Expect Problems!
I booked a gite in Pornic via the VRBO website. However, the booking and payments were processed by Guest-Adom.
Eveything was going smoothly until I received a text message asking me to confirm our linen requirement and the charge. I'd already confirmed with Guest-Adom that linen and towels were included in the VRBO price which it agreed. I now had to query this again and received an apology and confirmation that this was already included.
A few days before arrival I had my credit card debited for £70 without approval or prior notification. This was for the tourist tax which, like the linen, was already included in the VRBO price. Guest-Adom had my card details for the breakage deposit but should not have used it for anything else.
So another message to Guest-Adom who again apologised an agreed the tax was already paid. I received an immediate refund to my card.
Finally, a few days before arrival, I received a text from Guest-Adom's local representative who said he'd be meeting us and asking for our arrival time. I replied with an anticipated time that I'd update a few hours beforehand with a more precise arrival. I sent an update text a few hours before we arrived, at the expected time.
After waiting 30 minutes I sent another text asking if someone was arriving with the keys. I received no replies to any of my text messages. Then after waiting an hour, I tried to contact Guest-Adom by phone to no avail. Just got an answer phone. I then tried VRBO which was not much help as I was just given a phone number, the one I'd already tried.
Having waited 90 minutes, after a 7 hour journey and in need of a toilet, a Guest-Adom representative arrived, But not the person who'd contacted me by text messages.
Our gite was fine but the "Welcome Pack" had less items than stated in the Welcome Book. Not a big issue but in view of all the other shortcomings, it didn't reflect too well on Guest-Adom. Especially when it charges the property owner a very large commission!
I've been renting holiday accommodation in France for over 40 years and this was the most problematical booking ever. In future I'll avoid any property that's managed by Guest-Adom. And by reading other reviews, one can see why.
8 June 2024
Unprompted review