The host called us half an hour before we arrived. She asked us how many people we were. I stated that we were 4 adults and 1 child but that there may be a night or two when there would be 5 adults and 1 child, as my sister lives in Savannah and might stay over if we did dinner on the island. The host then yelled at me for over five minutes. She was so loud that my son in the backseat overheard everything. She used the words "lies" and "liar" repeatedly. She was extremely aggressive and suggested that we may not be able to stay there. It was only when I started crying that she said that I had her permission to let my sister stay there. I felt sick and uncomfortable at the end of the conversation.
The capacity for the property was listed as 6 adults and 2 children. As adding one more adult would have made no difference in terms of price or eligibility, I couldn't imagine why the owner reacted this way. Initially, I thought perhaps she had just been through a lot. She had shouted about her place being treated like a dormitory and people bringing pets when they shouldn't. But my husband later looked at past reviews and it seems she is extorting people for extra money. Her behavior has been so unsettling and aggressive that the police have been called. This is a pattern of behavior, and it is a terrible thing to be made to feel unsafe and insecure when you are far from home, especially when you have your children in tow.
In terms of the house...First, she is right, pets are a problem. The living room smelled of dog pee and the blanket provided in the bedroom chest smelled strongly of dog and was definitely not washed between guests. There was very little space to put any personal items in any area of the house. There were surprisingly few hangers. Each person was issued one bath towel, one hand towel, and one washcloth for a six-day stay. The kitchen table was obnoxiously wobbly.
On the bright side...She had a charming game room set up for children below the main level of the house. The beds and pillows were comfortable. The beach, which was within walkable distance, was lovely and uncrowded.