Ad on AirBnb stated: “Serene Suite ... washer & dryer !”

The Pros:
The hosts seem very friendly and their response time is quick.
The shower area is new and is very inviting.

The Cons: (These are MY bad, for not reading between the lines carefully enough when searching for a place to stay – so I set them out here, so others will rent with eyes wide open.)

- Many, many steps up to the door to the unit, and 13 steps back down – as it is in the basement of a home.
- Provided is only a kitchenette (okay) – but NO sink. Pictures show a variety of teas, but we found only lots of bags of sugar and one tea bag. We did not find the blender (advertised). Shortly after our arrival, the host emailed me to say the electric water heater was in their home, and they offered to put it outside our door.
- No real windows to look out of and see daylight. (There are two small [basement type] windows in the bedroom, and although they function to open, you do not want to open, as the below grade grates (outside of the windows) are filled with dust and cobwebs. (I have pictures.)
- Egress window in the “living room” area is also covered with cobwebs. NO sky viewing available – even though we were in Seattle during an unseasonably SUNNY, warm 13 days.
- Top line of the ad stated “washer & dryer.” But, at the bottom of ad clarifies washer and dryer are “shared,” and whoever – will enter the unit when convenient.

The Cons: (These were not advertised, so buyer beware!)
- We paid $881.02 for a THREE night stay (or, $293.67/night) – which, in our experience of staying in AirBnb’s all over the world, is UNREASONABLE, to say the least – compared to the experience at this location.
- No view of daylight. So, effectively NO windows to see outside.
- Not possible to open a window for fresh air. (The wells where the windows are located are full of dust and spider webs.)
- There are a LOT of stairs – up then down. Less agile or older guests might not appreciate the access.
- The sheets on the bed were SO WRINKLED – as to be very uninviting. (I have pictures.) I assume they were clean, but not welcoming at all, not for $300/night !!!
- The shared dryer – was full of clothes. Whose? Don’t know. Don’t care. Uninviting to see. We’re thinking – is someone going to come and retrieve them while we are gone, or worse – while we are here?
- Again, for $300/night – very few electrical outlets, and the ones there were – were spread out all over the place. Laptop charging in bathroom, Cell phone in hallway. Apple Watch charging in living room, etc. All x2. There was only one available/free outlet in the living room.
- There is one chair to sit on – at a wobbly desk. So, when my husband and I were eating a snack we brought – we had to eat it at the sofa. (No table/chairs to consume a meal at.)
- The day before arrival – we were informed of additional issues (would have liked to know before renting). They are quoted here, verbatim, with my responses following:

[Host's] Please note: The pathway and stairs are dark at night, so you will want to use your phone flashlight if arriving after dark. There are solar lights but as you know, sometimes we don't get much sun!
Please remove your shoes/jackets on the stair landing. .... Your private suite awaits down the stairs.
Things to note:
- Please don’t lean on the bathroom sink.
- Please let me know if you need some quiet hours to study, work, or nap. I can always accommodate your needs. This is an old house and noise really travels.
Renter’s Response Notes:
- We were in Seattle during 13 days of unseasonably sunny and warm weather. There was NO lighting on the stairs at night. We did not see any solar lights in the day.
- We did as we were asked to do – remove our shoes on the landing. HOWEVER – this is no easy task – even for very agile athletes (us). The landing is approx.. 32” x 32” and off the landing are 13-15 steps down to the basement. It is no small feat to take off one’s shoes on the landing, with suitcases in tow, without falling down the stairs. (Same when leaving with suitcases.) After the suitcases were delivered and we were coming and going, it was still difficult to navigate leaving the shoes on the landing. (Note, the door when open sweeps over almost the entire landing. Hard to leave shoes on the landing before descending the stairs, as the door is in the way. )
- Re “don’t lean on the bathroom sink” [because it is not affixed to anything] – is hard to do when putting in contact lens – and you are 5’ tall. But, we did not lean on the sink. Although the hosts didn’t mention it – the only towel bar in the bathroom is falling out of the wall on the L side as it is affixed to only sheetrock without any anchor, so the towel bar cannot withstand the weight of any towels. (No where else to put them.)
- Re the admonition (after we already paid the money re “an old house and noise really travels,”) does not begin to explain the noise we heard. This place is anything but “serene.” The area of the basement where this unit is located is possibly not in an area frequently walked on above, by the host. But when she did – oh boy! The floors squeak loudly and with every step. We could hear the hosts foot-falls (and floor squeaking), and we could tell she