Not sure what else to do

[Eireann]

Recently, I went on a week-long vacation to do something I'd always wanted to do. I booked a room in an Airbnb, and I was looking forward to doing all kinds of interesting things.

The room I booked was offered by someone with Superhost status. Yet when I arrived, Host looked at me and said, "You're in bad health." (Superhost does not work in healthcare.) I tried to brush it off, because I know that people don't always click when they meet. Host showed me to the room, which was clean and cute. I met Host's pets. Host showed me around the home (Host lives in said home). I learned the rules of the household.

I happened to travel during a heat wave, and I found out that the room I'd booked was incredibly hot. I lasted for two nights, then left after finding a room at a regular B&B. I told Host that I was leaving due to the heat, returned the keys, took my things, and left. I later left a negative review of Host because of the heat; hardly any measures had been taken to make the temperature comfortable. And in a heat wave, everyone has to not only remained hydrated (which I did), but be in an environment that is sufficiently cool. This room was too hot to be safe, which is why I posted the review.

Host (who had been weirdly adversarial to me several times before I left) blasted me on Airbnb and posted some truly incredible lies. Host will not stop insisting that I was in bad health, despite the obvious fact that if I had been unhealthy, I wouldn't have been traveling at all. I complained to Airbnb. Essentially, they did nothing. I was able to reply to Host's shitty review of me, and I simply stated the facts - that it had been much hotter than usual where I was, that the room had no effective cooling, that a person needs to be in a cool environment in hot weather, etc. I didn't lower myself to trade insults, which would only have worsened the situation.

Host sent me a private message, this time playing the victim - and still repeating all these lies, with a few new lies thrown in. I reported the message to Airbnb, since this now qualifies as harassment. I found Host on Facebook, and Host is now blocked. I'm concerned that Host might try to do something to me in revenge, and I want to keep my ass covered. I've told family and friends about Host's behavior, and as I said, Airbnb knows about it.

I'm baffled about Host's whole approach. Host has Superhost status, tons of great reviews, yet (as I discovered) when anyone dares to give a negative or indifferent review, Host comes out with a personal attack against the guest. Host does not mention the reason for a guest's negative review; Host simply blasts them and makes all kinds of personal remarks.

What I'm wondering is, what else can I do to protect myself?

[Pixilated]

When you say protect yourself, what are you worried about ... an actual physical attack, a break-in at your house, some kind of online attack (hacking, etc.)?
If you're worried about the latter, I think you've done what you can, by letting trusted friends and relatives know about this person.
Host's reaction to your complaint makes it quite understandable that they have "Superhost" status; clearly they threaten and harass anybody who dares to leave anything else. It makes me wonder how many of those people had an experience similar to yours but simply opted to change their review and never go back there.
You've warned family and friends, blocked Host on FB, and notified Airbnb. I'm not sure there's much else you *can* do. Although if you start to get harassing online stuff from anybody in the near future, keep screenshots because if Host decides to come after you with an alternate name (or sends some of their friends after you), you will want a "paper" trail.

[Eireann]

It occurred to me that Host might actually pay people to leave good reviews. Another guest was there when I was, and she gave a good review; she's also a bubbly, upbeat person who is probably the kind of guest that Host wants to have at all times.

Host lives in a different country, but does know my name and the city where I live. Host might try some kind of cyberattack, but I hope will not go so far as to get physical. It would take a lot of effort to do so, anyway. I just have this bad taste in my mouth, and seeing how ruthless Host is, I want to have myself covered.

[csquared]

I have to agree with Pix. There is only so much you can reasonably do, and you have done it.

[RealUnimportant]

Knowing your name and city is nowhere near enough for a "cyber attack", whatever you may consider that to mean. It's not like there's an internet "phone book" to look you up in. You've done all there is to do, short of taking out a restraining order which sounds like it would be overkill.

[Eireann]

Thanks. I've known some extremely vindictive people, and Host certainly seems to be among them. I'm just glad we don't live anywhere near each other.