My traveling companion and I have both been frequent Airbnb customers. We have traveled across the world and lodged at many locations across many continents. The owner of this listing was the worst host I have ever encountered.
When we found an endless parade of cockroaches throughout the home (kitchen, dining table, coffee table, bedroom floor, hallways) and observed what appeared to be a surveillance camera hidden behind an AC vent, the owner responded in the worst possible way. He came unannounced at 10pm, lied that Airbnb was on the phone with him in order to manipulate and intimidate us into allowing his entry, then proceeded to gaslight us about both issues.
His body language was highly offensive and he was sweating profusely during the whole encounter, as if he had been caught red-handed. He loudly and aggressively claimed that the suspicious device was only an AC sensor, and forcefully demanded that we agree to his claim 100%, and did nothing to assuage our discomfort at this potentially alarming invasion of privacy.
Then, he proceeded to gaslight us about the vermin infestation in his home. He asked for carcasses to prove our point. When we said we don’t kill vermin and keep their dead bodies lying around for display, he point-blank denied that we had seen cockroaches. The many cockroach photos I took have been forwarded to Airbnb for verification. I also have videos of said cockroaches parading all over the kitchen. He also demanded that we instruct him on how exactly he should handle his vermin infestation, as if it was our responsibility to do so.
To add insult to injury after this insulting and unprofessional encounter, he texted me at 10:30pm to suggest that we consider vacating the premises within 2 hours, and perhaps then he would consider refunding us for the remainder of the nights. Why should a paying guest be required to vacate the premises and seek additional lodging when the issues at hand are wholly caused by the host? Due to his aggressive and unprofessional behavior, we felt uncomfortable and unsafe for the remainder of our stay, and couldn’t even report his behavior to Airbnb for fear of retaliation.
I am deeply disappointed by his behavior because it betrays the spirit of hospitality and also Airbnb’s standards of excellence. For what it’s worth, you’re better off looking anywhere else than spending $100 USD a night for this unprofessional and inhospitable lodgings.
Due to the aforementioned circumstances, not only does the owner betray his “Superhost” badge that he proudly displays, he should not be a host, period. To this day, I have not received a formal apology nor compensation for said behavior. We have relayed all further evidence and information to Airbnb and this case is being escalated.