Courtney Cottage, Estes Park
Stay: August 2021
Review
The 2-star rating is for being pet friendly and location. We considered a third star for cost, but when the fees are added to the per night rate, the return on investment takes a nosedive! It would have been better to sacrifice location. The description and pictures in the on-line posting depict a charming old cottage that could be considered shabby chic. SHABBY and TACKY are the only words to describe this property. The house is in desperate need of some basic upkeep. Here are some examples:
• Carpeting is old, worn and in need of replacement as it is starting to buckle in places.
• Doors on the bathroom vanity are loose and don’t close properly. The vanity ought to be replaced.
• The toilet ran constantly because the flapper didn’t reseal correctly after flushing. So, the handle had to be positioned just right or the tank lid removed, and the flapper positioned by hand.
• The shower curtain liner was about 6-8 inches too long, so the bottom end of it fell well into the tub. This posed a risk of slipping, and it was disgusting to shower with a liner that looked and smelled moldy.
• The window shades in one bedroom didn’t work. So, the shades hung down and overlapped on to the floor.
• The big picture window in the dining area is dirty and cloudy. After trying to clean it, we decided the glass was just too old to be cleaned.
• The kitchen was over stocked with dishes but didn’t have adequate drinking or wine glasses. Plus, when we bought groceries, there was no cupboard space to put anything away. The table in the kitchen area ended being the pantry.
• Finally, but the list could go on and on, there were no clothes hangers in the closets. Hangers are an inexpensive and obvious item to have.