Madeleine’s place looks exactly like the pictures and has a beautiful aesthetic, which is why I initially booked. I was very satisfied with this aspect of the trip; however, there were a few grievances.
Madeleine’s place uses a window/wall unit to heat/cool the place. The vent rattles at the start of each heating cycle. The unit is near the wall and the rattling is so loud it is hard to fall asleep and/or stay asleep. I had to choice between sleeping peacefully and staying warm. Luckily there were extra blankets.
Madeleine enforces quiet hours from 9pm-9am, but the walls in the place or so thin I could hear guests in other connected unit have normal conversation.
The water in the shower does not get hot, but warm and cools down fairly quickly. I particularly like a steaming hot shower, so this was a disappointment. Admittedly, I did not mention the aforementioned grievances for a particular reason.
I was scheduled to check in at 3pm on Sunday, February 27; however, there was a Mardi Gras parade that prevented me from getting to my unit until 7pm. I was not made aware of this and Madeleine claims to not have know there was a parade in the area. I find this hard to believe as extended road closures prevent residents from leaving and returning to their home. As a home/business owner in the area I can’t fathom Madeleine was not notified prior to my stay.
When I reached out to Madeleine to address a late check-I’m outside of my control she did not offer a discount, accommodations, or even empathy. She suggested I park half a mile away, leaving a rental car I am liable for in a city I am unfamiliar with, and carry my luggage half a mile to the unit. One of the main reasons I booked Madeleine’s place was because there was secure parking. She reluctantly offered late check out at no additional cost, as it is normally a $50.00 fee.
Madeleine has set her profile to send automated messages stating she intends to provide a 5-star stay and to let her know if your experience drops below this; however, when I let her know my stay was not meeting expectations she was not fast to act or accommodate me. This experience causes me to be hesitant with booking with Madeleine or recommending her place as a place to stay. If you do book a stay I strongly recommend attempting to find a community events calendar to ensure smooth check-in/check-out process.