The cottage was fine and the location in particular was fantastic. We had a lovely weekend. However, I would like to share our disappointment at the communications we had - specifically the checking-in info and instructions emails.
1. Firstly, as the main booker for the group, I received a total of EIGHT instruction emails that were duplicative, unclear and poorly written. The emails were full of warnings about fines for damages to different parts of the property which was not very welcoming. Why do you not take a deposit?
2. The check-in was completely over the top at almost 2 hours in length. We were judged as people who were likely to have a party which was completely unfounded.
3. One of the emails stated that check-in was from 2.30pm and that we needed to give 30 mins notice of our eta. However, when the first guests arrived at 5ish they were made to feel guilty about arriving ‘late’ even though we had never agreed that we’d check in at 2.30pm or any other time.
4. One of the emails included a check-in checklist which we were asked to print out and bring. I have never known a rental property to ask such a thing of a customer! We don’t have a printer so I requested that the owners bring a copy. They did not and were aggrieved that we had not brought a print-out.
Fortunately these issues did not spoil our weekend but we would think twice about booking with Shakespeare Holidays again.