Is the swimming pool usable?

Multiple recent guests report the pool leaks continuously and water quality is poor. It is not reliably swimmable.

How responsive is the host to guest issues?

Recent guests consistently report the host does not respond to messages during stays or takes weeks to reply. One guest was only contacted on checkout day.

Do the photos match the actual property?

Several guests describe photos as edited and misleading. The property appears significantly less maintained than images suggest.

Botanical Retro-Cottage by StayCo - Riverview Pool

Updated 2026-08-26 · 8,317 reviewed · 5,086 listed · Scored from 15 Google reviews · How we rank ›

2.3(15) 39 low data composite score See reviews on Google

Private Pool Villa HomestayBeachfront & Island HomestayHomestay

15 Google reviews

Botanical Retro-Cottage by StayCo - Riverview Pool

Services: Private Pool Villa Homestay, Beachfront & Island Homestay, Homestay
Reviews: 15

What recent reviews say

Most guests describe booking disappointment, unsanitary conditions, and an unresponsive owner. The property appears neglected: photos don't match reality, the pool leaks and sits filthy, bathrooms lock poorly and harbor pests, and air conditioning fails to cool rooms. A handful of older reviews praise location and quietness, but recent experience tells a starkly different story.

Based on limited recent reviews, so treat this as low-confidence.

Praised for

quiet location
near temples
peaceful setting

Watch-outs

photos heavily edited or misleading
pool leaking and dirty
unresponsive host
dirty bathrooms and pests (cockroaches, rats, mice)
non-functioning air conditioning
poor maintenance throughout

poor-maintenanceunhygienicunresponsive-hostmisleading-photos

Think twice if: Guests booking here should expect poor upkeep, unresponsive management, and conditions that differ sharply from listing photos.

Strengths

quiet and peaceful location
proximity to temples and nature

Worth knowing

Pool frequently leaks and is not maintained
air conditioning non-functional in multiple rooms
bathroom doors unable to lock from inside
pest infestations reported (cockroaches, rats, mice)
host unresponsive to guest complaints during stays
listed price has allegedly been raised dramatically between bookings (from RM2000 to RM6500 for same unit)

What reviews say by service

Private Pool Villa Homestay: Pool infrastructure non-functional (leaks, poor water quality); property visibly neglected.
Homestay: Multiple maintenance failures and unresponsive management; conditions inconsistent with photos.

How it compares

Rated 2.3 against a 4.51 average across the 233 private pool villa homestay businesses listed here.
Has more Google reviews than 75% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

How We Score

Star rating 12

Review volume 52

Review recency 33

Review sentiment 40

Profile completeness 75

Verification 30

Rating breakdown

Common questions

Is the swimming pool usable?: Multiple recent guests report the pool leaks continuously and water quality is poor. It is not reliably swimmable.
How responsive is the host to guest issues?: Recent guests consistently report the host does not respond to messages during stays or takes weeks to reply. One guest was only contacted on checkout day.
Do the photos match the actual property?: Several guests describe photos as edited and misleading. The property appears significantly less maintained than images suggest.

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