Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great location, terrible owner

Guest: MO (MA)
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 02/07/12

We loved this house, but as for the owner we were very disappointed. The beaches were great, the location was great, and the size of the house was great. Problems: The owner took months to cash our checks and was there upon our arrival. This was fine but there were stairs that needed repairing. Instead of taking time off from having renters there (which a good owner would and should do) she and the workers (who smoked and walked in and out of the house while we were there) proceeded to come to the house 4 days out of our week there. We were miffed by this and thought it was very unprofessional for paying a lot of money and not having privacy. My husband and the other men in our group are all architects and tried to give advice (they weren't using the right materials to repair the stair and they didn't seem to know what they were doing) and she didn't care about the advice they were giving. She also wanted to sign onto our computers to sign into the internet. We will never go back because of this experience, it's too bad, it's a great area. But, there is another house in that neighborhood that we would consider renting.

Owner response:Shortly before this guest arrived, during a prior guests stay, a problem came up with the front steps. We had 3 choices, ignore the problem and risk the guests being injured (not an option), tell one of the guests that they could not use their week (not an option, this would be in violation of our contract), or fix the problem as soon as possible (the only viable option.) Unfortunately, the first repair person did not know what he was doing, and I had to bring someone else in. And as sometimes is the case, a simple repair turns into a far more complex one. The first person did smoke, but never in the house. When I realized we needed to go in the house, I asked if we were disturbing them and was told we were not. One of the architects did off-handily offer to advise us on the project, but I didn’t take him seriously. If they discussed we were using the wrong materials among themselves, perhaps they told the workman, but they certainly did not tell me. Yes, I did use one of their computers, but not for my own use. I am a professional software consultant. I had replaced a failing router on my wireless network. They were unable to logon to the new network. I did not have my personal laptop with me, so in order to fix the problem asap, I asked if I could use one of theirs. They did not mind. I then resolved the router security problem and made sure the laptop could logon to the network. Cashing their checks later than they expected did them no harm. If anything I was the one at risk, not them. And, I did give them a partial refund for the stairs inconvenience.

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Guest: Donna L
Date of Stay: 10/15/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

The six women from Arizona, Colorado and Missouri arrived at the Neptune house Oct 9, 2010. We were delighted with the uniqueness of the house as it is spacious and comfortable. We walked the ocean beach several times and were fascinated by the beautiful views, sandy beach, sea shells, and birds. We are from areas that do not have such large bodies of water nor beaches – and it is fascinating. We traveled to Vermont, Mass, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Conn. Our time here went fast. The weather was beautiful, which made it enjoyable for us to travel to Conn and local states. We had fun and liked each area we visited. The people are friendly, the food delicious and the areas beautiful with colored trees and homes so different from our areas – Large two/three story houses in close proximity. We are happy we chose to visit and stay in New London and will remember our experiences for many years.

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Guest: Tim, Wendy and Tyler C
Date of Stay: 10/08/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

Greatly Enjoyed your lovely home The weather the first few days was pretty bad, but we greatly enjoyed your lovely house. The sun finally came out on Thursday! Swimming in October was a first for us! Your list of places to eat came in very handy - tried a few of them. We are already talking about booking another week with you next year. Again, many Thanks. Owner's comments: Swimming in October is not the norm. This year we had a few weeks of unusually warm weather for October.

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Guest: Brooklyn, NY Guests
Date of Stay: 09/24/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

This is our third year here. We love it. This house is just beautiful, clean and we really are so relaxed here. Thank you very much for the warm and peaceful environment. Hope to return next year.

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Guest: The W family from Chicago
Date of Stay: 09/14/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

We had a great week here! Lots of family gathered here for our daughter's wedding at the Branford House. Nice place!

