For the benefit of other guests, we are sharing some pieces of advice based on our own experience and suggest some changes as well for this apartment to be a worthwhile place for Airbnb customers.
Please be Aware:
- As of 7th August, there is no clear rule as to the latest check in time. Be prepared to be incessantly asked by host what time your arrival is, even after providing it. Note that It should be the host’s job to plan the timeline so the housekeeping lady wouldn’t have to wait for you all day, most especially if you have informed her about your ETA.
- Host may be impulsive to feedback. She may ask you a few hours upon arrival to cancel if you are not happy with her incessantly asking about your arrival time.
- This is advertised as with a washing machine. Don’t expect it to be in the apartment, it is actually in the basement. The listing and the host leaves it to the guests to figure that out, and if you ask, you may irritate the host and be told why she wasn’t informed before hand, and as a result you may be asked to get the special key to the basement door from the housekeepers house 2 km away,
- You are left to figure out what the wifi is, unless you ask. There are no instructions in the apt.
- Note that there is also instruction about how the hot water works unless you ask. You may need to take initial cold showers if you don’t get a quick reply. Note that host may get upset why you didn’t ask her earlier.
- Apartment may feel like a storage of unused things by the host. The unit does not appear the same way as the listing. There are two huge sofas that take up so much space, you could hardly sit around the dining area and into the dining chair. There is also an unused wine cooler and desks in the bedroom that take a lot of space; space that could be useful for your luggages.
- Note that the 2nd bedroom is not a normal bedroom, it’s a nook with wooden dividers, exposed to everyone in the apt.
- Tub is hazardously slippery
- Shower hose is not tightly fastened, lacks pressure due to what looks like a leak.
- Some wooden tiles may come off. Could be a tripping hazard.
- You may be provided unhygienic overused dishwashing sponges.
- Exposed wires on the ceiling.
- Numerous frames and printed paintings unsecured and leaning on the wall
- Before check out you may be asked by host if everything in the apt. is OK so she can release the deposit. This is a first time ever in our membership in AirBnb about holding deposits and left the reporting to the guests. Do know that if you kindly send feedback about some needed adjustment and repairs (not caused by you at all) it may upset her and you don’t get a reply, and you can only hope your deposit is released.
In Summary: it could be a much better apartment with some tweaking so space is maximised since as mentioned, it felt like a storage of mismatched and unused furnitures of the host. From our experience, I think Airbnb should require hosts to have their units ready for occupancy, and we think this apartment should be able deliver what/how it really presents online before even offering it for rental.
- Would really help to Take off unnecessary things in the apt. for the comfort of guests.
- proper written instructions on how things work in the apartment
- clear information about the latest check in time so guests know if it doesn’t fit their plans/flights before booking
- if the host can be kinder and less sensitive to feedback from guests, taking it constructively, for the betterment of her business, without guests fearing that they may be kicked out anytime she isn’t happy with what guests may be suggesting about the apartment or it’s service.
Positives:
- Great location, very convenient.
- bed was firm and comfortable.
- Clean Apartment
- Housekeeper was kind
- The washer at the basement functioned well.