Our first impression upon arrival was wonderful. Check-in was easy and the property was beautiful.
One of the main reasons that we selected this property was that we were going to be there over Christmas, and it had a fireplace listed as an amenity. When I contacted the property owner about finding the remote, I was told that it was against the rules to use the fireplace. Had we known, we may have selected a different condo for our trip. It was then that I received a message from the owner that said “Also, I should tell you they are replacing all the doors and windows. I don’t know about the noise level…” Again, definitely, something that we should have been told before booking. We arrived on Sunday and by Wednesday, I started coughing, but we were still determined to have a good time.
The owner checked on us a few days later and, in the conversation, told us “Thanks for staying there. I normally have a snowbird but they were afraid the construction would cause her breathing problems.” WHAT?!? Again, why weren’t we told??? I suffer from Lymphoma and have breathing issues. Chemo has also left me immunocompromised.
Let me paint a picture… With my cough and cold temps, it wasn’t conducive to sitting on the beach. No big deal, I can still sit on the balcony and relax. Cue the construction crew and jackhammering. (Noise is now also coming through the bathroom vents from the construction of a condo below us.) No big deal, I'll just go inside and look out of our big sliding glass doors. Cue what I thought was an eye infection. (Turned out to be Ocular Shingles.) So, on Sunday and Monday, I sat in the condo with the curtains pulled. Long story short, the upper-respiratory infection caused a flair in my system which sent it into crisis.
There were several other smaller issues I could list, but don’t feel the need to address all of those.
I sent a detailed message to the owner on Monday evening letting her know that we were leaving a day early on Tuesday. She replied that she had sent my letter to the management company and that someone would be contacting me. (I have received no contact.) She also stated that she wished we had contacted the management company and he could have moved us to a different complex. Who knew that was even an option? At the point we realized what was causing the problem, it wouldn’t have mattered where we were staying as my health was already in jeopardy.
~ A very disappointing and expensive vacation that wasn't.