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Guest: Gala, Rachana, Ajay, and Niket and their families
Date of Stay: 09/06/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

We had a wonderful time at your house. It was home away from home. The beach was absolutely spectacular and since it was private we enjoyed it more. We plan to visit again next year. The house was the best location . We enjoyed the clean sheets, kitchen and more. Whenever get a chance – people should visit. Owners note: I suspect their reference to "clean sheets" is because we place clean sheets on top of the stripped beds so you can make them yourselves. That way you know for sure the sheets are fresh.

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Guest: Jane and Phillip W
Date of Stay: 08/28/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

While we don't know you Gloria we are thankful that you provided such a thoughtfully prepared home for your holiday renters. Our children and dogs were well corralled. Everything seemed available and at hand. Your porch provided the opportunity to meet your neighbors. Plus the beach and all the sites were great. This stay has been the best introduction to the Connecticut coast possible. Owners Note: "Well corralled" refers to the fact that we provide several expandable child gates to restrict toddler and pet movements.

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Guest: The C Family
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

Thank you for letting us stay in your house. It was big enough to fit our 13 people family in it. We were even able to have two “formal” dinners in teh dining room by using the lovely china. We celebrated one college graduation and two birthdays. The beach guard was very personal and friendly. We all enjoyed the beautiful private beach and its closeness to the house. We made use of the porch and played cards in the evenings. Some of of us went to Mystic Aquarium/Seaport and had a great time. Sea Swirl & Mystic Pizza are great places to grab a bite to eat. Unfortunately, no one won any money at the Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods, Your home was very welcoming and inviting, and we will have very happy memories of our stay in your house.

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Guest: Betsy and David L
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

We had a very enjoyable week in Connecticut! We went to the beach a few times, enjoyed walking around the neighborhood and ate at a few good restaurants. The Recovery Room is great. Thanks you for sharing your home with us!

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Guest: Jenna R and her grandmother
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

This was a really nice house not only because of the fact that it fit all 14 of us, but (also) the decoration. We all thank you for upkeeping it and making it nice. Its a really nice location because we got access to the beach. For the children it was wonderful because we went to Sailfest which was very pretty and also very fun. Once again thank you. Jenna (age 10) From Jenna's Grandmother Be sure to visit Mystic Seaport Museum. If you want huge waves Misquomicust State Park in R. I. was 42 minutes away. We really enjoyed the Thai/Japanese restaurant in downtown New London. Biking to Fort Trunbull is about a 7 minute round trip. For ice cream, Michael's on Montauk was delicious. I liked the Monster Mash flavor. Fireworks on the beach last night were great. All around a great summer vacation. First vacation in CT.

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What a DIASTER

Guest: Unhappy renter (Tampa Fl USA)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 10/15/10

This property is in a terrible state of disrepair and the owner (Gloria) appears unwilling to expend the necessary funds for upkeep or improvement. During our 1 week stay from 7/17/10 to 7/24/10 we endured 1. Ants in the kitchen which Gloria termed an ongoing battle. Rather than hire an exterminator Gloria's solution was to place ant traps along the counters. 2. A non working dining room window AC due to a faulty electrical outlet. After three days Gloria's solution was to run a 20ft extension cord from another outlet rather than have an electrician address the problem. 3. A dripping leak from beneath the second floor bath tub through the ceiling to the living room. Rather than have a plumber correct the problem Gloria caulked around the tub which was totally ineffective. 4. A barely functioning refrigerator that was finally repaired after two phone calls and four days. In addition the box springs and mattresses are ancient and uncomfortable and the padding is coming out of the family room sofas. The window AC units do not fit properly and openings are available for insects to enter. Gloria insisted that my signed lease and initial deposit be returned priority mail. She then went four weeks before cashing the check or returning her signed copy of the lease. It took five weeks and five emails to have her return my uncashed security deposit check finally arriving on Oct 12. twelve weeks after we had vacated the house. Be warned stay away from this property.

