Unfortunately, communication with this host was very strange. She sent me a long message the morning before I was scheduled to arrive telling me about how she was going to be doing hair and have lots of people in and out (I don’t care, I will just keep my distance) and there were multiple messages about muffins; one message saying no muffins because of COVID and another saying she would leave coffee and muffins (I don’t care about muffins, this is just an example of her inconsistent and unclear communication). The part I do care about: She said I could come in on my own and there was a private door code and separate back door. Sounds good. I could show up at my convenience, as instructed. No problem, right? Wrong.
I was busy working all day and didn’t respond to her message (about hair, muffins and letting myself in) and when I got to Austin I had planned to run over to shower before heading out for the evening with friends, but I was rushed for time so I just showered at my friend’s house instead and then went to dinner. After dinner I received an email from Airbnb stating that because I hadn’t “checked in” with Stacey that she had contacted them to let them know and my door code had been changed for “security purposes”. What check in??? She had messaged me that day saying I could let myself in and that there was a back door and a private door code!!!
So, the change of code meant I was locked out for the night and had to inconvenience a friend in order to find another place to stay.
Stacey also hadn’t contacted me directly so I had to communicate through Airbnb and actually reach out to her on my own the next day. When she finally responded to me when I asked for a new code, she told me it was the same code … so I don’t know if she LIED about changing the code or if she changed it then changed it back? When I got to the Airbnb, I used the door code, walked in and she was sitting right there across the living room but didn’t acknowledge me or say anything and I just walked to the room… so there was never a check in process to begin with, apparently and she locked me out for no reason!
I don’t know why Stacey sent messages telling me to let myself in and out and that there was a separate back door if she really wanted me to actually check in with her. But then she didn’t even check in with me. It’s like the muffins; are we having muffins or not?
My second night there when I went out again, I took my items with me when I left the house just in case she was planning to implement a curfew on me and change the door code again.
The back door is also not a separate entrance, by the way. The only entrance is right through the living room where she spends her days- she seems to work from home. Not an issue for me, but if you want more privacy this is probably not a good place for you.
The rest of my stay there, nothing was too strange. Stacey was constantly in her living room area and I would just come and go on my own. I think she just has a very nervous/anxious personality and likes to be very involved with people who stay there and know where they are at all the times. Personally, I am fine with minimal communication, but if you’re looking for someone to create issues where there aren’t any and inconsistent communication about the check-in process or muffins then Stacey is your perfect host.