During this stay I was left mostly on my own. In all honesty unfortunately I did not feel welcomed or wanted or that there were any concerns about my needs as a traveler staying in someone’s home as a paying guest. I never met Silvia and when I needed her and called and message many times I did not hear back from her for four hours which was too late. Her mother was there instead but was very quiet and really living her own life as if I wasn’t really there. I’m used to Airbnb hosts being very welcoming and warm, offering me water, helping me with transportation questions and being present to help me with things I need in their home. They usually offer me a snack or a little breakfast or something. So I was surprised at the neglect really I just felt like I was money for them and nothing else.
Here there were several problems. Such as the door was locked and I could not get out to the work training I had come to Rome for so I had to jump out the window, and second the shower turned freezing cold within five minutes of my morning shower. Details below.
This is a large older condo with many little corners and rooms. I was not sure of how the front door worked or given any knowledge about the front door when I arrived. The next morning I had to leave for a work meeting and I could not get out of the house. The host’s mother had gone and she didn’t tell me she was leaving or ask me if I needed anything. I messaged Sylvia and called her many many times and she never responded. The only recourse I had was to jump out my bedroom window which was dangerous with a small ledge and a lot of stairs way down. Finally after four hours Sylvia responded but I was in my training so I could not take the call.
On my lunch break I went back because I was concerned with the window open that my things could be stolen. I did not also safe or well cared for at this place. When I arrived Sylvia‘s mother was there and told me to go back through the window in my bedroom to let her in because I had accidentally locked the front door from the inside. I had no idea how their door worked and could not get out.
I told her I would not climb back into the window it was extremely dangerous and really not my appropriate. She seem disappointing that I would not do this. I was quite shocked at the complete lack of concern for my safety and well-being and the appropriateness of behavior towards a guest.
So my lunch break was impeded with a lot of stress and so was my weekend of training. I could not focus on the training and I was constantly worried about what was happening to my things.
The only thing Sylvia messaged me since I never met her, said to me was that I should not lock the door from the inside. Her mother said the same thing. Neither she nor her mother said oh my goodness are you OK we’re so sorry we should’ve showed you how the door worked, there was no concern at all for me or responsibility taken by them.
As I mentioned initially the shower turned icy cold five minutes into it as I was washing my hair. They have a sign in the bathroom that says only three warm showers can be taken in the morning so if you’d like to take a warm shower you have to space your showers out between the morning in the afternoon. However I was the only one there and the only person taking a shower in the morning so I was confused at why I was taking an icy cold shower.
I was only there two nights, and the night before I was leaving iMessage Sylvia that I would leave at 9 AM the following morning. As I went to leave I looked for her mother to ask her where to leave the keys and her mother was surprised and told me she thought I was leaving the next day. So she didn’t even know when I was leaving. This was just so neglectful to me.
I really feel I should have a refund and this was not a place I should have given my money to. Of course a guest should be entitled to the presence of the host and safety and help and a warm welcome as well as a warm shower. Otherwise what are we paying for? This would never happen in a professional B&B or a hotel or they certainly would make up for it and offer a refund. Unfortunately Airbnb does not protect its guests.