Easily the most bizarre Airbnb experience I have had since I started using the platform back in 2015 because while the apartment was wonderful, the host was the worst host I’ve ever had the misfortune of dealing with.
Again, the actual apartment is in a great location, it was extremely well kept, and was very well equipped. It was also one of the most aesthetically beautiful apartments I have seen. Amazing use of space - solid value for the money from the apartment perspective.
My issue was dealing with the host. While he has a talent for recognizing good design, he probably should be outsourcing the management of the unit to someone else because he lacks the basic communication skills to interface with guests. Here’s how my interaction with him went:
1. Host tells me check-in starts from 3PM and asks if this is ok with me. I respond saying that my flight would be arriving earlier than that and ask if it would be possible to check-in at 1:15. The host replies saying “As I mentioned in my previous e-mail, check-in starts from 3PM and earlier check-in is not possible because it is occupied.” Why would the host even bother asking me if I was ok with with check-in starting from 3PM if he wasn’t willing to allow an earlier check-in? Literally makes no sense. I reply simply saying, “No problem” as I realize it’s not worth questioning someone whose thought process operates as poorly as this.
2. My flight ends up running into some problems: not only does the flight get delayed, but my wife’s suitcase ends up getting damaged. After filing a report for the damage, I message the host at exactly 3:02 saying that we will be leaving from the airport now but won’t have internet, and asking whether there were any particular check-in instructions we should be aware about. Host responds, “What? You’re still at the airport? I’m already here at the apartment. We had said 3PM and it is 3PM.”
3. I reply with literally what he wrote to me, “You said check-in is after 3PM. We never confirmed a time.” Host then starts berating me saying that “it is perfectly understandable that check-in is at 3PM” based upon his earlier message. Again, I realize it’s pointless to debate with him and respond, simply, “Ok. Clearly there is some miscommunication. What do you want me to do now?” I arrive 20 minutes later and Javier meets me to complete the check-in process.
Aside from the fact that nothing was clear at all from what he wrote, imagine berating your guest who is flying over from another country for a flight delay! This is the level of nonsense any potential guest reading this review will have to be prepared to deal with if you consider staying at Javier’s place.
I literally just scanned the other reviews because surely, someone also must have a similar experience as me, and what do I find? Caroline from June 2022 - 3 months before my stay - has an eerily similar story. Amazing. How does Javier, continue to operate this Airbnb thinking that so many of his guests have communication problems, when they are literally all complaining about the same check-in issues. How many more poor experiences does he need to see written here before he starts questioning whether it might be him who has communication issues or maybe it might be time to improve the SOP for the check-in process?