When I arrived and texted the host, calmly (I'm really big into being objective when conflicts are sure to ensue), asking her why the apartment was different than the one pictured, she instantly told me to leave, if I had a problem, as she didn't want unhappy people staying there. I stayed because I paid over $300 and knew I would not get a refund, plus I had no where else to go.
During our text conversation (she wouldn't answer my actual phone calls--I sent probably 20 of them) she kept mentioning the "amenities," and that this new apartment was indeed different, but better. She then began threatening to call "Security Patrol" if I wasn't happy, or if I planned on submitting a bad review and kept reminding me she was a "SUPER HOST SINCE 2010." This whole thing gave me anxiety and ate up alot of my $300 night.
Also, she did not want me to mention Airbnb to the front desk, which made this all seem illegal; she was also very keen on calling the security if I did so. I was even made to go on a scavenger hunt to find the room key; it was ducktaped to a water pipe in Downtown LA, next to a sleepy homeless gentleman--nothing against the sleepy fellow but this doesn't seem like a very good security measure for other tenants. Maybe this is why she did not want me mentioning Airbnb to the building managment; I was also told this "no mentioning Airbnb" policy was a rule everywhere in Los Angeles, which is untrue. The next morning, she texted and made sure I ducktaped the key back to the pole in DTLA; is this normal?
Either way, the host was rude, the apartment was falsely advertised, the whole operation was shady and I was most likely made an accessory to illegal subletting. Do you think there is any way to get a partial refund? I would happily give her a 5-star review, if so.
This is my first Airbnb, btw
Any ideas? Questions? Advice?
Thanks, all!
Jacob