Guests Traveling with no internet access

I was in the middle of a lovely Sunday brunch with some local airbnb hosts when I had a call from Airbnb customer service.  They were calling me on behalf of a guest that wanted to book a place for the next day (Monday) but wouldn't have internet access until that evening.  Airbnb asked me if I would hold the apartment for her, until she could contact me that night.   Because I'm a sucker, I said yes.  So the evening comes and goes with no word from this mysterious guest, until an inquiry from her at 4:30am the next day asking if I had parking, and had outdoor space.  Meanwhile, during the night, another guest had made an actual booking request for the same apartment, for four days (the non-internet having guest wanted 3 days).  I declined the actual booking request with apologies that I was holding this apartment for another guest at the request of customer service.


So I go back to the non-internet lady and say yes, parking for a midsize car, no outdoor space unless you count a concrete parking pad.   I told her that I had been holding the apartment for her for almost 24 hours, so if she was going to book she'd better hop to it, as I had other inquiries.   She comes back with more inane questions and the promise that she'll book as soon as she has internet again.     Six hours later she finally books (I'd already called CS twice to let them know this was a real PITA and that I'd missed a more lucrative booking).   Assuming that she's either completely lacking in any computer skills or is so old that she is still using a Nokia flip phone, I write back the check in instructions in very clear and concise language.   She then calls me and the first words out of her mouth are "we are on roaming and this call is costing  us a mint".  I told her to hang up, that I'd call her back.  I did so, and now her response was "I hope I'm not getting charged for incoming calls".  Sigh.   She's pleasant enough, I go over the very simple check in info and tell her to park in the back if her car will fit or on the street if it won't.   I remind her that the wifi info is in the apartment and that when she gets in she can send me a message with any more questions rather then make an expensive roaming call.   By the way, she's one of four ladies, and as I know see on her profile, she is in her 40's, and from Canada.  

5 minutes later she's back on the phone again reminding me that they are on roaming and it's a very expensive call.  This time I don't offer to call her back.  They can't find a place to park.  I sympathize and tell her that yes, as noted in my description we're in a very busy area and finding a parking spot after 8pm can be difficult.  I offer her  parking in the driveway as long as she moves the car in the morning.

Everything is fine for the next ten minutes! I pour a glass of wine and start to wind down.   False alarm.   She's back on the phone because the internet doesn't work.  Off I go.   I get there ten minutes later and it's four woman, all with smart phones.   I kind of laugh and asked how is it that four modern women with modern cellphones are on a road trip and not one of you has picked up a sim card in order to use your phone in the US?  They said "oh we don't need the internet much".  Ok!   I fix the internet issue in ten seconds, which was one of them trying to get on with an incorrect password with the others all gathered around her.   Now that they have me there in person, they hurl questions at me left and right.   It turns out that they are on a spontaneous trip and haven't prepared in the least.   They haven't gone to a bank to get US$, asking me if the store will accept Canadian currency - I tell them they'd have better luck paying in rupees.  THey don't get it.   Should they see Times Square in the day or at night, can they walk on the streets in New York without being accosted, where's the cheapest place to get souvenirs, do I have any passes for museums, can I give them a ride into Manhattan so they don't have to pay the toll, do I have any friends that work on live shows and can get them in, etc etc.    I am honestly taken aback by how concerned with money they are, yet chose to come to such an expensive city.   Knowing this could turn into an even bigger time suck than it already is, I make my excuses and tell them that now that they are on wifi they can text me with any questions.

They text me at 8am today to tell me that my suggestion of Uber (they didnt want to use the bus) was terrible because they waited 1.5 hours for a car.  I tell them that I'm very surprised, as I usually get a car within minutes. After much back and forth, it turns out they didn't even sign up correctly.  Every time they tried to request a car they'd get a message asking them to complete  registration, but instead of doing so, they just kept hitting the button I guess?

Well this is a long-winded rant!   I didn't mean to go into such detail.   I'm really astonished that they are so clueless and I guess I've been massively spoiled with really tech-savvy people, or at least non-tech people but make up  for it with logical use of maps, plans, itineraries, research, etc.

Have my fellow hosts here experienced this type of guest?  Or I am just lucky?