TERRIBLE UNPLEASANT EXPERINCE WITH AIRBNB AND AVEMORE HOST IN STELLENBOSCH

I had an extremely disappointing experience with this booking. On the Monday before our scheduled Friday arrival, FlySafair cancelled my flight to Cape Town. I did absolutely everything in my power to find an alternative – we contacted multiple airlines, searched for flights on Saturday, and explored every possible way to make the trip work. Unfortunately, no options were available that would allow us to arrive in time and still make it worthwhile, especially since we had to return to Johannesburg by Sunday for work.

I immediately reached out to both the host and Airbnb to explain the situation. The host said it was up to Airbnb’s policy, and Airbnb said they would speak to the host. After that, the host stopped responding altogether. I pleaded for even a partial refund – half or even just a quarter – just to recover some of the more than R7000 I was going to lose due to something entirely out of my control.

Despite my efforts, I received no communication, no understanding, and no refund at all. It was extremely disheartening and added unnecessary stress to an already frustrating situation. I couldn’t help but wonder — where did basic human decency and compassion go? It felt like I was just another transaction, not a person facing genuine, unforeseen circumstances.

To future guests: if life happens – whether it's flight cancellations or emergencies – don’t expect any support, flexibility, or compassion. I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere for accommodation with a host who communicates and shows basic understanding.