There's no place like home or your own caravan.

[Sam Vimes]

Over the weekend we needed a one night stay, somewhere I won't mention but was the pits as it turned out, and with only short notice found a static caravan on Airbnb. Most of the recent reviews were good.

It was dreadful. Dirty, cold and very basic. Since just one night, so basically from 4pm to 10am, we put up with it.

For 3 adults and an 8 year old, only 2 towels and no soap or shower gel as advertised. Central heating, as advertised, didn't work. Three sets of knives and forks, only two spoons. Four plates but only two bowls. Saucepans you wouldn't put the dogs food in or even attempt to use on the grease laden hob.

A fan heater that did work but when the kettle was turned on the lights tripped. No PAT test on anything. Smoke detector sitting on a shelf.

WiFi, as advertised, not present. Smart Tv, as advertised, only in dumb mode since no internet.

I could go on but the really annoying thing was that a few minutes after we checked out we got an email from the owner via Airbnb stating that we'd stolen the battery operated air fresheners...4 in total and why would you need them... and left the gas fire on...we hadn't as double checked...and emptied the gas bottle. Complete with a demand for £100. Disputed this with Airbnb and not heard anything since.

The air fresheners we put in a cupboard since they're not good for people with asthma or allergies.

I'm wondering what sort of review to give...any suggestions.😄

 

[woodsieboy]

Did you take any photos, if so add them to your review, and leave an honest review, report your comments as you have here, I doubt you will hear anything more.

 

[otherclive]

I would give an honest review backed up by photos if you have any. Sounds like the recent reviews may have been generated by “ mates”

WRT PAT testing there's no legal requirement to do it, or keep records or label appliances.

 

[Mr Plodd]

An honest review of your experience. Be factual, be brief and DONT rant.

 

[Paullus1959]

Morning Sam.
I'd definitely be leaving a very negative review to warn other people about this place. Don't hold back, tell it as it was. People who do let their rooms or properties out on Airbnb rely heavily on recommendations from previous visitors. My wife and I have used Airbnb places seven times since 2019 and all have been truly excellent with just one minor exception. This one occasion was when we needed somewhere in a hurry for one night and booked into a bedroom in a house. This was a house occupied by two lads in their early twenties and everything was shared, toilet, bathroom and kitchen. This isn't uncommon, the place was clean but, it just wasn't for us. We went to bed at 10:30pm and gone by 6:00am.
It's a shame you've had such a terrible experience.

 

[Jcloughie]

Your review could almost be just cutting and pasting your first post.

We have not used AirB&B as yet. But everyone we know who has have had mostly very good experience. I feel it is important to give factual and honest reviews for future users.

John

 

[Andy Norfolk]

We run a one bedroom holiday let in Norfolk. Reviews are critical. We have 85% occupancy. So be honest and factual. You are then hopefully helping the owner to rectify the issues, and flagging your experience to potential guests. A good owner will apologise to you and tell you what they are doing to put the issues right.

 

[otherclive]

We run a one bedroom holiday let in Norfolk. Reviews are critical. We have 85% occupancy. So be honest and factual. You are then hopefully helping the owner to rectify the issues, and flagging your experience to potential guests. A good owner will apologise to you and tell you what they are doing to put the issues right.

I'd agree, but the owner of Sam's AirBnB doesn't sound like a "good"one given his attitude to Sam. Which makes me suspicious of the previous recent reviews.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I would give an honest review backed up by photos if you have any. Sounds like the recent reviews may have been generated by “ mates”

WRT PAT testing there's no legal requirement to do it, or keep records or label appliances.

Yes you're correct, PAT testing isn't mandatory nor does it need to be done by an electrician, just a competent person....define that one.

There is however a duty if care to show that appliances are not risky to use and PAT testing is perhaps one way to do so.

 

[Sam Vimes]

We've used AirBnb many times around the world and this is the only one that's not been good.

We'll leave a factual review. Photos would have been a good idea but too late now. We were just pleased to go. BTW, it was on a caravan holiday park, which I later checked up on and that got a lot of dreadful reviews. No accounting for people's expectations.

It took touring caravans as well, although the approach road looked like it had been recently bombed. The whole area was depressing and I'd heard that the town twinning application had been turned down by Chernobyl 😉

There's a local establishment near us at home that has two different listings on TripAdvisor. One has genuine reviews...we know because our own experiences tally with the reviews. The other does seem to be used by 'mates' as it's 180 Deg out of reality.

 

[Dustydog]

How did you pay? £100 plus?
Playing devils advocate I’d make a formal complaint and ask for a full refund. Cheeky git asking you to pay for things allegedly used or taken🤬

Get help or contact Airbnb Support - Airbnb Help Centre

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[Sam Vimes]

It was £82 for the one night which perhaps says it all considering there were four of us.

Can't be bothered to take it further....just close it off and put it behind us.

Just remembered that in order to get into the Park, we had to give our car registration so that the automatic barrier would open for us. It didn't. Shuffled back and forth in front of the camera but nothing. Called the out of hours number....at just before 4pm.... nothing.

Then someone came along behind us and I told them what was going on. They said it was flaky at the best of times. They managed to get recognised and we shot in behind them.

We'll live off this saga for a while over coffee etc with friends.😉

 

[Beachball]

Contact Airbnb and informed them of the poor state of the accommodation and expressed all of your concerns in your written review . We have stopped with Airbnb and left some excellent reviews reflecting our stays .