AirBNB - Share your experiences here

[Sabot]

Here's one "Experience" I had;

Got cancelled on in Washington DC an hour before 'check-in' for a 3 day stay.

One of life's great joys is wandering around DC looking for a hotel at 6:00PM on a weekend when there are goings-on at The White House. (Hotels at full occupancy)

The host was 'seeing friends in Baltimore and couldn't make it back in time' and as the booking didn't begin there was no recourse through AirBNB.

 

[dajop]

as the booking didn't begin there was no recourse through AirBNB.

They are happy to take $150 out of every $1000 a guest spends with them. There should be ample funding in that $150 to compense where their suppliers stuff their customers around like this. Oh, sorry I'm wrong, it's just hosts and guests, not customers and supplier. AirBnB all no care and no responsibility.

 

[dajop]

Here's a question to people who are regular AirBNB's guests, how do you treat your hosts properties? As your own, or just some place where someone else will deal with the mess you create?

I've just spent 1.5hrs cleaning our gas BBQ that our guests elected to use as a charcoal BBQ (burning charcoal beneath the gas burners) and another 1.5 hrs sorting through rubbish, after discovering a thin layer of recyclables covering a recyclign bin full of waste + used nappies. Ah the joys of being an Air BNB host!!! The sort of stuff our cleaners don't do (or don't have time to do in peak season).

 

[Max Samuels]

Here's a question to people who are regular AirBNB's guests, how do you treat your hosts properties? As your own, or just some place where someone else will deal with the mess you create?

I've just spent 1.5hrs cleaning our gas BBQ that our guests elected to use as a charcoal BBQ (burning charcoal beneath the gas burners) and another 1.5 hrs sorting through rubbish, after discovering a thin layer of recyclables covering a recyclign bin full of waste + used nappies. Ah the joys of being an Air BNB host!!! The sort of stuff our cleaners don't do (or don't have time to do in peak season).

I use Airbnbs all the time. In fact I am in one as I type this in New Jersey! I am a bit of a clean freak so I make sure the place is as clean or cleaner than when I found it. Perhaps it is a function of age? I am in my 40s. Also, and I know this is controversial, but I think their are "cultural" differences between some guests and how they treat hotels/airbnbs etc. Some people really think they are top cough and that anyone working "under" them is no more than a slave.... I have seen places trashed by Aussie bogans, and I have a friend that runs an airbnb in Sydney and he says that many Chinese guests don't really have much regard for the rules re trash, recycling etc. Just some anecdotes but hope it answers your question!

 

[trooper]

Treat it better than my own place. (That's how I treat hotel rooms too...I must be weird - and I am in my 50's FWIW... )

 

[VPS]

Here's a question to people who are regular AirBNB's guests, how do you treat your hosts properties? As your own, or just some place where someone else will deal with the mess you create?

I've just spent 1.5hrs cleaning our gas BBQ that our guests elected to use as a charcoal BBQ (burning charcoal beneath the gas burners) and another 1.5 hrs sorting through rubbish, after discovering a thin layer of recyclables covering a recyclign bin full of waste + used nappies. Ah the joys of being an Air BNB host!!! The sort of stuff our cleaners don't do (or don't have time to do in peak season).

I think that's not acceptable and would definitely be charging them an extra cleaning fee if you can. I draw the line at sweeping and washing floors (which I always fight with my friend about because if it's a decent place they are going to do it again anyway) but always make sure that rubbish is in bins and that the place shouldn't need more than a normal clean.

 

[Max Samuels]

But to be fair, some Airbnb properties are not what they claim to be.... coughpy service from the hosts, place not as clean as it should be etc. I think there is a bit of give and take in this regard

 

[Antoallison]

Many of the owners of the airbnb places I have stayed in have charged an extra cleaning fee as well as the nightly rate and the slice that Airbnb take.

The amounts charged are variable between listings and I guess reflect if they employ a commercial cleaner to come in, or the hosts live on the premises and do it themselves.

When I am staying a week the amount seems fair enough, but in the instances when I have only stayed a night, that extra fee seems a little high.

It seems it can be discretionary because once (in Santa Monica) after I mentioned it in an email BEFORE booking, the host waived that fee.

I always just make sure I put my rubbish out and wash any dishes and clean kitchen benchtop.

