Overall: Our time at crab apple cottage came during the worst part of the COVID crisis. It was nice to be able to call this house our own for a few months during the lockdown and social distancing. We probably got more use out of the house since everything was closed than would most guests. Our retreat away from the home was the Norman Bird Sanctuary and we cannot recommend that enough. The host was amazing, our dates of departure changed at least three times and the host was very accommodating. I can see why she is a superhost. The home and host were everything we needed to ride out a global pandemic in comfort.
The house: For our family of four, the home was just big enough. The kitchen was well stocked with pretty much everything you would need for a long stay. There were plenty of linens and towels for a large family. There was plenty of storage space for whatever you could think to bring with you. The house is well appointed with televisions and internet, but the channels are somewhat limited, so bring your favorite streaming device. There is a closet full of toys, games and puzzles which we enjoyed and our kids enjoyed having more to play with than the limited number of toys we brought with us. There is not much negative to say about the house, except that the yard is limited. If everything would have been open, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but with beaches, parks and playgrounds closed, keeping small energetic children outside and safe became a challenge with the home on a busy street. Luckily one of the neighbors was very nice and offered their yard up for us to play in. Overall, the house was just what we needed during that time.
The host: Donna was amazing. She checked on us when it was forecast for snow to be sure we knew where the snow shovels were and that we were okay the following day. As mentioned previously, she was very accommodating with the changing schedule due to COVID and was very responsive to messages. We stayed for several months and we had constant communication the entire time, she answered our questions promptly and was proactive in working with us to figure out when we were able to leave due to travel restrictions. I cannot say enough good things about Donna and the way she treated us during our stay.
Conclusion: I would absolutely rent this home again. I would probably not do it during a global pandemic, but hopefully that won’t be an issue. If you are looking for a well-appointed home close to Newport, this could be the place for you. (and try the French Bakery across the street)