AirBNB - Share your experiences here

[AnnaB]

I was wondering if anyone has used AirBNB and what your experiences are? Or if anyone is a host and what you think about it?
I have heard of people both having great experiences and being scammed. Others being cancelled a day before arriving.

I have been a bit hesitant, but I guess its no different to a B&B.

 

[Buzzard]

I haven't used AirBNB myself but know a couple of AFFers that have and are planning to again. Only positive feedback from them.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I used Airbnb in America.
One of the bookings got cancelled about 40 days out. Airbnb emailed and offered us an extra $100 something on top of the amount paid if we rebooked with them for another accommodation. So all was good.

Another Airbnb when we got there in the evening was not cleaned. We contacted the host and they apologized as it was missed by the cleaners and while we went to dinner it was all sorted. I them emailed Airbnb with pictures and asked for the cleaning charge and one nights rate to be refunded. They agreed and issues me a credit to be used next time ( I was ok with it). Airbnb like uber are very accommodating and do try to go above and beyond if there are genuine issues. Just take pics of everything.
Re looking at accommodation just make sure that the places have good pillows and block out curtains in bedrooms. Otherwise the locations were amazing (we needed two bedroom apartments ) and Airbnb was cheeper then hotels and very good locations. PM me if you would like more info.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just returned from a trip to the LOTFAP. Did Airbnb in LA and NY and both were fabulous. First time doing it in NY, second time in LA.

Could not recommend it highly enough.

 

[blackcat20]

We're currently using it in Italy and it's been great. Gives you the opportunity to live like a local. We had one cancel a few months out but Airbnb found us an alternative (which turned out to be better), along with a credit for a future booking. All have been spotless, hosts have been great. The only weird thing here is the two single beds as double...

 

[get me outta here]

There are various cities in the US where it is illegal. Have a look at the TripAdvisor NYC forum, they are rabid about it there and there are quite a few examples of people turning up and not having a place to stay. SFO is also illegal, not sure about other places. It is also illegal in Abu Dhabi.

I have used it three times and the places had many 100s of positive feedbacks and I thought that was a good start. Perhaps get a link to the good ones to have a look at them.

 

[JessicaTam]

I have used it a few times in EU and US.

The only dodgy one was one that had very few reviews - rookie mistake.

Choose ones that have quite a few reviews and you can't go wrong.

I stayed at one this week in YVR and the host asked that if anyone asked, I was to say I was a friend visiting for a few days. Not sure if that means it is illegal there, or just a local issue with the apartment block.

 

[parsonstrish]

I've moved onto Airbnb past couple of years. As others have said I look for ones with a fair number of reviews. There are plenty of choices in area one is interested in, as long as you don't leave it to 3 months prior to renting, number of choices drop. The time factor also may change according to area.

looking at cancellation clause is also important. I booked in Notting Hill for upcoming trip. The reviews were fine, I just never felt comfortable. I cancelled, it was strict cancellation. Lost half of my money. Next time I will be more aware.

All my stays, the accomodation have been spotless. I also leave it very clean, just my thing.

i'm looking forward to Dublin, architect design 51sq meters small house in historical area. Will be something different. Part of the floor is glass. So I do look for unique.

i also like having a whole apartment to roam through when my jet lag is at its peak.

Yes, it's also cheaper than hotels.

 

[RB]

Have used them in Germay, Italy, Spain & Portugal and have had no hassles. As others have said try to get a feel of things by having a good read of the reviews. We have been using apartments rather than hotels for many years so the style of travel is something we are used to. Having washing and cooking facilities (mainly for breakfast and sometimes lunch) are major factors for us preferring apartments/houses over hotel rooms

 

[cove]

We have been contacted to not do AirBNB in London, Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles. The building management have had a guts full of the bad behaviour and are moving to outlaw it as soon as they can. Apparently there are too many late night parties that the concierge and security have to shut down. In Perth we have lock boxes being installed purely because some seniors are locking themselves out of their apartments. No AirBNB is tolerated in that one either.

 

[get me outta here]

Bad behavior and driving up rents for locals are 2 of the reasons cited for it being illegal in NYC and SFO et al. I have also been told to say to anyone who asks that I am visiting friend.

