My Airbnb Hell: A fictional Superhost?

I thought using Airbnb would be a great idea. I’d heard so many good things about it, and for long-term stays, it’s often much cheaper than hotels. So, why not? I watched countless YouTube videos, trying to educate myself on potential pitfalls. I thought I’d learned enough, but clearly, I hadn’t. My first Airbnb experience also became my last. Buckle up.

I found a “Superhost,” Angela. She had a 4.72-star rating, spoke both English and Italian, and had fantastic reviews. The property I was eyeing had an impressive 4.92-star rating. My plan was simple: a mix of beach time and remote work. The apartment was just 6 km from the beach, and the listing advertised “fantastic fast internet, perfect for remote work.”

Here’s what the description promised:

- Fast internet (50 Mbps)
- Bicycles available (with plenty of photos)
- A fantastic balcony view
- Equipped for long-term stays

I messaged Angela to ask if I’d need a car for the area. Her husband, Luigi, replied in Italian, saying a car was recommended. I responded that I was happy to walk or use the bicycles. Luigi assured me there were amazing hiking trails nearby, and a bus service was also available.

So, I booked the place for 45 days.

The hosts kindly arranged for a pickup from the train station and drove me to the apartment for a reasonable fee. Funny thing, I never actually spoke to Angela — only Luigi, who didn’t speak English. When I arrived, neither of them was there. Instead, an elderly man, probably around 80, greeted me. He didn’t speak a word of English either, but he showed me around the apartment, chattering away in Italian. He seemed friendly enough.

The apartment was clean, except for some hair in the bathroom. It was late, so I took a shower and went to bed. Luigi messaged me, asking if everything was okay. I immediately replied, asking about the bicycle and where to find it. No response, but the message was read. I went to sleep.

The next morning, excited to check out the view, I opened the balcony door. The view was, indeed, amazing! But then I noticed something. The neighboring balcony was separated by a flimsy wooden fence with holes in it. Zero privacy. If someone were on the other side, I’d not only hear them — I’d be able to see what they were eating!

In the photos, this fence was covered in plants, giving the illusion of privacy. In reality, that privacy was non-existent. Not to mention, there was an ashtray full of cigarette butts. Smoking allowed? What?

I checked the kitchen, supposedly equipped for cooking. No microwave, no electric kettle. Okay, I could manage without those. But then I noticed there was no large knife for cutting meat or bread, no oven mitts, and no kitchen towels. Great.

Still no response from the host about the bicycle.

I connected to the Wi-Fi, only to find it was painfully slow and kept disconnecting my laptop every 10 minutes. My phone couldn’t even connect at all.

I felt betrayed.

I wanted to leave right then and there but convinced myself I was overreacting. After all, Luigi finally replied, saying the bicycle would be available in three days. Fine.

But every time I left the apartment, Luigi’s father would be sitting outside, asking me where I was going. It felt beyond weird — like he was guarding the building. For the next 45 days, every time I stepped out, he’d ask where I was headed.

There were also no mosquito nets, so I was covered in bites. And, to top it off, cigarette smoke would drift into my kitchen.

After complaining, the host slightly improved the Wi-Fi and finally brought the bicycles.

One day, there was no water for four hours. It was 39 degrees outside, and because it was during siesta, I couldn’t even go out and buy bottled water.

To sum up:

• Angela, the “Superhost” on Airbnb, might not even exist — I never spoke to her or saw her.
  - The fast Wi-Fi? Complete lie.
  - The photos of the bicycles? Fake.
  - The private balcony? False advertising.
  - The host supposedly spoke English? Yeah, no.
  - The kitchen wasn’t even properly equipped.
• the bus service was only running during the week (5 times a day) and was expensive
• hiking trial he mentioned was 4 hours away by car

I could’ve asked for a refund and left, but where would I go? I booked this place months in advance and got a nice discount. Honestly, after this experience, I’ll never use Airbnb again. If the “Superhost” is fictional, the photos are fake, and the description is a lie, what am I supposed to trust?