We stayed for 28 nights, and I would describe it as a stay of two halves. Check-in was very smooth, and the host was flexible regarding timings on check-in and check-out. The house was as expected and as per the pictures. Some signs of tiring in areas, but nice, clean, and presentable. Our first two weeks were stressful caused by construction, pool temperature and constant back and forth with the host, rather than a relaxing stay. Our second two weeks were much better with issues resolved and the construction at a quitter stage. Post our stay we have had erroneous claims damage.

We checked in midday Saturday and come Monday morning 0800 we awoke to heavy construction at the property
opposite and directly in the eye line of our balcony. Jack hammering, hammer and chisel, 10-12 work men going about a renovation. The noise level was very loud, and we raised the issue. The host communicated with the owner and tried to agree that when our baby went for her nap that the noise would be controlled. This naturally didn’t happen, and the noise was very unpleasant, and we felt very let-down that this was not communicated to us. The host maintains that the justification for not notifying was that no one else had complained before. For me that is not the benchmark of whether or not you should make you guest aware. We asked Airbnb to support us as we wanted to move out, however as construction was not within the hosts control, this was not possible without us losing all our booking. The host was polite and quick to communicate, however it is fair to say our relationship was strained by this unpleasant realisation. Our dream of a tranquil stay in a remote beach location of Cape Town was shattered and it impacted our youngest daughter (baby).

Our next challenge was regarding the pool temperature. Again, we sort the support of Airbnb and this time we were supported, however, to leave now was not such a tenable option for us as other properties had been taken. The host however did react quickly, and the fault was rectified. This again caused a further strain in our ‘relationship’ and during the deliberation with Airbnb I was very disappointed to see the host be dishonest about the fact that we had reported the pool issue. It became clear to me that the host was very much about business and a peasant stay came a close second. We had a further issue with the live in housekeeper. When discussing the pool situation, the conversation became heated with neither myself nor him willing to backdown. On returning to the house my wife and children could hear the housekeeper and his partner arguing. My wife had fears that he would seek retaliation in the night as he had keys to the property. The host up until this point had been very quick to respond, however when notified of this situation she did not support us at all and it took over a day to get a response. I reported the argument and my wife’s concern. I kept the host updated. I attempted to call the host and requested multiple times that she call me back. A day later the response was that she had a school evening engagement and was now on the way to church. Now having read Airbnb’s T&Cs in detail, we should have called Airbnb. Whilst the issue ended benign, it did not start that way and we were left stranded by the host and my wife every concerned for our safety given the house keep had access.

Safety – Not being from RSA, my wife certainly had some safety apprehensions. Two of the windows and one patio door do not lock easily and one of the windows will not lock at all. I understand this will be rectified soon, however was not during our stay. We had some homeless people knock on the gate from time to time. We accidently triggered the alarm / panic button during the stay and the response team came within a few minutes, which was encouraging.

I would warn that if an issue does arise that you capture all correspondence to protect yourself as whilst the host is very pleasant and I do believe a nice person, she does have a business agenda and showed this during our stay. Since checking out, we have been charged for erroneous damages to the property and Airbnb are still looking into that. Again. I warn cation here with this host. I would like to thank the host for being helpful when asked on day to day questions and to have been very helpful in communicating power cut timings, which on average happen for 2 hours per day, sometimes more.

Overall, the listing is accurate and without the construction I’m sure anyone else would have a nice stay. I would say that certain areas would benefit from some modernisation. Given our personal experience, we would not stay again not with this host