Dear Airbnb
I am writing to you because you need to know the huge domino effect of dillemmas you caused to me, my family and friends.
What we suffered for your mistake was inexcusable.
Firstly, my friends and family had booked this trip to Sydney so far in advance to compensate for any changes, but not thinking it would be on the actual day!
We were only told the day of checkin, that our apartment was cancelled by the Host. This was then specified by the host that this wasn't true, but was infact a mistake from you.
Let me tell you how our day went from there....
We had only 2 hrs to find alternative accommodation for 6 people staying but meeting up with 9 people coming from 5 different directions from semi rural areas, taking 2 hours to drive.
Everyone was in a panic as we needed to find accomodation immediately, at a similar price, but most importantly very close to Star Casino Wharf.
This was due to me having Breast Cancer and this was my 'coming out' after a year of hell, to say the least, and my severe fibromyalgia, cannot cope with long distant walks or strenuous activities.
It was where our Harbour Cruise was set to leave at 6:30pm. We had booked this cruise back in November and at $130 per ticket with no refund if we missed it.
Secondly, we found further accommodation with 'Winnie', a truly lovely apartment and host, however, the address was changed 3 times, first we were told Jones st, then it was changed to 54 John st, as approaching at 3:30pm they then changed it to 120 Saunders St.
This was humilitating For 3 of our guests including me, for we were dropped off at the first location and then had to walk from one to the other then the other up and down so many stairs where I had an anxiety attack due to my Cancer effects.
Due to the further stressful circumstances surrounding the limited time of having to search for different accommodation, constantly on the phone to all our guests ringing to know where to meet for our new accommodation and being not 100% with my health, I was then so emotionally frazzled that I left 5 of our Cruise tickets at home in Bowral, 2 hrs drive away.
They told us no ticket no boarding, after pleading like crazy, they said we could only get on if we paid an extra $100 per person.
After suffering another panic attack, and crying hysterically I then had to be lightly sedated by my nurse who was with us.
My darling husband, thank God, who was at home to mind our youngest daughter, then drove 2hrs into Sydney to heroically bring us our Cruise tickets then drove 2hrs back home because there was no room for him and our daughter to stay at our apartment. Keeping in mind over 300 kms of petrol!
Our beautiful night on the harbour ended with us all walking all the way back and left 4 lady’s including me, absolutely exhausted with blistered feet due to not being able to find a taxi for 6 people let alone 1.
It took me days to recouperate and fearful to trust Airbnb again and has added to my current anxiety health issues.
I look forward to your prompt attention in this matter, and perhaps in rectifying this situation somehow, and especially not letting this happen to any other guests.
Kind regards
Stella & Stephen Bunt
