The issues with this host began 2 months before the intended stay telling me if we would like to extend our stay, her property was available a day earlier. I should have noticed this was the first red flag, not only is it against Airbnb rules its also completely inappropriate.
4 days before my group was due to arrive. I began to receive txt messages and missed calls while I was at work, she was leaving voice messages on my phone and asking questions such as to confirm numbers, telling me about to pool filter, floorboards, the most strange things id ever expect to hear before arriving for an Airbnb. Every other Airbnb stay is meant to include a message through their system explaining the check in process etc but this contact I experienced was not OK and has since been reported to Airbnb for harassment and they have assured me they will contact her as they do not allow off site contact.
Just before we were due to arrive the host again called and txted to advise she requires $100 for every pet staying at her premises and she requires them to go and buy pet booties to wear inside the property. We agreed and transferred her the funds and sent a screenshot of bank transfer to which I continued to receive multiple missed calls and txt messages asking for the money. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise a bank transfers from different banks takes more than 24 hours to enter an account. These messages and calls began at 6:30am. I now know that Airbnb policy is that no money is to be transferred out of their system and I wish I had read this beforehand.
When we arrived we immediately noticed the clutter and uncleanliness of this property. every cupboard and draw of this house is full of household items and its clear this person lives here and just leaves whenever a booking is made. Hair all over the floors, dust everywhere and all outdoor furniture is falling apart. The backyard is neither pet or child friendly and is extremely unkept with spider webs all over the balcony and furniture. The BBQ does not work despite our best efforts to clean it and replace gas bottles.
On each of the nights we would sit on the balcony with dinner and attempt to enjoy ourselves however simply chatting amongst friends is enough to begin the barrage of txts and calls from this host once again. Calls relating to noise began straight away with her also threatening to come to the property. I would hate to see how she would handle having actual loud and obnoxious guests as we were simply a group of middle aged adults to trying to have a relaxing weekend down south.
There is so much more I have to say about this horrible weekend away and every member of the group I was with had extreme anxiety the entire we were away, waiting for the next call, txt or the host to show up. The whole reason we did this trip was to reconnect with friends and enjoy a wine tour during our stay and yet we spent the entire day watching messages and calls pop up on my phone. I had read other reviews about this property on here and google and thought surely it couldn't be true, but it was worse than I feared. From calls and messages at 5am all the way through to 10pm, even if there is a noise complaint then she NEEDS to go through the correct channels.
All screenshots of the harassment have been sent through to Airbnb and they have assured me she should NEVER contact a guest through their personal number and they will be contacting her in regards to this. Beware fellow travellers and avoid