Excellent for an adventure

Guest: b (idaho falls Idaho)
Date of Stay: 11/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/30/11

This place was a fantastic location if you want to do a lot of playing/ hiking on the north side. Its a bit of a drive but away from tourist which is nice. Love the view every morning!!! breath taking views. The house was a decent size and open. Thank you for letting me use your home!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Nice place but lacking on cleanliness

Guest: Frank (Anacortes, WA)
Date of Stay: 08/10/10 Review Submitted: 09/30/10

North Shore abode is spacious. When we stayed there in August of 2010 there were issues with cleanliness. There was a large number of insects in the home, rat feces evident in the home and also rats. We had to dispose of a dead rat while we were there. Not an ideal vacation activity. The neighbors dogs tend to bark all night long, pack earplugs. Two of the four beds were rather uncomfortable. It is in a pretty setting, is spacious and decorated nice. Has a washer and dryer and extras that are nice to have when on vacation. We did have to call the owner about the refrigerator and he did get back to us promptly. However,the solution was to have us wait around for a repair person. Again, not a vacation activity. Luckily the frig started working okay and we did not have to waste a vacation day waiting for the repair person.

Owner response:Our home has numerous fruit trees, including banana plants, and guests are invited to pick and eat whatever is in season. The prior guests had cut a large bunch of bananas and left them on a countertop to ripen.They also left the windows open at night and in their absence. Even though our home in on a second floor, and there is a cat on grounds below, rats, attracted by the smell of ripe bananas, crawled up the siding, or jumped from nearby trees, chewed large holes in the screens, and helped themselves to the bananas. Insects, attracted to the inside lights, entered through the holes in the screens created by the rats. The prior guests left the same day these guests arrived. Our cleaning crew did its usual cleaning between the two parties of guests, but did not have time for a full pest extermination and failed to inform us of the holes in the screens. These guests were not asked to keep their windows closed, probably did not notice the holes in the screens, and during their occupancy more rodents and insects likely entered. We have since exterminated the pests. The lesson is that in the tropics, never leave food or garbage lying around. Keep it in the frigde or in rodent proof containers. We have ordered stainless steel mesh to replace the window screens. The fridge was working before these guests came and during their stay. They called me once, said the food in the fridge was not cold enough. I suggested they adjust the temperature and keep the fridge doors closed. I also called a repair person. The guests called back several hours later and said the fridge was fine. The repair visit was cancelled. At least one neighbor on our street has dogs. The owner lives alone, had suffered a stroke, and spent over a month in the hospital. Undoubtedly the dogs were barking because no one was caring for them. We have two queens size beds, two single beds, and an assortment of air mattress beds and cots. It would be useful to know which beds were uncomfortable. Our home is spacious, with 12' high cathedral ceilings, and has lovely views. Thanks for the compliments.

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