Tarps and Tape

Guest: keuka (augusta maine USA)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/14/11

First I need to say the location is fabulous.The bay on 1 side and the lake on the other is nice. Now,the condition of the 'cottage' is less than desirable.Martha went out of her way to get us what we needed;dish towels, hand bath towels,food storage containers, swiffer cloths for the dirty linoleum floors.Upon arrival at the cottage Scott applied more clear tape to the screen on the back door. The cottage was missing the screen door for the main sliding door the other front screen door was replaced Tuesday and did not slide "because the winter was so bad".The screen in the back door was replaced Tuesday.The upstairs master bedroom screen door for the deck did not slide.The front sliding door was dirty, I asked for windex which Martha brought and cleaned.The table fan was filthy (Martha took it home and brought it back clean and cleaned the downstairs floor fan). She replaced the cotton shower curtain, the bottom was dirty with soap scum and some mold spots. Trash (small bag and milk jug) on the floor in the closet.There was a plastic tray under the kitchen sink, replaced Tues with 9x13 glass pan because the sink leaks.Some windows did not have screens. Other screens were filthy. There is not a campfire pit on the lake side. The cover to the hot tub is man made and covered in a brown tarp,functional and tacky. The pontoon boat we were given to rent had ripped seats, a silver tarp for the canopy. Scott reimbursed us as we were NOT going to rent it. Scott said he would be over Monday afternoon to take care of some of the basic repairs and did not arrive to do this AND clean the hot tub until just before sunset .Not acceptable..It is enjoyable watching the sunset while relaxing in the hot tub. He is more than willing to let you know his problems,how people treat his property, why the cottage is in the condition it is and how he is busy "running a company in town IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY WAS IT?!" We asked him to return for repairs Tues daytime. He did. The point is he took up too much of our vacation time doing general repairs "when else can I do it?" He says ''we have doctors, lawyers and corporate renting and never have any complaints.it's a cottage".We are professionals and expect when you pay $1700. for a weeks rent, the condition of the cottage should be maintained and clean.No seaplane ride as the engine is being replaced. Religious DVDs on 'the creation' are not appropriate to be given to guests; religion and politics are PERSONAL.This property 4 sale.

Owner response:Martha and I are truely sorry that you felt compelled to nit pick our cottage apart. This guest had us running until 11PM on Sat after they arrived. The guest the week before had broken the screens on both the front and back door. I guess it was just the kids running in and out and having a great time on the beach, No Problem. I had to put some screen tape along the edge so that it was sealed against flys etc. until Monday when I could buy new screens. Which did.! When we arrived monday evening after work to replace them we were told to leave and come back tomorrow. This was after they called me all day I lost count at ten calls to fix the tape on the Screens. At this point they had even climbed under the cottage to see what they could find to put on their list. In the end we found out what they really wanted. They wanted a 50% discount on the rent or they would write a negative review. I believe they call that Black Mail! Well I don't take to kindly to that kind of behavior. I offered them a full refund just to leave but they decided to stay and torment us for the remainder of the week. It's guest like these that ruin it for everyone else. Bottom line is Martha and I went out of our way to try to satisfy these two guest. They did not like CA wine so we went out and purchased local wine and local cheese. We went out and purchased tupperware containers because she had to have tupperware to store her leftovers. We have had only 4 and 5 stars on all our reviews for this cottage. Even they gave us 5 stars! Martha and I thought that people like that could use something positive in their lives so we gave them some DVD's on creation and they complained about that as well. OH Well! GOD BLESS them anyway.

Recommended for:

Perfect get-away! Can't wait to go back!

