Winslow's Bungalows has beautiful grounds, poor service, and was a major letdown...
We recently stayed at Winslow's Bungalows in Key West, drawn in by the charming photos and glowing descriptions of beautifully restored white-washed bungalows nestled among lush landscaping, multiple serene pools, and inviting common areas. And to be fair, the property itself is as lovely as advertised. The grounds are immaculate, the pools are peaceful, and the bungalow we eventually stayed in was exactly what we had hoped for. Unfortunately, the customer service and overall experience fell far short of what we expected--especially at a steep $600 per night.
We booked our two-night stay months in advance, fully expecting (based on the name and the imagery online) to stay in one of the standalone bungalows. However, upon arrival we were led down the street to a completely separate two-story house, up a flight of stairs, and into what can only be described as a glorified closet. The room was tiny and the "queen bed" was definitely not a queen--closer to a full size, and barely fit for two adults to sleep comfortably. As a senior, hauling luggage up stairs to a cramped space we never agreed to was frustrating and unacceptable.
To make matters worse, we had arrived at 3:30 p.m. for a 4 p.m. check-in, hoping to get situated a little early. The woman at the front desk was curt, unhelpful, and refused to answer any questions or even start the check-in process until the clock struck 4. Her tone and attitude left a very poor first impression.
When I called the front desk to complain about our room, I was told there was nothing available that night (we suspect due to a wedding on the property), and that we'd be moved to a bungalow for the second night. We were also offered $100 off the first night--which I appreciated, but it didn't come close to making up for the experience.
The second night we were finally placed in a beautiful ground-level bungalow--the kind we believed we had booked all along. It was everything we'd hoped for: private, charming, and comfortably appointed. But by that point, the damage had been done -- our experience was soured.
Breakfast is included, and while it was fine (think: Hampton Inn), it didn't add much to the experience. The open-air bar had live music, which was a nice touch, but the bartender clearly didn't want to be there. No smile, no welcome, and he was out of basic staples like scotch, bourbon, and rosé.
In summary, Winslow's Bungalows is a beautiful property that badly needs a reset in customer service and honesty in booking. For $600+ per night, guests should feel welcomed, respected, and get what they paid for--not shuffled off to a glorified attic room and treated like an inconvenience.
Two stars, and that's only because of the lovely setting and the much-improved second night. Sadly, we won't be returning and would never recommend this place to anyone! read more