There is nothing wrong in scrutinising photographs when making reservations for accommodations. There is politics in almost everything.
San Giovanni Rotondo 2019 – Booked the accommodation through Airbnb for 2 nights 1 day and our host agreed to store our luggage at her place after we checked-out until evening. The host is an architect who designed and leased a whole apartment with one bedroom, kitchen, dining area, lounge area, private bathroom and private entrance with washing machine, heater and internet. Upon arrival, we found out that the apartment shares main entrance with her parents’ apartment – our door was facing the door to her parents’ home. Her parents were very kind to let us in and told us that if we need anything or need any help to knock on their doors. We thought it was a beautiful gesture.
The photos showed there is a refrigerator but the electrical cord to refrigerator was not connected and on. The photo for the Airbnb also showed a washing machine and wall-mounted heaters but when we arrived, there was no washing machine.
The Airbnb post indicated that earliest 15:00hrs check-in and latest 11:00hrs check-out. At our first meeting with our host, she came to ask that we check-out by 7:00hrs instead of 11:00hrs. She claimed that she promised to check-in a “boy” early and if we stayed until 11:00hrs, she would not have sufficient time to clean and keep her promise to the “boy”. Exhausted from our journey, cold and drenched from the rain, we told her that we will try to check-out by 9:00hrs much to her disgust. The temperature dropped during our first night. I went over to ask her parents how I can turn on the heater as my parents were shivering. The host’s parent rudely told me that there is no heater and that we should just use the thin blankets they provided to wrap up. Apparently, the wall mounted-electric heaters were placed for show. There were no pipes or electrical cords or switches connected to it.
Barcelona 2017 – Booked an accommodation through Airbnb. The accommodation has 2 bedrooms with closets for use, private bathroom, kitchen, living room and dining area at a good rate at the neighbourhood of Sants, a brief walk from Barcelona-Sants. The apartment is at the top floor and upper floors accessible by stairs only. House rules – €100 for any damages.
The round dining table with glass surface has extremely wobbly legs. Kitchenware seems odds and ends of unwanted dining ware. One of the shelves in the refrigerator was broken and put together using a clear masking tape. Some of the cutlery and knife appears to be rusty. Plates either have chipped sides or large cracks across the plate. One bedroom closet was locked with a padlock and the other covered in dust. Bed linen of the single bedroom was covered with dust and a dusty bag standing between the windows and the bed. Out of 5 days in Barcelona, I survived 4 days in that condition and decided to move to Barcelona Airport Hotel for a night of dust-free sleep. Those were the only few hours I felt extremely clean in Barcelona 😭.
If you are escorted by an agent to access the property, attempt to delay the departure of the agent while you examine the apartment for damages. Make it known to the agent and also take photos of the damages in front of the agent.
If you are directed to self-entry, assess the accommodation first before you settle in or before using any of the items. If you find any damages or cracks, take photos and send it via email or WhatsApp to the agent without delay. It has the timestamp to protect you from being liable for the damages.
Regardless of where the accommodation is reserved from, there is always room for horrible hosts and photographs are just for show until you arrive at the destination to find out for yourself.