This host is difficult to communicate with and it but a damper on my trip.
Immediately after booking my trip (about 2 months out) I received the door code for check in. I thought that was a little unusual but I didn’t think much of it. In the following weeks leading up to the trip I continued to receive long winded messages about the area, accommodations and more. Many of them repeat messages. I ignored them.
A week before our trip I messaged Doug out of courtesy just to let him know our check in time had changed. We would still be arriving within the designated window but I know hosts like to be kept informed. I received back a very long message with parking information that said early check in was not allowed but could be arranged for a fee. Weird. I wasn’t asking for early check in and I responded saying that.
A day before my trip I received another long message that said “Door code: DOOR CODE NOT PROVIDED CONTACT HOST IMMEDIATELY.”
I was a little alarmed by this so I messaged Doug asking him to provide the door code. I assumed the one he had sent prior had been by mistake since it was so far in advance.
I received another message saying again “Door code: DOOR CODE NOT PROVIDED CONTACT HOST IMMEDIATELY.”
At this point I was starting to suspect I was dealing with a bot. But what did that mean for my reservation? I reached out again and tried to confirm the original door code Doug had sent was the correct one. Another bot response.
I continued trying to contact Doug through the app up until check in time. I had arrived early in San Diego but was stressing all day that my accommodations were going to fall through. Don’t recommend.
I was across town all day at my brothers house and didn’t want to head over to the air bnb before I knew I could get in. Finally after check in time had passed, I called Doug on the phone. I don’t ever want to have to do that. At this point I’m upset.
He answered and I told him I was a renter of his that night. He curtly told me I’d need to elaborate because he owns tons of properties. I told him the address and he again curtly informed me he owns something like 14 units in that building. Once I explained to him that his messaging machine was messing up he changed his tone and the proceeded to overshare about his activities that day while he looked me up in his system.
We confirmed the code on the phone and I successfully gained access but at that point I already didn’t want to be staying in this guys’ place.
During the stay I received many more automated messages, including one the day before checkout that said “great news the night after you leave is available, you can stay for a discounted price.” My husband and I were seriously considering it until I said, hang on he’s not even been monitoring these messages. What if we changed our flight and this is still just a bot. I replied to the message saying we were interested if it was legit. Sure enough, the reply I got was another bot message with check out information.
This location is great and the place was easy to stay in once we were in but I won’t stay here when we visit my brother again because of how hard it was to communicate with Doug.