Beachside Apartments, Bonbeach

We needed somewhere clean and easy for our big family, and we're glad we stayed in one of your apartments. Susan at Beachside Apartments was lovely and helpful, and the key code meant no worrying about keys. The apartment was spacious and private, with room to cook dinner, and local shops nearby. My children loved being right by the beach. I'd choose an apartment over a motel room any day. It was a much-needed rest stop. Thanks again for a lovely, relaxing time.

The apartment was modern, clean, spacious, and supplied with everything we needed. The huge king-size bed was great. We enjoyed relaxing here, with an easy walk to the beach and a cafe downstairs serving a yummy breakfast. Landlord Sue was delightful and accommodating. We've already been twice and will return.

We booked and paid in full by credit card through the website more than six months ahead of our wedding. The booking was confirmed right away, and I received a door code. But when we arrived the afternoon before the wedding, the pin opened the balcony suite door, where another guest was sitting at the kitchen table. We realized we'd been double booked. They had booked only a few weeks earlier, we learned. I called the property manager, Susan Elliot, but she didn't answer, and I left a message. The other guest and I waited outside, increasingly angry, calling the contact number and getting nowhere. About 40 minutes later, a BMW arrived and an older lady came over. It was the owner and manager. She couldn't explain why other people were in the apartment we'd booked so far in advance. She said she'd changed our booking because the balcony suite's A/C wasn't working, and seemed baffled that I had the code for apartment number 2, the door on the left. She showed us a different property, the courtyard suite, and said it cost the same as the balcony suite. When I asked why she hadn't contacted me, she said she didn't have my number. But the week before, she'd accidentally called me instead of my sister about my sister's booking in the same row of apartments. I told her she was lying. She got defensive, and as the argument grew more heated, she basically demanded we leave, saying she "didn't want us here" and that it was "her right." My husband-to-be said we'd leave once she returned the money we'd paid for services not provided. Since it was the day before our wedding, we needed the money to arrange other accommodation nearby. Susan said she couldn't refund it. We went around in circles, and I was about to explode. We had no choice but to take the room. My maid of honour and her partner were there too, and managed to calm both of us down. They were also wondering about their own booking for the next day. We stayed, but weren't happy. Susan and her husband turned out to be the cleaning team. There were disinfectant stains embedded in the toilet seat, and I wasn't sure I wanted to shower in the bathtub. There was no tea towel, saucepan, or frypan for the portable electric stove. Later that first evening, Susan called me, even though I hadn't given her my "number." She was confabulating again. She offered us the empty balcony suite for the following night, our wedding day, saying the weather would be cooler so we wouldn't need the A/C, the workmen would be gone, and the other customers would be gone. I don't think Susan's memory is very good, and you really don't know what to believe. She said she'd call back after asking the current occupants what time they'd leave the next morning. I didn't hear from her that evening. The next morning, while I was busy preparing for the wedding, Susan came to the door and said the balcony suite would be cleaned and ready in a few hours. She took the time to insist I sign the credit card docket. After she and her husband cleaned it, my hair and makeup artist and bridal party moved into the balcony suite. My sister, friend, and maid of honour had booked the other rooms, so together we could get on with the day. The boys stayed in the original suite and started getting ready. It was humid, and although the balcony suite had better natural light, we could have used a working air conditioner. I wouldn't recommend the facilities or dealing with Susan Elliot to anyone who asks, especially if you have a non-Anglo name.

Perfect, thanks Susan 👍