Great Barrington Lakeside Getaway w/ Kayak & Grill

Reviews

• Avoid the Evolve Rental Agency

  1/5

  The property is very isolated out in the woods. We arrived after dark and found the house frighteningly unsecured, with the rear sliding door left completely open and the kitchen door unlocked. We initially had difficulty finding a cell phone signal, which was even more unsettling. We then discovered opened, partially consumed bottles of unidentifiable liquids and condiments in the refrigerator and the freezer filled with food packages, as if someone else were living there. We finally got through to the designated customer service representative who told us the maintenance man had probably left the doors open and that the owner requested to leave her food in the refrigerator rather than clean it out for the renter's use. We told her we considered this house to be in an unacceptable condition contrary to the rental agreement promising to provide clean, safe and secure living environment and that we therefore did not want to stay and demanded our money back. After ignoring our protests at first, saying she was only the cleaning lady and had no financial control, the customer service rep finally relented and contacted what she said was the owner and followed up with a call stating that we would indeed be granted a full refund. However, the following day we received a contradictory email from the Evolve Group saying that they would only offer us a 25% refund even though we left the same night we arrived and never stayed at the property at all. Very frustrating to say the least.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Steven, we want our guests to arrive at a vacation home that is 100% ready for their stay, so we take the cleanliness of our properties very seriously. We followed up with the homeowner after reading your feedback, and they wanted to share the following:
  
  - We're very sorry to hear that some concerns upon arrival affected your stay. I apologize for any door that was left open. While we live in a safe community, I understand how that could be unsettling. Our home is nestled in a peaceful, private setting near town, and we believe its natural, serene environment is part of its charm.
  
  - Cell service can be spotty depending on your provider, but the internet is excellent, and phones work once connected. I apologize if this added to your anxiety.
  
  - Regarding the fridge, we keep a shelf of condiments for guests, which some appreciate. We don't instruct cleaners to store our food in the fridge, and I apologize if it was not adequately prepared for your stay. Our care manager could have addressed this immediately.
  
  - Although your stay was non-refundable, we offered a two-day refund for the open door, fridge issue, and your discomfort. We didn't think a full refund was warranted due to the location and cell service, which are part of the country charm.
  
  We always work with both guests and homeowners when issues arise and apologize that we were unable to come to the resolution you were hoping for based on the documentation provided. We strive to go above and beyond for our guests and are confident that future guests will have excellent stays. Thank you for your feedback and for giving us the opportunity to improve.

• Beautiful home

  5/5

  House was beautiful! Rooms are huge, kitchen is fully stocked, fireplace was a favorite spot after dinner to play card games. House is stock with lots of games. 1 room only has a tv which worked for us made us spend more time playing games and talking. Deck on main floor is huge and beautiful, we loved our stay here

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• The view is amazing!

  5/5

  We were in town for a memorial service and several family members stayed together in this house. We had a wonderful dinner on the patio Saturday night. My brother and his wife jumped in the pond for a swim. They said the water was crystal clear and refreshing!

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• One of the best properties we've stayed at

  5/5

  The home was beautiful with plenty of room for our family of 8 to spread out and relax. The kitchen was well-appointed, all linens and toiletries available. This is a perfect writer's retreat with so many windows, light coming in and beautiful scenery.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo

• One of the best properties we've stayed at

  5/5

  The home was beautiful with plenty of room for our family of 8 to spread out and relax. The kitchen was well-appointed, all linens and toiletries available. This is a perfect writer's retreat with so many windows, light coming in and beautiful scenery.