We’ve stayed in other units on this property many, many times - almost every year since it first opened. The layout and location were great. Unit was well furnished. But the unit was simply wiped down and NOT cleaned well before our arrival. We purchased our own wash cloths and rewashed all towels because they did not look clean and smelled and were tough to the touch (just took Clorox and a dryer sheet to make all the difference!). The kitchen was not stocked well for cooking the way we’re used to and we had to wash ALL pots/pans/baking sheets before using because food or grease residue was still on them. Hair was found in 2 beds and both the showers. The outside of the oven and fridge had food splatters from other guests. It was obvious that nothing, including showers/sinks had been thoroughly disinfected. We had to wipe down the glass surfaces, too. The cleaning crew must have been in a big rush before we arrived. Beyond the floors being swept, the job was subpar to what we’re used to experiencing in other units.
The only other issue was that the property was undergoing quite a lot of refurbishment. It impacted the common areas, garage walkway, and REALLY impacted the elevators. Knowing this beforehand would not have kept us from staying there, but a heads up would have been considerate of the owner. Setting expectations is key. It was off putting to arrive to somewhat of a construction zone without prior knowledge.
I will note that we DID NOT notify the owner when we arrived. It was late in the evening and our children needed to rest. We made the decision to bring it up to our standards because we were ready to start our vacation and the last thing we wanted to add to it was waiting for a disgruntled cleaning crew to make right what should have already been done. I had emailed the owner earlier in the week about how important it was to us that the room be cleaned well. She told me she would communicate that to her cleaner. Clearly we have different ideas of what “clean” means.
Our arrival did not start off the way we’d prefer, but we made the most of it and enjoyed the gorgeous beach and views. We will come back to Aqua again, but will not stay in this unit.