A PEACEFUL HEAVEN IN THE HEART OF LUBERON

The owners demanded a large and unexpected cash damage deposit upon our arrival. We did not have that much cash, so they eventually accepted all of the cash we had which was about half of the original demand. We got this back when we left, but not without the owners threatening to keep it and call the police if we protested. We lived with a rat in the house for 5 of the 7 days we stayed there. We saw the rat run into the kitchen and climb the counter on our 2nd night there. We chased it out and kept the doors closed from that point on. But it kept getting in and leaving it's droppings in all of the rooms, on the beds, in the bathroom, on the counters. Finally on the 5th day, the owner revealed that there was a hole in one of the loft rooms which gave the rat access to the apartment. After plugging that hole, the rat did not come in again. We had friends from California needing a place to stay for a night - we asked for permission to have guests - this was the response from the host: see how you behaved when you arrived without the usual **** euro deposit guarantee we should have no reason to be nice in return... first for the apartment was rented for 2 people at the time of booking (this will generate for us additional costs too..) However considering that you paid an extra night and you leave on Sunday, we accept that your friends sleep ONE night here. Note we have no clean sheets/towels available today. The rat ran across our friend's arm and head at about 7:00am on the morning they were there. The owner's dog apparently found a bone in the driveway on the 5th day. They accused us of tossing the bone there and therefore attracting the rat -- we did not eat anything with bones during our stay and certainly would not throw our food waste into their driveway. We paid for 8 nights, but left after 7. I have rented properties from private owners for over twenty years and have never before felt so unwelcome or distrusted. We left the apartment cleaner that it was when we arrived and have since asked for a partial refund because of the rat. The only response we have received from the owners is this: Remember we should have kept the deposit as suggested by vrbo...and we decided not to.. Regards JJ And, there are not 3 bedrooms, there are 2 open loft sleeping areas and one room separated by curtains on the first floor.. It is essentially one large open space with 3 places to sleep - Two double beds and 2 singles.