“After three stunning weeks traveling across the rugged beauty, of Morocco’s verdant and fragrant landscape by motorbike, our arrival at the Atlantic Ocean signaled that our journey was nearing its completion. It had been stunning, captivating, and at times grueling. As a treat to ourselves and to celebrate the experience we booked Mohamed’s sea view apartment. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating we would spend the next two days quarrelling with our host over the state of the unit.
Let me start by saying that my intention is not to be overly disparaging or scornful. Our experience was less then pleasant, but I hope that this review can be instructive and will be used to bring a rental with tarnished potential up to an agreeable standard, and guest to come will have a better experience then us. Having said that, on to ours.
Despite providing accurate time of arrival, the host was not present to let us in. When we called the contact number provided, there was no answer. We had to wait 30 min in the lobby with all our bags before a gentleman arrived to let us in.
Once we were in we very quickly became aware of the disrepair and lack of cleanliness, it was frankly abysmal, dust and dirt was present everywhere. Beginning with the kitchen cabinet door falling off of it’s hinges when I went to throw a bit of rubbish away, it only got worse. There was old slices of bread and animal bones (maybe from a previous meal) on the roof in front of the balcony. The blender was cracked and when we used it to make smoothies it leaked and began smoking filling the unit with an acrid smell. The mirror in the bathroom is cracked. There were only two towels provided for a two bedroom unit, and they were stained and had holes in them. The sheets on the bed were dirty and there was a dead cockroach under the bathroom sink, even a cursory cleaning would have revealed that.
It was only after Airbnb reached out to our host that they began responding. First by coming up the in the morning to help us with the television, and then confronting us telling us that we were being overcritical and that in fact the unit was fine, which I then asked him to do a walk through with me showing him the towels, the broken cabinet doors, the filth everywhere, and when we finally got to the cockroach under the kitchen cabinet he changed his demeanor. I asked him if he thought this was acceptable and he reluctantly agreed that it was not.
And, as for value I would have to say it was poor and not worth it, not when we stayed in far cleaner, well appointed, nicer places with wonderfully attentive hosts that cost less previously on our trip in Morocco. It's a disservice to other Airbnb hosts putting in so much effort to provide such poor service and take advantage of guests. Look my intention isn't simply to tell you how terrible our experience was or make anyone feel bad. The gentlemen at reception promised us that all aforementioned issues would be addressed before the unit was rented again. Unfortunately that doesn't make our experience any better, but I hope that that is true, and that future guests find the rental experience great and leave better reviews. It's a great unit, just rundown, a little upkeep will go a long way. Have pride in your business, care about your guest experience, listen to them, they aren't just there to line your pockets. It will pay 10x fold to provide great service. I wish you the best luck in the future.
