Justin T.
Yelp
It's really nice, but there's definitely room for improvement. The cabins are cute...but were they designed by aliens who learned about human needs by reading about them in a book? You can only get in the bed on one side as the other is flush against the wall, so if there's two of you, getting in and out of bed is awkward. This awkwardness is compounded by the fact that the bed is situated in some kind of wood frame that sticks out almost a foot from the mattress! We tried to cover a particularly dangerous corner with a pillow to avoid hitting our shins on it as we walked passed it.
The cabin comes with cutlery, cooking oil, balsamic vinegar, a sink...and a microwave. So...I guess the owners expected us to do our gourmet cooking without a single burner or oven? It certainly made their addition of cutlery and a sink odd. To make matters more confusing, after much research, we were able to ascertain that some cabins have a microwave and some have a range--but none have both and there is no way to tell which has which so you can't decide when you make your reservation. My advice to the owners would be this: finish the cabins so they all have a fully functioning kitchenette--or don't, and charge less, but either way be explicit about what they have or don't. We brought expensive food with us that we planned to be able to cook. We had to figure out alternatives on the fly, costing more time and money and taking us away from this beautiful spot.
I can only speak for the cabin we stayed in, but the small wooden shower seat was dangerous and not load-bearing. It was loose and I noticed that the screws were improperly anchored and coming out of the wall. Had I sat on it, I would've fallen.
The cabinettes are booked through Vacassa, a middleman organization with greed and control written all over it (literally). The fine print of the "contract" (as if you had a choice NOT to sign it, should you want to stay somewhere) basically strips the traveler of almost all their rights. I'm not even sure if it's legal. I'm not going to go into detail here expect to say read every word of it and then decide for yourself if you think the terms are even remotely fair to consumers, or if it's precisely engineered for owners to take your money and give you...well...whatever they decide to give, and that's that. With check out at 10 AM and check-in at 4 PM, they certainly give themselves enough time to prepare for your arrival!
Okay, all that said, if you don't plan on cooking and don't mind signing your life away, there is a lot to love here and I mean A LOT! The shower doubles as a steam-room/wet sauna (just don't sit down!) which is a brilliant idea. We loved it. The crown jewel of the place is the rear porch/deck/portico/whatever, perfectly engineered to provide privacy, yet also allow you to commune with the elements. Here is a rectangular wooden "infinity tub" that is always "on" and perpetually filling with water piped in from a hotspring elsewhere. It is specifically designed to always overflow, the excess water being channeled over the side into a cleverly hidden, recessed floor drain that extends the length of the tub, which fits two American-sized humans simultaneously. Hot and cold water can be controlled via some rudimentary levers and there are some instructions, but we decided to just leave all the settings exactly as we found them, which was perfect. If you're really into it, you can check the exact temperature from inside the cabinette, or from a floating sensor inside the tub.
Also included: motion-activated bathroom nightlight, heated toilet seat, bamboo toothbrushes, bathrobes & slippers, lotions, tea, coffee. While these items were more curiosities than necessities, I appreciated them, and for $300/night I fully expect whatever fancy junk a bored imagination can conjure, though as I alluded to earlier--getting the basics right (and treating people fairly) is far more important than stocking creams, moisturizers, and eco-friendly toothbrushes.
I've said nothing of the location so far. It IS stunning. We did hear a train whistle blowing about every 30/45 minutes throughout the night, but I doubt you can escape that in many places along Hwy 14. The views from a nearby, adjacent hilltop are spectacular; I hope the owners wisely decide to not build any more dwellings--be it cabins or condos--but leave nature as it is. Although there is privacy within the cabin and on the back porch, there is none on the deck--your neighbors can see you and vice versa. The location would greatly benefit from selectively planting shrubs, bushes, trees or an earth-tone privacy fence between the cabins to give travelers a more secluded feel.
While there is a lot to improve on, I think it's a great start, a wonderful site. The cabinettes were built with vision and imagination--just not always with practical necessity in mind. After the novelty fades and the price goes down a bit, I could definitely see myself returning someday.
