I booked the apartment on air b&b for a group of 16 of us for my sister’s hen party. Despite booking the apartment, I was unable to travel to Madrid myself due to covid.
The group who did travel informed me that the apartment was in an excellent location, exceptionally clean and ideal for a large group such as ours. The apartment is in an ideal location for shopping, bars, restaurants and activities and is very easily accessed from the airport. As a group, we could not fault the apartment, it’s condition or it’s location.
However, I do have a few negative comments regarding Flavia and her team.
Prior to arrival, when I was messaging Flavia re arrival times etc, I was told ‘please remember that parties and loud noises are not allowed inside the flat. WE ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IRISH PEOPLE so please behave your group’. I felt this was an exceptionally rude way to talk to any future guest, and also very rude to presume that all Irish people will cause problems. I found it very disappointing.
Upon arrival in Madrid, a friend in the group was looking after the check in process for the group as I was unable to travel myself. Flavia had informed me that a lady called Ramona was in charge of checkin and to contact her directly. When my friend contacted Ramona, she was told that she would not be given keys to the apartment unless a €200 cash deposit was given to Ramona there and then. NOTHING ABOUT
THIS WAS MENTIONED IN OUR BOOKING CONDITIONS. Given that 16 people were already in Madrid at that stage requiring accommodation, we had no choice but to give her the €200 cash. If deposits such as this are going to be required, it should be specified in the booking conditions so that travellers are aware of same at the time of booking. It is not fair to tell someone 10 minutes before they check in that in order to get keys they need to bring €200 cash with them!
I believe a couple of people in our group caused some damage to sheets / mattress in one of the bedrooms and to the toilet in one of rooms and as such, we were not refunded our €200 deposit. To be very clear, I have no issue with not being refunded the deposit if damage was caused, my issue is with the lack of transparency regarding the deposit in the booking conditions.
Very poor communication, very poor manners from the host in all dealings, and despite the apartment being exceptional, I could not recommend it to anyone based on the host.