The experience was okay, but I didn’t feel it was a great value for the money at $400 a night. I know the rates change, so you may be able to get a better deal, but if you’re paying $400 or above, you can probably get a better bang for your buck somewhere else.
Things that worked:
-Excellent location
-Quick communication via Airbnb and other messaging platforms
-Spacious unit and nice balcony (though the balcony doesn’t have a nice view)
-Looks to be recently renovated (though expect Ikea-type furniture and decor)
Things that didn’t work:
-They charge a late check-in fee. I knew this going in because I had read the description, so the fee wasn’t a surprise, but it was still a disappointing experience and does not make it any better. I might understand it for something like a 1AM arrival, but they begin charging a late check in fee starting around 7PM, which is not even that late. In my case, we were charged €35 for a 9PM arrival, for which I had notified them with multiple days in advance, so it wasn’t a last minute request and they could have had plenty of time to plan for it. Other cultures may feel different about this fee, but to me it felt unreasonable and unnecessary. I understand checking in a guest takes effort, but if you are listing a unit to make money you should expect to put in some work, including checking in guests upon arrival.
-Our host was late to check us in. To be fair, he was very sweet, kind and pleasant, and was only a few minutes late, but after traveling for nearly 24 hours the last thing you want is to have to wait for your host to let you into your unit. I’m generally flexible, but in this case the lateness was made even worse by the fact we were already paying an extra €35 to be checked in “after hours”. If they are charging extra for letting you in to a unit for which you are already paying to access, I would at least expect them to be a few minutes early waiting for you.
-They collect money outside of the Airbnb platform. I realize this is an increasingly common practice amongst hosts, but it still feels questionable and is technically against Airbnb policy.
-The bed was just the sheets. There were some thin blankets on the closet that we were able to use. It’s not terrible, but again for $400 a night I expect a higher level of comfort.
For comparison, I was paying $500/night for a 5-star hotel in Rome with a la carte breakfast included, plush accommodations, and a balcony with a nice view. Considering the level of quality, service, and comfort this unit offers, this feels more like a $300-350/night accommodation. Anything above that doesn’t feel like a great value. This unit does come with a kitchen (whereas most hotels do not), and you might find it adds to the value if you have that need, but for a traveler like me it does not.
I write this review with the hope of helping other guests make informed decisions about where they stay, and to help the host understand how they can provide a better experience and better value to their guests.
Thank you for hosting us.