Comfortable and Elegant Meeting Space in Alexandria

Booked this place a few days in advance for a video shoot. We only planned on shooting at this particular location for about 3 hours as we were filming elsewhere during the day. However, the host didn't provide accurate details in advance of how to enter the property. He sent me a message late the evening before with his phone number for me to contact, but I wasn't able to call until the next day. I planned on doing so in the AM as soon as possible. Around 11am, he messaged me again to let me know not to ask the leasing office for the key and to call him for instructions. No problem! It was about 1.5 hours before our arrival time and I finally had a chance to respond to him. I called the number he provided and it went to a voicemail box that wasn't set up so I couldn't leave a message. I thought he'd call back regardless since he was expecting us at any time to get a key. He didn't. I tried calling 4 times - no answer. I tried messaging him on the website - no answer. At this point, we're already 35 mins into our rental time and not inside yet. I decide to text the phone # and he responded! But told me to go outside, followed by a photo taken from the inside of a car showing them inside a parking garage. It was sort of creepy and I really wasn't sure what was happening. I had my crew with me so I felt safe. I finally got the guy on the phone and he began to explain where the key was hidden. It was all very sketch. Then he made me feel like it was my fault for not touching base with him sooner. I found the dirty key fob and he explained how to get in, but was also in a meeting of some sort and kept muting me. I thought he hung up. Once we did get into the building (which was a maze and very confusing verbal instructions), the place wasn't very clean. We planned on shooting a scene in the kitchen and there were dishes next to the sink, old food on the counters, a pot filled with cooking grease sitting on the stove and alcohol bottles sitting out. We also needed to film in one the bedrooms. There were stains on the lamps and the curtains. There were stains on many of the carpets and surfaces. Overall pretty filthy. We shot what we could and left. The decorations are nice and it looks like the host is trying. But I'd highly recommend for the host create clear written instructions on how to access the property and hire a professional cleaner.