I consider myself a seasoned traveler and I am quite familiar with Airbnb as it has been one of my first choice option while traveling in the US and abroad. I have left numerous reviews and most of the time they are very positive because the hosts are playing by the rules. This is not the case here.
The first upsetting part was the moment I arrived in the building and realized it was a three floors walk up situation which is more like four floors if you take into account the steps that lead to the first set of stairs. Luckily I didn’t have a big suitcase so I managed to carry what I brought all the way up. However, if an older person rented this apartment, there is no way that they would be able to get to that floor without being exhausted, and having to stop numerous times before reaching the floor. The fact that this was never mentioned in the description is absolutely unacceptable and deceptive.
Once I entered the place, the smell that attacked my olfactive senses was awful. I looked all over the place to figure out where it came from, and I could not identify it except knowing that it was from the kitchen. It literally smelled like crushed bugs. Really gross.
The bedroom was fine, pretty clean and the bed was comfortable. That would be the only positive of this apartment. The living room was OK, as long as you take away the pubic hair or whatever hair extension that was on the floor behind the lamp by the couch. I took a picture of it and of course did not come close to it to identify what it was, but any normal housekeeper should have removed this. The fact that I paid for housekeeping service made me I feel pretty upset as I left the place probably as “clean” and tidy as I found it, however I certainly didn’t find it clean enough. And about that, a washing machine was in the bathroom with the front load glass so filthy that I can’t understand how this has been accepted by prior guests. Maybe they didn’t even look at it as most people don’t stay long enough to need to wash their clothes. I also took a picture of it in case anybody would ask. The bathtub was so high, that anyone over the age of 55 would have a hard time getting in or out without taking a risk of falling. This should have been described, or should have been planned by the owner of the apartment who should have added a system to get in and out without risking a bad accident. The water pressure was fine, however I was left with an empty bottle of shampoo probably from previous guests, that whoever cleaned the apartment did not bother to remove. There was no soap except for a hand soap by the sink. The hair dryer was the crappiest hairdryer I have ever received at any Airbnb I went to. It even smelled like burnt hair while using it. The light in the bathroom was close to nonexistent which is not what you would expect for a rental over $140 a night.
The communication with the company in charge of the apartment was very unpleasant, even though I’ve personally never responded to their messages. The tone used in every single one of their emails was bossy, and felt like I was dealing with people from the police. Terms like “be warned” or “be aware” with threatening consequences if things didn’t go the way they wanted Left me with a very unsettling feeling which is why I never bothered to email back. This is not at all and through Airbnb experience where you deal directly with the owner of the apartment and you get a warm and friendly interaction before and during your stay.
The check in/check out process was easy and the location was a bit outside of the center but conveniently located by all the trams and buses needed to quickly reach the main areas of Geneva.
Needless to say that I will never go back there , and do not recommend that place to anybody.