I am always honest with reviews (and please check my ratings, as I’m not a problematic guest). Here’s how my stay with Christina went. If any proof is needed, feel free to contact me!
Pros:
•entire studio apartment to yourself. Plenty of storage for clothes etc.
•buses that go downtown stop right outside, redline train is only a 10 min walk
•beach is right across from the street!
•responsive host
Cons:
•host did not have updated check in instructions on the listing and had to call me to help me check in. This should’ve been done beforehand
•someone entered the apartment without prior notice. I brought this up to Christina and she said that the guy is sometimes in a hurry and busy and forgets to let her know when he comes by… I decided to not make it a bigger deal.
•no cleaning supplies. At airbnbs, everything should be there when you check in unless it’s stated on the listing. I had to contact the host when I noticed there was barely any hand soap, dish soap, toilet paper, and trash bags. I had to reach out to the host and ASK for these items. If I’m paying for the Airbnb and it’s in the listing, I should not have to go out of my way to ask. Host notified me that I’d have to buy my own since I was a long term stay, which is not an issue (should’ve said this beforehand). However, the apartment should have the supplies to start out with.
• internet issues. I’m not the first one at the location to have internet problems (see all other reviews) it took many messages between the host and I to finally get a modem installed in the apartment. I believe the unit I was in was sharing the wifi with another unit. She just kept resetting the router and said the weather was making it wonky. It wasn’t the weather.
• when the new internet was installed, all of the outlets were used up (even my personal extension cord) other than in the bathroom. I asked for a power strip because there were none for me to use to charge my phone or plug in anything (I was going to purchase my own, but this shouldn’t be my problem)
• you will have to bring your own pots and pans. The 2 pots available were rusted and need to be thrown out. Bring your spices and everything as half of the stuff in the pantry is gross or expired.
•general issues with the apartment like broken blinds, water damage on ceiling, stains on the headboard. Price is not worth the stay.
• at the end of my time at this location, Christina was very rude. She claims to have had to “bend over backwards” for all of my requests. My requests shouldn’t have had to been requests in the first place! If you’re paying well over $1,700 a month, I believe the listing should be accurate. Wifi should be working, general supplies (listed in the description) should be provided, check in instructions should be correct, etc.
• I was planning to leave a week early due to a death in the family and thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask if I could get a refund for a few days since I was leaving. It never hurts to ask anyone and I won’t be upset if the answer is no!! Instead of a simple “sorry I won’t be able to do that”, Christina was extremely offended and rude and said she was “running a business” and that she was offended that I even asked.
Airbnb IS a business, I totally understand that! However, a good business owner is respectful and wouldn’t have this many complaints. I understand we’re all busy and travel, it happens to all of us. I was keeping an open mind at the beginning and ignoring everything but the issues seemed to be a constant cycle which is when I was thoroughly communicating.
Bottom line: a few day stay would be okay but long term wouldn’t be great from personal experience. It’s hard finding housing for a few months during summer in Chicago which is why I stayed here.