I have really debated about whether to submit a review because I need to review honestly so my Canadian niceness usually results in me not reviewing a place at all if I was unsatisfied for some reason. But given that I didn’t share the positive experience represented by the other reviews that influenced me to book MiKi’s place, I feel that I need to share my experience.
There were some positives: MiKi always responded quickly; her son was very polite and helpful when showing me to the room; the room was clean and, the building was very cool and truly an authentic Milanese accommodation.
The negatives were the check-in process and the value for money. If it was just the value for money that was the issue, I probably would have opted for the no review option but the check-in process was the most challenging that I have ever experienced at any Airbnb and I have stayed at many. I had contacted MiKi prior to see if I could drop my bags off early at her place. I was very clear that I was not asking for an early check-in, just a bag drop-off so that I could explore Milan without my bags. She refused, saying that neither her or her son one would be home before check-in time to let my bags in. Mmmm — the majority of hosts are not home or, like MiKi, do not live in the home and they use things like lockboxes, combination locks, hidden keys and smartphone apps to let guests into their place. That said, I can respect the fact that MiKi may have a reason to want to be there in person but if this is the case, state it very clearly in your Airbnb description that the check-in time is strict and that it applies to leaving luggage, because this is an unusual policy for Airbnb’s, as well as hotels and B&Bs. Most people arrive in Milan by plane or train so they are subject to the timetables of carriers. Had the no baggage drop-off policy been stated in the Airbnb description, I would not have booked MiKi’s place. Also, when I arrived, I was left to wait on the street until MiKi’s son came to let me in, rather than being buzzed in to wait in the much more welcoming courtyard of the building.
MiKi told me to check my bags at the train station. I waited one full hour in line at Stazione Centrale to check my bags, spent another 30 minutes going back to pick them up later in the day and was charged 12€ for the service, making for an additional resource expenditure for this Airbnb.
This contributed to my second issue — that I did not see this Airbnb as a good value (note that on this particular month-long trip, I stayed at 3 other Airbnb’s, 4 B&Bs, and 2 hotels in Italy and 3 Airbnb’s and an Inn in Scotland so I have a good sample of comparisons). The advertised price looks moderate but the cleaning fee is an additional 50% of the cost, as you will see upon booking. Add to this, 12€ to leave bags at the train station and the loss of 1.5 hours of my limited time in Milan for what was a very basic Airbnb space. It was clean but there were no real amenities to speak of. Unlike the several other Airbnb’s that I stayed at on this trip, it was not set up as a place to hang out for any time at all (i.e., there were no wine glasses, the “mini refrigerator” was in fact, a very small and noisy electric cooler, there was a bag of plastic spoons but no forks, the water receptacle for the Nespresso had never been cleaned so had a build up of water minerals and you really didn’t want to drink an espresso from it).
If you don’t require baggage deposit and you are only looking for a place to sleep and shower, the place is fine — it is clean and in an authentic building that is not too far away from the train station. If you want more from your experience, Airbnb now lists some Airbnb Plus accommodations in Milan at similar costs that are required to provide significant amenities in order to earn the Plus designation.