TERRIBLE HOSTS AND EXPERIENCE RESULTING IN REFUND FROM AIRBNB - AVOID!
Apartment: Was clean and in a good location. Big comfortable bed and good shower. Unfortunately, the walls are paper thin so you could hear the neighbours' conversations and the parties they kindly threw until 3 am.
Hosts and experience: Tried to charge a late check-in fee of €50 because we were checking in at 7:30 pm. It doesn't say €50 anywhere at booking. I have since seen other guests have reported this. I screenshotted every page for the rude person I was dealing with to show that it does not show an amount. Anyway, this is only the start of the problem.
I notified the host to say we were delayed and expected around 9 pm. They said it's fine and asked for the flight number and to call when we arrived.
We were further delayed and arrived just after 10 pm and I called straight away and that we would be at the apartment in 45 mins. A rude person answered with a 'yea? Call when you're outside'. We called when we were outside and were told someone would be there in 15 mins (not sure why they couldn't send someone as I said we were on our way and would be 45mins). Sometime later, no one had turned up. I called again and he said they would text me the code to get in the grounds and someone would be there with the key soon...No text. I called back and was told they were on their way. We called back and was told another 15 min. Over an hour had passed at this point!! Still, no one showed up at it was past midnight on a dark street in Paris. I rang back multiple times and the phone went to answerphone!
We had to check into a hotel as it was past midnight and no way to get hold of the host. When I messaged to say this is what we're doing and that we would notify Airbnb, I received a very rude message to say that someone had been waiting at the apartment from 9-10:30 but we hadn't shown up. This is rubbish. The host asked for my flight number so they could check arrivals AND told me to call so there was no way they would have sent someone to wait around for an estimated time. PLUS, there was no mention of this when I rang AND the host has been unable to provide any record of calls to my phone between those times.
When we were finally checked in the following day, the person was pleasant enough but pretty much pointed out the rooms and that was it.
I emailed to ask for check out instructions - no reply!
This has been the worse Airbnb experience we have ever encountered but thankfully after submitting my call logs and messages exchanges, Airbnb has refunded us for our first night and guess what? They refused to answer all their messages. The apartment does in no way justify how they treat their guests. It is let by a third party so I would be wary of all their rentals.
I expect a nasty response from the host highlighting we were the problem so feel free to check out all the other reviews I have given and received from hosts to show that I don't usually complain or have high expectations, or am a bad guest. This was genuinely a terrible experience and way to run a business.