I had high hopes for this stay given the reviews: which Libby repeatedly reminded me of, despite the apartment having unchanged smelly sheets with fresh blood marks, filthy bathroom floors (which she tried to say was grout staining until I sent a picture of the black dirt from wiping with a white paper towel); a grease-baked oven; crumbs in all the kitchen drawers; dirt spatters over the coffee machine; dust on all surfaces; dirty living room floors; and most horrifically (which severely triggered dust allergies for a few days until I figured out what it was), thick dust on the bedroom walls!!! — I don’t even know how this was possible but the video was sent to AirBnB. — all this despite the COVID-19 enhanced clean that was promoted and guaranteed, which simply was not done and is a big risk in a pandemic. Photos were provided for all of this.
Unfortunately it was not a sanctuary and I was kept awake, and woken early by noisy neighbors (this may have been due to lockdown).
Internet connection was poor, as was phone reception, mobile data connection and TV signal (all TV channels were not working). Calls/ emails/Netflix frequently cut out or needed to reconnect.
I stayed two weeks only because it was the only place available, close enough to my elderly father during lockdown, straight after my quarantine from overseas, a trip I had made to say goodbye to my mother, who died during my trip. Something the host was fully aware of. After cleaning the apartment myself and paying for tools to do this (while a clean was offered, it was not flexible to my work schedule and would have disrupted my work — the reason for getting the apartment in the first place), it provided a bed and roof and desk for me to work from - albeit with a disturbing number of interruptions from the host.
The one plus is that it was only an hour to walk to the beach (a great reprieve for my daily exercise in Lockdown). Amenities and transportation are close by, as are some great coffee shops and brunch cafes.
While Libby was initially responsive, she was rather rude and tried to put the blame on me for the shortcomings of the apartment, and wasted a lot of time with unhelpful comments and insults that did not provide adequate resolution. I ended up having to go to AirBnB for a resolution, which is still ongoing weeks later as she is being difficult. Libby simply ignored my messages for her to follow through on the resolution she promised in writing, which she has still not done and simply declined my request.
Libby did not tell me the car stacker was not available before arrival, or reduce the price for this, despite off-street parking being part of the price. She then lied saying it was available, when there were posters from the building management in the elevator, confirming that it was unavailable, and she has also written that it was unavailable in the Welcome Manual.
Luckily, the cleaning fee was removed.
Libby tried many times (in writing on the AirBnB platform) to get me to book and extend outside of AirBnB and to tell me I would be liable for any damage - against AirBnB’s t&cs. Beware of this.
In addition to Libby providing a filthy apartment with poor wifi/telcom reception, her lying, being rude and failing to keep her promises on the resolution, the bedroom smoke alarm does not work (which I only found out when a routine test went off - which I was not told about); there is a dangerous and faulty electrical switch; and, door handles that are about to fall off.
All in all, a thoroughly disappointing stay in a place that is simply not as advertised. An apartment that was supposed to take me away from distractions, created so many more.