We rented the Sky Dancer property for three nights. While the property itself is beautiful, we…read moreexperienced several significant safety concerns that ultimately caused us to leave a day early.
Pros:
* Great location--close to shops, restaurants and hiking trails, but tucked away enough that it feels private and secluded.
* Customer service was very responsive whenever we reached out.
* The property is beautifully decorated. The lighting and the cargo nets on the front of the captain's ship were especially fun and a big hit with my son.
Cons:
Captain's Quarters
The Captain's Quarters, which includes the kitchenette and bathroom, is much smaller than it appears in the photos. I would estimate the actual living space to be only about 8-10 feet wide, excluding the bathroom and sleeping loft. While the listing photos accurately show there isn't a couch, it's worth noting that the only seating is a dining table with benches. If the weather keeps you indoors, there really isn't a comfortable place to relax other than sitting on a hard bench or lying on the bed.
Ant Problem
There appears to be an ongoing ant problem. We noticed ant traps under the sink, which suggests the owners are aware of the issue. Unfortunately, there were ants in the sleeping loft of the Captain's Quarters, and both nights we woke up with ants crawling on us.
Safety Concerns
Our primary reason for booking this property was the cliffside room, but this is where we encountered our biggest concerns.
On our first night, my son noticed that the bedroom door to the cliffside room did not have a lock (see attached photos). I contacted the property the following morning, and they responded quickly, offering us the other cliffside room since it was unoccupied that night. While I appreciated their prompt response, it only partially resolved the issue.
The replacement room did have a lock, but it could only be locked from the inside because of the sliding glass door design. As a single woman traveling with a child, I did not feel secure knowing the room could not be locked when we left or adequately secured from outside access.
Additionally, access to the cliffside rooms is not truly restricted. The "gate" is essentially just a screen door on a dirt path, with no fencing on either side. Anyone could simply step around it and continue directly to the cliffside cabins.
Another serious safety concern was the ladder leading to the Grey Dancer cliffside room. The second-to-last rung on the upper left side appeared to have been completely cut through. It was a clean break that looked as though it had been cut with a saw, making the ladder feel unsafe to use.
Because of these issues, we decided to end our vacation a day early. At 11:14 a.m., I notified the property that we were checking out one day ahead of schedule and asked whether a refund for the unused night would be possible. They responded within about 15 minutes, stating they could not issue a refund because their cleaning team had already left. Since standard checkout was at 11:00 a.m. and my request came only 14 minutes later, I was disappointed that there was no flexibility given the circumstances.
Overall, while the property is beautiful and the location is excellent, the unresolved safety issues and ant problem outweighed the positives for us. We would not stay here again. If you're considering this property, one of the larger cabins without a cliffside room may be a better option. However, if secure accommodations are important to you, especially when traveling alone or with children, these issues are worth considering before booking.