Upon my arrival, Ann opened the door for me and did not greet me with a hello, a smile, nor did she introduce herself. Instead, she brashly told me to take my things upstairs to the room, and stated, “Do not plop yourself on the bed. Because of your heaviness I’m afraid you will break the slats.” (I am a size 12.) I was completely taken aback that her welcoming me to her home was to fat shame me. I have never even been called fat by anyone ever. I quickly recognized what type of woman I was dealing with, and quietly went up the very awkward stairs to the room. The spiral stairs are awkward and steep and there is no railing or anything to hold on to. Another thing I noticed as soon as I entered the house, is it was dirty and very cluttered. She hung clothes to dry on the upstairs railing, looking down into her dining area or whatever it was. I wouldn’t know as I was never invited to go into any other room than the one I reserved.
I put my bags away in the spot she instructed me to, and I stated the room was very cold. The space heater that was in the room was inoperable as the plug was completely cut off. She pretended not to know about it. I asked her if she could please provide a small space heater for me, as the temperature was in the low 40s, and the room was very cold. She stated she would order one from Amazon. I told her I would need one for that same night. She mumbled something as she was leaving the room, and I left out to eat. She did not get a heater that night and I had to double up my socks, shirt, and pants, where I was so cold. I woke up freezing and went downstairs and asked her why she did not turn on the radiator to heat up the house like she told me she would. She harshly stated, “Linda, I was not going to turn it on at night after it not being on for the last 8 months and have something happen.” I asked her once again when she was going to provide a space heater for me and turn on the heat. She stated she was looking into it. I told her I could not go another night without one, and if that was going to be the case to let me know because that was not going to work for me. I informed her I have COPD and did not want to get sick while on vacation. She rudely stated, “Well, you should have told me about your illness prior to reserving the room.” I told her I did not think I had to share my medical history with her when I assumed she was going to provide me with some heat. She grew more visibly upset with me and brashly stated, “Linda, I am only required to provide you with a reasonable amount of heat. And I have done that.” I told her, “You have not provided me with any heat!” And told her if she was not going to provide me with a small space heater that day, then I was going to leave and ask for a refund. She claimed she turned on the radiator but that it was not working. I left the house, and it was actually much warmer outdoors than in her home. While out, she texted me worried asking me if I was preparing to leave. I told her, no, and why was she asking. She stated, “Because I looked in your room and it looked like you were preparing to clear out.” I told her that is the way I always leave my room; clean, everything put away, and the bed made. And she actually complimented me for that. She finally had someone deliver a small space heater that evening. When I came back from dinner that evening, I saw a whole bunch of cat hair all over the rug in the room. The cats do not go into the room on their own.
Her space is not as she depicts it, and quite frankly I have no idea how this woman has anyone saying anything nice about her or her home. She is clearly not a people person. I am a very friendly and extroverted happy woman, and I was dealing with a woman who was the complete opposite. With me at least. All of my previous hosts have praised me for my happy and fun personality, and how clean I leave the room.
The restroom is 4’ x 4’, if even that. The old window does not shut completely so cold air is coming in while you are showering. Also, there was never any hot water to brush my teeth with or wash my face in the morning. I have been to NYC seven other times, and once stayed outside of Times Square. But no noise machine can drown out the extreme amount of LOUD noise that came from the downstairs restaurant and bar patrons, being at their loudest until 1am. Not even Times Square was that loud at night! There is not sufficient lighting in the room; just a couple of reading lamps. This lady has a thing about not locking doors. Because there are two holes in the bedroom swinging doors where anyone can see in and out of, as if the doorknobs had been removed. Also, the restroom door does not lock at all. It doesn’t even have a latch on it. So, anyone and her cats can walk in at any time you are using the restroom or showering.
One morning I heard her on the phone at 8:25. I got up to use the restroom, and when I came out, she says, Linda? I said, yes? And she stated, oh just wondering if