the very corner of the window. I did not mind, but the description is exaggerated.
What is needed here, is a periodic “deep clean” and regular maintenance program. The flaws I mention are not 6 months’ worth of seaside corrosion. Fresh curtains, a proper wardrobe and shelves, windows that close securely and squeaky clean surfaces below, at and above eye level will easily fix all I mention here and leave discerning travellers with high standards free to focus on what is great about the property.
The location was great for exploring the coastline and lava activity. The instructional book was a nice touch with great advice.