The Florentine Waterfront Hotel in Florence — Hotel in Dunes City

My partner and I had two separate reservations at this establishment, one at the beginning of our trip and one at the end. The first night, we were in the Merlot Room and it was a very gorgeous room; it was well decorated, had a private patio and a breathtaking view of the water. It was peaceful and a great beginning to the trip. Only downside was that while there were fire pits, the wood was all soaked from a sprinkler and it wasn't incredibly clear if we were allowed to use them or not.

On the second night we stayed (the last leg of our road trip), we were put in Midnight Manor #3, which unbeknownst to us, was next door to the workshop where there was a lot of traffic with maintenance going on in front of the room. Being as this is a single story unit, there were workers doing things outside our window into the evening, which was unfortunate because we had to keep the window curtains closed for privacy, taking away from charm and experience, as we wanted to enjoy the view the way we did the first time.

What added to the dismay of this visit was that upon arrival, my partner asked the management if there were any other rooms available. He was directed to a woman who appeared irritated at the inquiry, told us "no, you're too late" and just handed us a pamphlet for the hotel to see the other available rooms "to use for next time". Not being able to change rooms was understandable, as it was a Friday. Her approach, rather, was rude and unwelcoming, which made the whole thing uncomfortable for us and soured the stay. It would be nice for the listings to note when there is going to be maintenance and construction going on, so folks can choose their accomodations accordingly. Or at the very least, it could have been communicated to us before we arrived.

Also, there were other key details about the facility that were left off of the listing when we booked, which made for an unpleasant surprise upon arrival. Between these things and the standoff-ish demeanor of the female manager of the hotel, I would think twice before coming here again, which is unfortunate because it has potential to be a great destination if they put a bit more attention into the detail of amenities for their patrons who spend a decent amount of money...

First impression of surroundings: Neglected grounds, no other guests in evidence. Cabin 4 was so dirty, my wife and I spent almost an hour attempting to wipe down counters, hard surface floors, window sills, and furniture. Tried vacuuming with a small sweeper vac with little success. I took it apart and found the debris container filled with dirt and hair and the filter bag completely clogged. I dismantled the unit and thoroughly washed it with soap and water. I found a standard vacuum in a kitchen closet which was inoperative. Bathroom sink drain was 90% clogged. “View” windows out onto the lake were dirty with cobwebs and stuck-on dirt in places. After attempting to salvage our stay we gave up and asked for our money back, noting our disappointment and attempt to make it habitable. Owner responded by asking what we expected and noting “Well, we’re out here in the woods.” Not exactly, by any stretch of the imagination. ||||I have to add a plus: We were refunded our payment for two nights at $94 each. Views of the lake are nice if you overlook the property.||||We drove north on US 101 to an absolutely wonderful suite motel on Lake Woahink. It caught our eye initially because we saw an open room door with a cleaning cart in front! What a relief. The room rate at Woahink Lake Suites was less than $20 more than Fish Mill . . . and a world apart. Please see my review of...

While looking for access to the property (no signs on the main highway) a neighbor said "You're not going to like it!" The owner meet us in bare feet, shorts, dirty and greasy hair and carrying a parrot with no tail feathers. Signs said no pets. He told me to duck entering the so-called "lobby" with 5'10" door, 6'+ ceiling. Built in the 1920s, the rooms have patched holes in plywood walls and guest room door, bird droppings all over the windows and screens, grease covered 1950s stove, spider webs everywhere, bathroom sink hot water tap had not worked for a very long time and lights either didn't work or the metal chain pull was broken. A 1960s broken table lamp was laying in the corner on the floor and the pillows were so old they were flat and covered in plastic to "keep them clean." The room had a musty or moldy odor. The back door opened to a many years old construction area dirt bank, including a shovel from a loader, broken concrete and old used pipe. Two locked outdoor restrooms appeared to have been locked for years. Not a safe place for kids. A sign said "no maid service." Wifi was intermittent. Don't be fooled by the nice website. On the plus side it was quiet (no one there) and the view of the lake was excellent. The owners seem to have no desire to maintain a potential gold mine location. I feel bad saying it, but the place is not close to being...