Sweet Retreat and the surrounding area was basic and adequate for seven of us plus one dog.
Thank goodness we were forewarned about the kitchen being minimally stocked because when we arrived, we found a very random assortment of glassware, silverware, pots and pans - nothing matched and there were no complete sets of anything. Since the cabin listing says it accommodates up to seven people, the kitchen should at least have 7 of everything. Ironically, we were there for Thanksgiving week and did not even have 7 forks and knives to eat with nor did we have seven glasses to drink out of. We had to borrow a few from the people renting the cabin next door.
The customer service was extremely responsive and we are grateful for that. No matter what time of day we sent an email or message, we always got a prompt response.
I did have to speak to Clarence regarding an email we received about the appliances in the kitchen.
Apparently a "standard" email was sent to all renters staying over Thanksgiving. The intention of the email was to assure all renters that the appliances were all in working order and ok to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. While the intention was a good one -- to reassure us we would be able to prepare dinner -- I suggest rewording that email. It said something to the effect of, "the appliances "SHOULD" work while you are there." Those two words "Should work" actually caused me quite a bit of distress knowing I was coming to spend Thanksgiving week with my family. Maybe even consider NOT sending that email out AT all. When I rent any other homes in VRBO or AIRBNB, it is assumed EVERYTHING in the listing will be in working order, so I am not convinced that email was even necessary. My biggest gripe is when I called to discuss and receive confirmation about whether the appliances DID WORK or not, Clarence was incredibly RUDE and INDIGNANT. His words, "For many of our homeowners, this is a second home and a hardship for them to keep the home. They have difficulty maintaining this home and they really need your money to keep this home." Clarence was wanting me to have empathy for the homeowner - and yet - I WAS THE ONE PAYING MONEY to rent the home. How about telling the HOMEOWNER "These people are spending a LOT of money to stay in your home and expecting everything on the listing and nothing but the highest of standards, so you must make sure everything listed on the website is there and working when they arrive." Clarence's attitude and negation of my concerns is the ONE reason why I will NOT return to Carolina Cabin Rentals NOR will I recommend it. All of this was compounded by the fact that we received the letter about the appliances "should be working" AFTER Carolina Cabin Rentals already took our non-refundable payment. That felt like 'bait and switch' BIG time.
Thank you for the VERY CLEAN bedsheets - we took note of that and could smell the bleach; however, the bed SPREADS, throw pillows and other linens were filthy.We also found extra blankets just thrown on the floor of one of the bedroom closets - not folded - just bunched up on top of what I think was a 'pack and play' for a small child. Even that was just in pieces and thrown on the floor of the closet and I did not deal with it. We were not convinced the pile of blankets were laundered so - we took ALL of the bedspreads and extra throw (decorative) pillows OFF the beds, washed ALL the blankets ourselves and remade the beds. On this note, it seems the housekeepers do a quick dust and vacuum of the cabin but SWEET RETREAT is in desperate need of a DEEP cleaning. When we retrieved our dog's ball from under the sofa, we were met with a LOT of dust and filth. This was the same situation under ALL the furniture. Everything needs to be moved and the entire cabin needs to be wiped down and SERIOUSLY cleaned from top to bottom. The windows were filthy so, while the view is pretty, the windows don't seem to have ever been washed - also - screens missing or have holes - so keeping all the windows open for fresh air was not an option. Also, the carpets need a shampoo. My husband noticed this the most after about an hour of simply sitting on the sofa with his feet on the ground, the bottoms of his socks were BLACK from rubbing on the rug. Housekeeping ALSO needs to CLEAN the grills occasionally. We wanted to grill hamburgers one night but the grill was so gross we cooked them inside instead. I could go on and on - suffice it to say - someone just needs to go in and do a DEEP CLEANING of the ENTIRE place once in a while. There was also garbage strewn in the bushes off the deck. We saw a coffee mug down there that must have been dropped by a previous tenant but we could not reach it. Someone should be checking inside and out.
We also rent our own home out on AirBnB and VRBO. We have a complete photo inventory of the contents and when our housekeepers go in to do a move-out cleaning, they count and check everything. If anything is missing, it comes out of the renter's security deposit. When renters know an inventory exists, they are very accepting of it. Since SWEET RETREAT is so small, this would be very easy to do. I suggest that.
Overall a very basic and adequate place to stay for the seven of us but in the future we will look for something with higher standards for cleanliness and amenities to accommodate all seven of us without having to borrow from neighbors.
Someone tell Clarence to lighten up and teach him how to provide better customer service. He was rude and awful. ALL THE OTHER customer service reps who either answered the phone or an email were WONDERFUL.
