First I have to say that the place is beautiful. It was why we booked it. Close to our little weekend getaway and good value. A shame we weren't able to enjoy it.
Shortly after booking weeks before the trip, I messaged Rosemary to say that we would be leaving after work and have a 4 hour drive and arriving around 10:30 pm and if that would be OK. No response.
The day before, I checked in with her again. She said for late arrivals there would be a lock box on the door with a key. I got the code and all was good.
We went to our check in page to get directions and used Google maps. It plugged in her neighbor's address and we were unsure where to park. I texted Rosemary and got a reply about being at the wrong place and to move to one of the spots in front of her garage.
We punched in the lock box code and got the key. There was a note to take off shoes and leave the key on the kitchen counter. We did that, but we had a really hard time putting the lock box back together. We both tried several times. Finally after many attempts Jen got it back on.
It was shortly after 10. We decided to go to one of our favorite restaurants and check out the beach at night. We took the key back from the counter as it was the only key we had, and put it back in the lock box.
We returned around 3 am. Once again, the box was very difficult to put back together. We've used similar lock boxes several times with Airbnbs before, this one was difficult.
Then the light comes on and the doors open. Rosemary looks disgusted with us. I ask, "Rosemary?" She says yes. I say "Hi Jen and John, sorry we've been having trouble with the box."
"Well I'm not used to having people come in at 3 am"
Jen states the obvious, that the box is tricky to put back together.
"Actually, no, it's not."
The hostility is unmistakable so we just go upstairs at this point.
Jen had plans to relax in the room and enjoy the porch the next day while I went out and did some things. That was no longer an option as we felt like scolded children so we went downstairs to leave together the next morning.
Rosemary was waiting and was very quick to give us a lesson how "things are done around here." and then assigned us our own key. Once again just condescending and rude tone. We explained that we weren't sure what to do with the key, leave it on the counter or take it or put it in the box. She told us that if we arrived on time we would get our own house key and come and go as we pleased. I reminded her that I wrote her and explained that we would be a late arrival and asked if that was OK, with no response.
The entire check-in/key/hostility experience was just a mess.
But she wasn't done.
We got our key, and I told her that our Uber was waiting outside. We walk out and she followed us and then asked, "Wait, so you're not taking this car?"
We told her no, we were taking an Uber.
"Well how am I supposed to get out of the garage? I have to get out of the garage." Once again, zero communication or tact. Just blatant rudeness.
The place was beautiful no doubt. But I would seriously warn any future guests about the host's extreme lack of communication and overbearing demeanor.
Only bad Airbnb experience we've ever had, and it was a doozy.