Beware: this person gave me a false address that he said is for “safety”, then he charged me a price for a room someone else slept in while I was there. Initially I was going to leave at least 2 or 3 stars, but he has been threatening to leave me 1 star if I leave an honest review about him. I am willing to risk him leaving a dishonest review about me, just to warn future travelers about him. I am a lawyer with no reason to lie on this young man. //
The room itself is a good place for the price as listed, which was less than the price he actually charged me. Picture a guy’s college apartment feel—not pristine but comfortable enough, a clearly lived in apartment. //
There were two other bedrooms, and two other guests. We got a long great and they were nice. //
My room was nice and spacious with great views. Living room offers beautiful view of the city. Bedroom was clean and very comfortable with big nice mirrored doors. Bathrooms and kitchen were messy tho, with fruit flies in kitchen and an overflowing gross frig that I didn’t want to even leave my leftover food in. //
Chinatown was a nice central spot for visiting Honolulu, not walkable to beach but that was fine for me. //
My only issue, which really bothers me, is that I reserved the master bedroom with a private bathroom, but he made me pay that price for a smaller room with no bath. This was a last minute trip and so I was glad he was willing to accommodate me the day before I was traveling. After I had requested the reservation, he contacted me to say the master wasn’t available after all, but that he had another room I could have. Only after I arrived and talked to the other guests did I learn that this was part of his scam. I said that if things changed I’d like the master but that it was no problem at all, I was glad to have a guest room at obviously the guest room (not master) rate. It wasn’t actually Joey who met me, it was another guy named Imran who met the building next door to give me keys. They said they couldn’t tell me the real address bc of safety and illegality. I also had to wait outside in the pouring rain with leather luggage bc the guy was so late. Luckily it was Hawaii rain, so warm, but still a very uncomfortable start to a stay.
The night I arrived I asked that guy about price adjustment when I checked in, and he said Joey would handle it. Imran said it would be no problem, and honestly I wasn’t worried. Never for one second did I presume this person would charge me for a room I did not stay in! So on my second to last day, I contacted Joey twice to remind him to make sure to adjust for the room difference. He sent me long messages saying no, he did not think he should change the price. I should’ve paid around $54/$56 per night based on the available guest room listing that was available when I requested a reservation, but instead I paid around $80. I honestly was dumbfounded. I wasn’t even worried about this before the end of my stay. I was scammed. There was a man who stayed in the master bedroom, but I paid for that room I didn’t have. //
I asked for a price adjustment on night 1. However, 8 days after leaving Hawaii this person “Joey” is accusing me of “stressing” him out, “harming” him and “taking advantage” of him. He also admitted that he had to pay his last guest $60 to change her review. I am not interested in being bribed. His behavior is not just unprofessional, but frightening. Although I was a perfect guest, he is threatening to leave me a 1 star review unless I delete this and I’m sorry but it’s not worth it. //
Stay at your own risk. It’s a decent place for $50-some per night, but not worth being scammed at $80+. I can’t believe hosts are allowed to bully and threaten people this way.