Summary:
- the private living area isn’t private. It’s part of the open plan kitchen and dining area
- they won’t let anyone step into the house other than you
- they will complain if you open the front door in their ‘quiet time’ hours even if you are quiet
- they won’t remember any interactions you make prior to booking
Unfortunately, If you want an experience of paying to stay with dictators, and people who start impersonal sentences off with ‘as per the house rules’, this is the place for you!!
Here’s the longer read;
I had advised the host in my initial booking request, that my boyfriend would be stopping in at the property with me from time to time to make sure it was ok as the house rules state ‘no guests’.
The booking request was approved and I also advised that I would mostly be out during my stay.
The host asked after booking was confirmed if I would have additional guests and I advised that my partner would not be sleeping over as I’m quite conservative.
On the Saturday, my boyfriend waited in the house with me while i finished getting ready and he said hello to the hosts while I put on my shoes. Unfortunately I put my shoes on in my room and forgot that I’m supposed to put them on at the front door... i was reminded of that by my boyfriend then the wife overheard and with a sentence starting ‘as per the house rules’ reminded me... I apologised for forgetting and we left straight away for the day as I’d finished getting ready (the shoes were brand new converse so it wasn’t too bad considering).
An hour later, the host sent me a text reminding me to lock the house at all times (even when leaving and they are home and awake) which was fine...
The next part of the text was very insulting to me!! I’d mentioned my partner would be stopping by from time to time before I even booked the place!! Here goes...
“Also, as per our house rules as you can see from our Airbnb listing, we actually do not accept additional guests to enter the house, unless it is really neccesary (like last night when ***** needed to help you carry stuff inside the house).
Hope you can appreciate and understand this. Sorry if this causes any inconvenience!
Cheers, Jessie.”
I am a very considerate and quiet person who keeps to myself so I stayed away from any prolonged interactions with the host from then as I was also really annoyed about this...
On leaving, I decided to bring this up with the husband who was there to give an opportunity to smooth things over. I let him know I was actually quite insulted by the text and he apologised but had no recollection of my advising of my partner stopping in, so the booking request messages must’ve been read by the other host, his wife who was the one that sent the text...
The host then used the opportunity to complain that I arrived late on the Friday and said that woke them as well as that when my boyfriend left after I had unpacked had woken them again. We were very quiet and not stomping around or banging doors, etc. and their room is literally next to the front door so even though we were extremely quiet, there is nothing else that could be done...
It was advised that keys were available via lock box on booking so as nice and unexpected as it was for the host to show me around the house at midnight when we arrived (which really isn’t that late to be home on a weekend), it wasn’t really necessary and if it prevented that complaint I would’ve much preferred if I wasn’t shown around. I had also previously advised the host I would be there after dinner with friends straight after the airport when they texted...
On bringing up these issues with host on leaving, the host suggested that a hotel may be more suitable for me next time as I am in peoples homes... What the?!! He seemed like a nice guy but really??
I am paying to have access to a space for personal use at whatever time I like during that period... Like I said, I’m not loud and barely around and let them know about my partner coming by every now and again (not hours at a time...).
The only time I was really there at the same time as them when I wasn’t sleeping is when I got back on Saturday afternoon to get ready to go out for dinner. I had my Spotify music on then at a reasonable level at 8:30pm in the bedroom when I was getting ready... I just thought to mention this in case they decide to turn that around and exaggerate the volume or something...
Also, the living area was not private. It is in the same area as the main kitchen and dining table. Private to me means an area for yourself without interruption or other company intruding. Sitting in the living area on your own with no tv, etc. while the host is in the kitchen is just awkward...
Sorry to have to leave this review... the place was clean and nice like the photos but I was in Melbourne for a very special weekend for my partners birthday and to meet his family for the first time and this experience with the hosts just added a negative (and insulting) spin to an otherwise amazing weekend...