It was my first day in Italy. My Superhost dropped me at a train station to get the fast train to Pompeii and said he would send me directions to return to his home. He helped me book my ticket with my EU rail pass so he knew my return time.
He sent the train and the bus information but never mentioned what stop to get off at. An hour and a half later, now after 11:00 PM at night, I sent another text letting him know I was stranded. 35 minutes later he responded with his address that I already had from my pre-approved booking.
I finally found my way after almost two hours, two buses and walking around with very few people to help at that late hour at night. I never saw my Superhost again until the day of my departure. I stayed there five nights and six days.
The next day at the metro, the staff informed me the bus he had recommended was not the most direct route to get to his home. Where he suggested I catch the bus was a poorly lit area with vandalized cars and a construction area about a 5-minute walk from the train station he recommended. They advised me to get off one more stop, the last stop on the line, where there was a bus terminal, well lit and had both police and soldiers present.
The bus the metro staff suggested placed me, right around the corner, approximately a 10-minute walk from his home. The bus stop my Superhost recommended was on the main road with many different streets to navigate and approximately a 20-minute walk to his home.
After two weeks of emailing Brian Chesky and then Chip Conley with no reply, I filed a Resolution Case. A Senior Escalation Supervisor suggested “a Superhost is not required to help you navigate the city.” He also replied, “a Superhost has 24 hours to reply to a host.”
Let me get this straight: giving precise and complete directions to get back to a host’s home on the first day of your stay in a foreign country is “navigating the city.” Secondly, by being stranded at night on your first day in a foreign country, he is suggesting “wait 24 hours for your host to contact you”?
Folks as I read CEO Brian Chesky doesn’t care about guests, only hosts. Obviously his staff are trained to do the same. I tried calling, spoke to three staff members, and told my story three times until I requested a manager and refused to tell it again. The Senior Escalation Supervisor concluded “it seems like your Superhost tried to help.” He signed off and closed my case.
Airbnb can go to hell and burn there. Karma is a sure thing. Avoid Airbnb at all costs. Decrease guests booking means more hosts without reservations and hopefully then Airbnb will change their bottom line.
As someone who travels alone a lot and is a girl that gets hit on, followed, stalked etc anywhere I go…..I’m sorry but you sound like a retard! Pull up your own maps. Figure out your own way. Your host went out of his way to drive you and help you with stuff….if you can’t do that stuff on your own then purchase guided tours or something. So stupid.
The host isn’t meant to coddle you. Solo traveling means you must be self-reliant. You weren’t stranded, do you even know what the word means? Don’t you own a smartphone? Have you ever heard of Google?
Absolutely agree with the other people’s comments about your sense of entitlement. Your host was kind enough to help you book a Eurail ticket AND drop you off at the station. They don’t owe it to you to do that! Perhaps you don’t understand the concept of AirBNB? I travel alone all the time and if I’m going to a place I’ve never been before, I make darn sure that I have all the pertinent travel information before I get there, including rail travel information, how to get to the station, which bus route(s) to take to my accommodation or any other places I may want to visit. That is what traveling by yourself requires: PLANNING. If you feel you cannot do that, then don’t travel on your own.
You’re acting like a little child. Quite obviously, Airbnb is not made for you.
Ridiculous. You can use google maps to plan public transportation in Rome AND Naples. It has never been easier. Do you seriously not have a smartphone?
If you need someone to hold your hand and organize your travel – stay at a 4 or 5 star hotel and ask for the concierge’s help. This is not meant disrespectfully, but your host’s responsibility to HOST you, not to organize your travels. If you can’t navigate yourself in a different city, you probably shouldn’t travel on your own, or stay at AirBnB’s….
The Superhost is not required to help you navigate the city. Period.
I’m on the host’s side on this one. It’s up to you to find your way around. The host’s job is to give you a place to stay. That’s pretty much it.
Here’s the thing…You are, presumably, a grown adult. You’ve decided to travel and see the world. You booked a accommodations, not a your guide or a babysitter. You can literally use Google earth or a phone or stop and buy a map. I’ve never, ever had to ask a host to drop everything and provide a step by step guide to returning to the bnb. I’m not sure what you think you’re owed by the man who took you to the station, helped you book a train to Pompei,…?