This was a disaster! After being delayed three and a half hours, due to the host being unavailable when there was a check-in problem, I had to find a hotel at twice the price. After my initial four-day booking at Christophe’s, I didn’t much like the idea of a keybox, with codes in the first place; then when I got a TWO-PAGE list of instructions from Christophe on what and what not to do in his studio, it struck me that this guy is too uptight to be a host. In contrast, I had stayed in a studio in Boulogne sur Mer the night before and got four lines from the host telling me how to retrieve the keys and to enjoy my stay. Christophe might learn a lesson from him.
However, I got details on the key pick-up from Christophe and then left London to visit friends en route to France. It seems in the interim, Christophe changed the venue for the key pick-up; I never saw the update. When I got to the original key location at 5pm, of course the code didn’t work. I always take the precaution of getting the host’s phone number. When I tried it, IT WAS UNAVAILABLE! I had to ring airbnb in the USA, which annoyed me; they really should have local numbers for this sort of emergency. Roberto at airbnb was excellent, but couldn’t reach Christophe either. This went on for two hours or more. Christophe finally got in touch and told me to go to the other key venue. When I got there, and again the code didn’t work, he called to verify, AND DIDN’T BELIEVE WHERE I SAID I WAS. I was furious by this time. With Roberto’s help, I had cancelled then rebooked Christophe’s place; Christophe was going to give keys to me directly when he finished work, BUT WOULDN’T BELIEVE I’D REBOOKED. He rang off and called airbnb to verify. In the interim, Roberto called from airbnb and I told him I’d had enough of Christophe’s tantrums, and had managed to find a hotel. Roberto refunded me half of the hotel bill, ie what Christophe’s place would have cost; even so I’d had to pay twice the price; and Roberto refunded the whole four-day stay; and I rebooked three nights elsewhere, but again more expensive. Christophe is clearly a guy who doesn’t trust himself so he doesn’t trust other people. BTW, I speak pretty much perfect French, so there was no misunderstanding. Hosts should be available at all times (within reason) in my view, but especially at check-in time. AVOID CHRISTOPHE AT ALL COSTS!
(Priere d’excuser le manque d’accents, c’est un clavier anglais)
Un desastre integral, grace a un mec, Christophe qui n’a aucune idee comment servir/reagir comme hote sur un site comme airbnb. Ayant reserve son studio pour 4 nuits il y a un mois, j’avais mes doutes quand j’ai vu que les cles devraient etre recuperer d’une boite a code; ensuite quand j'ai recu DEUX PAGES d’exigences de Christophe sur mon comportement dans son apart’ je me suis dit ce mec n’a vraiment aucune idee. Il est trop raide. Par contre, je suis reste la nuit avant dans un studio a Boulogne sur Mer, et l’hote la-bas m’a envoye 4 lignes en m’indiquant ou les cles se trouvaient et en me souhaitant un bon sejour. Christophe ferait bien de noter la difference!
Neanmoins j’ai recu les details de Christophe ou et comment retrouver les cles, mais je suis parti tot vers la France, visiter les amis en route et je n’ai pas recu un message de Christophe, en disant qu’il avait change le lieu ou je devrais recuperer les cles. Alors, évidemment quand je suis alle chercher les cles, le code ne marchait pas, et j’ai gaspille trois heures essayant de contacter Christophe, J’avais fait gaffe de connaitre son numero de portable, mais quand je l’ai compose, c’etait hors service. J’ai du téléphoner a airbnb aux Etats Unis, qui m’a bcp emmerder; il doit y en avoir un contact local pour de tels problemes. Roberto, au siege airbnb etait super, mais lui non plus n’a pas pu rejoindre Christophe. Au bout de trois heures, Christophe a finalement prit contact. Il m’a envoye a l'autre endroit, mais la boite la-bas n’a pas marche non plus. Il m’a téléphoner pour demander ou j’etais et disait qu’il doutait que je fusse au bon endroit!!! C’est inexcusable, Entretemps Roberto avait annule et re-reserve le studio, mais au telephone, encore une fois, Christophe indiquait qu'il ne me croyait pas. J’etais furieux de ce comportement enfantin. Quand Roberto m’a appele tout de suite apres, je lui ai dit que j’en avais marre des niaiseries de Christophe et qu'il annule tout. Je me suis trouve un hotel, a double prix et Roberto m’a rembourse le prix d’une nuit chez Christophe, ainsi que le remboursement de toute la reservation. A mon avis un hote devrait etre disponible quasiment tout le temps, mais surtout a l’heure de check-in, pour eviter de tels problemes!
BREF, EVITEZ A TOUT PRIX CHRISTOPHE!