THIS HOUSE IS LOCATED IN THE Los Angeles, CA Zip Code 90006, Pico-Union area NOT View Park-Windsor Hills, CA 90043 as described.
UNFORTUNATELY, Airbnb advertisements do not include addresses (which of course they should not for safety and security reason), and therefore one is left to guess about the area. Admittedly, LA is a large city that we are unfamiliar with. All we know is that there are "nice" and "not-so-nice" areas to down-right "sketchy" and "dangerous" areas. Unless you know the city well (or have an address or neighborhood to zero in on), it is very difficult to know.
OVERVIEW: This house appeared to be everything we hoped from the description and images for a 50+ birthday weekend where two couples to take in a Rams game and enjoy some California sunshine. However, the hope turned out to be a stressful set of unfortunate circumstances that left us seeking alternate accommodations and losing 66% of what we paid (even with travel insurance). PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW COMPLETELY TO ENSURE FULL INFORMED AWARENESS.
WHAT HAPPENED: We arrived after dark, following the directions on our GPS. There were no porch lights on, nor streetlights to help guide us to the entry gate of the house. We used the flashlights to navigate and came up to the combination lockbox. The house looked somewhat abandoned and we were unsure that we were even in the right location judging from the neighborhood and comparing to the description of the property.
It was the house, and we entered. We were a bit shook up, as we drove through police activity a block before the address, and after just a few minutes in the house, and hearing gunshots twice in a matter of 10 minutes, we determined we could not stay.
We attempted to call the Host with no answer, so we texted. A third-party representative (rep) called back from a different number. We stated that we did not feel comfortable in the location. In addition to the commotions happening in the neighborhood, we noted some alarming tell-tails of the area within the house. In addition to what was happening outside, we noticed that both bedrooms had an exterior, deadbolt door that were both visibly screwed shut and windows were barred. The third-party rep tried to see if she could negotiate with the host a refund for all but one day, however when it seemed that this was not an option, we considered staying and just to ensure everything was locked and not to hang outside (and to be honest, hoping that our rental car would not be broken into during the night). However, when we heard a second set gunshots within our 10-minute call, we informed the third-party rep that we were leaving and driving to a safer location. In a nutshell, we cancelled our reservation in the hope to release the property and recoup all but one night of costs. We were not at the house even an hour and ended up scrambling to book last minute hotel rooms in the end. SEE PROS & CONS in rating the property below.
PROS: Overall cleanliness was acceptable, albeit there was some trash noticed under one of the beds that could be seen from the living room couch. While all windows had blinds, they could use replacing, as they did not sufficiently cover the windows for privacy. There was plenty of space for two couples, adequate seating in the living room, one "Jack & Jill" full bathroom to share between the bedrooms, and a bathroom off the laundry area (cannot recall seeing a shower in this one, and believe it was a half-bath). The kitchen was laid out conveniently and large enough for two couples or a small family. Host sent a friendly text the morning of arrival and responsive, as anticipated of a Super Host.
CONS: The exterior (and street) was dark, and street parking limited (as described by host); the front porch had 4 chairs and a table that were in disarray (as if they had recently been sat in) and looked to need a sweeping. The interior windows were visibly dirty, as aforementioned blinds did not quite cover well enough for privacy (and noticed when trying to adjust when we thought we would stay). Floors could have been cleaner (i.e., there was what appeared to be tissue under one of the beds).
POST CANCELLATION: Unfortunately, and even with travel insurance (which does not cover dissatisfaction of accommodation), because we cancelled after the 48-hour window, we were only able to be refunded 34% of the total cost.
In a follow-up correspondence, the Host responded the following quoted text: "...please be reminded that we as hosts are solely responsible for the unit that we advertise on Airbnb. And whatever happens beyond the boundaries of the rental unit is not our responsibility. I can not and will never guarantee the safety of the guests on the streets of L.A. You like any other guest are responsible to do your research about the city and the neighborhood you're traveling to." In the following (and in follow-up to the Host's astute suggestion about doing "your research" it is hoped will help others when determining their booking options.
THE AREA: The Host's description in ad indicated that this location is in the View Park-Winsor Hills area of California - which when generally searched via web browser shows a map that covers an expansive (and diverse) area of LA. To be more specific (as we later learned), this house is actually located closest to the PICO-UNION NEIGHBORHOOD (Zip Code 90006) and according to niche-dot-com, and entering "Los Angeles Area" under Places to Live, then searching the "pico-union-los-angeles-ca" neighborhood, under "Crime & Safety", this neighborhood has a C rating, with an above national average in violent crimes (specifically 15% higher in assault and 57% higher in robbery) and above national average property crimes (specifically 2% higher in burglary and 23% higher in motor vehicle theft).
FINAL THOUGHTS: Unfortunately, the description and