Booked a ten day stay in October. Had difficulty contacting the host after paying for the property which was very worrying it being less than 48 hours to check in, contacted HomeAway but they could not do anything more than email the host. Finally after my multiple unanswered messages via the system, phone calls and voice mails to the number provided I got a response to an sms.
When we checked in we were surprised to find it was a studio not a one bedroom with kitchen and living area as the advert had led us to believe. The advert should clearly say studio rather than listing it as bedroom, living area and kitchenette. The word room donates a space that is self contained to my understanding of its meaning.
The host came by minutes after we arrived and asked if we needed anything, having noticed that there was only one very dim bulb in the bathroom I asked if a bulb could be put in other light light fitting. This was provided and the host left. She was polite but not warmly welcoming.
After she left we discovered there was no hot water. Since it was late and we were exhausted from a house move we did not call the host back then.
The next day we politely waited thinking perhaps the boiler took time to heat up. It did not and the taps in the hand basin and kitchen sink ran icy cold. We tried the heating that night but it did not work either. The third day we still had no hot water or heating and I messaged the host. She came the next morning and said the pilot light had been out. I would have thought basics such as heat, light and hot water would be checked before guests arrival particularly for a stay of 10 nights. There was an electric shower in the cubicle and the had host replied to my text suggesting we use it, but its not possible to be used for hand and face washing or to do the dishes without getting ourselves completely soaking wet. I thought it rather inappropriate to suggest we use the shower in that way.
We persevered with all these difficulties but then found wood lice crawling on the floor and dropping from the beams and felt very upset as they got into our bags.
Most vitally the steps up to the property should be described more accurately, it is an extremely steep and uneven flight of stone steps, it being winter they are covered in slippery wet leaves and loose gravel, I lost my footing coming down and fell due to this. A responsible host would have swept them at least to clear the wet leaves and loose gravel.
We left after 5 nights
