This is an unfiltered, honest review of this homestay, covering two major, deal-breaking shortcomings that drastically undermined my booking experience.
First and most critical discrepancy: there is a misleading location notice (referenced in the attached screenshot) that reveals the address advertised on Trip.com does not match the actual accommodation location. I specifically selected this listing for its advertised prime convenience—marketed as steps away from Exit 7 of South Shaanxi Road Metro Station, served by Line 10 that runs direct, transfer-free from Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station, a major regional transport hub.
However, after completing my booking and receiving the true residential address, I discovered three far less practical commuting options: a 20-minute walk hauling full luggage from the originally promised metro stop, a 10-minute taxi ride that adds unplanned extra travel costs, or a 10-minute trip from an alternative, marginally nearer metro station that requires an inconvenient line transfer. This major geographic misrepresentation was the first significant letdown of this stay.
Second, the accommodation space itself falls drastically short of basic expectations, and I aim to describe this objectively without undue frustration. This listing cannot reasonably be classified as a private apartment or proper guest lodging. While it is technically the host’s private residence, the space rented out is merely an under-stair storage nook—footage in the attached video speaks volumes about how unsuitable this area is for guest stays.
As documented in the video, the route to the rented room is convoluted and unhygienic: to reach your quarters, you must walk through sections of the host’s main living space, passing shared storage areas, a laundry zone, and waste storage. A second internal door leads to a disorganised rear yard, which contains yet another storage room piled with refuse; the entrance to your homestay room is tucked away here.
Upon opening the room’s front door, there is barely enough space to take two full steps inside before hitting furnishings. The bed sits directly adjacent to the shower cubicle, and the toilet is only a short distance further from the bed. Compounding the claustrophobic layout, the sloped under-stair ceiling is extremely low—anyone of average height cannot stand upright without stooping entirely.
Another major issue that cannot go unmentioned is the lengthy set of house rules posted by the host, which lays out strict noise curfews and extensive expectations for guests to keep noise levels down and show full consideration for neighbouring residents. I cannot help but question whether the host holds themselves and the surrounding residents to that very same standard of courtesy they demand of paying guests.
Long before any reasonable hour in the morning, I was regularly disturbed starting at 6:15 a.m. by loud, rushing running water from an adjacent sink as someone began washing and cleaning. This alone already stands in direct conflict with the quiet living standards the host enforces for visitors. Even worse, evenings bring a constant, disruptive cacophony of chatter from nearby residents paired with persistent gurgling and rushing water echoing through the building’s pipework. This rented under-stair nook has zero sound insulation of any kind; there is no barrier whatsoever to muffle or minimise outside noise, leaving guests with no reprieve from constant day-and-night disruptions.
To draw this honest assessment to a close, I firmly believe Trip.com ought to conduct stricter vetting of accommodation suppliers featured on its platform. For the exact same price point as this unlivable storage room conversion, travellers could book a clean, properly designated bunk bed at a standard youth hostel—an option that would offer vastly more comfortable, dignified lodging with basic living standards fully intact.
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