We have been contacted to not do AirBNB in London, Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles. The building management have had a guts full of the bad behaviour and are moving to outlaw it as soon as they can. Apparently there are too many late night parties that the concierge and security have to shut down. In Perth we have lock boxes being installed purely because some seniors are locking themselves out of their apartments. No AirBNB is tolerated in that one either.

 

[cove]

Yes GMOH that should work.
In Paris an apartment owner will get slapped with a substantial charge in thousands of euros if the authorities discover a short term renter as they are missing out on hotel taxes and the taxes on hotel profits.
Basically they look at this as black money that they want to nail.

 

[coriander]

The building management have had a guts full of the bad behaviour and are moving to outlaw it as soon as they can.

I can understand that.

One of the owners in our complex rents his apartment out as an airBnBER. His guests' New Year's Eve party consisted of obscenities screamed out at no-one in particular from the third floor balconies most of the night, wheelies and burnouts in the underground car park, beer bottles thrown from the balconies and smashing onto the paths surrounding the complex and BOTH elevators full of vomit by the morning. This owner has had to replace four security swipe keys as they're rarely returned at the end of a stay (they are cancelled as soon as the manager is told about them, but that could be weeks).

In Perth we have lock boxes being installed purely because some seniors are locking themselves out of their apartments

We do in our complex, too. Nothing to do with "seniors" - quite apart from the wind catching and unexpectedly slamming doors shut, my kids have often gone out at night and forgotten their keys: a lock box in the foyer is preferable to waking mum and dad.......

 

[cove]

My son lives there with his +1 and the first buyers were 30 or 40 years ago so they have more miles on their time clocks. With an older apartment building you get tennis courts,swimming pools lots of grass and gardens and lots of parking. Fortunately there are almost no tenants so life is peaceful and no Air BnB.

 

[blackcat20]

Yes GMOH that should work.
In Paris an apartment owner will get slapped with a substantial charge in thousands of euros if the authorities discover a short term renter as they are missing out on hotel taxes and the taxes on hotel profits.
Basically they look at this as black money that they want to nail.

Here in Italy our hosts have been collecting the appropriate tax (1 euro per person per night) with official receipt provided.

 

[straitman]

We used one at Phillip Island in early May and it went without issue other than the usual reminder to read the fine print which we didn't. On this occasion it referred to taking our own Doonas' and Towels which we didn't do.

 

[cove]

My eldest son did an AirBnB with a professional and it worked out quite well (he was there ) and this person worked at a local teaching hospital.

 

[risky]

AirBnB is an interesting development in rental accommodation with lots of parallels to Uber - part of the new "sharing economy". I signed up over 3 years ago, but I have yet to actually stay anywhere with AirBnB. That includes 6 weeks with the family in Europe (2014) and multiple short getaways in Australia. I have a couple of nights booked in Australia later in the year - they will be the first!

I had one booked on the outskirts of London, but there was some problem (host hadn't updated the calendar?) - but that was months out and almost immediate contact from the host full of apologies, so no impact to us. The communication I have had with various hosts has been almost universally fantastic - this is perhaps the best part of the whole AirBnB experience. It makes a difference to have direct communication with somebody that usually has a personal interest, compared with the estate agents/brokers that farm out all the apartments in the big cities.

Don't be afraid to ask questions via the online "send message". I do that a lot when planning; minimising surprises when travelling with the family is usually a good thing. I can't imagine what you would do if you arrived late one night and discovered that towels and linen were not included...

Interestingly, I often felt that a listing would be perfect - just not for me and my family. Sometimes a hotel/commercial venture is just easier, or the quirks are just too quirky. Watch the cleaning fees (especially for just a few nights it may be high), and the distance to public transport if you are hoofing it.

 

[JessicaTam]

If you wish to post referral info for AirBnB, please use the referral sub-forum.

 

[cove]

In Ireland we used 5 star rated bed and breakfast homes and they all worked out really well as we drove each day to a fresh destination. We started and finished in Dublin and the highways built using Euro loans are magnificent.