I had a bittersweet experience. If Andres hadn't communicated with me, the review would be much much lower. I arrived at 5am, my check in was scheduled for 1pm, and had no where to go. I was alone with my luggage, too heave for me to lift. It started to rain and it was very very cold! This is not the host's fault by any means. I feel Andres is a decent host. I had planned to be at my aunt's home when I arrived but she ghosted me and it left me stranded. I had to be creative to avoid detriment to my health, and noticed that there was a self check in. I obtained the key to the building. I wrote to Andres and let him know that I needed access to the building (not the apartment) so that I could stay warm and dry. I had just arrived from very warm Mexico, and i have an autoimmune health challenge, so I need to mitigate all kinds of risk to my health, or I risk being hospitalized. I could not risk this considering this mostly a work trip and needed to be in Mendoza in 3 days. So I used the building key to sit in the lobby (i did not have the key to the apartment, and frankly did not know where it was. it was very confusing. there are 2 elevators etc.), In the lobby there as a security guard via a large vertical computer screen with his face on it. Looks like a virtual robot. I tried to communicate with this fella, nada. So i sat in the lobby, but also went to the rooftop to see if I could sit in the solarium. The pool was dirty and closed. The solarium was in the most disgusting and despicable state. Quite repugnant. So I went back down, sat in the lobby waiting for a work colleague to come pick me up to take me to a cafe near by while we waited for my check in.
I communicated all of this with Andres.
Everything was OK until Andres told me to respect the checkin hours to the building as well. Totally dismissing my extenuating circumstances. At this point, I considered canceling my reservation and asking for a refund. But because I was feeling ill from the experience, I didn't have the energy to claim it, so I entered the apartment at 1pm, and settled in for the 3 days I stayed.
During this time, Andres would check in regularly, which is why I am writing a better review than originally deserved.
I want to be transparent here because a) i am also an airbnb host! b) i could never leave my guests stranded, alone in a cold dark city, and would find ways to problem solve creatively if they were in the same shoes, and c) i treat others the way I wish to be treated and vise versa. Andres and I have had open communication about this. He explained why he felt he needed to communicate and reiterate the "rules" about entry into the building. It was based on previous experiences with others in the past, but we acknowledge here that in this case, it was totally justified that I enter the building for refuge purposes only, and not to barge into the apartment prior to the scheduled checkin.
The cleaning lady was also a bridge in communication because she arrived at the building when i was there.
This is a learning opportunity and lesson for everyone. Both guests and hosts. I appreciate my time at this property, but don't think I will return. I've stayed at others whose amenities I find to be better. The only reason I chose this one was because it is pet friendly, and originally I was going to be traveling with my dog. In hindsight, I would have cancelled and looked for something more aligned.
I appreciate Andres' intent to resolve and salvage the relationship, and intent to offer a better experience. I wish the hosts all the successes and best experiences this beautiful planet and home can offer them! cheers!!