I completely agree with the rest of the reviews that Hugo is a very responsive host. He did reply almost immediately to a couple of my inquiries and he did contact us after our first night to see how we were doing. I believe that he is truly attempting to create a good Airbnb environment, but just needs to make a few improvements. Hopefully the following comments will be taken as constructive input rather than complaints.
I truly struggled with what to say on this review because it is not common for my wife and I to leave a negative review. I did not want to be too harsh, but I also wanted future guests to have a more informed view of what their stay would be like.
I certainly agree with the rest of the guests that the location is extremely convenient to restaurants and shopping in the Myrtle Street downtown area. This listings best attribute is location location location. But if you are a light sleeper I recommend you find different accommodations. I believe that the concept of Zen implies peace and tranquility. I assure you, you will not find that type of Zen at this listing.
The unit is directly next to the main elevator. This would be considered convenient for some guests, but in our case hearing the drone of the elevator day and night was intrusive. We also figured out, by the second day of our stay, that the periodically slamming door was not a rude neighbor, but actually the main entrance door which sat directly underneath our 2nd floor unit. Our stay included a Friday night so you can imagine that the door slamming and the elevator drone went on through the night.
Granted all the basics of an average Airbnb are available, but in comparison to other Airbnb’s, they would be considered minimal. In spite of the addition of a clothing steamer, a printer, and a blender, the rest of the amenities provided are at the most minimum level. Hugo does provide the coffee and tea as mentioned in the listing, but no kitchen towel and only half a roll of paper towel.
We were provided with four bath towels for two people on a three night stay. No Kleenex, and the TP provided that was so thin it was opaque. Toiletries could have been more generous. I didn’t see the logic in providing a clothes steamer but not spending an extra five dollars per stay for a few useful conveniences for the guests.
I was initially very happy to see a guestbook because I assumed it would include instructions for items around the unit as well as some tips for the local area. As it turned out the guidebook only included a two page page repeat of all the rules and regulations that are associated with the rental. (There are many, so be sure to read the details carefully before you reserve).
One of the rules that really surprised us that was that no one else was allowed in the unit for any period of time. We were in town to meet our family for a funeral. One of our Oregon relatives was in the area and asked if they could stop by for a cup of coffee. (This made sense since we were in an Airbnb with a kitchen and a living room). But we had to tell them no due to the restrictions.
There was one last surprise for us upon our arrival. We understood that the front door of the unit was equipped with a ring camera device which is fine. We have stayed at many Airbnb‘s that have such a device. The surprise was that inside the unit there was a complete ring security system. The fact that the speaker box for the system was sitting in the kitchen made us very uncomfortable throughout our stay. This device added no value to us as a guest and we questioned why it was there at all.