We stayed at the Rosella Cottage for 3 nights. We really wanted to love everything about it, and hoped we had found a place that we would like to return. We typically like well-maintained properties with a little vintage charm. Unfortunately, this property was not that.
We did like the quiet residential location within walking distance to a few restaurants, the beach and the Sanibel Lighthouse and park. Once we parked our car, we did not use it until we left.
We also appreciated that the property managers were very responsive when we notified them that the cooktop was not working, a portable replacement arrived within minutes.
However, the property is tired and needs attention. The door lock was very difficult to open and clearly needed a shot of oil. If it was difficult for us, it was difficult for the staff, and we wondered why something so obvious wasn't addressed.
We felt that the bedding was updated and clean, which is a must.
However, the kitchenette and bathroom may have been dated to the point of not being 'cleanable.' The cottage slept up to three people, which must have been why there were 3, and no more than 3, cups, forks, spoons, etc. (Lame and kind of stingy feeling.) The shower did not drain well, so we would be standing in an inch or more of backed up drain water, pretty gross. There was a wicker mirror in the bathroom, and the top of it was covered in dust. There were no towel bars in the bathroom, only hooks on the back of the door. There was one little wall shelf in the bathroom, but the wall mounts were ill-fitted, so the shelf tilted enough to make it useless.
There are beach wagons, chairs, and umbrellas provided. A great idea and would be a nice offering, however, we had to go through the chairs and umbrellas to find ones that weren't broken and too rusty. One would think replacing these when necessary would be a priority if the rental fee includes the use of them.
We had to wipe off the outside chairs to sit on them, and the paper towels were not only filthy, but had the color of the chairs on them. I was glad that we didn't get that on our clothes.
This property could be a real gem. The rental managers were professional, but can only do so much. If the owners or investors aren't willing to re-invest some of the rent money into maintenance and upkeep, it feels disrespectful to people who chose to give them a chance.
