This property is managed by a property management with multiple properties on Anna Maria. I noticed before booking that cleaning fees including a gratuitous “linen fee” and “resort fee” despite this being essentially an apartment in a quad plex. These fees more than double the nightly rate. Before arrival I had my phone blown up with multiple phone calls, texts, and no fewer than a dozen emails stipulating all the rules of the property which weren’t outlined upon booking through VRBO, such as the imposition of pet weight limits. This may be detrimental to a traveler who has a pet over 50 lbs and is ineligible for a refund after booking through the app. Overall, the check-in process was super overwrought, and I was called ahead of time to tell me that there would be no early check-in or late check-out. (Keep in mind, checkout is an unusual time of 10:00am with no option to extend to 11). When checking in, the electronic door code did not work and I had to stand in the heat on hold with the customer service line to get someone to fix it. They promised to reset the door code but nobody ever came.
The eye watering cleaning fees do not preclude the hosts from asking guests to do chores such as dishes and take trash out during their stay.
Upon arrival I noticed the exterior areas were quite dirty with visible grime and stains on the outside banisters, stairways, and gates. There are incredibly irritating alarms on each exterior door, which I am told is due to city ordinance for pool safety, despite there being no alarm on the main gate to the pool.
The inside of the apartment was clean, however there was a large window busted out and boarded up in my suite that had not been repaired - they just closed the blinds over it. Towels and cooking implements are provided but guests must bring their own toiletries, shampoo, olive oil, filtered water, etc. This VRBO is not like a typical one where these are supplied… it’s cheaper and more inhospitable. I was tickled to find a sign in the apartment stating that only one roll of toilet paper would be provided during our stay and beyond that we would have to go to the store and buy our own. Even the salt and pepper shakers were emptied out. This just seems penny wise/pound foolish.
I think “AMI Locals” might be a better option for lodging if they offered a more hospitable experience. Overall the only winning factor was the location. Next time I will pick a different place to stay on Anna Maria.
