Idyllwild has many vacation rentals but run away from using this company.
You just want to rent a quiet short-term rental with a view...
When you see the following on their website and posters: "Let us help you book your dream vacation in the perfect location," "distinctive from any other vacation rental company... the broadest choice of luxurious homes... we ensure guests’ expectations are met and they have the most enjoyable and fulfilling getaway" you hope you are going to find a nice place to spend your anniversary. You would be wrong.
The big red warning signs are there starting with the email confirmation you receive after paying for your nonrefundable rental:
If you would like to do an early check-in, we offer an hourly rate prior to 4 pm
If you would like to do a late checkout, we offer an hourly rate past 10 am checkout
You can request (late checkout) but cannot be confirmed until the day of, subject to availability
(You) must provide a photocopy of your ID and credit card... no, I did not say to show these items, they make photocopies and keep them. ... Um, identity theft potential?
John and I spent about 3 hours checking out their properties for our 17th wedding anniversary and reserved one that offered the best mix of privacy, solitude, and sweeping mountain views. We paid about the same as a room at the Grand Idyllwild Lodge, a wonderful four-star hotel we often enjoy, but were looking forward to enjoying our anniversary in romantic privacy. That did not happen.
The day before our arrival, we got another email from the property management company stating that "due to unforeseen maintenance issues", the property we contracted was not available. We were offered a similar property (considered a free upgrade) which we accepted. (By now, the Grand Idyllwild Lodge was fully booked.)
We were disappointed but having worked at hotels for many years, I fully understand that sometimes due to circumstances beyond control, an accommodation may need to be changed. I also recognized that the rental company offered an "upgrade" at no additional cost, a nice industry "peace pipe" practice of sorts.
We arrive at the rental office to check in at 4:00 pm. The person assisting us is friendly. She then calls the housekeeper to see if he is finished cleaning our rental. (According to their booking website, the house was vacant the night before.) We are disappointed but wait.
We are told that the housekeeper is finished and will leave the keys under the doormat.
We drive the the rental and see that someone is parked in the carport for the house. We cannot find the house number so we park in a gravel space close by. We walk around the front door, half expecting to intrude on someone's privacy but instead see a young man running out to the carport to get spare toilet paper. No, he was not finished cleaning the home.
We unpack and settle in. The home was orderly and we decided "nice enough." As we enjoyed a glass of wine, we noticed that the housekeeper missed a lot of cobwebs visible due to the skylights.
The next morning, I'm shaving in the main bathroom and notice that the bulbs above the mirror are missing. Oh well, I guess our "dream vacation" is more glamping than not. John is in the kitchen and calls out "Someone's here!" So much for solitude, either.
I see a couple parked in front of our house, looking at us and walking around our rental. We look up the road at the house we originally rented, you know, the one not available to us "due to unforeseen maintenance issues" and see that a realtor is hosting an open house. Curiosity got the best of us and we decided to check out the rental that we could not have. The realtor was shocked that we had been allowed to rent the property as she had planned the open house "for some time." The rest of the day was less than peaceful with a constant parade of cars and noise from the open-house guests.
We decided to stay in that evening and cook dinner at home. Nope.
The "upgraded property" had only one out of four range burners that functioned. Sigh.
Never again.
The plain and simple truth:
- Our stay was anything but a dream:
Reception is the first opportunity to impress a guest. Making them wait for the housekeeper after the check-in time is generally disrespectful of a guest. Telling them that the rental was ready and it is not... well, not my definition of a "dream vacation."
In today's day of increasing identity theft, taking reasonable care of a guest's ID and credit card is important. Keeping photocopies is not a practice most hotels I worked at or have stayed at follow, and is not my definition of a "dream vacation."
The rental company offered a substitute property knowing that there would be an open house during our visit, but implying at most there would be maintenance disturbances. No, they were not obligated to disclose this information but their marketing promises a "dream vacation."
Appliances at a rental are always subject to maintenance issues. In my experience, the only way that a kitchen range is rented with three out of four burners malfunctioning is because of poor practices. Again, not my definition of a "dream vacation."
Cleanliness is important. When you are charging prices similar to a luxury hotel, it's reasonable to expect similar hospitality standards. Cobwebs in high places under the skylights tarnish all perceptions of a "dream vacation."
The verdict:
Two thumbs down (it would have been three, but the check-in person was friendly)
The (pleasant) surprise:
The house had a very nice view.
If you go:
- Idyllwild is a nice small mountain getaway and has a population of about 12,000.
- Idyllwild is located about 1 1/2 hours from downtown Palm Springs and 3+ hours from LA
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