When an airbnb host runs their property via a company, I expect professional service. After my international flight, 3 hours getting through customs, and then getting my hire car, I checked my email to find out what the checkin requirements were, as they hadn’t yet been provided. At this point I am in the car, ready to go. In my inbox was an email saying that we can't check you in because we don't have your ID on file and you have not agreed to our house rules. No real issue with this except that I had contacted the host 2 days earlier to ask about checkin details, because I wanted to avoid any last minute issues. The response I received was along the lines of 'we will email you details on the morning of your checkin'. It would have been nice to know at this point, before I had even packed my bags, that there where outstanding items that needed to be dealt with.
So I ended up on the ground in New Zealand, sitting in my hire car, and I need to provide ID, despite Airbnb already having a copy. Email is not a secure medium so the only option to provide ID was via airbnb chat. Disappointing that my ID document cannot be deleted from the airbnb chat, despite contacting Airbnb directly about this issue after my stay. At this point Airbnb is unable to delete this document.
Onsite parking was $45 per night extra. It would be nice to know at the time of booking that the parking space is only suitable for a smaller car. If I was driving anything bigger than a Corolla, I would have been in trouble. The parking instructions are totally inaccurate. If we didn't have the spot number we would not have found the designated parking spot.
My wife and I checked in and were disappointed to find that we only had 1 metal fork and 1 large dinner plate to share between us. We did manage, because we love each other and we don't mind sharing, but we shouldn’t have to.
Similarly the property's description as 'Quiet' is also misleading. It may be quiet on most days of the week, but it certainly wasn't quiet on the Saturday night we stayed there. The music from outside stopped at around 3am. Normally I wouldn’t have an issue with this as the location is central and right on the water, and to some extend noise is expected, but I take umbrance at the listing heading referring to the unit as quiet - when it is not.
The internet router had been reset so the login instructions did not work - so we just used the default login on the bottom of the router. Similarly the safe in the cupboard did not work - probably a flat battery, but I'm not a locksmith!
If the shower received a spray with some kind of mould remover, the grout will look schmick again.