Unfortunately, this visit fell below our expectations for a few reasons.
I will start with the pros: this property is in a great location, very quiet, with easy access to much of Boston. It’s spacious and open. Neighbors were friendly and helpful.
Sadly, we experienced a death in my immediate family that shortened the stay for my husband and I and forced us to have to bring our dogs with us. We were happy to see that pets were welcome according to the listing because we desperately needed a couple of days away. Our friends arrived as scheduled and we decided to join halfway through the scheduled booking. And this leads me to the cons…which can be categorized into two themes:
1. What a guest should expect in terms of general cleanliness and upkeep
2. Where the host and Airbnb fell short with respect to cost expectations and communications
Issues with general cleanliness and upkeep:
* Before we arrived, our friends told us to bring sheets and towels. They had stripped the beds because the sheets had clearly not been cleaned. We sent photographs of stains found on the sheets and comforters in both bedrooms to the hosts
* The towels also looked as if they had not been washed
* The dishwasher did not work. I let the host know of this when we arrived (and the dirty sheet issue) and they didn’t respond for over a day. Communication from the hosts was slow and lacking throughout
* There were dust bunnies and old food found under the couch. Dead plants in the living and dining rooms. Ants in the living room and kitchen. Cleanliness was clearly not a priority before we checked in
Cost expectations and lack of communication from host and Airbnb:
* Despite their listing clearly stating in 3 different places that pets are welcome - with ZERO mention of an associated pet fee anywhere in the listing - the host tried to extort us for $700 for our two dogs to stay. Granted, we did not plan to bring our dogs at the time we booked and in our haste to try and make some sort of a salvageable weekend, we neglected to inform the owners that we were planning to bring the dogs for the day and a half remaining on the trip. We assumed because the listing said they were “welcome” that it wouldn’t be an issue. We’ve traveled with our dogs multiple times to various airbnbs and have never experienced this sort of an issue before
* Once Airbnb support got involved, the host finally responded to my message about the dirty sheets and the dishwasher not working and offered a $25 refund for the inconvenience. But still wanted to charge us $700 for cleaning fees, despite Airbnb support telling me they could only charge us a max of $350 for the visit, which they also said they had already communicated to the hosts. Disappointing and we felt as if we were being fleeced by the hosts
This was, by far, our worst Airbnb experience. I feel terrible even leaving such a negative review but any ability to have even 1 day of enjoyment during a very difficult time for my family was ruined by such difficult and inconsiderate hosts.