“Yes, we arrived around 6pm on the 27th and were disappointed to find that our 'cottage' was infact a lego house on the end of someone's driveway.”
Good things first, the place was very clean and nicely presented. It had a nice view from a little balcony, though this was somewhat tainted by a main road only 30 or so metres away (national speed limit), on which cars were bombing past every few seconds.
It was also nice to only be a 5 minute drive from the nearest beach, which was great.
The main issues we had, were an infestation on the Monday morning, of tiny flea-like insects, that we were still finding on our clothes the following day back at home. We don't know if it was something that came in from the outside, or if it was an existing problem we hadn't noticed until the Monday, when they were all over the walls and ceiling upstairs, but not downstairs.
Finally, and the main cause for concern, and the reason our early departure, was the owner, John. We'd had no dealings with either of the owners, save for a nice welcoming platter left out for our arrival. On the Saturday early evening, my wife had looked inside the hot tub to see if it was ready for use, and had come back in to shower first (as was laid out in the property rule book, which had infinitely more 'don'ts' than 'do's', and put on her costume. When she went back out to try it, she noticed the straps had been re-secured on the cover. She asked if I'd been out and re-fastened the straps, which I hadn't, but slightly confused, we chose to take a trip to the beach instead to walk the dog. The following day, we decided to actually use the hot tub, and was in it for around 40 mins or so, when it cut out. I remember it saying in the rule book that it might trip and where to find the fuse-box, so we got out and came inside to check that was the reason it had stopped working. I thought it wise to dry off before accessing the fuse box, and after I'd sorted it I was putting my shorts and t-shirt back on when there was a knock on the door. This guy who I had to assume was John, because he didn't say hi, or introduce himself at all. He simply said 'could you make sure you close the cover on the hot tub when you finish using it'. I was completely confused by his attitude and failure to even say hi, and explained that we'd literally only got out a few minutes before because it had tripped, and was drying off and dressing prior to sorting the hot tub. He continued over to the hot tub and proceeded to close it down and I just closed the door and went back inside. My wife immediately raised the very fair point, which was how did he know? we got out of the hot tub, and within only a matter of minutes he was at the door. The hot tub, despite the suggestion that it would be in some way private, was overlooked by the second, larger lego house on their drive, however, that place appeared unoccupied during our stay. The speed in which 'John' appeared and his general manner, completely freaked my wife out and she wanted to leave on the Sunday, as she was made to feel as though we were under some kind of observation. We decided to wait until the Monday in the hope that the trips to the beach could in some make up for the tiny space and weird owner, not mention we'd paid out over £600 for this. We woke up next morning to the infestation and decided enough was enough. We started to pack the car, and as we were doing so, John suddenly appeared at the hot tub again! .... seriously, this was a nightmare and not the birthday treat for my wife that I had intended. We stayed in all, one evening and one full day, and had it not been for the nearby beach, we'd have left even sooner. As we left, I told John we were leaving and he never even had the good grace to ask why. It felt very much as though they want the money that these properties bring, but they don't actually want the guests. We left the place utterly spotless and drove home. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.
We are sorry to hear that your stay with us at the Spinney’s Den did not meet your expectations. In response to your review, we would like to highlight that the proximity of the property from the road and the main house is mentioned within the property description. We would like to assure you that property, garden and hot tub are not overlooked, and it is fully self-contained.
The infestation you refer to are thrips, often known as thunderflies or thunderbugs. The property is situated next to a large wheat field which is currently awaiting harvest, and these insects are prevalent around agricultural land. They also predominantly favour warm and dry temperatures, which is why they are so popular in the summer months.
With regards to the hot tub, daily maintenance is carried out by John as mentioned in the welcome handbook. As the hot tub is a warm environment, the chemical balance is constantly changing so certain chemicals are added to ensure that the water is clean and clear, for the safety of our guests. We request that the hot tub lid remains closed when it is not in use as the cover acts as a layer of protection for the hot tub. This ensures that the heat is kept in, and the water remains clean. Again, this is for the safety and protection of our guests.
We are disheartened and disappointed that you did not speak with us before your departure. We always encourage our guests to speak with us regarding any issues, so we have the opportunity to resolve them. Please accept our apologies for any upset and distress we may have inadvertently caused you both.
Property Owner
