I specifically booked Friday, knowing I arrived at 8:30am on Saturday, in order to avoid any issues with early check in. I messaged the host two days before arriving to tell her I arrived at 8:30am Saturday and would need to let in then. She never responded.
I arrived after more than 13 hours travel and with no sleep for 24 hours (I couldn’t sleep on the plane) with a huge suitcase. The place is in a pretty scary alley. I called, I messaged. No response. My taxi driver had gone into the store in the alley and he agreed to wait extra time as I continued to try to contact the host. No response for 45 minutes.
I had no way of knowing if or when this host was going to respond and how long I was going to have to stand in that alley. I had a large suitcase and the temperature outside was 50 F.
As the taxi driver was leaving I made the decision to go with him and had him take me to a hotel. I just wanted to get warm and to sleep. I didn’t feel safe in that alley alone.