Preparing For Our Airbnb Through The Failure Of Others

I'm currently writing this, shivering in 44⁰F weather inside a seemingly wonderful apartment in Madrid. This is our 5th reservation through Airbnb or booking.com and everything seemed so lovely; my brother sarcastically said, “oh noo. It's so ugly.” Upon entering, the apartment is clean and pristine. However, a closer look proved it to be a horrible choice. This booking is not prepared for winter use, especially for a disabled person like myself. I'm shivering underneath my thin, one-layered blanket and I ran out of clean pants!

I personally believe that more of everything is better than less. For example, I prefer the cold to heat because my logic is that I can always take layers off if I overheat, but I can't peel my skin off! Additionally, adding things is easier than taking things off. However, since my disability, I've been a little punk to the cold. I have less body mass and muscles have atrophied, resulting in uncontrolled shivering and body temperature. If I wear too many layers and move, I swear, but if I'm idle, then I'm screwed. Especially living in San Francisco where it's hot in downtown then foggy and chilly in the sunset district. God, I miss SF!

My brother and I intend on renovating our Nevada City house to an Airbnb; his personal dream is to make it into a hostel. We are already in the process of renovating and he has even decided to take the first 3 months of 2026 to renovate. We want to make it cozy and personal; buying thrifted art, displaying it, and making it optional for bookers to buy what they are able to pay. Our best stay during this trip was a very personalized cottage and they asked why we wanted to stay. My brother had told them it was for our parent's 51st wedding anniversary and they baked us a delicious cake with champagne! Additionally, it was stocked with homemade jams, cookies, coffee, tea, kitchen items and appliances, a fucking optional panini press, and a working fireplace (along with centralized heat and an optional shower chair 🥹). They truly listened and that's how we want to be. No shortage of anything. My brother and I learned so much from them on how to truly treat our future guests.

Now it's almost 8pm in Madrid and we're scared of plugging anything in or turning on more appliances because this place is clearly unfinished. We called them, someone came, flipped a switch, told us that they only provided what thin sheets they have, and the third time the electricity shut down, we called them and they weren't responsive. I feel like I'm in the Hostel franchise because I can't feel my feet. I cannot express my disappointment and they are sending a portable heater at 9pm. I raised the question to my brother, “what if we plug it in and lose power? You can't work," because my brother is still working from 4pm to 12-1am due to the month-end close. As I lay here, not being able to feel anything from below my right knee, I'm learning how not to treat future guests. Learn more languages, be more accessible, and have a surplus supply of everyt

hing.