Fresh back from my first (and likely last stay) at Forever Bungalows and I'll share I really wanted to like FB but the difference between the actual experience from the pitch is just too big to forgive. I'll acknowledge that I've done a lot of traveling for work and have high expectations. I'll also cede that I think I know what Forever Bungalows is aiming to be, which is a 'modern' shabby chic throwback to Catskills-era bungalows (but set in the Hamptons). I approached my stay expecting sparse but high quality furnishings with a boutique caliber of guest services.
Before I get to the disappointments let's start with the positives.
Given that it is off-season there are some really good deals to be had. My average daily rate was $90 for a twin room (via TravelZoo) so I really struggle between giving this place 3 stars versus 2 because I am very pleased with the price - BUT I know the standard rates are much higher and it's unimaginable to know what they're charging. For the same full priced rates you can get a fantastic experience in a real hotel and since many of the guests come from NYC they are expecting a certain standard of accommodation.
**Reminding self this is the 'positive' portion of the review**
I found the employees to be very helpful, friendly and agreeable. Both on the phone and in person I found them to be genuinely helpful and really nice! I appreciated that the young women came across more girlfriend-friendly than tourism-bot and it gave the place a genial warmth.
I also found the room to be very clean and LOVED the woods surrounding the lot. My back window opened to a quaint scene of woods and flowers and I really enjoyed hearing the cicadas at night while seeing the cozy bonfire lit up in front. It would definitely be worthwhile to put more attention towards developing the wooded areas so it could truly feel like a retreat, especially since the front of the area is bordered by a moderately trafficked county road.
You can tell FB is striving really hard to set the tone of camp-cozy-bungalow vibe and they are within reach I think. Unfortunately, the choice of furnishings and misleading amenities challenges you to be forgiving of its shortcomings.
As mentioned in an earlier the choice of IKEA furnishing is a major let down. Unfortunately, IKEA is just too popular for its own good - it's everywhere. Too bad the owners fail to grasp that when people travel, especially to ritzy places like Sag Harbor and the Hamptons, guests want to be elevated and taken out of their quotidian lives. For the prices being charged everything in the unit should be high quality and present well. Instead, you're constantly recognizing, "Oh. This is from IKEA." As a guest, I shouldn't be distracted with recognizing the stores of the furnishings.
I also felt it was chintzy to have miserly, plastic toiletry dispenser in the bathroom. It's conspicuous too that there wasn't a clock radio/MP3 player in the room nor is there a coffee maker. The office does offer free coffee but who wants to get out of their pajamas to cross a gravel courtyard to fetch coffee? Who???
Between the furnishings, toiletries, horrible wifi, and misleading cable this place sits closer to hostel than hotel.
I don't know if I'm faulting the owner for not knowing the taste of his guests (savvy NYC'ers), not knowing how to pair high with low, or for being overall cheap but it resulted in him aiming too low. There are just too many instances of going cheap and inexpensive rather than high end and you feel like you're in the middle of someone's DIY project.
Lastly, I have a major issue with the lack of consideration paid to guest safety. My door didn't offer a peep hole nor did it have a door bar for preventing break-ins. Accessing the room comes with a traditional key (not a door card) and if anyone were to gain access to the spare keys they could enter your room and nothing would prevent it. As a solo female traveler this is one of the big factors in my decision to not stay at FB again. Since FB is located on a main road, with a lots of traffic, and sits opposite from residential houses across the street that entertains young men watching the coming/goings of the guests, I would expect them to be more cognizant of safety for all its travelers. read more