Sunset Vistas 206S - Beach Paradise loaded with amenities!

Good
Traveller Type:
  : 1. The location was perfect - on the beach, walking distance to Johns Pass Boardwalk. Despite being a unit that was further back on the property, you still have ocean views from the patio. Only 2 chairs on the patio but we moved 2 beach chairs out there and sat 4 people comfortably to watch the sunset. 2. The beds were amazingly comfortable.3. The extra 1/2 bath was a bonus for 4 women when trying to get ready. 4. The pool/hottub/snack bar area was great! We came off the beach at 5pm (when the chair/umbrella rental guy came for his stuff - $20 for Umb/$10 for chairs per day) and went to the bar for a frozen cocktail and then laid by the pool for the rest of the evening. We even got Uber eats directly to the pool one day! Theres picnic tables and lounge chairs and its open until 10pm. 5. The staff were very responsive and mostly helpful (they helped when they could within the rules, they did not make any exceptions, which I will explain below)
  : 1. It was not clear when booking that you are working with a rental agency for a privately owned unit. (Thats Booking.coms fault) We thought we were booking a room at a condo/suite style hotel where we could check in early at the desk if there was a unit clean and available. This was not the case, this is a specific unit being rented and only available when they say. We got into the unit 1 hr early (2pm) but landed at 9am with nothing to do.AFTER booking, which was non-refundable, I got a lengthy contract with all the details like - No early checkin or late checkout without a $300 fee. (We werent paying $300/night so why would we pay $300 for a couple extra hours) We booked an early flight assuming we could use the pool while waiting for our room, but again, after a non-refundable booking, they said no. I contacted them and they said we can get in early without a fee as long as the cleaning crew was done. They said noon is usually when they are done so it wouldnt be too long a wait (I told them we land at 9am). They said to call when we land which we did, they said it wasnt ready but to call back at noon. We called at noon and it still wasnt ready. We called again at 130 and they said ok, we can get it at 2pm but not sooner or we would be charge the early check in fee. - This whole process of checkin is what put a bad taste in my mouth to start. The people on the phone were acting like it was this Huge favor that they were letting us in an hour before check-in. They were adamant about not entering the unit even a minute early. At this point we have groceries just sitting in the hot car, waiting for the code to work to enter the unit.2. Its advertised as a condo with a fully stocked kitchen but they didnt even have salt and pepper, let alone most food prep items. The pots and pans were trash (old/buckled/warped) and not clean (someone probably put them through the dishwasher without removing food first).