We 4 booked Coco de Mer back in August for a Christmas holiday with an instant confirmation that our dates were available. We had also accepted the per night rate, service fee, extra person fee, and refundable damage deposit on VRBO’s site, and paid the requested deposit, when the balance was due prior to arrival paid that in full. En route I checked my e-mails to find we were being asked for another third of the total price above our contract pricing for a “forgotten” extra person fee. I waited to discuss with the owner in person.
The owner showed us the unit’s amenities and usage instructions, and when she handed us the keys we brought up the added fees. She claimed we were getting a deal because it was Christmas and the rates were much higher than we were paying, but the rates she quoted WERE exactly what we paid. We held firm that we had a contract, and we didn’t owe her anything additional. The next day she contacted us and asked if we’d pay a third of what she’d requested the day before as we HADN’T paid the “holiday rates” she’d quoted the night before. I said no, sending a breakdown of exactly what we’d paid. She claimed she couldn’t see what we paid, had received no money from VRBO yet, that there was a new system in place, etc. So we ended up paying exactly what our contract stipulated, but this was a very stressful and angering beginning to our Christmas holiday.
That being said, Coco de Mer is lovely, across the street from the beach. There are windows side/front for cross breeze. It listed 4 bathrooms, but there were only 3. There is a washer but no dryer, but plenty of hanging racks. The patio is great in the morning and for sunset, but hot mid afternoon.
The kitchen has a full sized refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and stovetop. There is no barbeque grill, the “grill” is basically the broiler unit of the oven. It’s well appointed with dishes and glassware. There are cooking pots, pans and utensils.
Plenty of beach/bath towels were on hand, grocery bags and a cooler bag. Speightstown is active, the property is 5 mins. walk north of the center and mostly quiet, but in a neighborhood with a kennel of dogs behind. We heard them during the night and early in the morning. Use earplugs and A/C at night in the bedrooms. No shoes are allowed upstairs on the main floor.
We had an enjoyable time in beautiful Barbados, but I suggest you confirm rates with this owner prior to booking to make sure there are no surprises.
