Let me preface the review by saying the bed and pillows were VERY comfortable and I slept like a…read morebaby (which is not easy at my advanced age!) Unfortunately, I wasn't sure I'd have that opportunity.
I booked the room through Expedia, which routed me through VRBO, and it's possibly this two-step process that caused the issues we encountered (I'm trying to give the owner the benefit of the doubt) This was just one night of a multi-night trip. As the day approached, I realized I hadn't gotten any info from VRBO regarding check-in instructions, etc. Typically, this is very detailed before-hand via email and text.
We arrived at a very derelict-looking property about 6pm, and despite about seven cars in the parking lot, there weren't any signs of life. I walked up to what appeared to be the office and found it locked. There were some bare wires hanging out from where a doorbell would normally be. I knocked, but through the glass I could see there was no one inside. I rechecked my reservation info for phone numbers.
I found two numbers, both of which went unanswered and was advised that the voice-mail was full. I went back to the front door and knocked loudly, to no avail. I attempted to jump the doorbell wires to make some noise inside, but that didn't work either. I went back to the car to try to find alternative lodging but I wasn't optimistic about finding anything on a summer evening on the California coast. The wife was starting to get hangry at this point, so I agreed to drive into Gualala to find food and hopefully a room.
As we were pulling out of the parking lot, another couple was walking to their car, so I stopped and asked them if they had seen the proprietor, or had any idea where she might be. The wife asked if I had checked the obvious places, and then she suddenly realized, "Oh, your room is upstairs from us. It should be open!" Her husband, on the other hand, said "no, we don't even know who these people are". I assured him we were the correct people.
I thanked her profusely for the info, and walked up a treacherous concrete staircase through the very overgrown foliage. At the top of the stairs, we found one door open, which led to a tiny foyer with two rooms, with coded locks. The first knob I tried was locked, the second door opened into a very musty-smelling (apparently not updated since possibly 1986), but otherwise, tastefully-appointed room. It has a small balcony with an ocean view, and as I mentioned, a very comfortable bed. There were wine and drink glasses provided, which was a nice touch.
The bathroom is very aged. The tub is indeed a spa tub (though no larger than a standard bathtub), but I think you'd need to be quite desperate for a soak to use it, because your head would be adjacent to the toilet.
There's an ice-maker in an odd place, in the under-sink cabinet. It was full, but it made me wonder when the filter had last been changed.
Interestingly, there were five or six "guest books" in the room with entries dating back to the late 80's. It was almost like being in a museum!
The next morning, we got up and left. We never heard nor saw any sign of the proprietor. At one point I was quite livid. In 2026, there is absolutely no reason for such a lack of communication from the property owner! The fact that we had to get check-in instructions from other guests, who we just happened to run into, is beyond ridiculous! Needless to say, we won't be back. . .