Jill P.

I always check this site before booking a hotel. I feel people are really honest with their reviews and want to educate the next guest regarding the hotel and it's qualities

I booked a place in Salem, MA for my job. I google earthed the place and noticed that the parking looked scarce so I messaged the host regarding parking and safety. She said that no parking on their street but lots of parking on streets around the house and neighborhood is very safe. Can walk the neighborhood all hours of the night. LIES LIES!. My shift for work was 11a to 11:30 pm but by the time I got to the apartment it would be after midnight. I would have to park 4 blocks away from the apartment. One night I had to park 1/2 mile away from the apartment. The nights I had off, I would be up in my apartment reading or watching Netflix on my laptop and I would hear gun shots echoing off in the distance. The nurses that I worked with educated me on the blue lights. I had no idea what they were talking about. Well, here in Salem if there is enough snow, you cannot park on the street because the streets are too narrow for the plows so you have to find someplace else to park. When the blue lights on the light poles flash, that's your warning that you cannot park on the streets or you will be towed. One morning, I had the day off and there was some sort of event going on and the police were going around putting up no parking signs. I had no place to move my car so I called airbnb, explained to them my issues. They pretty much sided with the host because the description does say off street parking. Shortly after I arrived, I noticed that the neighborhood looked real sketchy. I called the Salem police to ask about the neighborhood. They said that I could not have picked a more dangerous area of the city. That portion that I was in has the highest homicide rate, highest heroin use and highest breaking rate of the entire Salem, MA area. I told Airbnb that too. They did not say anything except they would reach out to the host. I was able to get out of my contract BUT WITH A CATCH. I agreed to pay $55/d for the full 35 days. Since I checked out early, I was charged the full $110/d to the tune of right at $2000. 00 for 2 1/2 weeks of living in fear and terror for my life. I've used airbnb in the past and have had a good experience. I learned a very valuable lesson. From now on, I'll call the police in the area that I plan to stay, and ask them what the neighborhood is like and is it safe for a single female to be walking from her car to the apartment/house and is the neighborhood safe to walk around during the day if you wanted to go for a walk.