Monte Rio Cottages

I’ll be staying in Monte Rio again next year, but I won’t call the Monte Rio Cottages and wouldn’t recommend them to anyone looking for a nice hotel. I had been friendly and courteous, but the woman who answered the phone was cold and rude. I called to ask about availability for a particular night, but they were fully booked. She suggested I call the Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce for other nearby hotels. It was Sunday and I needed to secure a room for Wednesday as soon as possible. I asked what nearby town had hotels, since I don’t know the area, but she refused to give me a town name and kept directing me to the Chamber. When I asked again for the name of a close town, she said she didn’t want to talk to me anymore and hung up. If she was willing to suggest calling the Chamber, why couldn’t she just tell me a nearby town? Maybe she was having a bad day, but people running hotels should at least be friendly and service-oriented. The Monte Rio Cottages are supposed to be cozy and friendly, and that call didn’t sit well with me.

The setting is gorgeous, with magnificent trees and fresh, clean air. Hummingbird cottage has a well-kept hot tub that’s easily big enough for two, plus a large deck with a grill and patio furniture. There’s no lounge chair. The mini kitchen has utensils and a few plates and cups, and the small fridge can handle food for a modest gathering. Parking is officially for one car, though maybe two if you’re creative. The bed is serviceable for two, but quite firm if you prefer a softer one. Wi-fi is spotty, though they’re upfront about it, and having it at all is kind of amazing. There’s also a really friendly black cat on the back porch who’ll let you pet him. The bathroom is why I gave it only three stars. The toilet is squeezed onto a platform between two walls, and getting in is awkward. The shower is so small you can barely turn around, and if you’re over 5'6" watch your head on the shower head. It’s disappointing to book a cottage for the hot tub and find the bathroom seems to have been skimped on by about three feet. Maybe the architects were all the size of 11-year-old girls and didn’t realize anyone bigger would rent it. Luxurious this isn’t. There are two restaurants within walking distance, and more just a short drive away.