Rookie mistake. NEVER leave even a SPECK of food behind, whether you’re renting to others or just sole ownership with no renters. We travel annually to France and, like the couple in the book you cited, we either do a long-term rental or several shorter ones over a period of 3 months (you know - the 90 day rule!). As frequent users of Booking.com, we always “ding” a place if we find ANY food. Some owners think it’s nice to have olive oils, vinegars, or other “shelf stable” products available. Often these things (even salt, pepper, spices) have been opened & who knows how they’ve been handled?
Just. Don’t. Do. It.! Our highest ratings go to rentals that have pristinely clean bed/bath linens & kitchens with clean dishes (& silverware!), fresh kitchen linens, & absolutely no food. You’ll be lucky if your Brits don’t leave a scathing review - right from the check-in mix up, their stay involved too much hassle. Good luck sorting all this out. We gave up our idea of ownership in France & just enjoy the 3-month stays . . . hassle-free!
We agree about the no food. We believe our last renters left the quinoa behind. So it was an oversight on the cleaner's part. We need stricter cleaning and set up guidelines for the future. Or perhaps we end up needing to hire a management company.
For those of you invested in this drama (all of you, duh) my mother has informed me that they were in fact NOT maggots, because maggots turn into flies. It is weevils that turn into moths. When you have an open box of cornmeal or cream of wheat (because I forever live in the 70s) the weevils are the things that appear that look like flax seeds. And they are just as crunchy :) I am not saying this is a happy ending, just saying it was not quite as bad as maggots.
holy mother of gawd....
Oh my goodness!
Mon dieu !! I need to look up maggots in French now...who knew !! asticots !!!
Oh no! How stressful for you guys. 😔
Rookie mistake. NEVER leave even a SPECK of food behind, whether you’re renting to others or just sole ownership with no renters. We travel annually to France and, like the couple in the book you cited, we either do a long-term rental or several shorter ones over a period of 3 months (you know - the 90 day rule!). As frequent users of Booking.com, we always “ding” a place if we find ANY food. Some owners think it’s nice to have olive oils, vinegars, or other “shelf stable” products available. Often these things (even salt, pepper, spices) have been opened & who knows how they’ve been handled?
Just. Don’t. Do. It.! Our highest ratings go to rentals that have pristinely clean bed/bath linens & kitchens with clean dishes (& silverware!), fresh kitchen linens, & absolutely no food. You’ll be lucky if your Brits don’t leave a scathing review - right from the check-in mix up, their stay involved too much hassle. Good luck sorting all this out. We gave up our idea of ownership in France & just enjoy the 3-month stays . . . hassle-free!
We agree about the no food. We believe our last renters left the quinoa behind. So it was an oversight on the cleaner's part. We need stricter cleaning and set up guidelines for the future. Or perhaps we end up needing to hire a management company.
Roberto here: the quinoa might have been left by me!
Your writing is so honest. It’s like listening to a good friend. love reading your posts!
Thank you so much! That is a terrific complement.
For those of you invested in this drama (all of you, duh) my mother has informed me that they were in fact NOT maggots, because maggots turn into flies. It is weevils that turn into moths. When you have an open box of cornmeal or cream of wheat (because I forever live in the 70s) the weevils are the things that appear that look like flax seeds. And they are just as crunchy :) I am not saying this is a happy ending, just saying it was not quite as bad as maggots.
I should also inform you that Roberto made me check the guests' rating to make sure they weren't pulling the old "maggot grift."
Well, you guys are still relatively new at this renting out from abroad thing.....It's going to get better! And your place is SO beautiful!
Thank you, Erin! We're sure we will get better at this....eventually.