This apartment is tiny and has a few characters that make it unsuitable. I had to move out after one night and wasted 24 hours of my life that I will never get back. Do not book this apartment.
The main problems include:
- There is a strong, lasting sewage smell that poses a danger to health.
- The bed is only 160 cm and enclosed by walls on three sides, making it impossible to sleep as your feet will be blocked by the wall. The bed is suitable only for one child.
- There is no platform or storage space in the apartment to put any clothes or personal items. The small shelving space on the wall cannot be used as it is permanently occupied by decoration.
- The apartment is much smaller than it appears in the advertisement. Wide angle lens was used to create a false spatial impression.
- The apartment was not clean with much hair on the floor, and mould in the bathroom shelves and curtain.
- Despite the lack of cleanliness, the host issued a three-page notice demanding highest hygiene standards from the guest.
- The wi-fi is a 4G hotspot that was weak and not fast enough for video calls.
- Entry to apartment is a combination of sensor key and pin code on the door. I went outside for a minute, bringing the key but forgetting the pin code. I could not contact the hosts for 30 minutes. When I sought assistance from the security guard, he shouted angrily and verbally abused me and was reluctant to help contact the hosts. He said he does not have a contractual relationship with Airbnb guests and would refuse to help in the future.
- I was also verbally abused and defamed by a neighbour who did not like Airbnb guests in his building. He lives on the 9th floor.
- As a consequence of the security guard and neighbour’s hostility to Airbnb guests, I felt unsafe.
I decided to move out after one night because of these problems. I give the host some credit for trying to find some solutions (to shelving, kitchen utensils, and offer of an air purifier). I gave the apartment every chance to be satisfactory but ultimately decided to proceed with a full refund, which the host had already verbally offered. I could not live there for 16 nights and did not need to put up with problems that couldn’t be solved.
This is when the host’s mood turned significantly. She tried to convince me to go to another unlisted apartment, which I did not want to due to the quality of this apartment, but also because it won’t have the protection of Airbnb. After I contacted Airbnb directly, the host turned nasty and told me to leave the accommodation immediately while I was still waiting for Airbnb to resolve the matter. Once Airbnb provided the refund at 11:30am, I was then able to look for other accommodation. Rather than giving me time to look for other accommodation, the host sent multiple messages saying I must leave by 12:00, and threatening that they will physically force themselves into the room. Any Airbnb host should understand the process of booking a place and the time it takes. The threat did not stop until I told the host that I would call the police, as threatening physical violence is a criminal offence. Under extreme pressure and threat of violence, I booked a hotel and quickly left.
Airbnb must remove the Superhost status of this host. In my view, this host should not be allowed to host again. A bad or deceptive apartment can happen, but threatening physical violence should never be tolerated.