We have used VRBO several times for our vacation rental needs. This time we felt duped! I had communicated through email several times with Mike, inquiring about bringing our dog. It was indicated bringing our dog would be acceptable. A contract was sent to me 2 months before our arrival date. I read, signed and returned contract with required rent and deposits immediately.
2 weeks before arrival I received a frantic phone call from "the manager" stating no pets are allowed and we didn't send enough deposit for a dog. She went on to say we needed to sent another $500.00 for possible damage caused by our dog. I agreed that I would sent the extra deposit.
Upon arrival the property manager again expressed grief over our visit. She also went over the many rules they have for the complex. My first reaction was I'm being treated like a person who has never rented a vacation rental or hotel room before. OK.. whatever...
The unit itself was fairly decent, but being right under the manager's unit and hearing her clomp up and down the stairs all day was unnerving. Over the course of the week these are the things we discovered: We had to make up the beds. The overhead kitchen light was out. We had 2 rolls of TP for 6 people staying for 7 days. We were told we had to buy our own. The queen bed in the master was OLD and sagged into the middle. I saw told the twin beds were of the same quality. The bath towels were old and worn. The DVD controller wasn't working, we even bought new batteries, but that wasn't the problem. AND.. the final straw was when we went to use the community BBQ we had to supply our own propane fuel, which we did not know. With steaks and fish ready for the grill, we were shocked. Fortunately a nice man let us borrow his camping propane canister. We bought a replacement for him.
All in all, we had a great time in Carpinteria...but we would never stay at Seashell Apartments again!