Pros: Location. Safe and lively neighborhood, walkable to everything in Florence.
Cons:
1. Safety. The host, Michela, entered the apartment without my permission with a handyman for a repair when I was not present. She unnecessarily went into the second bedroom (the repair was not in that room) where my daughters slept and took two of the provided blankets that my daughters left on the floor while building a fort. She also took photos of their bedroom while she was in there without my permission. When I asked about the blankets upon my return to the apartment she told me she removed them because it was unsanitary to have them on the floor. She never returned them, even though I asked.
- I had to ask for a lot of things that should have already been provided for - like a properly working iron and drying rack, trash bags, paper towels. Michela promptly provided these for me, but it was an inconvenience and slightly annoying for me to ask.
- I felt there was a lack of generosity. My stay was quite long, 7 weeks total. Most airbnbs I book provide a little welcome gift - chocolates or wine, etc. There was nothing here though. No coffee, no olive oil, no hand soap in the kitchen, no laundry soap, hardly any toiletries, just one roll of toilet paper, just one dish towel. I ended up buying all these things myself. I was not given any sort of long stay discount until I asked for it, and then it was only $300 which is only 3.8% discount off the total.
- Cleanliness was a real issue too. The couch slip cover, throw pillows in the living room, bed covers, and ironing board cover were all absolutely filthy and looked they hadn't been washed in a long time. I washed them all myself within a few days of arrival.
- The overall appearance of the apartment was dingy. The walls need to be repainted because there are nicks and scuffs everywhere. The two clocks on the walls no longer work either. I asked for new batteries for them but Michela said no, they just don't work. The dining table, rugs, living room furniture have seen all seen better days.
- Internet. The modem is in one of the bedrooms and really that's the only place the internet works well, even though there is an extender. I was in Florence studying for a masters in architecture and definitely needed the internet, but could only use it while sitting in my bedroom.
-AC. Worked well when it stayed on, but it would randomly turn off several times throughout the day and night.
-Beds. The beds bow in the middle. I think it's just cheap Ikea construction. My bed supports eventually just gave out. Even though a handyman came to repair the bed, it still had the same issue. So every time I rolled into the middle of the bed the bed would sag. Eventually the bed just made a U shape in the middle.
- Communication. Michela, was usually very prompt to respond. However, when I told her the moka pot was broken she accused me of mishandling it. I told her the handle was loose upon my arrival and not my fault. To me it showed (like with the iron and the cleanliness issues I mentioned) a lack of attention to the apartment. When I told her it made me uncomfortable that she entered the apartment while I was not present with a stranger for the repair she "yelled" at me in all caps over the airbnb messaging platform that she "DIDN'T TOUCH ANY OF MY THINGS." I reminded her that I did not accuse her of that and that it just made me uncomfortable. She continued to type in all caps at me. From that point on I only messaged her when absolutely necessary because that type of communication is unprofessional and terrible customer service.