Due to the unhygienic conditions at the apartment, we found alternative accommodation [that is worthy of being called luxury) and vacated the Carrick Retreat two days earlier. On reflection we should have not stayed after the first day. We paid over £900 for a six night stay.
We booked the Carrick Retreat as my wife had a couple of days business in the area, ironically she works in tourism. We then intended to spend a few days relaxing in the area. Two days prior to arrival, I was telephoned by Morgan who offered entry a day earlier on Sunday 24th July at a reduced rate of £100 for the night. As our flight was booked for arrival on the Monday (return flexible), this was not an option, but we were open to extending the break. Morgan said there was no availability at the end of our booking. I am so thankful for that as I would have paid for an extended stay before seeing just how bad the accommodation was. I have already wasted good money for an unclean apartment that we vacated before the end of our stay.
I completed a preliminary review on arrival at the request of Expedia. I highlighted the immediate unacceptable cleaning issues that we had already rectified. I was then contacted by Donnini who offered to send a cleaner. As we had brought food to put in the fridge, we had to clean the fridge and remove the food from the freezer. My wife had already cleaned the table surfaces in the living room. It simply looks like the cleaner changed the bedding (I sincerely hope so) and did a quick vacuum.
I did not expect such poor standards in a so advertised “luxury apartment”. The apartment does not reflect the cleanliness standards advertised on their web site.
I have listed below the unacceptable issues with this apartment and included corroborating photographs.
On the Expedia site it says - Enhanced cleanliness measures. Property is professionally cleaned. Disinfectant is used to clean the property. High-touch surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. Sheets and towels are washed at 60°C or hotter.
The apartment was not professionally cleaned.
On the matter of pets, it stated "No pets allowed".
It is evident that dogs have been in the apartment. Anyone booking with Expedia is given the impression that no pets are allowed. However, on checking the Donnini site, they allow two dogs in this apartment. They should make sure sites like Expedia are carrying up to date policies on pets. People with allergies will not book pet friendly accommodation. When booking accommodation that says “no pets”, you do not expect to find that dogs have been sitting on sofas, beds etc. I would also expect that "pet friendly" properties would be given a more extensive deep clean. The Carrick Retreat wasn't even given a basic clean.
Cleanliness - Every area of the apartment had cleanliness problems.
Kitchen - Dirty plate in dishwasher
Dirty plastic boxes in fridge – food crumbs
Food and plate in freezer
No bin liner
Bin lid filthy and rusty
Toaster rusty and dirty
Cooker hood filter greasy and hood rusty.
Under the sink dirty. The iron is next to a particularly dirty area.
Living Room - Tables in living room unclean when wiped.
Fluff ball of hair on carpet
Black swivel chair is torn
Glass in balcony door and living room window unclean with visible hand prints.
Smaller bedroom - Bed base in smaller room has a seriously unhygenic dried in stain. Looking at the height, it could be the result of a dog relieving itself against the bed.
Main Bathroom -Rubber on bottom of shower screen ingrained with dirt.
Hall Cupboard - The iron board cover is dirty. On a serious safety issue, there are tubes of paint on the floor. Any child could easily open the cupboard and ingest this. Why is this even in the cupboard? The baby feeding chair requires cleaning before use.
Outside Balcony - A net, I assume to stop birds flying in spoils a fantastic view and a great photo shot opportunity. Other flats in the block aren’t “fenced in”. Aside from the claustrophobic atmosphere created by the net, the balcony is filthy and unfit to use. Although they have erected a net to stop birds entering the balcony, the table and electric box is covered in bird droppings. It’s obvious the furniture was not cleaned after the net was erected.
The floor of the balcony needs a coat of wood treatment.
If the bird droppings over the furnishings are not bad enough, the food bin on the balcony summed up the lack of cleaning and hygiene. I wondered why a council food bin was on the balcony. When I looked inside I realised it was being used as an ashtray. The bin is full of cigarette ends and empty cigarette packs. As non-smokers, the sight was repulsive. Even smokers would be repulsed to be standing next to a bin that has obviously not been emptied in a long time.
Safety and Security - Very disconcerting to find the safety chain removed from the front door. Even high-end hotels have additional safety measures on their room doors. From the holes in the door frame, it looks as though there was a safety chain. Why would a security measure be removed? The answer according to Donnini Apartments was the owner [not Donnini] removed the safety chain.
General Comfort Issues - In the Main bedroom with on-suite
One side of the mattress [right hand side from bottom of bed] sounds as though the mattress has sprung and requires replacement. The creaks and noise when entering and turning on the mattress is terrible and uncomfortable. We couldn’t move to the other room due to the disgusting stain on the base that could possibly be dried in dog urine.
The non-privacy curtains. The curtains are paper thin, there is no daylight block but most importantly no privacy. I was standing at the far end of the bed (away from the window) with the curtains shut and could clearly see a towel hanging over the balcony of a flat in the other building. I can only imagine their view in the evening with the light on.
The door doesn’t have a catch fitted. The door can’t shut and lies open.
Living Room - The small television position is unpractical with a restrictive view. It faces the balcony door not the seating area. It is side on to the sofa/seating area. Due to the table it sits on, it’s restricted in turning around to face people on the sofa.
I could list other items but I do not want to waste anymore time on this deeply disappointing experience. I have never written a bad review on accommodation. I don’t normally write any reviews. That said, we have never been in accommodation that has left us feeling unclean. I cannot ignore the deplorable standards of cleanliness especially in these days with Covid still on the rise.
After over two weeks of back and forth with Donnini Apartments, I was offered a refund for the two nights we left early. No offer of compensation. When I gave them bank details to pay the refund into, they couldn't do that simple task. They started making excuses about the account being a business account {it was a business that paid Expedia] then Laurence who I have just discovered is one of the Directors started saying the bank details were fraudulent. This is a despicable company that takes your money, gives you a disgusting apartment and takes no responsibility. Donnini Apartments don't even own the properties they rent out. The owners should be made aware that their apartments are not be cleaned properly and putting people's health at risk. I think the owners should have some liability here.
All bookings are direct with the owner 