The place is described as a separate, private unit with the potential for noise. I realise that this was just a family being a family but there are some places that are simply bad places to be an AirBnB. After not having WiFI on a working weekend at an AirBnB in Munich, I read AirBnB descriptions very carefully. I am always quiet, respectful and leave the place better than I found it. It might work for some but this place was one of the worst experiences I have had in 30 years of travel.
The place is the basement of a typical Belgian three-story house. There is no insulation between the upper floor and the basement; the living area (the unit’s first room) and dining area (the unit’s sleeping area) are the same and in a sense you are actively living with and on the schedule of a family of seven. The noise is amplified and so clear you can understand even quiet conversations. The front room also faces the street and has two large windows, and there are sheer curtains. Everyone can actively look in and does.
I started a new position and booked 30 days. Maybe it’s fine for a few nights but for longer it’s unmanageable. The first night I was invited for some pasta and wine - do not get me wrong - the family is nice, but there was an incident on the first weekend. I arrived on Thursday and the following Saturday the noise was the seventh level of hell. The husband came down and when I said I was trying to do coding and the noise was incredible, I was told there would be noise from 7-21:00 (more like 6-23:00 - there was an exchange student who would talk on the phone in the front room until at least 23:00). Almost immediately after I said something about the noise, I was then accused - actually reprimanded like a child - of leaving the front door open the night before. I was sure I did not do this and from then on, locked the front door rather than just close it whenever I left or came in. Sure enough, I came home after work and at least twice the front door was wide open. I said nothing, locked it and went downstairs. With kids, it was a miracle it did not happen more often. Once, there were keys in the inner lock and I could not get in. It took awhile but finally someone came down and let me in.
Noise: There is not the POTENTIAL for noise, there IS noise, again usually from at least 6-23:00. Pounding steps, jumping, television, video games, phone conversations, furniture dragging, doors slamming, piano playing - there is a piano right above your sleeping area - the same repetitive song, and then there is the yelling. I mean real, hardcore yelling. It’s kids being kids but the hosts really should say there is loud noise, always, daily and regularly.
WiFi: Does not work in the sleeping area/back room, so you have to sit in the front on display if you want to use it.
Washer: The description says there is a washer in the building, another reason I specifically booked the place. It was never offered and I never asked, but I assumed I would have had to go through the house, disrupt the family and use it. It was just not a realistic possibility and I took my laundry to a coin-operated place.
I really started to feel like I was being parented. During business conference calls on work-at-home days (only tried it once), my colleagues would ask if I were OK and could I mute my phone as there was a lot of background noise. To avoid making a bad situation worse and out of sheer stress, I spent 12 hours a day at my office to avoid the place. This was especially true on the weekends, where it was nearly impossible to sleep even with a high-powered fan I bought to try and block out some of the sound. I spent most of the weekends in my office. I tried to make it work but lost money to get away from it - in the end I booked 11 expensive days elsewhere to get some sleep.
All in all, the worst AirBnB experience I’ve had. I wish them well but felt like a high-paying chaperoned exchange student intruding on people’s lives. They will probably ding my AirBnB record after reading this but others should know what to expect.
I really tried my best to make it work but there was no peace, no privacy and it was exhausting. The day I left there was hours of piano practice. Regardless, I left the place clean. I was so frustrated that I finally gathered my things, left the keys and walked out.