Brundage Bungalows

Unit 5 must have been a good place 20 years ago, but now it badly needs maintenance. The floors feel soft, and thank goodness there are three heating units, because the main one wasn't working right. The kitchen faucet is so loose it takes two hands to turn on, and the shower water was barely warm. Value for the money is why I gave it two stars. The manual says pets are welcome but threatens an extra charge if they get on the furniture, even though there's animal hair on it. Sorry, being pet friendly means accepting some dirt and hair that animals bring in. The location is great.

Privacy was perfecto, even with people staying in the other bungalows. We'd only have known they were there if we'd seen them outside or noticed their cars. We watched some Oscar winners on the Samsung smart TV, and all the appliances worked well: dishwasher, oven, microwave, refrigerator/freezer, and Ninja coffee machine. The electric fireplace added a romantic feel. Check-in was automated and easy, and our deer friends came by to say hello a few times. We'd driven past Brundage Bungalows many times on trips between Pullman/Moscow and Boise, and finally booked Mountain Moose #5 for our 25th wedding anniversary. So glad we did. The cabin was cute and comfortable, just what the marriage doctor ordered. Everything was clean and shiny when we arrived, and Marty arranged with my mom to have special treats waiting for us that Friday evening. Amazing!

The check-in instructions need updating. We never got a separate email the morning we arrived, as promised. Instead, we had to find the link in the original booking email that led to a page with the door code, which was confusing. Parking was another hassle. The contractor renovating the cabin next door had parked his truck and trailer sideways across all the spaces, including ours, so we had to use the guest spot far across the lot. That's a difficult walk for guests with limited mobility. The lot and spaces are small, and I can imagine parking being tough when the complex is full in summer, especially with a full-size SUV or pickup. The housekeeper also brought her kids while cleaning the cottage next door shortly after our 4:00 check-in. They ran around, screamed, and cried on the rocking bench outside our window. It was disruptive, and we couldn't leave the windows open. We stayed two nights and got only two trash bags, so we had to buy more. The place also smelled strongly of artificial cleaning products, which felt toxic to me. I don't understand why they don't use unscented products; we had to air it out before we could stay comfortably. The kitchen was described as fully furnished, but if you plan to cook, bring your own pots, pans, and spatula. Ours had a pan handle that was about to fall off and bent when we tried to lift it with food in the pan. The spatula's plastic was flaking too.

The cleaning person banged on our door at 10:50 a.m. Monday, ten minutes before checkout. The cabin was tiny, and for the price they charge, there are zero extras or additional accommodations. They don't even have a front desk. The owners seem incredibly cheap and have no idea how to run the place. With better management, this could be a great location. I truly hope it improves in the future, because it has the potential to be an amazing spot.