We felt violated and angry. Without a second thought, we packed our bags, rushed out, and drove away from the house. Our first action was to post a review on the Airbnb site to expose the host and the property. We felt it was our duty to warn any future guests about what we had found.
The Host’s Unexpected Reply
A few minutes after I published the angry review, my phone chimed with a reply from the host. It was a strange, short message that immediately changed everything.
I paused, thinking this was some kind of defensive, weird joke. But the host continued the message, revealing a heartbreaking situation: “…my mother’s house.”
This immediately threw me off. What did his mother’s house have to do with illegally filming his guests?
The host’s explanation continued in the next few sentences. “She passed away two months ago. That camera was for her safety. It automatically sends alerts to my phone.”
Namira leaned over my shoulder to read the exchange. She was completely confused and skeptical. “What is he even saying? That he watches guests live on camera?” she asked.Continue reading…
