MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE!!
We are avid travelers and use Airbnb regularly.
I have NEVER left a poor review…but we’ve never had an experience quite like this.
Upon check-in we discovered that the flimsy blind that was on the front door was broken and hanging freely.
This was our only privacy from the outside and we all felt very unsafe (especially considering we were 1st floor and the back door had a builder grade doorknob with no deadbolt).
We immediately noticed that, while taking into consideration the advanced age of the house which would have given it charm, that could not account for the filth accumulated on every surface of the unit.
There was dark hair clearly visible in the tub and toothpaste spatter on the mirror and sink.
The kitchen was just as bad. Just a lack of the most basic sanitation.
We then discovered that for a 4 night stay for 4 people we had been allotted 1 towel a piece and no washcloths.
I immediately messaged Dennis to very politely inform him of the broken blind and lack of linens but got no response.
Then after reading the welcome greeting I contacted Airbnb.
We were staying in Boston during a record breaking heat wave but were told that the a/c was not to be used except for 20-30 minutes to cool the house for a couple of hours.
Dennis went on to complain that in 2018, 3 different guests over a 10 day period managed to rack up a $250 electric bill and that if we wanted it cool to:
#snap “GET ON A PLANE AND FIND THE NEAREST IGLOO”!!
That is a quote.
He informed me that they had a NEST thermometer and they would be imonitoring it; if we overused the air they would call and tell us to put a stop to it.
In my personal note to him, I explained that it was only reasonable that guests be able to utilize the amenities and considering he was compensated thousands of dollars for those 10 days, the $250 should be well covered!
Without going into the putrid details of how dingy and dirty the home was, let me say that there was just simply no room for us in the crowded space.
Every closet, shelf and drawer was stuffed with personal belongings.
We did not have a place to hang our clothes or unpack a single thing.
We couldn’t even utilize the refrigerator, as grimy as it was, had we wanted to.
Renters of an “Entire Place” (as opposed to a Shared Space or Private Room) should feel welcomed to relax and spread out, not feel wedged in with a ‘crashing at a cousins house for free’ vibe.
No.
Not when paying a premium price!
I even thought perhaps I was misreading his attitude (recognizing regional differences) but after I informed him that we would be leaving first thing in the morning, his only response was to say I didn’t understand the Airbnb platform and then promptly shut off the air remotely.
It was extremely hot and we were traveling with two senior women!
We also had to load the vehicle in that heat to move to a new location.
He messaged me 17 minutes until our 11 o’clock check out (clearly listed and confirmed by Airbnb) saying that it was past the 10 o’clock check out and we needed to leave his house.
We were already gone.
His final dig was to say he had spoken to the cleaning lady and the blind was hanging when she left, before our arrival.
He assigned blame to us of course without even a flicker of accountability.
No apology or concern for any part of it.
Not even for ruing an entire day of our short stay.
This host has a lot to learn about the hospitality industry if he is going to continue to be a part of the rental community.