I had a very alarming situation staying at this home that I am still unsettled about. I respect people's livelihood and leaving a negative review is not something I take lightly. However, the incident we experienced was absolutely unacceptable and the nonchalant response by the host was unprofessional.
On our 3rd day (last day before check-out), I was in the shower around 1PM when I heard my elderly mother calling my name out in a feared panic. She was taking a nap in the bedroom and was startled by the noise of someone trying to enter the apartment. I ran out and she told me somebody was trying to get in. I go to the door and someone is trying to open it with a key. To my extreme surprise, it was the employee of the host whom had checked in me and another man I had never seen, whom was a total stranger to me and could have very well been the employee's friend for all I knew. I asked them what they were doing and why they were even there without any knowledge to me, and they claimed they were stopping by to drop off ONE roll of a paper towel and tea bags. This was the reason they needed to not only come unannounced, but try to enter the apartment without my permission. Beyond the fact that this is extremely peculiar and suspicious, nobody contacted us to inform us anyone was going to be coming by for any reason, let alone ask our permission to enter the apartment. In any case, nobody has the right to access the apartment while we are staying in it without our knowledge, consent or permission.
Had I not been there, my mother would have been there sleeping alone as two strange men entered the apartment without any forewarning. I was extremely disturbed and upset by this, and still have serious doubts as to why they came there in the first place. They appeared surprised that we were there and I am not convinced they merely were entering the apartment on their own to drop off a single paper towel and tea bags we did not even ask for. They came in the afternoon when most visitors would be out for the day.
I immediately contacted the host through the app, and notified AirBnb. The host had this same employee have access to the app, so he was reading my complaint message. A few minutes later the employee sent the other stranger whom I'd never seen nor knew who he was to knock on the door. I open it and he's accosting me asking me why I am complaining. I told him to leave immediately and that if he came back there would be a serious issue and police would be called. Again, I have no way of knowing or identifying if this strange person is even associated with the Airbnb host.
I had to waste my time making international phone calls to Airbnb and the hosts response was to merely offer a basic apology and wish me a nice day. It is extremely serious privacy and safety issue that the host's employee tried to enter the apartment without my knowledge or consent where our passports, belongings and possessions are. It is beyond a violation of basic terms and common sense. Again, if my mother was there alone I cannot fathom the fear she would have endured napping while two strange opened the door and entered the apartment.
Completely unprofessional and egregious. This experience is making me want to revert back to Hotels exclusively for the accountability and safety factor.