Unsettling, unfortunate, unclean experience which is hard for me to say as I’ve been joyfully & respectfully Airbnbing with my family for 10 years — it’s not in my nature to critique in this manner, nor have I in the past. Sure - we’ve incurred a few cleanliness issues at a couple of the many Airbnb’s we’ve been grateful to experience in the USA & Europe, though not to this degree and the mis-managing of my respectful reporting of the essentially “filthy” encounters was a bit odd to us and not fully accountable.
I’m listing the unsanitary standards below so anyone can make their own choice. I personally do walk life with Lyme Disease and recognize that others do cope with their own nuanced physical conditions. As a practitioner I do interface with some patients who suffer from environmental sensitivities and it is in that health & wellness light, I list particular factors. It’s not out of judgment… providing information for others who have to live more mindfully about such areas of safety & life functioning.
Moreover, we are still in the midst of a pandemic - and 100% CLEANLINESS is VITALLY IMPORTANT and advised by Airbnb standards.
Out of respect & fairness, this host setting has solid reviews. Exactly why we chose it. Perhaps they’ve encountered this before - and handled it accordingly by attempting to persuade the guest like they did with me - to refrain from writing a review. And or, resting on their laurels getting comfortable and not occasionally checking i.e., ensuring the “home” was thoroughly clean.
Multiple lengths of someone else’s hair was found in our sheets in 3 separate locations - no, they were not ours as we don’t have the same color of hair of unwelcomed hairs. 3 separate stains - 2 on sheets & a rather disgusting yellow stain on the pillow it’s self that was readily obvious as only one pillow case. Pillows were “lumpy” and given what appeared as bodily fluid stains on at least one - time for new pillows. Urine dripping from toilet and same hair - yes, I’m grossed out just writing this. There were hairs in the shower. Towels did appear clean and bathroom countertop. Kitchen dish towel was visibly dirty yet folded. Floor in kitchen & bedroom not thoroughly swept. Plethora of long term cob webs as evidenced on modern hanging lamp, entire horizontal beam in bedroom & elsewhere with loads of dust on the orange shipping container wall. Big, beautiful mirror not cleaned in some time. AC Unit definitely needs cleaning. Outside of microwave covered in dirty fingerprints. On range control too. No, we didn’t use any of these items. Freezer drawers were definitely unclean - brown stains and crumbs. The natural lighting for this Airbnb was appealing and shifted - thus above noted lack of cleanliness & sanitary tidying appeared intermittently throughout our 1 night stay.
Initially walking in I was prepping for a long telehealth session with a client so noticed transgressions gradually. I wasn’t looking for them. And my daughter noticed the bedroom cob webs in morning light which was considerable. At night a gecko and spider scurried about beside the bed. We naturally were startled yet understand nature does enter home life at times.
There was an unpleasant, unusual odor upon immediate arrival in the container abode and during our entire stay. Uncertain if the container its self is emitting this odor or cleaning supplies on counters / floors? No idea. Though returning home - the clean clothes in my open luggage carried this same, o odor. I’ve never encountered this at an Airbnb and I believe this is our first shipping container Airbnb.
What was unusual & off putting in addition to us hoping for a restful stay since we drove to Austin for our daughter to undergo a small procedure & say farewell to UT friends since graduating - instead met up with unacceptable experiences leaving us grossed out exposed first hand to bodily fluids and numerous hairs where we slept. And the exterior of the toilet! Jason the co-host who kindly delivered a bulb when I reached out as I needed light for my appointment - in the morning sent a text reminding us we are required to pull off sheets and towels and wash them. Yes, that was reprehensible considering all we witnessed. And he added something along the lines suggesting we leave a 5 star review. At that point, I respectfully informed him of some of the concerns and that I had taken some pictures if he’d like to see. “For your efforts, I’m crediting the cleaning fee”. Note: I never requested this, though upon reading what he wrote I was shocked as in the Airbnb hospitality business it’s about recognizing your error(s) with full accountability. I’m not to be “rewarded” for taking additional photos for them. I did this only out of professional courtesy so they may 100% rectify these ghastly matters so you reading this or anyone else who is a future guest - avoids such unpleasantness. So they may lead as hosts with excellence.
We are all here to learn in life. When I’m a host, it’s 100% my responsibility to ensure absolute CLEANLINESS & accountability. I did mention to him after his offer- how I believed a larger percentage of what we paid being reimbursed was in order. For that not to occur to him or Meredith who did write she was sorry and how this was unusual for them. Jason explained they were informing their housekeeper and thankful I informed them. Yet with all that is listed above - (note I’m omitting a few other areas of legitimate concern), I as the host would have credited the guest the entire amount (understandably minus Airbnb service fee).
Jason was kind in granting me an early check-in which there was no pressure from me, just a respectful request if it was possible. He texted me when the container was available. I appreciate