This airbnb is unlike any other I've visited.
The instructions seemed simple enough, "Your key is in the door, the code is ….". I find myself fumbling with the padlock that is hooked around the front door, the clanging gets the attention of a resident, and they approach the door just as I get it open. I place my key in my pocket.
The sunlight illuminates the spartan scene before me. Mattresses line the lounge room floor, the only other furniture being 2 foldable tables and a lonely chair. Luggage and linen cover the other floor surfaces. I inspect the kitchen, only to told by my guide that I'm 'lucky'.
"Last week", he informs me, "there were twice as many people here, and see that space" he motions to where the dining room table should be, "I slept there last week". "I just wish people respected the place more, I mean, why should I have to wash up the dirty dishes of everyone else when I want to cook, and nobody has ever cleaned the bathroom!".
A young indian man, who currently studies at Stanford but is interning with a nearby technology company, grimly informs me that he has found other accommodation, but that this experience has cost him almost $300 USD because the cancellation policy is so bad. I feel for the guy, there is no way I would want to spend 3 months living on a lounge room floor, in what can only be described as a slum!
I decide to hunt for my room, a '2 person share room with half bathroom in a renovated apartment, bed C-1'. Suddenly I notice the prison like indicators above each bed, D, E and F appear to be lounge room beds, I suddenly hope that the C tag isn't for the other unlabelled bed.
Thankfully I find a room as described, with the scent of new carpet filling my lungs I plunge into my hospice. Fortunately, only 1 bed exists in this 2 bedroom share room, so I really am living in luxury, and my god, the bed even has sheets and a pillow!
The next day I get a message from my host "I've overbooked the your room, would you mind moving into the lounge room for tonight?".
1 - star.