A Chinese tourist was left astounded after accidentally paying a hefty sum for a one-night stay at a South Korean hotel apartment. Due to a currency mix-up, she mistakenly paid 60,000 yuan (approximately 8,300 US Dollars) instead of the intended amount of around $37.
The incident occurred on October 13 when Xiao, the tourist, booked a serviced apartment on Jeju Island through Airbnb. Upon returning to China, she was shocked to discover the significant deduction from her bank account. The hotel had listed the price in Korean won, but Xiao misinterpreted it as Chinese yuan.
After realizing the error, Xiao contacted the hotel and Airbnb to request a refund. While the hotel agreed to the refund, Airbnb initially denied her claim. However, following persistent complaints, Airbnb eventually agreed to a full refund as a goodwill gesture.
This incident has sparked a debate online. Some criticized Xiao for her carelessness, while others blamed the hotel and Airbnb for the confusing pricing and strict refund policies.