When deciding where to stay on AirBnB, previous reviews weigh heavily on my decision. They did so again and was I ever stunned and sorry! Communication with Federica was good until the rental was paid for, then I got complete silence, refusal to answer emails, especially those sent through AirBnB, and the only way to communicate was through WhatsApp. From having a strange check in at midnight due to late flights, the concierge arrived sometime later to let us into the apartment, but only after putting up a 200 Euro deposit on my credit card and having to sin two contracts. These were legal contracts, both different from each other, and one in English and the other in Italian. I had to sign a document in a foreign language that was legally binding with no prior knowledge of it and no way to get a translated copy.
To add insult to injury, the WiFi passwords provided only worked on one device the entire week we were there, causing us to have to purchase local SIM cards for 40 Euros each. No mention of getting a refund has been made by the host yet.
The kitchen is advertised as able to cook in. THe dishes, glassware, cookware, and utensils are basic at best and truly an odd assortment of leftover items or purchased at the jumble sale. There were no cleaning supplies or ways to clean the kitchen (cloths, paper towels, sponges, soap, etc.). All of these things had to be purchased.
The electricity in the unit shut off several times for no apparent reason. It took several attempts to reach Federica on the phone (WhatsApp only) before I finally got a text from her telling me where the breaker box is and how to reset them, along with a lecture not to run everything at once. We had left with the dishwasher running and no lights on. At least the second time this happened, I knew what to do and did not have to wait in the dark and cold for an absentee landlord to respond.
Finally, when I was able to (rarely) talk to Federica on the phone, there was always a terrible ruckus in the background. Children yelling and crying as if she ran a day-care center during the day and evening hours. Given her poor skills with English and my worse skills with Italian, and the children screaming and crying, it made communication difficult to say the least.
Sadly, for what we paid, there were hotel is better parts of town and with much nicer amenities for less money. Caveat emptor