I’m Locked Out of My Airbnb

Over the weekend, I moved from one Airbnb to another. It was supposed to be a simple transition, but something unexpected happened.

Check-in on the first day went fine. I got my keys and settled in. I had everything I needed: a queen bed, microwave, fridge, TV, ceiling fan, and a desk for working. The host was kind and helpful, and she had a sweet senior Corgi mix so my pooch cravings were fulfilled.

Prior to booking the listing, I read all of the reviews. There were some things from last year that I noted, but I figured the host had worked out all of the kinks. I was willing to take the risk and stay.

The Calm Before the Chaos

On the second day, things quickly shifted from good to worse. The walls were caked with dust, like the room hadn’t been cleaned for months. Cobwebs lined the walls near the ceiling, and I found someone’s opened mail behind the desk.

It was a warm day, so I opened the window for some air circulation. What I didn’t realize was that tiny mosquitoes were slipping through the screen. By early evening, I had 10 bites. My skin flared up, itchy and bruised, and clearly not invited to this party.

So I decided to go on a walk to a nearby laundromat to take care of my clothes, and also to retreat from Mosquitoville. Around 9:30 p.m., I headed home to relax and settle in for the night, but that’s when the problems kicked up a notch.

Where’s the Door Code, Waldo?

I arrived at the Airbnb and tried to use my keys, but realized something. The sets I had were only for my bedroom and the metal gate. The main door had a keypad entry, and the host never gave the code to me.

This is not good.

So I messaged the hosts on the platform, hoping to hear from them. There was no phone number to call, and I tried the loud doorbell but it was still crickets.

Since I was locked out, I went on a walk to give the hosts time to respond. But in the back of my mind, I remembered reading that someone had been locked out of the house for five hours.

Choosing Not to Lose It

Most people in this situation would have been furious. They would have given the hosts hell, banged on the front door, and demanded to be let in, or rung the doorbell until infinity.

Instead, I chose to turn the obstacle into an opportunity. I had my backpack with everything I needed: water, my wallet, headlamp, etc., except for pants and a long-sleeve shirt. And I had a change of clothes, so in many ways, I was fine.

Since I was going to be outside for a while, I figured I should enjoy it, right? Considering I had lived on the Oregon coast for six months, this was nothing.

Staying calm, thinking clearly, and going with the flow became my mantra that night. I had no control over the situation, but with my camera in hand, I made the best of it.

Company with the Clouds

I kept walking and staying curious, noticing something. The clouds on my right side were building into an epic formation. It was as if the Universe knew it would be a long night.

The sky was lit up over the airport. The clouds were wispy and shaped like birds. I had been watching them earlier but now was the time to capture them.

Two hours later, I checked the Airbnb app and still heard nothing from the hosts. Now I knew it was going to be a long night, and I was starting to get cold.

I grew up in Lancaster, California, and where does everyone go at 3 a.m. to stay warm and get a meal? Denny’s.

Pancakes and Great Conversations

Of course, Denny’s wasn’t nearby, and it was the middle of the night, so I grabbed an Uber. By then, I was five hours into being ghosted by the Airbnb hosts.

My plan was to leave that day, so I reached out to Airbnb support. Luckily, they were very empathetic to my situation and refunded the rest of my stay. That’s when I decided I was going to live it up at a fancy hotel.

The pancakes, eggs, bacon, and warm biscuit arrived, and I was seriously on Cloud 9. While I was eating, I met the sweetest young couple, and they provided the companionship I needed.

At that point, I was tired and exhausted, running on fumes. But I couldn’t loiter at Denny’s for too long.

The Sunrise Nobody Saw Coming

Now, the sun was about to rise. I’m a night owl and rarely see it happen. I was going to keep turning this obstacle into an opportunity. Next up was Dog Beach.

I left Denny’s and started walking toward the bus stop, but something else caught my eye.

The sky was exploding into layers of orange, yellow, and red. It looked like a lasagna of color stacked across the horizon. I was standing in the middle of the street documenting it because I’ll do almost anything for the right shot.

It felt like I was the only one seeing it. It was around 6 a.m., and everyone else was either sleeping or driving in the opposite direction. They were missing out on nature’s show.

The birds were waking up too, flying and chirping as they wandered the same way as me. I wasn’t alone. It felt like we were having a private party. Mosquitoes were not invited.

Pretty Little Clouds and Sweet Pooches

Not surprisingly, I missed the bus, so I took another Uber. This locked-out event was starting to get pricey. Two rides and a meal at Denny’s, what’s next?

When I got to Dog Beach, all those wispy clouds I’d photographed near the airport had moved over the ocean. It looked like a painting and was absolutely magical.

Very few people were on the beach, and I was elated. Palm trees lined the area, and I knew it was photo session three.

By that time, I was hurting and needed some pooch love. I saw a white German Shepherd playing on the sand and thought, what if I could get it to come over?

I waved at it, motioning with my hand to come say hi. It got the cue and immediately ran over. I could have cried in that moment because it knew I needed that attention after being neglected by the Airbnb hosts all night.

The dog looked me in the eyes, saying, “It’s all good, dude. I’m here for you.” I got nose-to-nose sniffs, and it rubbed its back against my legs. If you know dogs, they rarely do that with strangers, and its pawparent was far away.

It chose me.

Lessons Learned

A lot of people would have spiraled in my situation and ruined their night. They would have been reactive and not taken steps to make the situation better.

Because I chose positivity instead, that energy clearly carried me through the ebb and flow. When the Universe speaks, you need to be a good listener.

I leaned into what makes me happy: wispy clouds, photography, the ocean, dogs, and human connection. I stayed in flow.

As Alan Watts says, “The more you let go, the more things begin to work.” It doesn’t mean nothing goes wrong in life. But how you shift your mindset is what really counts.

When you stop fighting the tide and flow with it, life gets better.

The Silver Lining

I ended up spending the rest of the day hanging out at the beach. It now has a special place in my heart because of the community, and Dog Beach.

There’s a fantastic library, killer pizza, and lots of small businesses. It reminded me a lot of Santa Cruz and San Diego, full of action and plenty of cute dogs.

That night, I moved out of my Airbnb and into the Hilton in Costa Mesa. It was the serious upgrade I needed and deserved. I rested all weekend and loved my stay.

I was exactly where I was meant to be in the first place.

The Final Takeaway

You are not in control of what happens, but you are in control of how you move through it. It’s about the decisions you make and the actions you take.

What could have been a really awful night became a:

• Wispy cloud show
• Layered sunrise masterpiece
• 3 a.m. friendship circle
• White dog appearing at the perfect moment
• Reminder of why I belong near the ocean

Dogs are why I’m alive, and I owe them everything. The ocean is where I find calm, and it’s the love of my life.

That night I got locked out, I wasn’t alone. I was aware, and awareness changes everything.