Any heavier cleaning, sweeping or stripping the bed I consider to be covered as part of the cleaning fee.

 

[dajop]

I think that's not acceptable and would definitely be charging them an extra cleaning fee if you can. I draw the line at sweeping and washing floors (which I always fight with my friend about because if it's a decent place they are going to do it again anyway) but always make sure that rubbish is in bins and that the place shouldn't need more than a normal clean.

Yeh no luck with that. Not worth the argument. When we tried they came back with a whole raft of lies so it then becomes their word against ours (saying BBQ wasn't clean to begin with, even though I spent an hour cleaning the night before they arrived ... mental note to self always take photo before stays as well ).

 

[dajop]

Many of the owners of the airbnb places I have stayed in have charged an extra cleaning fee as well as the nightly rate and the slice that Airbnb take.

The amounts charged are variable between listings and I guess reflect if they employ a commercial cleaner to come in, or the hosts live on the premises and do it themselves.

When I am staying a week the amount seems fair enough, but in the instances when I have only stayed a night, that extra fee seems a little high.

Most of the work that is required (sweeping/vacuuming, mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms/kitchens, laundry of towels/linen, stripping beds and making them with clean sheets, setting up house for new guests, etc) is required irrespective of whether guests stay for a night or a month. We find that the difference in the time it takes between our minimum stay (2 days) and a much longer stay is about an hours work (for good guests, for bad guests, the sky is the limit ). We've also had 2-3 day guests that taken considerably longer (and $100 more) to clean up after than those who've stayed a week or longer. It would be fairer to just on-charge the bill we get from the cleaners .

We do have rather large place (7 BR with 11 beds + 4 bathrooms + 2 kitchens), so do charge $180 for cleaning (as do others in our area with similar size house), although it still doesn't fully cover the cost of all the work (if we used commercial laundry, would barely cover that cost). We could build it into the rate, but that wouldn't be fair on those having longer stays, as most of the work is still required. I guess we could include in rate and increase long stay discount instead, that's just smoke and mirrors. This is distinct from hotels where cleaning usually takes place daily and even linen gets changed every 2-3 days, so fair to build into the rate.

What Airbnb hosting has done for me is to be realistic about what to expect, even in five star hotels. I now automatically discount any reviews that complain about finding a hair on the linen or the bathroom, it's amazing how you can clean something again and again, and still a stray hair will find its way onto the sink or onto a freshly laundered sheet. Also have to be very careful about drying our sheets outside (bird droppings and insects!), but it is all very cathartic.

 

[Quickstatus]

Im finding that after cleaning, agents fee, linen hire, that it is possibly not worth letting out my place for holiday rentals.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

There is an AirBnB place diagonally across the canal from our home on the Sunshine Coast, it is a large home 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and you can always tell when it has someone in it as they are usually loud and they P A R T Y !!! Last week it was teenagers screaming and throwing things in the pool at 2am. I was about to call the cops when it finally stopped.

The house has just been sold so we are hoping a family is moving in and it is off the AirBnB. !!

 

[travel_bug]

I know this discussion thread is a little quiet in the circumstances, but I was hoping to pick everyone's brains over how understanding AirBNB support is towards guests and getting a full refund in exceptional circumstances.

I have booked a beautiful 6 bdr house for a week in October as accommodation for my parents and grand parents who are based interstate, and as a place to get ready and have photos taken before my wedding (all discussed and cleared with the host prior to booking and paying 50% deposit on 3 March 2020).

I live in the area of the rental and have found out and verified that the property is on the market (I've seen the "for sale" board with my own eyes), and may have been so since 26 March 2020. Though the host is a "Superhost", I haven't heard anything from them regarding this and have now reached out to them via AirBNB asking them politely what's going on as from my end, the stay is still very much confirmed. Even with the pandemic my family held quiet confidence that things would get better and didn't even reach out to ask about cancelling.

Should the host not respond to me as time ticks on, is there anything AirBNB support could do in the circumstances? I know the sales market is quiet and there's very well the chance the property doesn't sell by October, but properties of such size and decorated in such a way are few and far between as short term stays in Canberra, and I'm anxious to get another booking if this one is on shaky ground considering the circumstances.

Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated, and sorry if the above is a bit of a rant.

 

[RB]

Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated, and sorry if the above is a bit of a rant.

