First of all, we travel a lot and are very savvy and picky renters with VRBO and similar sites. We tend to compare a place to all our other stays, not just what the ad said.
This place is outstanding.
I have no major negative things to say.
Bottom line: I would rent here again, and I hope to do so next year.
Rental Agency: This place is not rented out directly by the owner as most VRBO units are. Instead, there is an agency that oversees everything. The positive is that you have an agency that does this every day with many customers, so they know what they are doing. The drawback is that the agency sometimes does not know specifics about this particular property, while an individual. owner certainly would.
Location: Excellent! You're very near but NOT in town. Zell am See is pretty, but it must be crowded during peak summer season or peak winter season. There is only one main road through town parallel to the lake, and EVERY car travels on that to get where it's going, so when we were in town, that road was almost always congested -- and we were here off season! The apartment is NOT near this. The apartment is up on a hill. It is walkable for sure, and we walked into town several times. It is probably 10 minutes into town and 20 back (because you're walking uphill). You can easily get to a store for food, etc., and some restaurants. Having said that, we ate out only 4 times in 9 days. I assume you'll have a car... because Zell has a north end and a south end, and these are not easily walkable.
Parking: Parking in Zell am See is limited, so a real plus is that this apartment comes with ONE dedicated parking space.
KITCHEN: The kitchen was important to us because we planned on doing a lot of our own cooking. The apartment kitchen is beautiful with modern appliances.
recommendation:
(1) PLEASE provide instructions for how to use the stove top, how to use the oven, how to use the microwave. Figuring out these appliances was not fun. We never figured out some features, which is a shame because the kitchen is first class. (This is not a strange request. EVERY PLACE I've ever stayed in had instructions for operating certain appliances.)
CUTLERY ETC.: You need NEW knives. Not sharp at all.
TOWELS: We were there 9 days. One towel per person is not ok.
TV: PLEASE provide instructions. Cable, Netflix, etc.
WASHER/DRYER: PLEASE provide instructions.
OVERALL: LOVE THE BALCONY. :-)
GREAT PLACE.
We would stay again for sure.