Guest: Erica (Buffalo)
Date of Stay: 09/10/10 Review Submitted: 09/17/10

We were absolutely thrilled with our stay at the Blue Heron last weekend! We were hoping for a quaint place to relax for a couple of days, soak in some gorgeous views & get out on the water... and we definitely found it! From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed & taken care of. Trent, the property manager, greeted us & took us to the property. We found bottles of chilled wine & a block of local cheese waiting for us. Our dog was welcome too and she had a blast running up & down the beach and in & out of the bay & lake. We spent our first night watching the sunset over the lighthouse on Lake Ontario in the hot tub, sipping white wine. It was heaven! There were so many great places to hang out around the property. Whether we were sitting by the fire, laying in the hammock, sitting on the dock or floating in one of the many boats that were provided, we were surrounded by beautiful water (and one of the most gorgeous night sky's I have seen in a long time!) The cottage itself was great too; the bedrooms were clean and cozy & the kitchen was great for preparing meals. It definitely takes a little time to get used to getting around by boat; if you're just coming for a weekend, we recommend bringing everything with you so you don't even need to leave during your stay. All-in-all, we give this place 5++++ stars and can't wait to come back! (View photos of our stay on my blog : http://city-lights-studio.blogspot.com/2010/09/0910-sodus-bay-getaway.html)

Recommended for:Age 55+, pet owners, adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Great Weekend Getaway

Guest: The Nolans (Webster, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/03/10 Review Submitted: 09/14/10

Thank you for a relaxing stay! We really loved hearing the Lake at night and Riley loved to run around on the beach without his leash! The wine and cheese were also a wonderful treat. Thank you again and we hope to be back in the future!

Recommended for:Age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Family Vacation

Guest: Nana (Williamsport, PA)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 09/02/10

We stayed at the Blue Heron and had a great time. Scott and Martha are very accomodating at trying to meet everyone's needs. The coffee pot didn't work and Scott brought their own personal coffee pot for us to use. The kids loved the plane ride and treasure hunt. We are looking forward to returning next year and trying another one of the cottages that Scott and Martha own.

Recommended for:Age 55+, pet owners, adventure seekers, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Happy Vacationer's from the Jersey Shore

Guest: ladychef (Point Pleasant NJ)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

Absolutely perfect!! This house was more wonderful than we imagined. Clean, well equipted, and outstanding views. I have travelled extensively, and have never stayed in a place with such comfortable charm as the Blue Heron. My son who is 21 did not want to leave, and let me tell you that is amazing! Scott and Martha went above and beyond in offering suggestions for restaurants, driving directions to major points of interrest, and were always available for us any time of the day. What a lovely couple! We will no doubt be coming back to this gorgeous little gem.

Recommended for:Pet owners, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.

Blue Heron On Lake Ontario

Guest: Steuben County Brits (Corning, NY)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/12/10

We had a fabulous week in Blue Heron. The lake house is situated in a perfectly idyllic spot with magnificent views both front and back. The sunset over the lake has to be seen to believed (even the photo does not do it justice). Scott and Martha were most hospitable and welcoming. The sea-plane ride over the bay was a highlight for all. Would certainly recommend. We got the hang of getting to and from the mainland by boat more quickly than I expected. House is well equipped and very comfortable. The lake was a very pleasent temperature for swimming (at least in early July when the temperature was 90+ all week).

Recommended for:Age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/06 Review Submitted: 08/03/06

Comment Rating: Positive Comment Text: We loved this cottage. The breezes through the front and back windows were delightful, the lake beach was beautiful and the bay around the dock was teeming with fish and other wildlife. Our dog swam every day and considers it his best vacation ever. The cottage is on a barrier island reachable only by boat, which makes it quiet and private, but restaurants and the bare basic groceries are a 5-minute ride in the motorboat. Lake Ontario ranged from smooth-as-glass to 2-foot whitecaps while we were there in late June, so we couldn't kayak on the lake every day, but Sodus Bay was usually doable. Water is very clean. Owner is nearby and helpful. Cottage is well-equipped and in great shape. All in all, a great experience we plan to repeat.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/05 Review Submitted: 08/13/05

We had a wonderful time at this cottage. We would highly recommend it to anyone. The lake front is gorgeous. Sunsets are unmatched. Water is warm and CLEAN. The bay at the back is beautiful with tons of fish, including perch, bass, pike, and pan fish. The owners, Scott and Martha, are two of the nicest people you could meet, and will make you feel more than welcome. If you have a dog, they will love it too! The restaurants that are close by are great. Don't miss Carey's Cove for breakfast! O'Riley's is a must for lunch. Papa Joes or Connelly's Cove are great for dinner. We HIGHLY recommend this rental and plan to return.

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