To ask if I’m being overly picky, or if you’d mention these things in an Airbnb review?

[raisemyheartrate]

I’m currently staying in an Airbnb, solo, and thinking about the review I’ll write.

There are two main sticking points for me:

1. The listing did not mention, anywhere, that key pick up for the flat is located about half a mile down the road. I didn’t get check in instructions until the day of check in. I had to drag my bags to the flat, at 1 in the morning. It’s just an annoyance that to be honest, I would have avoided if I’d known about it.
2. The courtyard is really not as described. It was pictured to look huge, with a sea view and sun all day. In reality you can’t see the sea unless you’re in the flat, and the sun is gone by about 8:30 in the morning.

AIBU to mention these? It was an expensive apartment so I think I’m being slightly more critical than I’d usually be

Key safe location definitely mention as this is far from normal. I would comment on size of courtyard but not how long it gets sun for, think that's a bit OTT

I wouldn't mention the courtyard but I would absolutely mention that you have to travel so far to collect the key, that's not at all usual and would be something I'd definitely want a heads up on.

Key yes, courtyard no.

The key thing is a real inconvenience. I would definitely say something about that .

I’d definitely mention the key collection bit. Probably not the courtyard.

Yes to key, no to courtyard.

I’d definitely mention the courtyard as well as the key pick up. Can just be factual.

I'd mention both. I'd probably be neutral and factual about the courtyard, not mentioning the view but mentioning that it's shady. "Early morning sun in the courtyard, with shade from around 9am". As for some people that's a positive just as much as it's a negative.

I would mention both - the pick as something like "if you have luggage just be aware that key pick up is a walk away so you may want to store it" then courtyard as PP said - mention shade after 9am as a fact, some people will like that, others won't.

I would include both. Sounds like the advertising photos of the courtyard would make people think they could sun themselves as much as they wanted, which is not the case.

I wouldn't mention either. Half a mile isn't far. I'm used to walking as I don't have a car so it wouldn't even register as an inconvenience with me. It must have taken ten minutes to get from the key pick up to the apartment, if that.

Key pick up definitely & maybe the lack of sea view from the courtyard if that is stated in the listing.

I’m used to walking too but that doesn’t make it normal for the key to be elsewhere 🙄

Being used to waking is irrelevant. It's not usual to have to travel to get a key especially so early in the morning. That's why key safes exist.

I'd turn the courtyard into a neutral, factual comment "it was in shade all day after 8.30am". As in some places that would be a good thing. I'd mention about the key pickup, but keep it constructive.

Mention both. But keep it factual

Oh come off it. I walk 10,000 steps a day minimum, often walking the 45 minutes to and from work.

I don’t do that with a 20kg suitcase, hand luggage, and at 1 in the morning after a delayed flight!

Mention both. Who wants the extra walk when you get in tired after the journey, with luggage, kids etc.

I think what’s more annoying is it’s in a key safe! Obviously this other location is the HQ of their rental company. I’m dreading check out, where I’ll have to take it all back up again

are you on holiday @raisemyheartrate ?

I've stopped using air bnb for many reasons but one is because of thr opaque reviews. For eg: 'Hans is a great communicator and reachable by phone' (omitting to add after traipsing the streets til 2am trying to ring him because the key code he provided doesn't work).

Or: there is a small step on to the patio (transalation: the patio is accessed by climbing over furniture and through the window of the living room).

Or: A charming apartment with only one other occupant in the building (we know this because they live above and scrape furniture til 2am)

So yes, for the sake of fellow guests, please describe your experience accurately. Some people might not be bothered by the sound of, eg moving furniture, but that is their choice once they know the facts.

At every Airbnb I’ve been to, the key-safe is outside. I wouldn’t expect to have to trail around to pick them up.

So, I’d comment on the key-safe, but probably wouldn’t worry about the courtyard sunshine.

There would been explicit instructions in the pre arrival pack. If you didn’t like the required access… you could have cancelled.

Which, as I said in my post, arrived on the day of check in and I was therefore outside of the cancellation period.

Ridiculous. There should be zero walking from the key collection to the property.