We booked this listing for 3 weeks and as with all the bookings we make on Airbnb we chose the accommodation based on the photos and description. Since it was a long stay we wanted a place where we could work, cook, and rest.
We arrived quite late at the accommodation and although we realized something was different when we were checked in on the ground floor and we were supposed to have a view, we decided to rest and check the listing the next day.
What we realized the next day was that the apartment was not the one shown in the listing at all. Instead of having an apartment with a lovely view we got one on the ground floor with a garage view and situated close to a sports bar that was crowded most of the evenings and there was so much noise that we couldn’t sleep without earplugs (the simple glazed window of the bedroom was not properly fixed, letting the noise in, whereas the one from the listing we booked had double glazing).
The kitchen was much smaller and although the host called it « better equipped » we don’t know how that could be possible, the photos show something else.
Finally the bedroom we got was definitely not the one shown in the photo they use as a cover for their listing.
When we asked the host about the differences and why we weren’t checked in the apartment we booked she said this one was better, more equipped and, according to her, more suited for a long stay.
We exchanged a few messages saying that there were big differences between the apartment we booked and the one we were checked in and requested to be moved to the apartment in the listing. Amongst the answers we got from the host was the one where she said « is the view that important to you? ».
After back and forth messages where the host told us that she was checking with the owner, she told us they could not move us to the apartment we booked. No other explanations were given.
After trying to sort out the situation with the host, we contacted Airbnb and asked for their help. They confirmed that the host/owner were not respecting the Airbnb rules and that they would get in touch with them. Crazy enough they got the same answer as us that she couldn’t move us to the apartment in the listing without explaining why. Finally the Airbnb person who was dealing with our case, gave us two options: to cancel the booking and be fully refunded and have a deal with the host/owner where we would have a price reduction. Since we felt tricked and manipulated by the host, we wanted to change the accommodation and move on from the unpleasant situation but since it was the end of the season we couldn’t find appropriate accommodation last minute so we took the discount they offered.
To conclude, we would have appreciated being told that the listing we booked was no longer available and have an offer from the starting point instead of having an accommodation that was definitely a downgrade and be manipulated into thinking that the apartament we got was, and I quote, « wonderful ».
There were a few positive points like the host booking the cab for us to arrive from the airport and two lovely people that we understood were related to the owner and who helped us with the internet connection that was quite unstable. Unfortunately the positive aspects were not enough to balance the situation. Furthermore, the coffee machine we were promised never arrived so we ended up buying one and also we had to request the bedding + towels we were offered with the discount as they were not changed as agreed.
All in all we had a disappointing experience with the host/property and we lost two good days trying to fix the issue and not knowing if we were going to stay there or not.
We don’t recommend the host/property and if you do so, we strongly advise you to get a written confirmation that the apartment you are booking is the one they advertise in the listing.
Having said that Rhodes is beautiful as is the whole of Greece and this disappointing experience will not stain the love we have for this country. Happy & safe travels.