where to begin! this was the worst experience I have ever had while using air bnb. I arrived from Desenzano via train to Florence around 14:30 (2:30pm). Prior to my arrival Cinzia sent me a map of the space on how to get to the apartment, however the map is very condensed and not easy to read at all. I texted her to ask for help and she told me to refer to the map. (apparently the address did not work in google maps) I again told her the map was not helpful and thats why I referred to her! She replied " ask someone, everyone knows the place". Now at this point I had been walking around attempting to use this crappy map on my phone, in the blazing heat with my luggage up all the bridges and stairs of Venice!.. I was extremely frustrated. I asked her of their are landmarks to make it easier she replied " type in google maps the St. Maria Formosa" It took me an 1hr and 30min to find the place!! The walk was only supposed to be 7min! After finally finding the entrance you have to walk up more stairs, across a bridge, down some stairs, enter the bldg, up more stairs to the front door then down the stairs into the apartment... open the door and the smell was horrendous. it was a. mix of extreme must and fish. there were also a TON of bugs! I have so many bites in the most uncomfortable of places! I had to check for bed bugs!
Finally getting to settle into this place that was nothing like described or listed, it was very late, since I spent majority of the time tryin to find it, therefore my 2 day itinerary excursions was down to 1 DAY!
I went to take a shower and the hot water does not last. you literally get 5min of hot waster then its ice cold! I asked if there was wifi so I could watch a movie instead. Wifi was very trash. it kept turning on and off. wouldn't connect well and therefore my phone and laptop did not work well. (American service) The next day I had a meeting and then plans to go to do what I had missed out on yesterday.. again the wifi is trash so I was not able to do my meeting or get any calls, texts or messages. I leave the apartment and in some spots my phone usage connected to random wifi because all of a sudden my phone is blowing up with messages from CINZIA about needing documents now! I am fully aware of the law in italy as ive used other air BnBs here and the experiences were sooo much better! everything was done beforehand and properly communicated!
The text messages from Cinzia were extremely disruptive to my already delayed trip.. she kept asking me to come up to her office of the bldg that the apt is in. she then contacted air bnb staff who called and emailed me (again I was getting calls and messages immediately) I sent her pics of my passport and license and she replied "I dont need your license"... I replied "well I sent both". annoyed at her again disrupting my holiday! when the pics went through she replied "I need a new GOOD photo of your passport" ... I had to go all the back to the smelly apartment from St.Marco palazzo to go take a darn new photo for this woman. I sent it and replied ... are you good? can I enjoy my vacation now?!
this morning I checked out and will never return.
BULLET POINTS:
1. TERRIBLE COMMUNICATOR/HOST
2. SMELLY GROSS APT
3. NO HOT WATER
4. CRAP WIFI
5. TERRIBLE HOST
6. BUGS. LOTS OF BUGS.
7. NO MICROWAVE
8. TERRRRRIBBBBBBBLLLLLLEEEEEEE HOSTTTTTTTTT!!!!!