Athelney Cottage

I’ve stayed at Athelney Cottage several times over the years, for work and personal trips to the CBD, and it has always been beautifully presented, neat, tidy, clean and in working order. There’s a nice, secure little spot outside for a dog, and the park is literally 20 steps away. Rosie is a lovely host, which is why she has a 5 star Airbnb rating. It’s private and calm, with a French Provincial feel, and you can walk or take a free scooter to the CBD. We’ll definitely be back. It’s a real pity Google can’t remove the one or two negative reviews, since they’re nowhere near a fair reflection of this hidden gem. Please don’t believe the complainers.

Everything was clean and well looked after, and the location was perfect. We arrived late and couldn’t shop until the next day, so the small breakfast provided was just what we needed. The embroidered robes were a lovely touch. No complaints, and we’d definitely come again.

Rosie generously stocked breakfast, coffee and chocolate for us during our seven-night stay in the Cottage. We made use of the washing machine and dryer, and enjoyed evening drinks in the courtyard. The location suited us well, with easy, safe walks to Adelaide Oval, the Gallery, Zoo, Rundle Mall and Wine Centre. We also found a great Chinese restaurant nearby, Chef Dong. We loved it so much that we’ve booked again for the AFL Gather Round in April.

I left early because I couldn’t stay in the filth, and left the place cleaner than I found it. There was dog poo in the courtyard, which the host tried to blame on me, possum poo all over the place and on the outdoor seats and table, and bird poo on the indoor table and floors. Previous guests’ used towels were still in the laundry hamper, which was disgusting. The cooktop had some kind of white grease smeared on it, there were crumbs across the toaster and countertops, the shower was dirty, and cobwebs and hundreds of baby spiders were everywhere. About 10 possums seemed to live in the roof, making loud noises all night and making sleep impossible. A heads up about the noise would have helped. Rats also ran around the courtyard and roof from dusk to dawn, and there were droppings on the floor. It didn’t feel pet-friendly. There’s no grass or place for a dog to go to the toilet, so you have to use the shared electric roller door and walk 200m down the road to a public park. That’s not great late at night, and should be advertised clearly. When I told the host about these problems, she denied everything and blamed my dog for the poo. She keeps focusing on the possums and saying a light will make them move their nests from the roof, but that’s not how it works. The bigger issue was not being told about the all-night commotion, and especially the soiled towels and general filth. She never took responsibility for the cleaning or apologised. After I complained, she suddenly brought up a pet fee and said she had waived it. No pet fee was ever mentioned or shown during booking, in messages or face to face, and I received no refund. The host’s description of the place as “french provincial” doesn’t fit. The room has old stained thrift shop sofas and old wooden furniture repurposed with a flick of paint. Avoid at all costs. Other reviews on booking.com and tripadvisor also say it’s dirty. I wish I’d read them before booking.