Swansea Cottages & Lodge Suites(Accommodation Swansea) — Hotel in Tasmania

Having worked in the public sector for 44 years, the first lesson I've learned is: "the customer is always right" even though you might think otherwise. If reception doesn't want to take a call for a booking, set up a message bank. I felt like I was putting her out by booking. The garbled instructions I received over the phone when booking were not reiterated in the confirmation letter I was sent. On arrival we found a key safe box at the cottage we booked but it didn't open with the code we received over the phone. We then rang the reception twice before anyone answered (thinking at this point we were about to spend the night in our car). When the call was answered we were met with: "Oh, for goodness sake. What are you doing at your cottage: come to reception". It astounds me, given the shortage of tourists due to COVID-19, we were treated like this. Even though the beginning of our stay put a very bad taste in our mouthes, we couldn't fault the accommodation. +++ In view of the owner's response, I feel I have the right of reply to clarify errors: Having booked 6 days prior to our stay, we did explain that we would be late arriving; I reiterate there were no directions on the confirmation e-mail I received; As to the statement that we rang at 11:15pm, phone call was made at 9:39pm; To avoid all confusion, perhaps the owner may consider removing the key safe at the cottage...

If you like to be treated "a pesci in faccia" as we say in Italian, the Swansea Cottages is the right place for you, otherwise you'd better book somewhere else. Don't take me wrong: the accommodation is quiet, stylish and very well equipped. When we rang for our booking we were treated as if they were doing us a favour: we thought perhaps she was just having a bad day. When we arrived for our planned late check-in, we couldn't find any self check-in instructions in our confirmation e-mail nor any signs of where the reception was. We then rang the reception and received the full "a pesci in faccia" treatment. An experience like this puts a bad taste in your mouth and spoils the atmosphere of a weekend away. The day after we discovered the sandwich board with the directions for the reception was hidden behind a bush. Communication is non-existent: no instructions for late check-in no directions to arrive at the reception. Honestly, for $200+ a night (breakfast not included) I would have expected a much better customer service support and no rude treatment at all. +++ By reading the owner's response, it looks like I have stayed at a different property: I believe it was called Swansea...

Stayed at the Cherry Cottage. The cottage is OK and the staff are lovely, but those beds are criminal! Needed changing a good 3-5 years ago, at least. We are young fit people and our backs hurt horribly after a single night on them. And bright white lights all over the cottage, super uncomfortable. Honestly wished we had booked 2 nights instead of 3.

Edit: The owners replied to this review 2 years later. I don't know if what they say is true and the mattresses have been recently changed, but I was a flight attendant for an international airline for over 9 years and I have travelled a fair bit on my own so I have stayed at plenty of hotels worldwide. It isn't "a personal thing", those beds were the worst I've ever slept on. The lights - yes thanks, I know how a lamp works. Warm white is usually what households use, bright white is more suitable for hospitals. Just FYI. And my husband's name is Ahmad, not Ahmed. Best of luck, you're...