Rio Nido Lodge

We booked through Airbnb to attend an event at the Roadhouse across the street. Finding the place was easy, and the directions were clear. This hidden gem has interesting history, recently remodeled, nicely decorated rooms, and a lodge-style building and bar. Patrick the bartender was really nice to talk with over drinks, and the woman there in the morning was friendly and offered us coffee. It was the hottest day of the year, so we appreciated having a fan in the room since there’s no AC. Set back in the trees just off the road, it’s a nice getaway if you need a place to stay.

We visited on February 11 and 12. Our room was okay, but the young woman in the cafe really stood out. Her homemade food was phenomenal, from the delicious muffins to the best egg sandwich I’ve ever had. She even invented a strawberry matcha drink for us, and it was a 10/10. We had a good visit, and the location worked really well for wineries, but her service and cooking were the highlight.

The cabin is in a beautiful spot, but several things about our stay fell short. The bathroom hadn’t been cleaned properly when we arrived: there was hair in the shower and dirty towels. At 7am on checkout morning, someone knocked and said the hosts hadn’t told them guests were staying. Being woken by a stranger without any context was jarring and showed a basic communication failure by the hosts. We messaged Cherie and Theo the night before the stay. Cherie read it but didn’t reply, and all the messages we received were automated. Airbnb support also had trouble reaching the hosts for us. The location has real potential, but host responsiveness and basic cleanliness need improvement.

Cute, rustic little hotel with door-code self check-in. We used the meal voucher at the restaurant, which was nice, and played shuffleboard while waiting as another couple played pool. Cotton sheets would have been better. The curtains blocked plenty of light, though, and the fireplace and hot tub would probably be lovely when it’s cold.