Fern River Resort Motel

1ST STAY IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PART OF SANTA CRUZ. COULD NOT SLEEP THE 1ST NIGHT. BEDS ARE AS HARD AS GRANITE, A BIGGER PROBLEM WAS ALL OF THE NOISE IN THE COTTAGE. THE WATER HEATER WAS EXTREMELY NOISEY. SOUNDED LIKE POTS & PANS CLANGING ALL NIGHT LONG. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS ALSO VERY LOUND. I FIGURE I WILL TALK TO THE OWNERS (DAN & HIS WIFE). THEY WILL GET IT TAKEN CARE OF....NOT THE OWNERS ACTED LIKE I WAS THE BAD GUY FOR BRINGING THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION. HE STATED ""THE WATER HEATERS MAKE NOISE AFTER 4 MONTHS OF USE, YOU WANT ME TO CHANGE THEM EVERY 4 MONTHS""... NO I WANT SOME PEICE & QUIET WHEN I STAY SOMEWHERE. DAN KNEW OF THE ISSUES & TOLD ME ""THAT'S JUST THEY WAY IT IS"". I EXPLAINED I WOULD HAVE TO STAY SOMEWHERE ELSE IF HE COULD NOT RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. HE SAID FINE, LEAVE. BUT YOU ARE NOT GETTING A REFUND FOR THE 2ND NIGHT. I HAD TO FILE A DISPUTE WITH MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY. BOTTOM LINE.. LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, BAD EXPERIENCE & WILL NEVER GO BACK & I WILL TELL ALL I KNOW TO STAY AWAY FROM HERE.. DAN ALSO THREATENED ME, HE STATED I BETTER NOT SLANDER HIM ON THE INTERNET BECAUSE HE HAS ALL OF MY INFORMATION (PERSONAL & CREDIT CARD)....NOW I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS ALSO.... THE BEST WESTERN IN APTOS WAS A MUCH BETTER CHOICE.. PS WHILE CHECKING OUT OF HERE, ANOTHER LADY WAS CHECKING IN & WAS IN A HEATED ARGUMENT WITH THE OWNERS WIFE ABOUT RESERVATIONS. HIS WIFE HAS A VERY HARD ACCENT & YOU CAN BARELY UNDERSTAND HER, SHE HAD THIS LADY SHAKING WITH ANGER!!! more

Within the first 30 minutes we were disappointed. We tried to make coffee (with the coffee we brought since we were warned by earlier reviews that they didnt provide coffee), when I got up to check on it I noticed there was water and coffee grounds all over the counter, under the microwave, in the drawers, flowing onto the floor, etc the coffee makers carafe wasnt made for the coffee maker and the water wasnt going into the carafe!! Oh well, after a 30 minute clean up, it was time to relax. That is when we discovered the furniture was right out of the Flintstones. The couch was a lovely piece, carefully handcrafted from solid granite and padded with a polyester cover that crinkled when you sat on it. This thing was so hard that you could break a bowling ball on it. Off to the bedroom in hopes of a place to find some comfort. Oh no, it too was as hard as stone, and just as comfortable. A bead of sweat formed on my forehead as I contemplated two nights trying to relax while standing. Perhaps sleeping in the car was an option, but the 28 degree night temperatures made that option a rather chilling thought. If you want a nice, spacious cabin in the Redwoods, with a decent kitchen, just pack up your air beds, a few garbage bags, folding chairs and this will be the place for you. And dont forget to bring the earplugs, because the walls are so thin that you can carry on a conversation with you neighbors (ours played guitar and sang late into the night). For us, the romantic weekend ended a day early when we politely handed the key back and said we were leaving early. This was quickly followed by the inn keeper frantically searching for the words to say 'No Refunds, No Negotiations'. What a terrible disappointment. Great concept, extremely poor execution. The parts we forgot to mention that were equally annoying or insulting: The towels, and blankets had ""FERN RIVER RESORT"" SPRAY PAINTED on them! scratchy and tacky, nice. Pros: Private Hot Tub, heater in cabin worked excellent Cons: All furniture was extremely uncomfortable, Horrible towels more