An irresponsible host. I was prepared to give a fairly decent review of this Airbnb location but we were unable to shower the morning of our departure and the host couldn't have cared less. The bathroom dates to the 1980s and the shower handle jammed so we were unable to shower. I wrote to Evonify as we sped off to my uncle's memorial service expecting some sort of response and at least, a partial refund. "Terribly sorry" was the extend of it. They refused to give us any refund despite functioning bathroom facilities being a key expectation of any accommodation.
I was going to leave a private note for the host about the needed improvements. I'm an Airbnb host and most of us strive to do our very best. I've received private notes about suggested improvements and have always taken them seriously. But now I'm going to leave this note publicly because I'm so disappointed and I don't want another unsuspecting guest to suffer the same outcome.
First the positives, then the needed improvements. The living room space is great. It's a corner apartment, spacious, and the exterior walls are all windows. It's in a busy, cool, accessible neighborhood and has a lot of potential. All things considered, being at the end of a hall and on the 6th floor, it was a little noisy but not too bad. I suggest leaving a supply of single-use earplugs for light sleepers.
However, the bathroom needs to be updated. The sink is rusted in several places, the vanity is stained and there's no caulking. The shower handle jammed making the shower unusable, as I stated above. It needs replacing. The kitchen needs updating too but we were only there overnight so we have no specific feedback. The 1980's Levalor blinds need replacing as well. They are all broken and bent.
But most importantly, the host needs to realize that the guest is of prime importance and that being able to shower is a big deal. With a little investment and a more responsible attitude towards guests, this apartment could be great and the host could charge a significantly higher rate.