4/10 Poor
Elaine T.
2 January 2023
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
An uncomfortable experience
This house claims to be suitable for ten people and costs well over $800 a night, once taxes and cleaning are added. For that price, I expected a comfortable, if not luxurious, property, and while the renovated interior (kitchen, two bathrooms, flooring) is decent, the furnishings, amenities and facilities were disappointing, to say the least.
Five of us stayed at the property, and despite it being intended for ten people, there were: nine towels (total, and counted by the owner); four mugs; five tumblers and tall glasses; no wine glasses (the owner brought us five when requested); five bowls; no baking trays or frying pans; no dishwasher tablets or hand soap. The refrigerator contained oat milk and other things left by previous residents and had to be wiped before use.
The bedrooms contained a bed (obviously!), two bedside tables, and built-in wardrobes, but there was nowhere convenient to put clothes and personal belongings and no bedside lights. The blinds were just adequate. The bedding was bog standard, but didn't match at all and there were only three pillows total on the double beds, which seemed odd to say the least (again, hardly comfortable).
So far, so below average. But the seating was perhaps the major issue. Remember: advertised as being for ten people, the lounge area contained two old, hard, and worn sofas that seated a maximum of five. The only alternative seating was six hard wood dining chairs. This was not ok. Moreover, the larger sofa was absolutely filthy--stained and ripped. We thought we'd turn the dirty cushions over; but underneath was disgusting--matted pet hair and crumbs.
We managed to stay two of our booked three nights by mostly being out of the house. One of the days was sunny, but there was no patio furniture to enjoy the view of the distant bridge. The area and surrounding properties are ok, but the walk to downtown Benicia and back was not easy for our two eighty-year old guests.
When I wrote to the owner to let him know we were leaving a day early because the house was not acceptable to us, he didn't respond. In sum, then, I would never stay here again; and I cannot recommend this property to anyone.
Elaine T.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
