The listing gave the impression of luxury, and we had high expectations. Our first impression was negative: seen from the street the house looks dated and unattractive. The front garden is flat, basic and unappealing.
Plenty of parking but nothing under cover.
Before arriving we had been ordered to remove our shoes on entering because the house is carpeted. It is, but the first sight of carpet is the staircase up to the accommodation: very old, stained, badly worn, and, on the first step nosing, torn. Likewise in the living areas: same carpet, perhaps 40 years old, badly worn and stained in places. The shoe rule is unnecessary and heavy-handed. Likewise the various threats and injunctions posted around the house. These are quite hostile and make you feel unwelcome.
This issue aside, we had a pleasant stay. New-ish and well-appointed kitchen (but don’t expect any extras like cling wrap or alfoil), with fridge, wall oven, dishwasher and microwave. Plenty of glasses, crockery, platters, bowls, saucepans and utensils.
Three big bedrooms, two with modern ensuites, but no shared bathroom. Covered verandah with a view of the ocean.
In the lounge there is a big tv and dvd player, with about a dozen kids’ movies: nothing for adults, and free-to-air tv only.
We had not been given the wifi key, and only after an exhaustive search did we locate it: at the back of the visitors’ book, of all places.
The lighting throughout is confined to ceiling lights with high-wattage fluoro bulbs: unpleasantly bright in the lounge, and not one lamp anywhere. In the same vein the whole place has a somewhat spartan feel. Curtains (newish) in the lounge where shutters or blinds would give a feeling of luxury, privacy and a chance to vary the light. Some old-fashioned vertical blinds and lace elsewhere. Mostly old, dated-looking timber bedroom furniture, very little decoration other than the cheap, dated and leftover pictures on the walls. Lounge furniture included black leather tub chairs: better suited to an office. The decor gives the impression that the house has been decorated by a man, with a small budget and poor taste.
Overall the place did not make the best impression. However it is reasonably comfortable, close to the “La Mar” cafe, and just a short walk over the dune to a magnificent beach. Said to be suited to and popular with large groups.