Southern Dunes Golf Home: Pool & Covered Patio

Reviews

• Good place for family

  3/5

  House is basic but clean. Pool heater was never turned on. Hot tub was nowhere. Drinking water has terrible taste and odor. Host should provide a Brita filter. No salt and pepper but other kitchen stuff fine.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• Family holiday sadly spoilt by accommodation!

  1/5

  Not one of the best experiences we have had, on arrival the code was not correct so couldn’t gain access, after 9hr flight you don’t really want to have to start dealing with.

  The pool was full of debris and not very clean, the price of heating the pool is astronomical at $500+ dollars, garden furniture could have done with some cushions.

  Sofa was dirty with marks down one side and crumbs and muck left from previous guests!!

  There was also a problem with ants in the living room, master bathroom and bathroom, unfortunately this was highlighted with David, but unfortunately he didn’t even have the decency to contact us back….

  I have stayed in other Southern Dunes villas and unfortunately this is in need of some desperate updating especially for the price. The house had a really damp musty smell which air fresheners didn’t shift….

  So really think about what you’re booking

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Lynn, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the challenges you faced during your stay. 
  
  Regarding the access code issue, we understand how frustrating that must have been after a long flight. Unfortunately, the recent back-to-back hurricanes in the area caused unexpected power disruptions, which impacted our systems. However, we will review our procedures to prevent this from happening again. 
  
  Cleanliness is one of our top priorities, and we take it very seriously. We have detailed documentation and photos taken after every cleaning done before a guest’s arrival, so I will review these to better understand what may have gone wrong in this instance. Regarding the issue with ants, it’s worth noting that many properties in Southern Dunes, including ours, faced similar challenges after the recent hurricanes, which can disrupt pest control efforts. Even so, I regret that this wasn’t resolved promptly, and I apologize for the lack of communication from David. That is not the level of service we strive to provide. David is very good and always on top of everything that needs to be taken care of.
  
  We take cleanliness very seriously and are committed to maintaining high standards. I will review the documentation from our cleaning team prior to your stay to investigate what may have gone wrong. The presence of ants is something we continuously manage, but the hurricanes did disrupt pest control efforts across the region. We apologize that this issue wasn't resolved promptly and for any lack of communication on our end. This is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide. 
  
  We are always working to update our property to ensure a comfortable experience for our guests. Recently, we installed a smart indoor air monitor to help control air quality and humidity levels, which may have been affected by the recent storms. We'll review the data to ensure everything is functioning correctly. 
  
  Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We are committed to making improvements and hope to provide a better experience for future guests. We appreciate your understanding during what has been a challenging time for the region.

• Soccer tournament/Vacation

  5/5

  Nice place. The property manager was very responsive and was great to work with. He resolved the couple of minor issues we had fast. Thanks for letting us stay at your place!

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  From the owner: "Thank you David for taking the time and leaving us a review, I really appreciate it. We are available 24/7 to make sure your stay with us is the best it can be. Hope you stay with us again next vacation or special event take care."

• Spring Break 2024 family getaway

  5/5

  We had a great time! The house was beautiful, roomy, comfortable and quiet. My grandchildren loved the pool. We enjoyed visiting Central Florida especially Aquatica in Orlando. The grocery stores and fast food restaurants were so close, too! I believe the house could use fresh paint and deep cleaning the carpet in the stairs but it doesn’t interfere with the comfort and convenience.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  From the owners: "Mildred, Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We take great pride in our properties and greatly appreciate your positive review. I am happy to hear your grandkids loved the pool and you enjoyed Central Florida. Our Housekeeper does a fantastic job of cleaning between each guest and yes our yearly deep cleaning is coming up. Plans to updates are scheduled for the House inside and out. We would love for you to come visit us again."

• Just Okay

  3/5

  While we enjoyed our stay in Haines City and golfing at Southern Dunes, we were misled about the management of this home. It was listed in all communication that David would be our host for our entire stay. We had some issues with the home when we arrived. We tried contacting David several times, and he never responded to our text messages or emails. Finally, we called the number listed for him and left a voicemail. After that, David contacted us and told us he was waiting for the owner of the home to get back to him. When David made arrangements with us to come to the home, he let us know he was NOT the management/host for this home. Originally the owner contracted him but then changed his mind. However, he never took David's name off the listing or out of his brochure in the home. Eventually David did come to the home to fix the table and chairs which needed tightening after getting approval from the owner. As far as we know, there is no management care for the home.

  As far as cleanliness, the home was okay; not quite up to my standards. The ceiling fans had so much dust on them, we were afraid to put them on, and I didn't feel it was my obligation to dust them. The bunk beds had no bedspreads or blankets on them, just the sheets.

  As far as amenities, the towels are your standard white towels. They do not give you very many hand towels. The toiletries are minimal. The liquid hand soap bottles were almost empty and the soap in them didn't lather. The bar soap was the size of a 50 cent piece all around. The shampoo and conditioner tubes were extremely small. The toilet paper rolls were very small and so was the paper towel roll. The salt shaker was empty. All items were dollar store quality. If you are staying longer than a few days, bring your own toiletries. Do not depend on what's there. It lists there is a crock pot but there is not. It lists laundry detergent but there was none (eventually David brought us a small bottle). It lists hangers and if you consider four hangers in each bedroom to be enough then you are fine. We wound up having to go buy hangers at the dollar store and hand soap. There is no body wash, bring your own. The one cup part of the coffee maker kept clogging and we had to clean it several times. The top of the lenai (screen around pool) desperately needs to be cleaned of debris.

  The location was very good. I would go to Southern Dunes again, but would NOT rent this home.

  Manager's Response:

  Leonard, we appreciate you sharing your feedback from your recent stay at our property. We want to address the concerns you raised to ensure clarity and improve our guests' experiences.
  
  David serves as the property manager and handles all on-ground issues with guests and the property. His name is included in the property welcome book/brochure as he oversees everything requiring hands-on attention, excluding cleaning, which is managed by our dedicated housekeeper, and bookings, managed by Evolve. Each plays a distinct role in ensuring the smooth operation of our property.
  
  Regarding cleanliness, our housekeeping team conducts thorough cleanings, including wiping down ceiling fans annually, typically in May or June when the property is available and unbooked. We apologize if there were any oversights during your stay.
  
  We provide quality towels in each bathroom, with two bath towels, two wash towels, and two hand towels per room, except for the kids' room, which receives extra towels. Additionally, toiletries such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, and conditioner are provided to ensure guests' comfort for their initial nights.
  
  In the kitchen, we offer essential supplies such as dishwasher pods, paper towels, and unlimited garbage bags, along with a fully functional spice rack. While our housekeeper usually leaves two laundry pods for the washer, we apologize for any inconvenience caused by the oversight and appreciate David's prompt assistance in delivering a small bottle.
  
  We regularly update our appliances, including the coffee maker, to ensure they are in optimal condition. Instructions for use are provided nearby to assist guests.
  
  The lanai is cleaned every three to six months due to surrounding trees, but this does not impact the pool's cleanliness or usability.
  
  We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced and appreciate your understanding. David is the primary contact person for any issues during your stay, and we encourage guests to reach out to him directly for prompt assistance.
  
  We hope you'll consider staying with us again in the future, as we strive to create memorable experiences for all our guests.