Allow me to to start by saying that I’m also a vacation rental host and a landlord. I’m a throughly reviewed airbnb guest who has always received positive feedback. Furthermore, I have never had to leave a negative review for anyone. As my mother would say “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. However, I feel as though this is an exception to that rule. Based on a review of this host’s responses to anyone who has been remotely critical of her unit (constructive or otherwise), I will proactively anticipate a belittling, condescending, pretentious response from this host, based on what I’m going to say.
We had the pleasure of staying in an identical upper uni, in the same building this unit is located in, for several nights. The upstairs unit was tastefully updated and well equipped. Our privacy was respected and unit rules and exit instructions were more than reasonable. Our host was lovely and we each gave one another a 5 star review.
Our initial reaction of this host’s unit was disappointment, as compared to the identical unit we had just left upstairs (at a similar price point). There appeared to be little or no updates since original construction, with red high pile carpet and a beige worn shower and vanity. The unit was clean but very tired. The bed was soft and not the most comfortable. The unit was equipped as described with an eclectic collection of mismatched dishes and small appliances. No cooking was permitted, as per our host’s instructions. And oh, the instructions.
Having been a vacation rental host for years and having travelled extensively across the globe using private hosts, I have never dealt with anyone with so many instructions, details and expectations. From detailed information about her newly installed Koehler comfort height toilet to the fact we could adjust the shade angle on the green aluminum blinds, BUT NOT OPEN THEM!; the continuous stream of specific rules and instructions were painful, and, if we’re being honest, difficult to keep track of (we were on vacation after all).
With this said, we violated a rule! Not with malice, but simply an oversight. We had moved a wooden privacy screen on our private patio (only accessible through our unit) approximately 5 feet to provide a little more privacy while we were trying to enjoy our reheated microwaved breakfast (as we were not permitted to cook). We also moved a patio chair a few feet to provide a little more room in our private patio.
It would seem that our violation was immediately noticed. When we left to go to the beach for a few hours and returned, we noticed that the privacy screen and chair had been moved back to exactly where it was originally. This meant that our host had come in to our private space to move these items, as the patio was only accessible through the unit (unless they traversed through a garden and climbed our railing). When we went to the beach we left personal items and valuables out. It was not enough that we already had to contend with listening to our host’s bodily functions though their bathroom window that opened onto our patio, we now felt watched and violated. We considered anyone entering our private dwelling to be a major violation of our privacy. The situation was upsetting and unsettling.
We checked our voicemails and text messages to see if our host had made any attempts to notify us of her intent to enter our private dwelling; she had not. She did sent a rather curt message through the Airbnb app stating that she noticed the privacy screen was moved, it was a violation of her rules and, if it rained, she would have to move the screen back to where it was. It hadn’t rained that day…..
We would have gladly moved the screen back to its original location upon our return from the beach that sunny day, but instead, our host chose to take matters into her own hands.
This scenario provoked anxiety that our private ‘home away from from’ was a lot less private than we had anticipated. The violation made me feel as though our host may enter again unannounced, causing me to have a difficult time sleeping or relaxing. We had even messaged the host asking whether she had come through our unit to access the patio and, although her typical response time was less than 1hr, she hadn’t responded after 6hrs.
During my sleepless night, I happened to review Airbnb’s host requirements. Of interest was the requirement that a host only enter a dwelling for an emergency or with express consent of the renter. The situation under which she entered out dwelling was neither an emergency nor with consent.
We called Airbnb. They shared and understood our concerns. They were incredibly helpful in assisting us in checking out early, and recovering funds.
Upon leaving the unit, we stripped the linens, washed and put away all dishes, took out the garbage and recycling, placed all soiled towels in the shower, wiped down all surfaces and put everything back where we found it. We did not notify our host of our departure, as Airbnb was following up with her regarding the circumstance and we didn’t want to engage in unnecessary conflict (based on her response to past reviews regarding criticism). We did our very best to leave the unit in stellar condition and also photographed the unit prior to our departure, should our host say we did something wrong. She did not disappoint.
Upon discovering we had left, she messaged us as follows “Imagine my surprise when I realized you had already checked out. Such a lack of communication on your part, and you have such good reviews. Thanks for leaving the studio in fairly good shape. Patricia.”
This wasn’t my first visit to Kauai, and it won’t be my last. It will however be my last stay with this