Sorry for the long review, I just thought I owned it to future guests.
I paid for this 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment for 2 nights and I checked out after 1 day.
Giancarlo let me in and gave the tour. He told me the 2nd bedroom wasn’t ready since I wasn’t going to be using it and not to use the 2nd bathroom for similar reasons. It was disappointing that 1 bedroom/1 bathroom were unavailable even though I paid for the whole apartment. Ok, not the end of the world since I would only be sleeping in the master bedroom with the en suite bathroom anyways. I had my Italian lawyer with me since we were headed to a meeting, and he translated anything I didn’t understand. I quickly put my things down and left for the meeting.
I returned 3 hours later trying to use the shower, but there was no hot water in the apartment and the master bathroom was dirty. There were large dark yellowish stains around the bidet, it honestly looked like someone had urinated and missed the toilet. Similar stains were around the trash bin. I tried the hot water on all the sinks and both showers. I contacted Alessandra & Paolo. Paolo messaged a little over 10 mins later to tell me that Alessandra was at work and that he’ll come to check the water heater. I asked if it was something I could check myself since I’m already in the apartment and I am in a hurry. Again, I’m in Rome for just less than 2 days so I’m not in the position to waste time. He told me to be patient and they would resolve it. I also needed to be present when he comes to check the water heater so not only can’t I shower, I also can’t leave to try and see the city until they come and fix it. Paolo came to check the water heater right before 7PM. He was able to get it to work.
It was at this time that I showed Paolo how dirty the master bathroom was, and that the toilet was leaking. There were large yellowish/puddle shape stains around the bidet. I put a towel over the leaking, and it was soaked. Paolo was nice and apologized. He closed the door and told me to just use the other bathroom by the entrance. I told him that Giancarlo told me that it wasn’t ready/unavailable. Paolo didn’t know what Giancarlo was referring to, so he checked it out himself. The lights worked, the sink worked, and shower had low water pressure, but it worked. I said OK, at this point I just needed to shower and try to salvage my evening.
Early the next morning while trying to make an espresso the electricity turned off. I checked for panels/switches in the apartment and messaged Alessandra. She told me that panel is on the bottom floor near the building entrance. She also advised that I make sure the AC is turned off. I told her that it’s not even 8AM and I don’t have the AC on when it’s already a cold morning. I had the bedroom light on and kitchen light on while I was making an espresso. Not the end of the world, electricity blows out sometimes, I get dressed and head downstairs to switch the power back on. It worked. I go back to my day and again start making an espresso. A few seconds later the power went out. I go downstairs and switch it back on. Back in the apartment I’m on repeat, getting things laid out for the day, go back to the kitchen for the espresso. As I’m making an espresso the power goes out again. I messaged Alessandra again. She apologized and advised this hasn’t happened before. I told her that the 3 times the power went out I was trying to make an espresso, so I’m going to assume the espresso machine is causing it. I won’t use the machine.
At this point I’m extremely fed up. I PAID for a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment. What I got was a master bathroom that was out of order (leaking/dirty), a second bedroom that wasn’t available, no hot water for at least 5 hours (7PM) until after my 2PM check in time, and electricity that went out 3 times possibly because of the espresso machine. This all happened in less than 24 hours. I was done, I packed my bag, cleaned what I touched, paid to move up my train ticket, and I checked out a whole day early. I messaged Alessandra that I checked out. I messaged Airbnb as soon as I got home and thankfully, they were able to assist.
I think hosts forget that guests are paying customers. We are paying just as we would at a hotel or for another service. If something critical in the apartment has issues (hot water/electricity) that is a huge problem. Especially when guests are there for a short/limited period. I paid for a clean 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment and I barely got half of that.