Me and my boyfriend didn't travel to Madrid the weekend of 12-15 because of Covid-19. Before we took off, the Belgian government advised not to travel to Madrid because of health risks. ( https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/99882/belgium-advises-against-non-essential-travel-to-spain/ ). We cancelled our trip, because the prime minister of Madrid already announced the probability of a lockdown. We cancelled because the people we know in Madrid warned and asked us: "Please, don't fly over!". We cancelled because we have a sense of responsibility, for ourselves but also for our environment: our parents, our grandparents, our colleagues, our friends, our neighbours, and yes the people of Madrid. And as predicted, during the weekend when we should have been in Madrid, all bars, restaurants and transports started to close down. By the end of the weekend a total lockdown was called upon. Now, two weeks after we cancelled, the situation is horrible.
And contact with Emilie on a possible solution on a refund goes very difficult. In the beginning, when we asked about the situation in Madrid she told us ‘everything is normal’, when politicians, scientists, and television clearly gave another message. When I kindly asked if it was possible to be refunded, considering the special situation, she answers that she has to see with the assistance because for her Spain was ‘not a risk country’. After this, she stops responding. One week later, she does answer my boyfriend. But very slowly, and not showing any initiative to look for a shared solution. Moreover, she ignores the mediator of Airbnb.
She promised (again) to look into it and propose a solution this evening. But again, we didn’t hear anything. Therefore now our rating. Of course we understand that it’s a difficult situation for all, and that we are all losing. Probably Emilie counted on some money. But also me and my boyfriend, working both part-time in Arts and Migration and facing technical unemployment, face (financial) difficulties. Covid-19 hits everyone. Myself I have been a host aswell for some occasions. I refunded guests that weren’t able to come, even just when they made a ‘double-booking’. Because the concept of Airbnb is not to make a business. But also share places and experiences. I give her a negative comment not because of the lost money, but because it’s a pity how certain values apparently can’t be shared anymore.