6/10 Okay
Jim M., New Bern, NC
Apr 17, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, location
Disliked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Sketchy Reservation Process
We have rented properties thru VRBO many times before. They have always been straightforward, simple and easy. I should have been more suspicious when this listing said there was no cancellation allowed after 24 hours or the whole payment would be forfeited. Seemed a bit severe. But it was the type of property we wanted and we knew it was a busy time in Florida, so we made the reservation and paid the full one week fee + VRBO cost.
At 10:45pm, 36 hours before we were supposed to check in , I received this email:
"You have booked our Owner Resort unit from our Owner XXXX XXXXX and XXXXX XXXXXX, you will need to provide this information to the Front Desk when they ask how your Reservation was made, please provide them that you booked directly with our Owner XXXXX XXXXX and XXXXX XXXXX. If you provide the front desk that you booked from some other site or channel, and the reservation will be cancelled, WE WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REFUND. Please ensure that you are providing the front desk with the Owners information and that you booked from our Owner unit directly.
We wanted to make sure you have received this message kindly respond OK to this reminder to acknowledge."
So we had booked a 7 day stay and the email indicated that two different owners were involved. In the morning I called their number and talked to one of their "agents" who said indeed this was a real email from them and that I should not mention VRBO to the resort. At this point we have air fare, rental car all arranged for the next morning and, with the threat of losing our whole payment we headed to Florida.
Needless to say check-in was very uncomfortable. We had to sit down with the Front Desk Manager to try to explain our reservation even though we had no idea who the owners were. He then noted that we actually had two reservations, on for 4 days and another for three days and that our name was not on the second reservation. In front of us he called the owner to ask if in fact he did rent the unit to us. This was all very embarrassing to us.
So I will never rent from this property agent "Christian RRP" which is just a name for a group, because of the way they put renters in an untenable position, 'lie or lose your money'.
The Wyndam was very nice, very clean and the staff was the best. Everyone was friendly and helpful. We were able to skip the timeshare talk. It is an older resort but the are working hard to keep up. It is about 20 minutes from the ocean but it an easy drive.
Jim M.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
