The Unit
- Rooftop Terrace – Huge private space that included a large umbrella, two lounge chairs, wooden dining table(s), and an outdoor grill.
- Kitchen – Working dishwasher, washing machine, fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle, coffee maker (we did not use), espresso maker (Delta brand), microwave.
- Kitchen Supplies – The host encouraged us to use existing supplies (salt, oils, etc.).
- Internet – Worked very well throughout the whole unit including the rooftop, but could not locate the Pocket WiFi.
- Pool – We did not use the pool during our stay. There was some construction happening around the perimeter the day we arrived with the smaller pool emptied and not functioning.
- Beach Supplies – The host provided a variety of beach supplies including an umbrella and a few games.
The Neighbourhood
- Walk to the beach within 5-7 minutes.
- Walk to town within 10 minutes, notable restaurants include MAX Burger for healthy snacks (cash only) and Barba Negra for affordable petiscos, Bar Dali for tasty caracois and beers near the beach.
- Several grocery stores (Mini Preco, O Meu Super, etc.) within 10-15 minutes.
- Uber – we were able to leave the community via Uber (it took about 20 minutes to arrive)
Our Issues with this Listing
- Construction – There is a house being rebuilt across the street (right outside the primary bedroom window) and construction began around 7:50 am each morning, the host was aware of this construction. We could hear the construction throughout the house and on the rooftop space. If we had been aware of the construction, we would have 100% opted for another listing.
- Musty Smells – We attempted to reduce the smell by opening all the windows and doors but unfortunately that did not make any difference. Bed and bathroom linens did not smell clean, and some sheets had stains. Two of the three couches also had multiple, obvious stains.
- Pocket WiFi – Since we’re visiting the country with limited data, we typically opt to use the Pocket WiFi for day trips or beach excursions. The host did not provide one or indicate where we could find it.
- Rooftop Grill – Unfortunately, this was not cleaned prior to our arrival and included bird feces on the grill pieces and appeared as though a bird had been nesting within at some point.
- Second-Floor Shower – Two days into our stay the host messaged us regarding the second-floor shower and told us to avoid using it due to leaks over the smaller second bedroom (which we were now sleeping in to avoid some of the construction noise).
- Oven – The breaker shut off each time we used the oven, so we opted for the stovetop.
- Dishware – There was a variety of plates and cups to choose from, but we found most of them required rewashing prior to use or were damaged (cracks, chips, etc.).
- Antiques – The apartment included a lot of unique pieces including older antiques and furniture which we found quite charming at first but soon after arriving we felt very overwhelmed as if we could accidentally damage something if we adjusted items to accommodate our personal belongings.
In summary...
Overall, we did not have a very positive experience when expressing our issues with the host. When we reached out regarding the construction, the host dismissed our concerns and ensured us we were not experiencing what we were in fact hearing. We expressed that as a courtesy to guests, she should let them know of large construction projects happening so close to the unit. She also referenced her own personal experience dealing with ongoing construction while staying at a five-star hotel during a work trip… this felt insensitive and condescending especially since we are paying, and this is a vacation. The host offered to speak via phone during our ongoing conversations regarding the issues listed above, but we opted to keep all conversations within the Airbnb app.
We decided to leave the apartment halfway through our stay, we were not happy, and we did not “find peace” as the host often encouraged us. The host frequently referenced the positive experiences of past guests versus taking ownership and addressing the issues that we were facing during our stay. As we expressed to the host, each stay with Airbnb is subjective but there is a clear difference between fresh linens and clean/working amenities.
After providing very detailed messages with our concerns, we expressed that we were disappointed in the experience. The host then informed us she was disappointed with us, reiterating that she’s never had issues with previous guests and that she has spent more time dealing with our issues than other guests.
During initial conversations when we decided to check out early, we requested the host provided us a small refund for the inconvenience and the host agreed two separate times in the chat to send a refund. We’ve waited almost two weeks since our scheduled check-out date, delaying the posting of this review, to give the host the benefit of the doubt to refund us and still have not received any compensation.
To those interested in staying at this unit, please consider our experience and perspective as very positively rated Airbnb users since 2016. We hope that the host will learn from this experience to ensure that all future guests enjoy their stay in the beautiful Santa Cruz.