What seemed like a straightforward arrangement soon turned into an unexpected challenge. Finding our booked Airbnb, located in the heart of Budapest, proved to be far from easy. In fact, it felt very much like trying to solve a complicated jigsaw puzzle with several missing pieces.
To begin with, we only received the self-check-in instructions a few minutes before the stipulated check-in time. The process required us to walk to a different street altogether to retrieve the keys from a lockbox before making our way back to the apartment main entrance door. For four senior travellers unfamiliar with such arrangements, the instructions were anything but intuitive. We found ourselves deciphering messages, matching landmarks, and trying to determine whether we were at the correct location.
To make matters worse, the entire exercise unfolded in the middle of a steady rain. Laden with luggage and umbrellas, we trudged from one location to another, trying to follow the directions while keeping ourselves and our belongings dry. What should have been a simple check-in became a frustrating and exhausting ordeal.
Looking back, the experience was both mind-boggling and torturous. Yet, once we finally gained access to the apartment and settled in, it became another memorable episode of our travels - one of those unexpected adventures that, although stressful at the time, would later provide plenty of stories and laughter to share.
Our Munich accommodation had been reserved for four nights, but unfortunately the experience turned out to be one of the most disappointing and shocking aspects of our European journey. The property suffered from serious shortcomings in cleanliness, maintenance, facilities, and privacy.
Upon arrival on 5 May 2026, it was immediately apparent that the property had not been properly prepared for incoming guests. Several common areas appeared to be occupied by the host's or staff's personal belongings. The shoe rack was already filled with shoes, leaving no room for guests to store their own. Clothes hangers were occupied by jackets and bags, while the living room sofa was cluttered with personal items belonging to the host's staff. To our surprise, we also found a tray containing cigarette butts beneath the sofa, suggesting that the property had not been thoroughly cleaned prior to our arrival. To make matters worse, the washing machine contained laundry that had apparently been left behind by the staff. The overall impression was that we had walked into someone's private living quarters rather than a professionally managed guest accommodation.
The standard of cleanliness was equally disappointing. The kitchen dustbin was overflowing with food scraps and rubbish, attracting flies and emitting an unpleasant odour. This was the condition in which we found the property at check-in, raising immediate concerns about hygiene and housekeeping standards.
The accommodation itself presented numerous maintenance and usability issues. The mattress on the advertised double bed was noticeably smaller than the bed frame, making it uncomfortable to use. The door to one of the bedrooms could not be fully opened, creating difficulties when moving luggage in and out of the room. The bedroom curtain was too narrow to cover the entire window, allowing substantial amounts of outside light to enter during the night and affecting the quality of our sleep.
Privacy was also compromised. One of the bathroom door locks was broken and could not be secured when in use. In addition, a leaking heater in one of the bedrooms caused water to accumulate on the floor, creating both an inconvenience and a potential slipping hazard.
Based on our observations, we felt that the property's condition, cleanliness, maintenance, and facilities bore little resemblance to the description and photographs displayed on the booking platform. The reality fell far short of what had been advertised.
As a result of these concerns, we concluded that we could not continue our stay at the property. However, by the time we discovered the extent of the problems, it was already late in the evening, leaving us with little choice but to spend the night there. Had we arrived earlier and been aware of the conditions, we would have left immediately and sought alternative accommodation.
After enduring one uncomfortable night, we checked out the following morning. Before departing, we discussed the various issues with the property's management, who acknowledged our concerns and did not object when we informed them of our intention to seek a refund for the three unused nights.
However, much to our disappointment, the refund request was later rejected when it was formally submitted through the booking platform.
While every traveller's expectations may differ, we would encourage prospective guests to carefully review all available information before making a booking. In our view, the property was not presented in the condition that a reasonable guest would expect upon arrival, and our experience fell significantly short of the standards and representations outlined in the listing.
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