As we were getting ready to book our stay in Chicago we needed to contact Shannon directly because our stay was a combination of weekend and weekday nights. It was not possible to determine the final cost from the information available on the website. Here is Shannon's reply to us:

"Hi. The weekend rate is $145 so the 5 nights you requested would be $617 plus tax and the cleaning fee of $80. Total is $750."

We booked through AirBnB, our credit card was charged, and we thought everything was in order.

When we arrived, we did not find all the amenities that were advertised. Specifically, there was no TV service throughout our stay, and we had to call Shannon in San Francisco the day after we arrived to find out how to connect to the internet service.

On the day we were checking out, Shannon asked us to pay an additional $130 for tax and cleaning. Since we had already paid for tax and cleaning as per her earlier e-mail, we refused. Shannon became confrontational, which made for a very unpleasant departure.

Shannon's place is in a fabulous location. It is only two blocks from the Fullerton L station and a full service market. It's close to town and easy to get to all that Chicago has to offer. It was clean and comfortable, with laundry facilities available.

But, we think Shannon has a very busy life, so in her own words:

"All said, make sure all of the details are clear so as to avoid spoiling an otherwise enjoyable rental experience."