Daytona Beach Club 708

I was visiting someone who rented here, and I had a parking pass. While straightening up after pulling in, my month-old tire hit exposed rebar sticking out of the end parking stop and popped immediately. The lot is a tight squeeze when other cars are around. I didn’t have a spare, and this was our only vehicle, on Christmas night. The car sat for a couple of days because we didn’t want to claim a tow on our insurance and pay for another tire, but in the end we had to get both. The tire cost $110, and I’d at least like to be reimbursed for it. The woman I believe is the HOA president quickly told me it was my fault because it had never happened to anyone else. That doesn’t mean there isn’t obvious neglect. If a store has a very wet floor with no sign and someone slips, it isn’t free of fault just because nobody else has fallen before. I called and left voicemails but got no response. I wouldn’t come here for an Airbnb. The whole building looks dilapidated, with mildew smells and rust. If they ignore something as straightforward as exposed rebar, I wonder what else they’re neglecting. They seem to think they aren’t responsible.

The room smelled of stale cigarettes and strong industrial cleaner, and there was no soundproofing. Passing cars, trucks, motorcycles, and police cars sounded as if they were right beside the room. Rust and peeling paint were visible on the walls and metal, and the toilet ran constantly. There were safety issues too. The entry code took two or three tries, and loose screws in the handle once left me unable to get out. The balcony door wouldn’t latch properly and could easily be pulled open. There was only a two-foot wall between the adjoining balconies, and the deadbolt didn’t work. I called and texted two numbers during my four-day stay to ask about fixing these problems or moving rooms. I spoke once with a woman named Jenn, who said they had just taken over the property and would see about moving me. Later I was told they couldn’t move me, but wanted to find a time to fix the toilet. After that, I couldn’t reach anyone about the other issues.

The room had a musty smell, and the beds listed in the description were actually sleeper sofas. We booked in April, expecting one queen and one double bed. Never again.

The one nice part was the recently renovated pool area. Otherwise, the building felt very outdated and fairly dirty. Only one elevator worked, and it moved so slowly that it seemed close to breaking down. Parking was crowded, narrow, and really difficult. There also aren’t any restaurants within easy walking distance. My husband and I stayed at an Airbnb here in mid-June.