2/10 Terrible
Sonia S., Paris, France
27 April 2022
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beware
We did not spend a single night in this filthy, filthy house. After checking in at 11 PM, we immediately contacted VRBO's utterly useless service to try to find alternative accommodation before finding a hotel ourselves.
To be brief, the house is not as represented. In fact, on check-in, I pulled up the listing to even be sure that we were in the right place. The photos of the house's interior had been removed from the listing. The house looks as though it hasn't been cleaned in years; the state of disrepair is shocking. There is broken glass and refuse around the exterior, rodent droppings and dead insects inside. The floor and surfaces are covered in a thick coating of dust and grime.
There are places where repairs like plumbing have been made in the past but not patched up, so you'll find holes in tiling, etc. This helps explain the rodent droppings. The list is too long for this review.
A further worrying discrepancy from the VRBO listing is that the house is being used as a hotel. Each bedroom was numbered with a lock on its door. There were hotel electricity card slots in each bedroom/hotel room as well as mini fridges (which were also filthy, explaining certain dead insects).
Although the beds were freshly made, the towels were grayed and threadbare. Needless to say, we were unwilling to put our heads down on the underlying pillows and mattress that were surely in the same condition as the rest of the house, filthy.
Since we did not use anything in the house, such as WiFi, showers, toilets, sinks, stove, etc. I can't say if they were functional. The bathing platforms are seasonal and were not installed.
This was a very creepy place to arrive after dark. There is a long, uneven staircase down from the road through overgrown plants, litter, old construction cast-offs and broken glass. Inside the house, the few working lamps were fitted with amber coloured bulbs, so there is very little light.
When we returned the keys the next day, in the daylight, we were able to see the full picture. It was once a beautiful place but has been transformed by overuse and neglect. It's a shame. Had it been clean, we would have loved to stay there. It's full of charm and in a beautiful setting, but not a luxury villa as represented.
As a side note, VRBO's traveler protection policy did not protect us. I won't be "booking with confidence" in the future. I sincerely hope that this helps someone else to avoid an expensive nightmare.
Sonia S.
Stayed 11 nights in Apr 2022