Owner response:I try to please my guests, but sometimes it is difficult. We fixed the problems that we could, ASAP. On other things, he made assumptions without having the facts. In the spring I spent considerable money on a month's work (refinishing floors, painting, caulking, etc.) & the house is in good shape overall. 1. Ants: I treated the outside, but ants were bad this year. Instead of spraying the floors too (babies & pets play there), I added harmless to humans ant traps. 2. A/C: After 3 days he reported 1 unit didn't work. It was plugged into a disconnected, not broken, outlet. I used a long cord (Home Depot had no short ones) to another outlet so he had A/C ASAP. No poorly seated units were reported by him or other guests. I would have fixed them. 3. Drip: No easy fix. I have to pull a sink & rip open a wall to fix the shower pipes. The drip was small & infrequent, dripping only after 3 showers, & not after baths. So I chose to delay to season end rather than to disrupt a guest for several days. 4. Frig: A cracked door hinge kept the door ajar. The freezer ran all night. The fan froze. No cold air flowed to the frig. It was repaired as fast as I could get a repairman in there. My payment offer for ice & food was refused. 5. Beds: We try to please folks with some soft & some firm beds. Some are newer than others. Children like our soft bouncy bed with the antique metal box springs. However, we will replace it so no one thinks our bedding is ancient. 6. Sofas: Puzzling. One loveseat has a cat scratch by the back leg. Two other couches are covered for protection, not because of disrepair. 7. Payments: I asked, not insisted for Priority Mail. We require ½ down to reserve. He was in Florida & risked losing to someone using Paypal. Yes, the lease was slow, but I told him a painful fall on my hip laid me up for 6 weeks. 8. I destroy uncashed security checks. He wanted his back. I set it aside & misplaced it for a while which evidently didn't worry him as he didn't stop payment. I invite you to see the house & my guest book. It has comments from many happy guests. They write their feedback there, & not online. I do not pursue them about online feedback so there are no guest comments here, except this one unhappy fellow. I would not have lasted 5 years on VRBO if my place wasn't nice. My house is a cheery, homey, place for family fun. No marble & silk here. Its grandma's place with handmade quilts, porch breezes, sun & sand. Gloria

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Guest: Patrick and Lindsey K
Date of Stay: 06/13/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

We were a family of 14 people in for our daughter's wedding out in Canterbury at Wright Mill Farms. This location was beautiful and afforded us a chance to host a rehearsal dinner. We had lots of great conversations and games staying in this relaxed setting. Accommodating kitchen too boot. Thanks so much

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Guest: Tom and Linda D
Date of Stay: 06/13/10 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

My husband and I were part of the 14 staying here for my nieces wedding. I was a great place to be, close to the Ocean. It was a great place to be with all of our families, plenty of room.

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Guest: Barb, Donna, Bob, Linda, George, Tom, Elaine, Yvon
Date of Stay: 09/13/09 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

This is a very comfortable place to have an end of summer get-away. It did rain on Friday and Saturday, be we enjoyed a trip to the Coast Guard Museum, the Casino, and visiting and playing dominoes and cards. We enjoyed the comfortable beds and the nice towels provided, and nicely furnished kitchen. Roomey for working together in meal preparation. Great place to relax – Thank you Gloria for us to be able to get-a-way from our routine lives back home. Our stay here despite the weather was surely a blessing so we could re-kindle friendships. Your home is delightful and was stepping back in time to have us be carefree and re-new our child like spirits to play games and eat with no worries. For me this time of year is filled with up coming holidays and celebrations so this was my kick-of f week-end. This area in CT is just another reminder how beautiful God's world really is. Thank you . Gloria, for opening you house to us. It brought me back to my parent's home which is from the same era. The waterfront homes are spectacular to see – quite a treat

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Guest: The I family from Baltimore, MD
Date of Stay: 09/09/09 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

This home was the perfect place to stay for our long overdue vacation. The weather was fantastic. We did the Beluga Whale Encounter at Mystic Aquarium. That was GREAT. We also went to Foxwoods. Dora, our very spoiled dog, had no problems adjusting to the house Thanks for everything.

