I had an apartment booked in st Petersburg, had been for months. My wife, Latvian, handled communication, in Russian.
Show up. Dude is visibly shocked and upset that I'm not Russian. Proceeds to "angliski blad" and "velikaia schwinoi" me, tells us apartment is closed for renovations starting today.
In Russia this is a problem - when you get a visa you have to list your accommodation - and if you diverge you stand a half decent chance of being arrested and deported, particularly if a host reports you as a no show.
We eventually found a hotel that evening, but it's left me very wary of using airbnb - and I'm a bloody white male. I can't imagine what a dark-skinned Muslim/homosexual/not just British couple/person might face.
Huh, I still don't have that refund, now that I remember. Three months ago.
Just wanted to add, as my comment seemed harsh against Russians - I've had a very mixed experience in Russia over the years. In cities, very mixed bag, muscovites are generally assholes but laugh about being assholes, st Petersburg clearly feel like they're under invasion. Go deeper though and people are warm and kind - we found ourselves being inexplicably adored in random small villages in the urals by the old babushkas sweeping the empty dusty streets. I had a night I'll never forget with a bunch of mobsters in Volgograd - and I met the Russian Slim Pickins as a highway cop near Astrakhan. Taught me to swear and beg for mercy in Russian, and let me go - despite the illegal-on-every-planet manoeuvre I'd just pulled.
Airbnb I've also had some great experiences with - in fact most have been - but it only takes one really shitty situation to sour ones perception. I'll probably use them again but it's still an issue they have to get on top of one way or another.
I had an apartment booked in st Petersburg, had been for months. My wife, Latvian, handled communication, in Russian.
Show up. Dude is visibly shocked and upset that I'm not Russian. Proceeds to "angliski blad" and "velikaia schwinoi" me, tells us apartment is closed for renovations starting today.
In Russia this is a problem - when you get a visa you have to list your accommodation - and if you diverge you stand a half decent chance of being arrested and deported, particularly if a host reports you as a no show.
We eventually found a hotel that evening, but it's left me very wary of using airbnb - and I'm a bloody white male. I can't imagine what a dark-skinned Muslim/homosexual/not just British couple/person might face.
Huh, I still don't have that refund, now that I remember. Three months ago.