8/10 Good
av3maria
12 Apr 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Clean & Well-Organized
Great condo with A+ upgrades (TVs, WiFi, Fireplaces). Everything was lovely, clean and well organized upon arrival. The only reason I'm not able to give this a full 5 stars is due to the Clubhouse hot tub not working (and almost resembling a breeding ground for frogs).
We had also hoped for a quiet, restful week, but alas, the condo right on the other side of the wall is being renovated. (and from the looks of the rubble hanging off of the balcony, won't be completed any time soon). We awoke to pounding, sawing and drilling 3 out of the 5 mornings beginning at 8:10am and continued throughout the day. It definitely became the motivation to "explore the area" instead of staying indoors. We were met with lovely sunshine for more than half of our trip, so leaving was not objectionable.
The rest of the complex was quiet and comfortable and my children enjoyed playing tennis most of all. Parking however was a bit of a hassle, so be prepared to lug your baggage and groceries a fair distance. There are 3 handicap spots right in front of the condo which were almost never occupied and all of the other nearby spots were usually filled. Most of the challenges mentioned would not have bothered me at all, except I'm a small, slight woman who definitely needed some quiet rest (and a nice soak in the hot tub) this past week.
These issues were not the property manager/owner's responsibility, as I doubt not much can be done to alter the circumstances I've described. However, I would definitely list these factors for people to make a well informed decision when booking their vacations. Don't get me wrong, the management company is great, and very communicative. I appreciated their expedient response when our keys wouldn't work to enter the pool, as well as when I spoke with Lisa before our arrival. Very kind, caring and thoughtful!
Overall, we were blessed with a great experience and memories enjoying beautiful Birch Bay, Blaine, Bellingham, Lynden, and Sumas. I recommend Jack Niemann's Black Forest Steak House in Blaine for a fantastic meal paired with delicious wine and awesome service. I would NOT recommend CJ's Beach House (the food was okay) but the joint smelled like a New York sewer. If anyone else ends up wondering what that glowing ball of fire in the sky is when you drive down Birch Bay Drive, I learned it's the Phillips 66 Ferndale refinery's flare. It's quite a site! Enjoy your adventures! We definitely did!
av3maria
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023