The property itself is a beautiful building - a 1930s era gem that's well-located in Buenos Aires. Beautiful city, and this is a beautiful apartment in the heart of it.
However, there were a few things that made this the worst stay we've had with AirBnB. There are two issues worth mentioning about the property at the bottom of this review, but most important 'buyer beware' involves the host. Note that this is the only issue we have ever had with AirBnB. Ultimately, I really fault ourselves for going along with the host's suggestion that consider adding time to our rental 'off the books', if we wanted to extend due to COVID-19 flight cancellations. The moral of the story: keep all of your agreements in AirBnB, in order to avoid shady characters who are not always honest or professional, and to keep a good record of your communications.
Summary: The host demanded additional payment from us for time we didn't spend in the apartment, and sent numerous threatening messages, accusing us of being 'thieves' for not sending additional payments via Western Union. We ultimately blocked the host from messaging us at AirBnB's suggestion, and referred the case to AirBnB, who is now investigating the host. We also shared screen shots of the host's harassing messages, and demands for additional 'off the books' payments.
Details: During our stay at this property, the COVID-19 pandemic erupted globally. Our flights were cancelled, and the Argentine government was implementing travel restrictions daily. We discussed this with our AirBnB host on WhatsApp, who offered to let us stay 'as long as we liked' in the apartment, and suggested that we pay her directly for additional months, (and not pay through AirBnB). We agreed and started to make arrangements, because we didn't think we had any other choice given the circumstances.
However, within a day, the US State Dept requested that US citizens return immediately, and secure immediate flights to the US. Flights opened up, and we were able to secure a\ multi-leg flight home within 48 hours. We notified the host that we would not be staying any additional days beyond our agreed reservation, and in fact would be leaving 10 days early from our AirBnB reservation. We did not request any refund for the remaining 10 days we had already paid for (nor would we), and exchanged nice notes with the host before we left. She even helped us arrange a ride to the airport to get through military checkpoints. We thought all was well.
A week later, we began receiving threatening messages from the host, demanding that we Western Union her additional money for the following month (the one we didn't stay at her apartment). She sent multiple messages stating that she would 'ruin our reputation' on AirBnB if we didn't pay her more money, and 'have a lawyer waiting for us' when we arrived in the US. The host claims that she cancelled other reservations for us, however when we spoke to her prior to all of this transpiring, she stated that she had one reservation that she had to cancel anyway due to COVID-19 issues, and it wouldn't be a problem if we wanted to stay "until September, when this all blows over" -- that she would love to have us as monthly renters.
I understand that this is a tough situation for everyone involved. We had many travel plans cancelled on us due to the pandemic and in some cases lost money we won't get back. I also fundamentally believe that human beings are good, and situations can be seen from many sides. I even thought about sending an additional payment to the host, just to be a good human being, and help her out in a time that's obviously difficult for all of us. But ultimately, her continued threatening messages that went from 0-60 quickly, and mutliple attempts to extort additional 'off the books' money from us, required that we report her to AirBnB ,and cease contact.
Again: moral of the story is don't ever transact outside of AirBnB. We have never had a problem following this rule, and the one time we even flirted with the idea, it blew up into this. Not worth even entertaining the discussion to agree to something off of the platform - no matter what the host suggests. You are protected best when you use the platform.
Additional property issues:
1) The host did not meet us to check in, but cancelled at the last minute due to a family emergency, and had her nephew meet us. Not big deal at all, but her nephew told us he had been staying in the apartment the prior two nights (we never determined which bed). Found empty cigarette packs and empty wine bottles after he left. We paid to have the apartment cleaned ourselves, twice. We never mentioned this to the host, and wouldn't typically mention in a review. However, given the pattern of behavior with this particular host, it would be irresponsible not to mention this.
2) Bugs and more bugs. We had to complain to the host several times about insects: mosquitoes and mayflies in every room. Lots of dead bugs all over the windowsills, and huge cockroaches. After several mentions, the host sent over her nephew while we were out to spray cans of Raid, which did help with the waves of bugs on the windows. We also paid to have a cleaner come in and clean up the dead bugs. But, also killed our fair share of bugs the entire time. Again, unless a host doesn't address an issue, we would never leave it in a review. But given the pattern of behavior from this host, think it's prudent to be thorough, for fellow travelers' sakes.
Regardless of the interpersonal problems this host created, this a classic building, and a beautiful city. Under better circumstances, we would have liked to have seen more of both. Under better circumstances, we also likely