Guest User
August 20, 2023
The apar**ent itself is quite good—decent size, a clean toilet, and equipped with everything you need. It was well-maintained and had all the necessary amenities. The location is excellent, right in the heart of Surfers Paradise. However, dealing with the host, Gold Coast Private Apar**ents, has been the worst experience I've ever had. They simply ignore about 90% of the messages you send, and when you try to call them, a call center answers and claims they are only there to direct calls, with the consultants always being busy... always. They never bother returning your calls. Shortly after making the payment, I sent messages requesting an early check-in and late check-out. I was left in the dark for days until I had to get Airbnb involved. They responded, saying it would depend on availability, and then proceeded to keep ignoring me. When they do respond, which is a rare occurrence, their messages are also stuffed with loads of advertisements and other unnecessary content—just one simple answer accompanied by a full page of links and other irrelevant stuff. When I finally received a mobile number, I got in touch with a guy who actually provided answers. However, despite his quick responses, he couldn't really do much to help. Upon arriving, the first thing I noticed was the aircon: it displayed in Fahrenheit, not Celsius, and the dials were worn off, making it difficult to set up properly. With some assistance from Google, I finally managed to figure it out, but soon I realized that the vent in the bedroom wasn't functioning correctly. I immediately reached out to the host, who told me that the maintenance team couldn't come until days after my check-out, and they directed me to the booking team (the ones who never reply). After exchanging numerous messages, they simply informed me that I could leave the unit, pay the full price for the days I had already used, and find an alternative on my own. Well, that's nearly impossible. I had booked weeks in advance and couldn't find anything suitable in such short notice. I spent three days there before my girlfriend left for Germany for a whole year. During these three days, I had to sleep in the living room on the sofa, away from her, since I couldn't bear sleeping in the bedroom. The temperature was alright for her, a petite girl, but not for me—a 6.3” 125kg man. I just couldn't stop sweating. It's worth mentioning that Airbnb did provide me with a refund of $150 for the broken aircon. Despite their offer of a nice suite inside the Houston Hotel, I strongly advise avoiding this host like the plague.