I would give this experience a negative star if possible.
I think this was perhaps my tenth AirBnB?!
My second in Oregon, and my only attempt in Salem.
It was the worst AirBnB yet!
I have had issues with some hosts in the past who falsely represented their space, and this is the first time a host has refused to refund me.
Lessons learned:
1) never book a last minute stay on a Friday night after you have been on the road 12 hours a day for days. You are bound to make mistakes.
2) Be sure and select the drop down menu to include your traveling companion, even if in your initial email you mention said companion because host might be unscrupulous and use your mistake to justify keeping your money even if you do not stay in the room.
3) If host is using an inferior lock box, walk away!
4) If host hides behind email, and does not reach out to you directly when you are having issues getting in, walk away!
5) No matter how exhausted you are, and even though you have to make the bed, take the time to search the closets in the hall to find the linens you need, because even though It smells of cigarette smoke and your companion is allergic, your host expects you to stay, or will keep your money.
Know that professionally cleaned here does not include making the bed, and that even though the room was not ready to let, said host made it available anyway because... well they need the money.
I suspect Julia and Nick are having difficulty in general as in the fews days since I tried to stay here they have rebranded their AirBnB account, from Julia to Nick and changed the photo to exploit a young child (Never a good idea), though rebranding is probably a good thing as it was not doing anything positive for the AirBnB brand as it was.
I’m still hopeful that AirBnB will see fit to reimburse me for this mistake, and that Julia and Nick will find the resources elsewhere to fix the gaping hole in the porch beneath the lockbox.
Did I mention the hole?
I fell in it, figuratively speaking which is why I am writing this.
I have photos if anyone is interested.
To close on a positive note... The Grand Hotel on Liberty in Salem is worth every penny.
Head north my freinds Portland is spectacular!