488 Driftwood, Unit 97F
Extremely Disappointing Stay -…read moreUnsafe, Poorly Managed, and Unprofessional
Our stay at a property managed by OhanaDestin.com (hosted by Liron) was by far the worst Airbnb experience we've ever had.
We arrived after 6 PM on June 27th, past our scheduled 4 PM check-in, after an overnight drive from Texas with 11 guests, including a family member recovering from nasal surgery. We were shocked to find a woman inside the unit claiming to be "changing the A/C filter"--though she had no tools or filter and left empty-handed. Within minutes, it became obvious the A/C was completely broken, and the house was over 80°F with high humidity.
What's most troubling is that the host clearly knew the system was down but never told us. Instead, we were checked into an uninhabitable home with no warning or chance to make alternate plans.
Instead of calling a licensed HVAC technician, they sent a general maintenance worker who didn't know what he was doing. My husband, a licensed HVAC tech, had to diagnose the system himself--it was beyond repair and needed full replacement.
In the meantime, we were given four flimsy fans and later one portable A/C unit, which we installed ourselves. It cooled one small room where four people slept in bunk beds. The rest of the house remained unbearably hot. This wasn't just uncomfortable--it was dangerous for our recovering family member.
We were briefly offered a one-night stay in a different unit but were told we'd have to move out the next morning. That wasn't a viable solution for a large group who booked months in advance.
On top of that, the property was poorly maintained:
* Tiles were lifting, creating a tripping hazard (especially for our child).
* The kitchen had dead German roaches, which was disgusting.
* Beach gear listed as an amenity was extremely worn and unusable.
The A/C wasn't replaced until Monday afternoon--60 hours after check-in. No one told us it had been completed. The host called afterward to ask if it "seemed like it was working," because they hadn't followed up with the HVAC company.
We were then asked to uninstall, pack, and place the heavy portable A/C unit by the front door--which we did. It stayed there untouched for days, just like the fans, reminding us of the lack of care shown throughout.
We politely requested a refund for three nights. The host initially agreed to refund two, but after we followed up and contacted Airbnb ourselves, she revoked the offer, claiming she would now "go by Airbnb policy." The timing felt retaliatory and unprofessional.
Her communication throughout was defensive, impersonal, and performative--more concerned with protecting herself than helping us resolve anything.
We understand that problems can arise--but what matters is how a host handles them. In this case, there was:
* No transparency
* No urgency
* No accountability
* No compassion
If you're thinking of booking through OhanaDestin.com, please proceed with caution. This wasn't a small inconvenience--it was a serious failure in guest care and hospitality.
We share this not out of anger, but to help other families avoid a similar experience. Had this been handled with honesty, urgency, and basic professionalism, this review would not be necessary.