This has been the most stressful and rude AirBnB host that I've worked with. She might also be racist quite frankly and I'd recommend if you are Asian or black to stay away and find somewhere else to stay.
The initial booking was easy and straightforward. Morena was also initially very pleasant and easy to talk to. The red flags began after I checked in and at that point I probably should have contacted AirBnB and let them resolve the situation. However I was hot and sweaty from travel, and the access to a washer and dryer was too tempting. Here is the blow by blow that I can happily back up with screenshots of our conversation:
Morena allowed me to check in early because she said she would be at the apartment cleaning. I told her I really just needed to drop off luggage and could return when she was done, but she told me she finished early so I could head over. When I arrived at her apartment she asked if I would be okay finishing the last load of drying for her and fold her towels and sheets. Odd, but she was letting me in early so I agreed.
I then sent her a follow up text asking if she had nose tissues because I have allergies, and I had found the toilet paper and napkins. She told me I would need to buy nose tissues from the store if toilet paper and napkins weren't enough. No problem, I replied, because it is an odd request.
I also asked her if she had any laundry detergent as her listing shows she has a washer, dryer, and soap (all listed on her listing). She replied that she had used all the detergent on the last load of laundry and I would also need to go buy that. I told her the soap, unlike the tissues, are listed as supplied, and was there anything else I should pick up while at the store?
Apparently this set her off because her reply was a long paragraph about how I was abusing her hospitality and she found me very offensive... She also randomly told me that I should have supplied her with a profile photo (implying she would have refused me if she had seen me?) Note: I'm a clean cut, 36 year old Asian American, so not sure why she needs a profile photo, nor why she would say I needed one only after taking my booking and meeting me. (She never asked for a profile photo before this moment.)
At this point I tell her that I've already bought the soap, and that I am as equally offended as she is. I tell her I've taken care of the issue and we don't need to further this argument. However, Morena continues to harass me through AirBnB messenger, now beginning to flex her super host status: "No no we are not equal. I am a super host with good reviews and you are just an ungrateful guest."
What? I tell her I'm also well reviewed and I now prefer to end this conversation as it is harassment. Her listing said she provided detergent so why is she offended that I asked for it and was surprised that I needed to buy it?
She initially never responded so I was hoping that was the end of it, but a few hours later, she starts sending me screen shots of her own listing where she says she only provides initial amounts of items. I shoot her back the screenshots of her own listing, that lists soap under washer and dryer items and tell her that there's really no need to try to prove herself right, or whatever is going on here. I also told her anymore messages would be forwarded to AirBnB for harassment.
Hopefully Fabrizio or someone told her to stop, because this finally ended our message exchange. When I checked out this morning I was extremely paranoid that she would try to tack on additional charges or accuse me of breaking something so I videotaped and photographed the entire apartment like you would with a rental car.
Morena is a little bit crazy and very unwelcoming as a host. The location itself is beautiful and the apartment is well appointed, but this is by far the weirdest "super host" I've ever experienced. The profile picture comment also still makes me feel slandered against and frankly, I think Covid has made Morena racist against Asians or maybe she has always felt this way. All other reviews I've received have always told me I cleaned the AirBnB well and was an excellent guest. All super hosts I've stayed with previously have always supplied the listed items without problem.
If you're white, then you'll probably have a wonderful time, given all of her great reviews she is proud of. If you're a minority of any color, stay the heck away and go elsewhere.