Lakefront Crystal River Home w/ Private Dock!

Reviews

• Could have been better..

  2/5

  We were excited about this rental due to its beautiful location, but our stay was disappointing due to several issues. Upon arrival, we discovered parts of the ceiling were missing, which was not mentioned in the listing, and we found bugs inside. The biggest problem, however, was the unbearable sulfur smell. Even after closing bathroom doors and toilet seats, the odor was so strong that none of us—my wife, kids, in-laws, or I—could shower. We had to use bottled water for quick washes, which felt ridiculous. Additionally, two of the exterior stairs had large openings that posed a serious safety risk to my daughter.The property itself was basic for the price. The TV required us to log into our own streaming accounts, and the beds lacked headboards, which made the space feel uncomfortable. There was no BBQ lighter for the fire pit, and we were disappointed by the checkout experience. We were slightly delayed due to feeding our baby, but the cleaners were waiting outside, calling and pressuring us to leave, which made us feel rushed. While the location has potential, the issues we faced didn’t justify the cost, and we left feeling frustrated.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Gordon, we want our guests to enjoy a comfortable and stress-free stay, so we’re sorry to hear about the issues you experienced. We followed up with the homeowner after reading your feedback, and they wanted to share the following:
  - The ceiling damage was caused by a recent hurricane, and a permanent repair is scheduled for next week, but we assure you the opening doesn’t hinder anything with the house. Lighters for the BBQ and fire pit are kept in the kitchen for guest use.
  - The home uses well water, which can have a sulfur smell. We apologize if this was unpleasant for you. Had we been made aware of your concern, we would have been more than happy to flush the system to lessen the sulfur odor.
  - Bugs can occasionally enter the home, especially no-see-ums, but they’re typically drawn to light sources.
  - We apologize if the checkout process felt rushed but we do note that a 10 a.m. checkout time is clearly stated in the listing to accommodate incoming guests.
  We appreciate your detailed feedback and will work with the homeowner to improve the experience for future guests. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

• Seen better days...

  2/5

  Good: living areas were clean and pleasant.Not-so-good: Ceiling fan in living room literally had 1/4" of visible dust on all the blades. It appears no maintenance has been done in a long, long time, especially on the exterior- missing soffit, can light dangling, multiple burned out lights, rust on entry door, thick cobwebs & dead bugs. Most closet door and sliding door screens are difficult to operate. Worst of all for us was the smell of the tap water: nearly unbearable due to heavy sulfur- make sure you take bottled water for cooking/drinking! This explains the multiple plug-in air fresheners. Internet extremely slow but this was a positive- take a forced "digital vacation"! Oddly, there is a big oval window in one of the showers facing the road...but no covering or curtain. This means, especially at night, your top half is 'on display' to people driving by. Women in the group weren't thrilled.Location is A; balcony, dock and fire pit were wonderful. Overall, house was probably nice a few years ago but is on the verge of really going downhill if some work isn't done soon. We felt the rental cost was barely in line with value. This rental as-is would make a fine fishing camp for a group of buddies, less nice for friends/family vacation. We enjoyed ourselves overall and it was very relaxing to watch the birds and sunsets on the balcony, but we won't be going back to this house.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Brent, we’re sorry to hear your stay did not meet your expectations. We followed up with the homeowner after reading your feedback, and they wanted to share the following:
  - The cleaning team ensures fans and doors are checked before each stay, but they'll double-check to make sure everything is in top shape. The home is in a rural area, so while every effort is made to control cobwebs and bugs, they can reappear quickly.
  - Some exterior repairs, including the soffit and can light, are in progress following hurricane damage and will be addressed as scheduling allows.
  - The water comes from a well and is treated, but we run the water before each stay to minimize the natural sulfur smell, though it may still be noticeable.
  - The shower window is designed for privacy, but we are considering adding a film for extra reassurance.
  We appreciate your insight and are glad you had a relaxing stay. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

• House Review

  4/5

  Loved the house and the view is amazing. The only downside is that the water smells like rotten eggs (sulfur). It's pretty strong. Also, the deck is wonderful but for little ones it is not safe as railings could easily be fallen through and the bottom or the railing a small child could crawl through. Of course, we were always with our kids on the deck and they loved the house. That would be the only two improvements I could think off. Host was amazing! Always responded and even came over to help us with the TV. Neighborhood is great and not too far from town.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Beautiful view

  5/5

  We loved this place the view from back porch was amazing. Fishing the lake can be a task unless you know or someone with you knows the lake but a short ride to the springs and crystal clear water. Definitely would stay here again.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Peaceful

  5/5

  One of the most peaceful places we’ve stayed. We would definitely rebook in the future. Good location to activities in Crystal River.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo