We booked 4 nights in mid-July; left early. We minimized our time in the cottage due to issues noted below, but enjoyed the beaches, especially East Beach, which was new to us and worth the drive.
This would be a good rental if 3 items were improved: flooring, cleaning and instructions.
1. Flooring - Old, stained carpet is presumably the source of the door that we were told is “just the way old cottages smell.” The odor was most noticeable in the largest bedroom. Shampooing the carpets probably won’t refresh them at this point; replacement with flooring similar to the kitchen would help.
2. Cleaning - The nice wrap-around deck facing the water wasn’t inviting until we thoroughly swept the cobwebs away and dusted off the chairs. Indoors, the carpets looked and felt dirty. Guests are instructed to vacuum carpets before leaving, but the vacuum is not very powerful.
3. Instructions - A binder gives detailed check-out instructions, but no information about cottage facilities, other than Wifi code. Most importantly, there are no instructions about water for drinking and cooking. Upon arrival, we texted the manager to find out whether the tap water was safe. She noted that the well water has an unpleasant smell and recommended boiling. Previously, when we’ve rented a cottage where tap water is not meant for drinking, a jug of drinking water was provided, with instructions on where to refill it. It turns out street side taps provide treated water here, but that wasn’t mentioned. Ideally, information about water would be provided before guests arrive; in any case, this is essential information to include in the binder.
Three items on the plus side: the sunroom is pleasant; there is an ensuite bathroom connected to the large bedroom (not mentioned in the listing); and the main bathroom has been modernized (listing photo does not match the 2021 bathroom).
