Didn’t Get the Apartment We’d Booked!
We booked this apartment in the historic district, on a pedestrianised street, 6 months before our arrival. We liked the look of it, as it had some charm. Initial communication with the hosts, Oscar & Maria, was good and prompt.
I double checked our booking, just prior to paying our balance. I was alarmed to find that the apartment now appeared to have been block booked for two months solid, including the three days that we had booked. I made several attempts to contact the hosts by messaging through this site and by text. But they didn’t respond. After 10 days, I contacted Air BNB to intervene. The hosts then immediately contacted me just to say all was ok with the booking. I was still concerned, especially as by digging around, I found out the Maria & Oscar appears not to be the Owners but rather the Agents of the property, which is owned by a larger company called Flatelli - not made clear on the AirBnB entry.
Lo and behold, the day before we flew out I got a message from Oscar & Maria, saying the apartment we’d booked was now not available due to ‘huge damage’ ! Call me cynical but it all seemed too coincidental to me!
The apartment we were moved to was across the river on Placa Catalunya, overlooking a car park and was modern and soulless. We were disappointed. To be fair, the inside was clean and spacious, the beds were good, showers good & plenty of hot water. It wasn’t far from the original apartment booked, just in a different type of street & a different type of building.
I just think that anyone else booking should be aware that you are dealing with a larger company & adjust your expectations accordingly.