My Airbnb review
I think miscommunication led to an unhappy relationship for both parties. I do think there was a language issue as well as him, being who he is.
It started off with me relaying to Stephane the wrong landing time of my plane into Paris. For some reason, I thought it was 8:30am; it was actually 11:20. I think this stressed him out. Check in was at 3:00pm.
But then things got progressively worse.
The week before I was flying out, I received a message from him that he was looking forward to meeting me TOMORROW. I panicked a bit. Did I book the wrong dates, etc. I felt that he was a bit contentious in the messages that happened afterwards. I had cleared up my error on arrival time during this correspondence.
On the eve before we arrived, he was gracious to offer to be at his apartment earlier. He made it very clear that he was going out of his way to be accommodating, etc. he asked me what time I thought I would be there. I guessed 1pm or so to allow for baggage and transportation. (He did provide good information on getting a taxi). He said that it was impossible. I didn’t know what he meant. We left it that I would let him know when I landed and was leaving the airport which I did.
When we arrived outside his apartment building in the taxi, he was waiting for us. I thought, “how nice”. But I also heard the way he spoke to the taxi driver. It was at this moment that my notion he was a bit arrogant and difficult was confirmed.
He then showed us where to throw the trash and how to get into the building. Please note that there was construction work going on; stairs were covered in plastic.
He takes us into the apartment. A man is cleaning which is understandable since this was before the usual 3pm check in. He shows us how to use washer, dishwasher, tv and then leaves.
The apartment was clean & bright. It didn’t feel warm or comfortable though. Great shower. Nice sized fridge. Sofa bed was uncomfortable and old; it wasn’t entirely stable when made into a bed.
The next morning i awake to the noise of construction work going on in another apartment. It wasn’t incredibly loud, but I’ve endured this back home enough and it was my vacation. Constant pounding over my head in the wall that joins the apartments-where the bed is. I wanted to be able to sleep in. i complained to him about it, and he first said that there’s nothing he can do; it’s the neighbor’s apartment. Finally, he offered to let us out of our agreement if we left by “10am maximum” the next morning- his exact words. I readily accepted. The construction work was unpleasant; the apartment felt cold (tile floors-probably great for summer) and I got a not so great feeling about the host.
Around 9:40 the next morning, I messaged him that we were getting ready to leave soon and how/where should we drop off the keys. I was being mindful of the 10am checkout he had mandated. Please note I didn’t say we were leaving at that moment. We were all packed by then. I still wanted to strip the beds and pile the sheets with the towels. I also wanted to turn the dishwasher on and other last minute cleaning. In less than 5 minutes, he’s at the door and in a RAGE. He kept pointing to his watch, screaming, “ you said 10 o’clock “. While he screamed at me, with my teenage son in the room, he went to check that everything was still there. He then followed me around the apartment, continually screaming about 10am and first questioning and then asserting, “ you understand!!” Such an unpleasant experience. He pointed to the garbage- “this is you, not me”. I had every intention of throwing out the garbage which we did.
I couldn’t leave fast enough. I can’t even recall the last time I was ever yelled at.
He was efficient, but in a very fake cold sort of way. I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone.
And I’ve stayed at a bunch of Airbnb’s before, including in countries where I don’t speak the language; in every instance but this one, the hosts were all great. Stephane wrote me a lengthy testy email reminding me that it wasn’t a 5-star Hôtel. Never thought it was.
A big reason I chose this apartment is that he had received rave reviews. I liked that people found him helpful and accommodating with their early check in and late checkouts. He has a shoe store nearby where you could stow your luggage. I wouldn’t know; it was never offered as any solution. I found him contentious and extremely arrogant and unhelpful.
To end our story, my son and I then trudged through the city streets in the cold rain until we found the nanny baggage service while we awaited check in at our new place. We then stayed at a wonderful apartment in Le Marais. A much quieter, yet more lively and artistic neighborhood. We loved our host and they loved us. I guess Stephane and I had personality and language clashes that showed me his true self.
In a nutshell, I wouldn’t recommend this apartment or any of Stephane ‘s other apartments.