Maybe have a bit of an each-way bet and find an alternative with a generous cancellation policy-gives you a fallback option

 

[VPS]

I know this discussion thread is a little quiet in the circumstances, but I was hoping to pick everyone's brains over how understanding AirBNB support is towards guests and getting a full refund in exceptional circumstances.

I have booked a beautiful 6 bdr house for a week in October as accommodation for my parents and grand parents who are based interstate, and as a place to get ready and have photos taken before my wedding (all discussed and cleared with the host prior to booking and paying 50% deposit on 3 March 2020).

I live in the area of the rental and have found out and verified that the property is on the market (I've seen the "for sale" board with my own eyes), and may have been so since 26 March 2020. Though the host is a "Superhost", I haven't heard anything from them regarding this and have now reached out to them via AirBNB asking them politely what's going on as from my end, the stay is still very much confirmed. Even with the pandemic my family held quiet confidence that things would get better and didn't even reach out to ask about cancelling.

Should the host not respond to me as time ticks on, is there anything AirBNB support could do in the circumstances? I know the sales market is quiet and there's very well the chance the property doesn't sell by October, but properties of such size and decorated in such a way are few and far between as short term stays in Canberra, and I'm anxious to get another booking if this one is on shaky ground considering the circumstances.

Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated, and sorry if the above is a bit of a rant.

A lot depends on the area and what the market is like and if you think it's likely to sell quickly.

What sort of deposit have you paid and what are the cancellation fees? If you don't hear from the host within a week, I suggest another nudge and if nothing after a week I would be contacting AirBnB. I would also start looking for alternatives as others suggest.

 

[travel_bug]

Maybe have a bit of an each-way bet and find an alternative with a generous cancellation policy-gives you a fallback option

A lot depends on the area and what the market is like and if you think it's likely to sell quickly.

What sort of deposit have you paid and what are the cancellation fees? If you don't hear from the host within a week, I suggest another nudge and if nothing after a week I would be contacting AirBnB. I would also start looking for alternatives as others suggest.

I'm definitely scoping out alternatives now - it's just a shame that so many properties have closed up their calendars till the end of the year so I need to be "that" annoying person that asks if the property is actually booked or not. Additionally, though I know it's me being sentimental, I don't think any of them have as much of a wow factor as the original.

I personally think as a local they're maybe slightly overshooting in the asking price in the Covid market, but it is a pretty wonderful house in a blue chip suburb and all it takes is one diplomat or senior executive to want to get into Canberra's leafy inner south. I also wish I was in the market for a house in that price bracket as being the one to buy it would really solve the whole issue!

Deposit was just over 1.5k as 50% of the booking with a strict cancellation policy, so I believe I'd lose that if I cancelled and AirBNB didn't accept my reasoning as exceptional.

 

[VPS]

I'm definitely scoping out alternatives now - it's just a shame that so many properties have closed up their calendars till the end of the year so I need to be "that" annoying person that asks if the property is actually booked or not. Additionally, though I know it's me being sentimental, I don't think any of them have as much of a wow factor as the original.

I personally think as a local they're maybe slightly overshooting in the asking price in the Covid market, but it is a pretty wonderful house in a blue chip suburb and all it takes is one diplomat or senior executive to want to get into Canberra's leafy inner south. I also wish I was in the market for a house in that price bracket as being the one to buy it would really solve the whole issue!

Deposit was just over 1.5k as 50% of the booking with a strict cancellation policy, so I believe I'd lose that if I cancelled and AirBNB didn't accept my reasoning as exceptional.

Good luck then. Hope it works out for you

 

[jakeseven7]

Another horror story:

Airbnb 'turned their back' on customers with 'misleading' policy changes as COVID-19 crisis worsened

Klara Kalocsay is one of many disgruntled Airbnb customers globally who say the company's policy for refunding customers who have been forced to cancel their travel plans due to COVID-19 restrictions is packed with loopholes.

www.abc.net.au

 

[FishFood]

I stayed at a nice Airbnb in Sydney, unfortunately there was no free cancellation but the gamble paid off since despite all the cancelled flights and trains I was there for the time of the booking.

I did get told off for being too noisy at about 11 PM, but luckily I still got a good rating so it seems they appreciated me shutting up after the first warning.

 

[Quickstatus]

AirBnb often creates crazy unintended consequenses: