Returning to Bradenton, Florida for winter season made finding housing a bit challenging, since all of the snowbirds go down there around that time. Monthly Airbnb’s are over $7k per month in the area. I didn’t prioritize living at the beach this time since the water is too cold for us Floridians this time of year.
Fortunately, my agency found me an apartment 15 minutes from work. It’s in a new suburb community with plenty of restaurant and shopping options. It is pretty spacious and they even gave me a sofa bed for guests. There is a community pool and gym.
I moved in the weekend after getting my covid booster in November. Once I moved in all my stuff, I started to feel horrible from the vaccine. I spent the rest of the weekend just lying in bed with chills and body aches. I was disappointed that internet and cable hadn’t been set up yet. Especially since my cellphone service wasn’t that great in the area. It would have been ideal to be able to watch tv or read stuff online when sick in bed.
I was told internet and cable would be set up Monday, so I tried not to be too disappointed. However, on Monday, I received an email from traveler’s haven (a housing agency that my travel agency often uses to assist them in finding housing). The email said only cable would be set up today and I had to go to Spectrum to pick up the wifi box and router.
I was like really? Who prioritizes cable over internet? Not to mention I still wasn’t feeling 100% after that vaccine. I knew I couldn’t spend another day without internet (first world problems), so I drove over to Spectrum after work and waited an hour in line to pick up the internet boxes.
I got home and set everything up, which took forever. Before I could use the internet, I had to activate the account. When I called to do so they wouldn’t let me since I didn’t have the code, considering traveler’s haven set up the account. I called Traveler’s haven and luckily someone answered and gave me the code. Four hours after finishing work I finally had internet.
Considering I was still recovering from the covid booster, I was a bit cranky and emailed my agency telling them how disappointed I was that internet hadn’t been set up prior to me moving in. I know there is a disclaimer that this may happen, but it has never happened to me in my past 6 years traveling with them.
They apologized and told me that traveler’s haven should have never sent me to pick up the wifi boxes. That they usually use a concierge service for that, and have never seen a provider sent to pick this up. Traveler’s haven sent me an apology as well with a $50 visa gift card for the inconvenience.
At least I know now if they ever tell me to pick up a wifi router again, I can tell them to send someone else.
Sophia, how was your new place furnished? I’m running into an issue right now where the next place I’ll be has Airbnbs that are going to be way too expensive too (it’s a resort community) so I’ll be in an apartment. But it’s unfurnished. Thoughts?
My agency books them through travelers haven. But if you need to furnish yourself you can use Cort furniture rental if they are in your area
Also try furnishedfinder.com usually more affordable than Airbnb
Yes! I knew about furnished finder but that didn’t work out for my location. But I reached out to Travelers Haven and they were great. They had done a few in the past for the location I need. Thank you once again for the good advice!
Jenny