Title: Not My Problem You Booked My Place: A Poor Hosting Experience and What Went Wrong

Last weekend brought a disappointing and frustrating experience that started with a host who was new to hosting and quickly spiraled into a series of avoidable issues. Here are the main highlights and takeaways.

The booking setup
– We reserved a single room in an apartment, understanding the arrangement would be shared space with the host’s separate areas.
– The host indicated she would be away for the weekend, effectively giving us the place to ourselves. Later, she claimed someone else wanted to book the other room (her room) and suggested a payment arrangement outside the platform. One potential guest opted not to proceed once the situation became unclear and uncomfortable.

Physical condition of the space
– The entryway contained visible dog waste and bags, with a strong odor that extended into the apartment.
– The bathroom of the room we were assigned had dried, smeared dog poop. Our attempts to clean it were met with poor guidance from the host and an unpleasant cleaning process.
– The listing advertised a coffee maker, but we could not locate it. When we inquired, the host’s responses were delayed and evasive, ultimately revealing the coffee maker did not exist.

Communication and trust issues
– The host’s explanations for delays and missing items often cited a dead phone, which made timely communication difficult.
– A separate incident involved the host’s neighbor (a dogsitter) attempting to return the host’s dog to the apartment after the dog reportedly damaged the space. We were not informed of the incident, and we had to improvise accommodations for the night.
– We coordinated with the neighbor to extend our stay by a few hours while we searched for alternative arrangements, which was disruptive and exhausting.

Refund request and host conduct
– We contacted Airbnb Support to request a refund, but the host’s behavior remained hostile and dismissive, downplaying the severity of the situation.
– The host suggested a refund in exchange for a positive review, which violates platform guidelines. When we referenced the terms of service, she claimed unfamiliarity with them due to being a new host.
– At one point, the host stated, “it’s not my problem you book my place,” which underscored a troubling mindset about guest responsibility and accountability. The sentiment felt, frankly, disconcerting and inappropriate for a guest-host relationship.

What this means for future stays
– This experience highlights the importance of clear and honest listing details, reliable communication, and appropriate boundaries between hosts and guests.
– Guests should expect transparency about what is included (and not included) in the space, especially when part of the listing is shared.
– When issues arise, documenting the problems and contacting platform support promptly can help protect both parties and facilitate a fair resolution.

Current status
– We are pursuing clarification and a refund through Airbnb Support while trying to avoid letting this experience ruin our upcoming weekend plans.
– If you’re planning to host, ensure you’re prepared for the responsibilities, maintain open lines of communication, and avoid situations that could compromise guest safety or comfort.

If you’ve had similar experiences or have tips for dealing with difficult hosts, feel free to share. This kind of situation is unfortunately more common than ideal, and learning from it can help everyone have better, safer stays in the future.