Sea Side Home from Home

It was just like home

Under the chair

Advertising this flat as luxury accommodation is optimistic at the best, but customers actually expecting it to be luxurious at the current rental price are perhaps a bit naive too. I would describe it as perfectly adequate budget accommodation with extra perks, notably the washing machine, free basic condiments and the very appreciated free Netflix account. It is well located near the beachfront of Southsea, close to amenities. The host is definitely aiming to provide a comfortable, friendly and welcoming environment, which could however be much improved relatively easily by little gestures such as (in no particular order) providing enough of each cutlery and plate type for at least four people as the maximum number catered for, a dish cloth that actually dries plates, a bigger clothes horse perhaps, the replacement of damaged cabling, the fixing of the loose handle on the cutlery drawer, some TLC for the garden and more trust in the customer (such as removing the addition to “take care not to chip plates when washing them” in the information folder). More clothes storage space would be a definite bonus, but may be a bit harder to achieve.

All in all, we (family with two small children) had a good time in the flat, it met our requirements. However, the overall positive experience of the stay itself was vastly offset by the abysmal communication preceding it - mostly, but not exclusively, in relation to us (potentially) requiring parking permits. For anybody not familiar with the parking system in Portsmouth: street parking is mostly free, but in many areas (including that of the flat: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/parking-roads-and-travel/parking/resident-parking-zones/mf-craneswater-parking-zone-information/), only permit holders are allowed to park during certain periods of the day. Essentially, this means you will either need a permit or be happy to move your car several times a day: it is possible, as adjacent zones have different restriction periods. The host provides these permits for an additional charge of £4 a day, which in our opinion is definitely worth it, but only guarantees them once payment has gone through. This was the crux in our matter: the host specifically asked us (during a phone call, because our message got no reply for weeks), to sort out permits with him only days before arriving. However, we were travelling over the Christmas holidays, and as such worried a) that payment for the permits would not go through in time because of it being an international bank transfer preceding bank holidays, and b) that the host may have trouble acquiring them from the relevant authorities, again, because of bank holidays. Incidentally, we never got a reply when asking for the details required for an international bank transfer (i. e. IBAN number, BIC Code) and were lucky to have family in the UK who could sort it out via a national transfer. By the way, the permits are actually simple scratch cards, which the host probably had sitting at home all along.

Was pretty clean, was quite spacious

The WiFi didn’t work

2 mins walk from the wedding reception. Easy to get into, no issues whatsoever. Very clean and comfortable.

Got the place nice and warm, central heating great apart from radiation in bathroom didn’t work.

No WiFi to work the luxury tv, had to hotspot from phone to use tv. Not a garden view as property was a basement flat, garden unusable due to bamboo fencing all broken and had fallen into garden. Bed settee in living room very uncomfortable. Plug in Air fresheners were over powering on entry to property. Property boasted luxury, sadly it fell well short of this.

Location was great everything close to get the southsea beach and some activities for kids .not far playgrounds and more.and bus stop very nearly Also around food restaurant and some small shops as well.It was very comfortable in this property everything what I needed:)the host response very quickly and helpful.thanks so much :)

Everything it’s ok

Clean and tidy and very close to the promenade. I would definitely recommend this place. I will use this place again in the future

No WiFi or tv signal. I had 2 young children with me so the tv would of been great to help keep them entertained while in the apartment.

Very surprised by the £200 damage deposit which is hidden in the t&c's. Then on arrival found damage to multiple areas and walls and fixtures around the property. I then had to document as many of these as possible and send them to Mr Tulloch as I didn't want to be accused of damaging anything and lose my deposit. The whole procedure and experience felt far from professional and made for a disappointing and uncomfortable stay.