Avoid like the plague! Misleading advertising! Host Lance was deliberately misleading about the accommodation being ‘pristine’, and about the high noise level. In contrast to Air BnB’s responsiveness, Lance was slow to respond and was particularly unhelpful when we told him that we had decided to leave the place, which gave the impression that it was more suitable for a one-night stand than for the six-day stay we had planned. We left because the one-room accommodation was squalid, cramped, dirty, mouldy and very depressing. The floor was uneven and cracked and had a certain ‘give’ in places. The noise at 11 Clifford Avenue was intolerable as it is situated on a steep slope where passing cars engage high gears to traverse it. Additionally there was raucous laughter, music and singing from neighbours. Host Lance appeared at first to be concerned, but this turned out to be mainly with himself. when we left after seeing the accommodation, which gave the impression that it was more suitable for a one-night stand than for the six-day stay we had planned. We left because the room was squalid, cramped, dirty, mouldy and very depressing. The floor was uneven, cracked and had a certain ‘give’ in places. 11 Clifford Avenue is situated on a steep slope so passing cars engage high gears to traverse it. Additionally there was raucous laughter, music and singing from neighbours. Host Lance appeared to be concerned, though this turned out to be mainly with himself. Finding a restaurant and alternative accommodation in very busy Sea Point on a Friday night, proved really difficult so we were grateful when we finally managed to get the last room at the Bantry Bay Hotel Suites which we finally managed to do at 11.30pm that night. The whole thing was a total nightmare and overall traumatic experience, as a result of which we were exhausted and shaken, lost some of our belongings, and came close to missing important meetings the following day. It was an exhausting, discouraging and very disruptive start to our time in Cape Town. Hosts like this are damaging because they not only cause distress and suffering to their guests, but because they also bring the South African tourism industry into disrepute. There is a longer version of our experience below for those wanting to go into the gory, unpleasant details of it all.
Sea point fiasco v10
1. We had been driving for 6 hours before we got to Lance’s “pristine” Clifford Rd accommodation in Sea Point on Friday evening November 12, at around 18.30 pm. We unpacked all our baggage, which was considerable as we were at the tail end of a quite extensive road trip. What we needed was a quiet space, a comfortable bed and some food and rest. But to our complete dismay when we walked in we found a tiny, squalid room off which was a very small shower and toilet. The ‘kitchen’ was a small section of the very cramped room, however the garbage was placed as you came through the doorway, at the entrance to the room.
2. Both the bedroom and bathroom had mould, rotting floors, dirty skirtings and dirty walls (see photos). The floor mat was scuffed and dirty, and the floor was dirty, cracked and gave way in some places. (See photos of the room).
3. The room was situated about 2 to 3 metres from an extremely noisy road, and had another room above it.
4. Prior to our making our booking I had been in touch with the host, one Lance, regarding noise levels at 11 Clifford Avenue. Here is my correspondence with him before I booked on October 25, 2021:
5. Hi Lance, Can you assure us that this is a quiet place, both from the point of view of neighbours, traffic and street noise?
6. His response: Hi Lauren The apartment and area is generally pretty quiet. We are not located on a main road so noise is not a problem. However we cannot of course give you a 100% guarantee of any noise beyond our control. Warm regards Lance.
7. When we arrived at Clifford Avenue, there was loud music emanating from an apartment directly across the road where a group of people were singing, laughing raucously and talking very loudly. If this wasn’t upsetting enough, even more distressing was the noise from cars on the road (no further than three or four metres away from the glass sliding door to the room) from cars whose drivers had to engage high gear in order to go up or down the very steep, cobbled road. This noise, of which we have recordings, was horrendous. It also demonstrates that Lance’s advertising was not just misleading, it was, in fact, deliberately misleading!
8. I sent this to WhatsApp to Lance: Lauren6:50 PM
“Hi Lance we have contacted Airbnb because of the appalling state of the accommodation which we have documented in photographs. Also because of the traffic noise. We want to leave immediately! This is, amongst other things, misleading advertising which we will be reporting to there Advertising Standards Authority.
Lance6:57 PM
Hi Lauren
I'm shocked and upset by your message
What is the problem with the accommodation?
Please send me the pictures of what the issues are
We prepared everything for you and my manager checked everything
If you do not want to stay at our accommodation, you of course are welcome to leave and are happy to refund you in full
But please do let me know what the problem is ?
Lance
1. Lauren7:16 PM
2. I want you to call me now.
3. I’ve sent the pics to Airbnb. Why don’t you call me?
4. This place is shoddy, noisy, and far from pristine. We have been travelling for hours, we’re old and we want you to sort this out now. Why don’t you call me!
5. My phone is going flat. You need to help us to carry our luggage back to our