Disappointing Stay - Would Not Recommend…read more
Our experience with this vacation rental, "Live Blissfully," was extremely disappointing and concerning. We arrived at the property around 8:30-9:00 PM on a Friday, only to find that the door code provided did not work. After calling the contact, we were given a new code--which turned out to be the previous guest's code. This was unsettling, as it meant the previous guests still had access to the home during our stay.
Upon entering, we were immediately hit with a stale, musty odor reminiscent of an old, poorly maintained property. The house was clearly run down: carpets and some furniture were visibly stained, flooring was scuffed and peeling, baseboards and moldings were chipped, and the overall cleanliness was far below expectations. The home clearly had not been given a proper deep clean in some time.
Within minutes of settling in, we found two large cockroaches in the kitchen pantry. Over the course of our stay, we encountered a total of four roaches. This was incredibly unpleasant. When I contacted Rebl Rentals to report the situation, I made it very clear that our guests were terrified to even stay in the home due to the roaches and the overall condition of the property. Despite this, their response was that they would "send someone out in the morning." There was no urgency, no empathy--just a dismissive, delayed response to a serious health and comfort issue.
Eventually, Rebl Rentals sent out an exterminator who sprayed chemicals inside the house without any warning, which made us feel unsafe and uncomfortable being in a chemically treated environment. When I raised concerns, I was told the roaches probably got in because we "left a door open"--even though we had just arrived and found one dead on the floor. To top it off, after the technician left, we were greeted with a bottle of Raid and a few bags of chips left on the kitchen counter--as if that was an acceptable solution to a roach infestation. It was honestly insulting.
The issues didn't end there. Half the house had no hot water, and the main fridge wasn't cold enough to keep drinks chilled. When a technician came to inspect the fridge, they told us it was "working fine" because there was ice in the freezer. But the freezer wasn't the problem--the refrigerator section was clearly not functioning properly and never reached a safe or usable temperature.
The included golf club putter was completely bent and unusable, which felt symbolic of the general neglect throughout the property.
Then came the final straw. Two days after we checked out, I received an extra charge on my credit card for "fireplace use"--even though we absolutely did not use the indoor wood-burning fireplace. Rebl Rentals sent a photo of ashes in the fireplace, along with a photo of the very clear "Do Not Use" sign posted above it--proof that we followed the rules. We were still accused and denied any resolution. This charge felt not only retaliatory--coming just after I filed complaints and requested a refund--but also fraudulent. It was 90 degrees in the desert; we had no use for a fireplace, and no way of even getting firewood. I requested pre-inspection photos or video proof of us bringing in wood (which we didn't), and received no reply.
After our stay, I looked up reviews for this specific property and discovered that many other guests reported the exact same issues: pest problems, unclean conditions, broken appliances, and suspicious charges after checkout. Clearly, Rebl Rentals and the property owner are aware of these problems and continue to do nothing about them.
This stay was unacceptable from start to finish. All I want was some sort of compensation and my money returned from the false fireplace charge. The property is misrepresented, poorly maintained, and the customer service was dismissive, accusatory, and unprofessional. I would strongly advise others to avoid "Live Blissfully."