SCAM!
Avoid this host at all costs! I had the worst nightmare ever interacting with the host:
1. Host asks to call her to avoid airbnb fees. This will take away your lever to resolve issues through airbnb. I refused and asked her to cancel my booking. Host agreed to do so.
2. Host did not cancel booking through airbnb (whose fees she previously tried to circumvent). She asks me to cancel via airbnb myself, which I did.
3. Host then declined calls and ignored my messages, until official cancellation window expired.
4. Finally, host refuses to any refund!
The booking fee I had to pay is stolen money! Be careful with this host, and please avoid falling into the same trap!