Chalupa Erika

The cottage has room for 10-11 people, but the kitchen dishes really aren’t enough for a group that size: only 7-9 small and large plates, no deep plates, 8 forks, 7 knives, and 8 teaspoons. With 11 of us, we’d have had nothing to eat from, so after each meal we had to run the dishwasher even when it wasn’t full. There were enough dishwasher tablets, at least. We also would’ve appreciated some starter capsules for the coffee machine so we’d know what to buy, a vacuum cleaner, and spare trash bags. We had to make the original bags last the whole week. There’s only one bathroom, though there was enough hot water. The oven was dirty and smelled burnt the first time we used it, and the baking paper came out completely black and crumbled around the food. We liked the relaxed owner and his father, and the owner tried to help with everything. There are three toilets, parking right by the cottage, a fridge and freezer, a hairdryer, and one towel per person. The feather duvets were new and clean, and there’s a pool we didn’t have to worry about. It’s a short walk to the pub and playground, and to places to go on outings. The photos should show the cottage and grounds more clearly. The owner says the garden is shared with them, which is fine, but you have to go around their house to reach it. From the photos we thought it was just in front of the cottage, and you can’t see the children playing there from inside. The ping-pong table is by the owners’ entrance. We get loud and competitive when we play, so we decided not to use it. There isn’t much privacy: the fire pit seating is between the cottage and another rental apartment, and people in that apartment and the owners’ house can see you on the cottage porch. Noise comes from the accommodation, from one another, from us, and from the main road beside the cottage, especially passing trucks. In summer you need to air the place out at night because it gets hot, but the windows have no screens, so you can’t keep them open without that being an issue. There are at least three outdoor cameras, too. You have to keep an eye on yourself and the kids.

The kids loved having the garden and trampoline to play on. The owner and his family were very welcoming, thanks to them.

The shared garden is worth bearing in mind: it’s also used by the family home and another rental, so this place won’t suit anyone who wants complete privacy. We had a relaxing week here. It’s rented for weekends or, in season, by the week, for up to 9 people. There’s plenty for kids and adults, including a pool, table tennis, a playground, and two fire pits.

Lovely setting, and the owner and family were friendly. I’d recommend staying here.