This is going to be a lengthy review, but hear me out. I will start with the negative things about this property:
1. The fireplace was off limits to guests. We did not realize this upon booking (we booked over 4 months in advance), but were informed 1 week before our stay when I contacted the owner regarding a key code and if the fireplace was log or gas (some rentals require you to bring your own wood). The owner said the fireplace was off limits to guests ~ I WAS STUNNED! The very first VRBO pic was a picture of the fireplace, nowhere in the details did it mention it couldn't be used. The owner pointed out that the bottom of the picture had small disclaimer regarding no guest use. None of the eight adults in our group noticed this "disclaimer" when we booked, or we would never have agreed to this property. I called the owner, who gave me several excuses, "the fireplace is off limits, the fireplace is broken and can't be repaired, most guest don't know how to operate a fireplace, most guests don't want to use it, etc." I found the conversation to be quite sketchy and borderline condescending! I think it was very dishonest to lead with a picture of a fireplace (major selling point for a ski rental) when you don't allow it to be used. I found this akin to leading with a picture of a swimming pool when you aren't going to allow guests to use it. As this was a deal breaker for us, I immediately contacted VRBO, who offered to find another property for our four night stay. However, it was Presidents' Day weekend and nothing was available to fit our group. We were stuck with a ski rental and no fireplace.
2. The kitchen area had a few unfinished remodeling projects (one cabinet had been removed leaving an odd empty space, some of the cabinets were missing bottom molding/trim, etc).
3. We paid a very hefty cleaning fee, but were informed we needed to run the dishwasher, which is not unusual, but we were also to strip all linen off the beds and pull the trash can to the end of the very long driveway, and leave the house as clean as we found it. I think for amount of cleaning fee we paid, we should have been able to skip the above mentioned cleaning expectations.
Positive things about this property:
1. Plenty of room for our group ~ four adult couples.
2. The house was only about 6 miles from the ski resort, which was the reason for our trip.
3. The kitchen was very well stocked with cooking utensils.
4. The house was impeccably clean.
