@Adam1570 Sounds like a pretty scammy host, or else they are just inexperienced and don't have themselves organized.
What you could have done differently:
It isn't a good idea to wait until the last minute to communicate with a host. You should never just book and then show up weeks later, or wait until a day before to ask a host who hasn't sent you check-in info for it.
If the host has not kept in touch with you to some extent between the time you book and your check-in date, you should message them at least a week before check-in.
"Hi XX, I have a booking for XX dates and am just checking in with you to make sure all is still good for our reservation. When can I expect to receive the check-in instructions?"
This at least gives you a chance to contact Airbnb, cancel amd get a refund, and look for another place if the host is unresponsive, tries to pull a bait and switch on you, or some other unprofessional behavior.
It isn't like booking a hotel room- you are dealing with individual hosts who can be super experienced and professional, or the opposite. (Just as hosts can get bad or scamming guests). There's often a bit of a risk, so keeping up good commmunication is really important, and if something seems off, give yourself enough time to deal with it.