Yating L.
I paid the €615 listed for the apartment, including city tax and cleaning, but the host then wanted another €21.77 for his credit card fee. That was his expense, not mine. I could have gone to the police, but I was a young woman traveling alone and he had the apartment keys, so I paid because I didn’t feel I had a choice. During check-in he said, “why you’re so beautiful”. He may have thought he was helping, and he did show me around the city, which I enjoyed. I bought his wine and snacks to thank him. But during my stay he came into the apartment, knocked on my door and demanded cash. It made me anxious and scared. On the final day he came by an hour before checkout, and I felt I had to leave as quickly as I could. The listing price was clear when I booked, so I don’t understand why I was charged an extra €21.77 for his card fee. Nothing is free in Venice, I understand that, but this wasn’t my responsibility. A few other things to know: there’s no breakfast now. The room didn’t have the table, chairs or fridge shown online, though you can ask firmly for them. If the host tells you to withdraw cash from a street ATM, be aware the markup is nearly 15%, and he won’t take responsibility for it.
