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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect an airbnb to provide a drying rack

77 replies

inmyfeelings · 25/07/2019 13:20

Staying in France at an Airbnb apartment booked pretty much last minute . It's beautifully decorated and also cost considerably more than similar properties but we didn't have much choice as it was a late booking . However there are a few issues .
Firstly there no facilities to actually dry clothing . There's a washing machine but no drying rack for clothing . I thought this was standard but prepared to be told I'm being U. I contacted the owners to ask if there was one someone in the flat ( in case there was in a cupboard or room that I had missed ) but they haven't replied to my message. It's a bit inconvenient as we're at the beach mostly and have lots of towels to dry as well as laundry for 3 children and 2 adults .
Was also a bit surprised there was no electric kettle and the small pan provided isn't compatible with the induction hob so need to use a massive cooking pan to boil water for tea for one person . Surely a small pot should also be provided ? I asked the owner about this too but she doesn't reply .
Thirdly it's advertised as parking 'on premises ' but the Car park is about 750m away? Can be tricky when toddler has fallen asleep or lugging bags late at night etc . Is this misleading ?
I've stayed in bnb apartments all over Europe and find the owners tend to get back to you over queries but maybe I've been spoiled so far . Also assumed on premises means actually on site not the local car park . Thoughts ?

OP posts:
BlueSkiesLies · 25/07/2019 13:23

Seriously? You started a thread because you haven;t got a drying rack or a small pan.

This is part and parcel of staying in self catered accommodation. They almost always aren't equipped as you would wish.

How long are you staying for that you need to use the washing machine?

Just hand the towels over the backs of chairs (or on the balcony if there is one) to dry off after the beach, they don't need a wash.

Original poster
inmyfeelings · 25/07/2019 13:25

Can't use the chairs as they're all suede and there's no balcony at all. Maybe this is a petty and silly thread but i did pay a premium to stay here so expected things that I can't easily buy I suppose .

OP posts:
Original poster
inmyfeelings · 25/07/2019 13:28

Also forgot to add that it's advertised as air conditioned but only one of the four rooms has air con . I thought I was paying more for the air con and the parking on site .

OP posts:
skybluee · 25/07/2019 13:30

I just hang all of mine on coathangers, can you do that? It'll dry really quickly I'd have thought.

Is there anywhere to hang the towels outside?

You can buy travel washing lines, don't know if there are shops that are well stocked up on things like this near you.

The car park shouldn't be half a mine away if it was billed at being on the premises. On the premises is literally outside, not down the street, on another street etc. It's at the address. So I don't think that's on.

The drying rack wouldn't bother me.

Are you sure there's not a kettle tucked away in a cupboard or anything like that?

Disfordarkchocolate · 25/07/2019 13:30

I'd be very annoyed about the parking and lack of aircon.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 25/07/2019 13:31

The parking is definitely a big issue. The drying thing, not so much. The kettle is a non-issue, most French places wouldn't have one.

Nicknacky · 25/07/2019 13:31

The only thing that might annoy me is the car parking. The rest is just personal preference.

WinnieTheW0rm · 25/07/2019 13:37

When you only book last minute, you are stuck with what is left.

Hobsin's choice can also be expensive.

Chalk it up to experience, make the best of it, and hope your luck turns so you can have a bit more planning time for future holidays

itbemay · 25/07/2019 13:40

These little things would annoy me too. Make sure you ask your questions through the air B&B app as it will do a translation service for you if you don't speak French. No kettle will be a deal breaker for me, sorry!

PCohle · 25/07/2019 13:41

The parking sounds misleading, but everything else is a non-issue. I'm not sure what you expect to gain from discussing this on MN rather than raising it with AirBnB though.

ElizaPancakes · 25/07/2019 13:42

YANBU at all about the air con and parking. The other stuff is annoying (especially the kettle, I would expect a kettle) and I have no idea why they wouldn’t be provided in the accommodation you describe, but clearly it’s an unreasonable expectation.

