Villa Dubois Guest House

After the host refused to refund me, the booking platform returned the full amount to my account. The host had asked for a $500 security deposit through Venmo, PayPal Friends & Family, or Zelle, plus a government ID sent to a private email. They said they wouldn’t provide the check-in code until I did both. This came after the reservation was confirmed and required sending money and personal information outside the platform. Those payment methods don’t offer the same consumer protections as regular booking payments. If you run into requests like this, save screenshots and contact the platform’s support right away, or your bank if you booked directly with this “host.” I strongly recommend booking somewhere else.

Our car was stolen right outside Villa Dubois on the morning we were leaving. We found shattered glass, while the two E-bikes the thieves left behind were still there. When we called the contact number, Villa Dubois offered no help. They have a camera pointed at the street but wouldn’t assist the police. I also still haven’t received my $300 deposit, and Villa Dubois has ghosted me without giving a reason. On our first night, I spotted a dent at the bottom of the door, photographed it immediately, and sent the picture to both Expedia and Villa Dubois to show it was there before we arrived. If they’re blaming me for it, I have the report to prove otherwise. I’ve made several Venmo requests for the $300; they’ve either been ignored or denied, so I know they’re seeing them. Even if it looks like a good deal, I’d discourage anyone from booking here. I’m prepared to move forward with a lawyer because I won’t let Villa Dubois do this to other guests.

Expecting a customer to hand $500 in cash to an unknown business agent through a “friends and family” payment, with no consumer protection, is suspicious and unacceptable. I’m not comfortable trusting them with a deposit that way. If I can’t pay through a business transaction that protects me, this isn’t an appropriate request.

I left without ever getting into my room, and had to pay for another hotel myself. I’d booked Villa Dubouis Guest House in Chicago through Expedia for October 24-25 and October 26-27, 2025. When I arrived around 10:00 p.m., the neighborhood was dark, desolate, and felt unsafe, nothing like the online description. There was no front desk, lighting, visible staff, or security, and the building looked abandoned. I called and texted the number posted on the door several times, but nobody answered. Even my Uber driver warned me about the area and wouldn’t leave me there alone. I did arrive for my reservation. This wasn’t a cancellation; there was no safe way to check in or stay. After I reported what happened, Expedia denied my refund request, saying the property wouldn’t honor it, even though nobody greeted or helped me and I never accessed the room. Villa Dubouis Guest House gives a misleading impression of its safety and accessibility, and Expedia handled this very disappointingly. I’m sharing this in the hope other travelers, especially women on their own, don’t have to go through the same frightening situation.