Acacia Waters - Lake Taupo

I booked this property through Holiday Homes NZ, and while the house itself was spacious and had potential, our stay was unfortunately marred by poor communication, unfair charges, and privacy concerns. The host withheld over $1,000 NZD for about 1-2 months, which required significant effort to recover. He then refused to refund $120 for a blanket we did not take, despite providing no proof. He notified me that he would charge us regardless, and I am now having to waste additional time trying to dispute this charge. Instead of handling concerns professionally, he was rude and dismissive, repeatedly saying he had been "in the business for 20 years" instead of addressing the issue. The security camera overlooking the spa was not disclosed before booking. After I reported this to Holiday Homes NZ, the listing was updated to mention CCTV at the rear, which was not previously stated. Despite this, the host falsely claimed in his reply to my review that we had been informed about the cameras beforehand. There were also issues with the key code failing at check-in and the oven being too dirty to use, but I believe these issues could have been resolved if addressed at the time of stay. While the house was spacious, the lack of transparency, professionalism, and respect for guests makes it difficult to recommend. The host, Dion cooper withheld over $1,000 for 1-2 months, and deducted $120 for a blanket he claims we took, despite no proof. All I want is my money back, along with an acknowledgment of the funds being withheld. It's frustrating to be accused of lying when I have all the proof in the emails and communications. If you want an honest, transparent experience, I’d suggest booking elsewhere.