BEWARE! Look somewhere else, do not rent from STRIV. Possible scam.
We booked this property same-day as a last minute place to stay for my family. Our check-in time was approved by the host for 1pm. I called the host phone number and a woman answered, let me know I needed to reply back to a message they sent via AirBnb providing the details of our stay and email. I answered the questions in the chat and provided my email. A few minutes later I received an email from tdurdenrentals@gmail.com with a pdf that included the check-in instructions (everything seemed normal at this point).
The pdf seemed detailed; however, the address and location to the parking garage they provided was inaccurate. Basically they have you find a small lockbox attached to a bike locker and give you code to retrieve the key and parking garage fob to access the property. I found the correct parking garage (there are 4) and found a lockbox where they said it would be. The only issue is that the lockbox looked different from the instructions provided and the code they gave me also did not work. Also on the pdf they tell you to be discreet, not mention AirBnb and if someone asks, tell them you are staying with someone named Darius?
Keep in mind this at around 1pm - the approved check-in time by the host. I made multiple attempts to call the host number and phone number provided on the pdf. The host number continued to go to voicemail and left multiple messages requesting someone call me back. I also called the phone number on the pdf and here is where things started to get suspicious. I left a message and the number texted me back saying:
“Hi - the AirBnB host has the wrong number listed. I get these calls all the time and suggest you contact customer service. I think the owner is scamming people. I do not have an AirBnB and can’t help you as I’ve already made several complaints to AirBnB directly and they haven’t taken my phone number down. “
At this point about an hour has passed and I have not heard back from the host. I tried calling for another 20 minutes with no answer or call back. So finally after an hour and a half, my wife and I decided to call it quits and book a hotel instead. Both of our children weren’t feeling well which was the reason for our last minute booking and extending our stay an other day.
At around 5 pm, 4 hours after the approved check in time, I get a message through the AirBnb chat that the lockbox and code were changed at the last minute. When I received this message we had already checked into the new hotel and got our children situated so I have no way of verifying that this was actually true or not but nonetheless incredibly frustrating.
Why message me 4 hours after you tell me I can check in, not include the updated instructions after I followed the check in instructions, and not answer any of my calls for over an hour and a half?
I have already submitted an inquiry into this host through AirBnb and will be receiving a refund. Please look somewhere else, I do not want anyone else to have the same experience that I had.