I booked this vrbo for a family vacation to the Grand Canyon months in advance. I didn’t get a welcome message at time of booking. Oh well - not a big deal.
A few days before the booking date, still no entry code. We’ve done dozens of vacation rentals, so I know some hosts don’t send codes til the same day. I stayed patient.
When I hadn’t received the code on check in day, I messaged the host. No response.
Several hours later, I sent another message.
We’re almost at the property. Still no code.
I called and left a voicemail as we arrived. It’s dark and we tried every door, thinking maybe there wasn’t a code. We knocked on the other building on the property. It’s pitch black, but we wait.
Finally, we decided to leave. As we’re driving away my wife finds another place available just two blocks away, with one more bedroom, and for $200 less. We begin booking it and our phone rings, literally in the middle of the booking.
It was our host.
She apologized, blaming VRBO for the missed access code. She said she couldn’t get my messages earlier because she was at work.
Being a host requires being available 24x7. I realize hosts have other jobs (I’m a landlord myself) but if you can’t pickup the phone for an emergency, you need a spouse/friend/sibling/neighbor that can co-host with you.
The home was clean with modern decor. Comfortable. No extras like coffee k cups or laundry pods. There’s an excellent coffee/breakfast truck 1/4 mi away!