Name: Charlie Bates Cottage
Address: Penneshaw SA 5222, Australia, Penneshaw, Penneshaw, Penneshaw, 5222, Australia
Rating: 6

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Penneshaw Penguin Centre

Kangaroo Island Farmers Market

Kangaroo Island Gateway Visitor Information Centre - Penneshaw

Baudin Conservation Park

Kingscote Airport

Charlie Bates Cottage

Penneshaw

We booked Charlie Bates Cottage for two nights in Jan 2021 and paid in full upfront. Unfortunately, we couldn't travel due to COVID-19 restrictions that prevented NSW residents from entering SA. 

After hoping the borders would re-open in time (and soon realising they wouldn't) we alerted Charlie Bates of our wish to receive credit for our accommodation as we were forced to cancel our trip to SA but wanted to re-book as soon as we could. We alerted Charlie Bates Cottage of this decision 8 days prior to our check-in date.

We never received a response from Charlie Bates. We sent three emails, called and left a voicemail.

The cancellation terms and conditions of Charlie Bates Cottage state that any cancellations made 7-14 days prior to check-in will incur a 50% fee which means we are due a 50% refund on the full accommodation costs we paid upfront.

It's now 2 weeks since our visit should have taken place and more than 3 weeks since initial contact was made and we still haven't heard anything from Charlie Bates Cottage.

We will be taking this case to the relevant regulator to recover our money.

Took our money and never responded. Didn't even honour their own cancellation terms.

Just had a 5 night stay here and loved it. The front verandah overlooks the harbour. Character filled clean and 2 toilets so perfect for  family. Really recommend it. Easy walk to the beach and a perfect base to explore K I from

Fantastic location and great price

We booked 5 nights in August 2020 from Charlie Bates website, photos on website looked amazing and the perfect location. We have stayed in quite a few old style cottages as we love the history behind them and expect that these places will have some issues but Charlie Bates cottage would be the worse place we have stayed. The cottage needs lots of maintenance and a really good clean.
When arriving there was a strong smell in cottage which I assumed was due to age and maybe being shut up for a while, had to open up windows/doors which helped but still had smell once all shut up again.
Walls had large cracks and lots of salt damp damage with the plaster peeling of walls in large sections and sand piles each side of the fire place. Window in bedroom had large crack between frame and wall that the wind blew straight in. 
Lounge, cushions and curtains were dirty and stained, unable to close curtains properly as broken/missing rings.
Kitchen was nice but all cupboards needed cleaning, oven had control buttons missing was dirty and oven trays had old oil/grease on them, saucepans/plates/cups needed washing before use, there was what looked like mouse droppings in drawer.
Unable to use heater in dining area as when turned on smelt like something dead in it.
Bathroom was large and modern but shower was mouldy and had hair in it, claw foot bath was dirty and rusty around plug hole, did not use.
No vacuum cleaner/mop provided/ cleaning supplies only a broom which has been well used. Laundry was nice and large & having 2 toilets was good.

Disappointing

The property could have been amazing but it was in need of cleaning and in need of repair. The toilet seat was dirty,the fireplace had no wood, the 'airconditioner was older than me and in no fit state to turn on.
We are not fussy people and just wanted a clean little place to stay for a few days, made other arrangements as could not contact maintenance man, or send email to owner

Dirty and in need of repair

We booked through Charlie Bates' website, and paid by credit card. When we got to the island, the cottage was already let to somebody else. We had to find emergency accomodation on the day, which caused a lot of trouble. We still haven't got a refund, even though we contacted the owner numerous times. The owner was anything but helpful, and seemed bothered by the fact that we were asking for a refund. We are now taking legal action to recover our expenses.

Booked through their website, but got ripped off. Took our money, but we had to find emergency accomodation on the day.

I was looking for an old home to spend a romantic getaway with my Partner.
Charlie Bates Cottage provided a historic setting with a lovely open fire and comfortable bed for our time away.  

The cottage has a kitchen with microwave, oven and all the pots and pans you could ever need to self cater.

We had a lovely stay and would recommend it to people looking for a HISTORIC home with a lovely old world feel.

Comfortable stay in an old style home

We were very disappointed with our stay at Charlie Bates Cottage.  The property was very dirty.  The fabric lounge suite was very soiled; we felt the need to wash crockery and cutlery before use; the bathroom bin had not been emptied; there was dirty used soap in the shower; windows were not clean; the fireplace was surrounded with debris.  The property was in direct contrast to what we saw on the website when making our booking.

Comfortable self contained accommodation. Has everything you need, apart from Wi-Fi. Close enough to walk into town or just a five minute drive. Great views over Backstairs Passage to the mainland. Sit and watch the ferries come and go. A great place to watch the sunset, sitting on the veranda.

Relaxing sunsets

We were really looking forward staying here at the start of our week on Kangaroo Island. I think it's fair to say that what is represented on the website is  not what we found. Its one thing to be historic but that shouldn't mean that that it should be in disrepair. 
Cracks in the walls, general shabby appearance. An overall feeling like the whole house needed a facelift and a steam clean and some tlc! This cottage has a renovation circa? Maybe 1980's that just doesn't work.  Very, odd and not really pleasant. 
A claw bath that had rust stains- a little different than described. We had high hopes for our first 2 nights on KI here, frankly we were so disappointed we left after the first night. 

Disappointed 

They've got a new cleaner. 
After reading some of the poor reviews below we contacted the owners to clarify the poor reviews and were advised that they'd changed cleaners and it was all ok now.

So we booked in for 3 nights and loved it.

The house is over 104 years old with vj board ceilings and the sort of small gaps you get in this type of ceiling, old Windows, skirting boards etc and having owned a similar style house in a rural area with airborne dust on windy days, it's hard to keep them 5 star hotel clean, so when you book in to stay - make sure you set your expectations at the required level first.

It's clean, it's self accommodation, its got everything you need, it might not be matching cutlery for everything, but it's priced right, the kitchen is well appointed, yes it's an old stove, there are stacks of DVDs if you're into movies, blankets to sit on the lounge, it's got a a good shower, 2x toilets, bbq etc and lots of donnas etc if you need them in winter.

The views across the water are very relaxing, the area is very quiet, it's a nice 15 minute walk beside the water to the township for a bit of exercise / dinner and the township of penneshaw is a great place to unwind and do your eastern end of the island exploring from.

Book it and enjoy the historic stay it is.

If you want something up market / 5 star there are lots of those on the island at much higher prices.

Charlie Bates Cottage

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