I booked the room through Expedia, which routed me through VRBO.As the day approached, I realized I hadn't gotten any info from VRBO regarding check-in instructions, etc. Typically, this is very detailed before-hand via email and text.
We arrived at a very derelict-looking property about 6pm and there weren't any signs of life. The office was locked. I knocked, but through the glass I could see there was no one inside. I rechecked my reservation info for phone numbers.
Two numbers went unanswered and the voice-mail was full. I went back to the front door and knocked loudly, to no avail. The wife was starting to get hangry at this point, so I agreed to drive into Gualala to find food and hopefully a room.
As we were pulling out of the parking lot, another couple was walking to their car, so I stopped and asked them if they had seen the proprietor, The wife asked if I had checked the obvious places, and then she suddenly realized, "Oh, your room is upstairs from us. It should be open!" Her husband, on the other hand, said "no, we don't even know who these people are". I assured him we were the correct people.
I thanked her for the info, and walked up a treacherous concrete staircase through the very overgrown foliage. Sure enough, there was an unlocked door into a very musty-smelling room. It was clean enough and the bed was comfy, but a very strange experience. Never did see the proprietor. Won't be back