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Guest: The Z Family
Date of Stay: 08/29/09 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

We arrived two weeks ago – the grandparents from Newton, Ma and the rest of us from New York, NY. Grandma Bev had spent summers in Neptune Park through her childhood. She has been in heaven. The kids, Dean and Hal have had a blast. We lived at the beach and on the front porch. Could not have asked for better weather no rain at all until the very last day. We made ourselves right at home in the house, which is great for a big family clan. We love the porch best of all. It has been a wonderful two weeks. We hope to return next summer.

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Guest: Ron and Rachel M
Date of Stay: 08/14/09 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

Our family came here from Monsey, NY for a week of vacation. We found out about this house over the Internet. We had a great time on the beach. We also went jet skiing and had horseback riding lessons for the family. On Thursday August 13 it was raining so we went to the Coast Guard Academy Museum. When it stopped raining we watched the Coast Guard Cadets marching and chanting. We then ate lunch by the picnic table near the pier enjoying the view of the sea and admiring the Coast Guard boats. We enjoyed staying at this house because of the private beach so close to the it and because it was easily able to host our large family of 10. I Thank you so much for making our great vacation possible.

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Guest: Judi, Andrea, Jill, Rolf, Thomas and Lisa B
Date of Stay: 06/07/09 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

The B family arrived to attend their daughter Lisa's wedding . We had such a wonderful time meeting with our new in-laws. The wedding took place at the U. S. coast Guard Academy chapel where our daughter went to school and it was absolutely gorgeous! The reception was at the Hilton Mystic with many people from Alaska, California, Michigan, Mississippi and Connecticut as well as Mass and others. Everyone loved this home and we had many dinners with people who came to the wedding. It was warm and comfortable here. And – we enjoyed walking along the secluded beach and the beautiful quaint towns of Mystic, Niantic, etc. Thank you.

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Guest: Dennis, Barb, Matt, and Kristina A, and Maki
Date of Stay: 05/09/09 Review Submitted: 11/17/10

We arrived in the pouring rain late Saturday night after a very long drive from Virginia. We stopped at Newark Airport to pick up our son's girlfriend from Tokyo. We came here to see our son receive his commission as an Ensign in the United States Coast Guard. He had just completed a 17 week Officers Training School. We did a few days of touring the area despite the constant rain. On Tuesday morning we met our daughter at the Amtrak station as she arrived for a banquet and ball for the OCS class. The most amazing thing occurred on Graduation Day. It stopped raining !!! :-) The weather was beautiful. The graduation was very nice – all new ensigns wearing all white uniforms. The house is very cozy and nice. The 3 floors made it very comfortable and private for several groups to have their own space. Our dog Riley (a Sheltie) seemed to like it here, but wasn't sure about staying outside very long due the the rain! (which returned after graduation!!) I forced my husband and family to make a trip to Tiverton, Ri to visit the family grave sites from the 1700's. We found several graves plus we got lost and talking to a very nice home owner who tried to help us. (He even showed us old graves on his property!) We have a very nice (wet) week! Thanks!!

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Guest: Melanie C.
Date of Stay: 11/27/06 Review Submitted: 11/26/06

We appreciated your clean, warm, attractively decorated house --- large enough for our big family! The great grandchildren had fun at the beach and the Mystic Aquarium and playing games. It was so very special being with our precious family. Thank you for this opportunity. All eight of us had a wonderful Thanksgiving in your lovely home. The days were warm and beautiful and the house was warm and happy. Thank you for allowing our family to have a glorious reunion and give thanks for our many blessings.

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Guest: Cindy M.
Date of Stay: 10/29/06 Review Submitted: 10/28/06

We appreciated your clean, warm, attractively decorated house --- large enough for our big family! The great grandchildren had fun at the beach and the Mystic Aquarium and playing games. It was so very special being with our precious family. Thank you for this opportunity.

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