Skyejuly · 25/07/2019 13:43

Buy string and pegs!

stucknoue · 25/07/2019 13:44

Look at the small print - if they genuinely say parking is on site then you should properly complain. The pot and drying rack, well unless you have an inventory and they are missing then there's nothing you can do. With the aircon, again check the details, we realised only after we arrived that the star led to an explanation that it was in the living room only.

BeanBag7 · 25/07/2019 13:44

Parking would be the only issue for me. Using a big pan to boil water isn't the end of the world and if you need air con it is presumably hot so wont take much time for your towels etc to dry by just putting them over a chair or something.

Doidontimmm · 25/07/2019 13:47

Are kettle & airer mentioned under facilities? If so you should ask for them to be provided. What is the exact wording re air con? I run an Airbnb & find along with many other hosts that guests assume a lot rather than actually read the description in full. If you have been mislead, however contact Airbnb if no reply from host.

MillicentMartha · 25/07/2019 13:48

Kettles aren’t that usual in France, are they? I know my French pen friend had a lovely, modern house, but boiled all water in a pan. They didn’t really drink tea...

HundredMilesAnHour · 25/07/2019 13:51

The kettle is a total non-issue. The French don't tend to use kettles so unless they're specifically targeting Brits, a kettle being provided is unlikely.

The car parking being a distance away is a bit naughty if they didn't state that in their property description.

I've never stayed in an AirBNB that provides a drying rack but I assume most AirBNBs don't expect their guests to be doing lots of laundry unless you're staying there long term.

As for the aircon, it's very common for aircon to only be in certain rooms e.g. bedroom and living room only.

And if you book at the last minute, you usually pay a premium as the good deals will have been booked up months earlier. I'm not sure why you expect this to be any different.

Helenluvsrob · 25/07/2019 14:01

Kettle in French rental house 😂😂😂😂😂 never seen one ( years ago I don’t think electrics were up to it and they’ve probably not re wired for that long !)
Ditto air con. Present in 1 room - therefore property has it. Up till the last few years you just wouldn’t find it ever.

Limited kitchen provisions - usual again. Use the garden chairs to dry stuff on

Parking miles away. If says “ on site “ you might have a reportable moan.

If

bridgetreilly · 25/07/2019 14:05

Parking 'on site' depends on the kind of property it is. If you're in a holiday village, then no, I wouldn't assume 'on site' meant 'right outside your property'.

OtraCosaMariposa · 25/07/2019 14:09

Are you sure it's not a washer/dryer machine?

We stayed in two self-catering properties in France recently, both had airers suitable for outside drying. One had a kettle.

On site parking means to me outside the door. Or a few steps away. Not 750m. Definitely feedback to Airbnb, especially if you're not getting a response from the host.

Original poster
inmyfeelings · 25/07/2019 14:10

What garden chairs ? There's no garden and no chairs apart from the suede dining ones . I don't want to risk spoiling them . No kettle is fine I just thought a pot maybe , well there is one but it can't be used on the hob as it's an induction hob . There is so much other crockery , a tv in every room , baking dishes of every shape and size , dozens of cleaning detergent bottles and lots of random things in abundance ( skewers and Tupperware ) . The furnishings seem expensive like a lot of effort and thought has gone into it . But there are no coat hangers or even towel rails in the many bathrooms ! I think I was surprised as I stay regularly in apartments all over Europe through airbnb at a mere fraction of this cost and they've always had a little pot at least or somewhere to hang or dry wet clothing . Now I'll know to ask next time !

OP posts:
Doidontimmm · 25/07/2019 14:17

You’ve not answered if you checked the listing for all these things!

Doidontimmm · 25/07/2019 14:18

Is it a washer dryer maybe?

Doidontimmm · 25/07/2019 14:19

And the ethos of Airbnb is all places are individual so just because others have provided doesn’t mean all. That’s why people should read the full listing. It’s jot like a chain hotel and everything is standard!

Original poster
inmyfeelings · 25/07/2019 14:20

In the listing it states ' pots and pans' and 'washing machine ' . There's one massive pot and a small one that doesn't work as it's not compatible with the hob . It doesn't state drying rack . It states air conditioning and on site parking . It isn't a washer dryer .

OP posts: