One star is too generous. If I could give negative 5 stars I would.
I have stayed at countless airbnbs and am a big traveler. Hell, I’m even an airbnb super host myself. After this experience I will never stay at an airbnb again.
This place was unsafe, unclean and we had to call the police twice. The hosts couldn’t care less about our terrible experience which makes me think that this is pretty normal for them or they might be organizing the events.
The biggest issue- One of the airbnbs they were renting out threw an organized event in a 1 br apartment with hundreds of locals partying until 6am. They seemed to have rented out the floor and were going across the entire building treating the apt hallways like a bar. You can hear everything at this airbnb and the place is treated like a hostel / vegas nightclub. Me and my friend were lying awake scared all night because these people were hanging out drunk right outside our doors and screaming at each other. We are both New Yorkers so loud noise doesn’t bother us and we even laugh at people who stay in cities and complain about noise. Some noise is always expected.
These people had PROFESSIONAL sound equipment and microphones literally screaming and chanting at the top of their lungs all night and morning long. We couldn’t sleep all night and we couldn’t even leave the airbnb because these people were OUTSIDE our door. The airbnb told us they wouldn’t stay the next night after we told them we didn’t feel safe there and wanted to leave to go to a hotel but then lo and behold in the wee hours another loud ass party was happening at another room!
I wish I could upload photos and videos so you could see the pure insanity of demonic drunkenness that was going on that would make Dionysus blush. The rooms (you share a courtyard view so you can see into everyone’s rooms) were literally packed like sardines, they cleared out the furniture and created a bar and a dance floor and if that wasn’t enough they were hanging out of the windows into the shared courtyard screaming from 1am-6am. Ok great now at 6am I can finally get some sleep. Oh no wait wrong because now the party cleanup crew (event throwers in matching shirts) is busy cleaning up the apartment smashing bottles from the hallways and in their rooms and replacing all the furniture. When we looked out at the courtyard to see these fools one of them (in the party event thrower shirt) flashed a fake police badge and said “I am the police” so we opened the window to talk and he closed their curtain.
In my 20’s I might have thought “who needs sleep I might as well have joined them” but after walking 10 miles exploring Paris and having early plans the next day this was NOT the vibe trust me. Also consider this is happening DURING the pandemic. Everywhere you go in Paris they ask for you vaccine ID - this seemed like a mad sus event and a covid nightmare. The next day the floors were covered in filth and cigarettes throughout the apartment building. Literally everything was sticky. Also all these people had the building code to get in and out which is frightening.
The room itself is cute. Even if the parties weren’t happening you can still hear everything in the hallway. It sounds like people are literally in your room because of the sound vaccum of the courtyard.
But you can tell they treat this place as just a moneymaking business. It’s called “Joffrey and Lola” but when I reached out about my concerns I was given a very corporate runaround and was told a manager will reach out to me when she is back in the office (after we were leaving Paris which wasn’t helpful at all). These types of companies are ruining airbnb. You pay the same amount for a hotel but you have no niceties, no amenities, and absolutely no accountability. The AC is broken, there is visible crusty stains on the velvet furniture, and they didn’t even put a fitted sheet on the mattress so you’re sleeping on a dirty ass bare mattress with mascara stains all over it. (Again in a pandemic.) Also - even if after this you are still considering staying here just a note - the bathroom and shower is beautiful but also mad slippery with no sticky mats so if you are elderly or just would have trouble with that be careful.
To add insult to injury, after they could not get anyone to help us, they had someone come to our room at 10:55am to make sure we checked out after our back to back sleepless nights. I’m still waiting to hear from that manager and I’m sure I never will.
The hotels in Paris are beautiful. They are friendly. They are helpful. If people are throwing a party someone is in the lobby to help you. If you need to call the police they can speak in French for you. If you hear loud noises they can place you in another room. They offer early check in and late check out. Hell, at the very least they have clean sheets on their beds and clean floors.
Do yourself a favor and stay anywhere but here.
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On a separate airbnb company note - Airbnb was maybe more unhelpful than these hosts. I tried every single avenue via the app to get some customer service or be refunded to go to another place and was given a kind corporate “Please F off” dripping with sarcasm. I told them I’m concerned airbnbs are being used during the pandemic as nightclubs and they tell me in so many words “Sorry, we’ll look into it, that’s above my pay grade, we will transfer you to someone who is qualified