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AIBU?

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Original poster

AirB&B - rant

37 replies

Radiatorvalves · 23/09/2025 10:31

Trying to keep the costs down I booked an AirB&B in a large city. Last night, with 48 hours to go, I had a message from the host asking if I needed early check in or late check out at $75 each. I said no thanks. An hour later the booking was cancelled.

I spent ages on the phone. There is now limited availability, and nothing available in the area I’d booked at a similar price. They keep suggesting cheaper properties 30/40 km away. I feel over a barrel but I have agreed to pay an additional $180 to secure a booking.

Perhaps I should not have used them. Certainly a hotel would not have been much cheaper. ….

How common is it that people have issues or horror stories when using AirB&B? Most people I know say it’s ok.

AIBU to never use AirB&B again?

OP posts:
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TryingAgainAgainAgain · 24/09/2025 18:50

Rispa42 · 23/09/2025 15:01

I used to be quite a prolific user of Airbnb, but have had quite a few issues with it in the last few years, so have stopped using it. Definitely gone downhill unfortunately… there are quite a few niche alternatives that I find better!

Are you willing to share the niche alternatives?

SabbatWheel · 24/09/2025 18:36

I’ve only used properties run by Superhosts on Air BnB and have had brilliant accommodation all over the UK with no issues. I would imagine that Superhosts give far fewer (no?) issues for their guests.

themerchentofvenus · 24/09/2025 16:56

Radiatorvalves · 23/09/2025 22:30

No. If I’d cancelled, no refund. Very unbalanced T&C.

Show quote history

In which case, in a court of law, the T&Cs would be deemed unfair, so if you were not allowed to cancel at short notice and would have lost the full amount, then they shouldn't be able to just cancel either without losing out.

I'd guess they have someone else staying and the excuse is a load of rubbish?

TheRedKoala · 24/09/2025 02:13

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CoastalCalm · 23/09/2025 22:44

The only issue I’ve ever had with a rental property was via booking.com when a holiday apartment in Barcelona didn’t exist - contacted the host and they said they had changed to one miles outside of the centre and when I contacted booking.com eventually got a refund after a lot of back and forward

ArtichokesBloom · 23/09/2025 22:35

Had this with Airbnb in Barcelona. I think some countries and cities are making it difficult for hosts on airbnb. It was grim for me having booked weekend months earlier and it was cancelled a week before. Took awhile to get avregund as well.
I had a similar with booking.com however they refunded us immediately AND gave us compensation. That cancellation was within hours and I'd just landed in the country!!!

Original poster
Radiatorvalves · 23/09/2025 22:30

themerchentofvenus · 23/09/2025 16:06

What were the cancellation T&Cs as they have to be fair?

E.g. if you cancelled 48 hours before the booking would you have got a refund?

No. If I’d cancelled, no refund. Very unbalanced T&C.

OP posts:
ifIwerenotanandroid · 23/09/2025 18:10

ClutchingPearlz · 23/09/2025 16:01

So just hang it over another door at night?

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But that's a faff, & if the argument is there's sufficient storage not to have to use the hooks, why not remove the hooks premanently?

I mean, I wouldn't complain about it as a guest because I'd just leave the door open, but the actual guest isn't being stupid - as has been suggested.

Katemax82 · 23/09/2025 18:07

My husband booked a nice air BnB in Brighton for a mini break for him and 2 of our kids. They cancelled 2 days before they were due to leave!! So bloody annoying cos my husband had to think of a whole new trip

user2848502016 · 23/09/2025 17:34

Had a terrible experience with them in London recently, luckily after a lot of faff got a refund - but would not use in a city again tbh.

TheDogsMother · 23/09/2025 17:29

You do know Airbnb is not one big homogeneous thing ? It’s a zillion different hosts, properties and levels of quality. Much the same as VRBO, Booking.com and all the others. Disliking Airbnb is like saying you don’t like hotels. They are all so completely different.

themerchentofvenus · 23/09/2025 16:06

What were the cancellation T&Cs as they have to be fair?

E.g. if you cancelled 48 hours before the booking would you have got a refund?

ClutchingPearlz · 23/09/2025 16:01

ifIwerenotanandroid · 23/09/2025 15:17

Recent ones include the single bedroom door was unable to be shut properly due to the door hooks on the back of the door..
The ones you simply lift off...

But if you lift them off, there's nowhere to hang the things that were hanging on them on the back of the door, surely?

Show quote history

So just hang it over another door at night?

SirBasil · 23/09/2025 16:01

I don't use Air B&B - can't you leave a comment? And if you have all the messages with timestamps, escalate to their complaints process?

Original poster
Radiatorvalves · 23/09/2025 16:00

secureyourbook · 23/09/2025 15:52

I once had a booking cancel on me three days before a trip and air bnb paid the difference between the old booking and the new one. Not sure if they still do that, have you spoken to them?

They paid a bit towards it, but I’m still £150 odd out of pocket. Problem was that at short notice the moderately priced places were few and far between. And mostly 30+ km away from the centre of the town. Really poor service.

OP posts:
DeQuin · 23/09/2025 15:59

Stopped using AirBnB a few years ago. I travel a lot for work and decided hotels were the answer for a host of reasons (including arriving places I don't know late at night and not being able to find the key or get it to work, a place not having functioning central heating and a mouldy fridge, a place where the pillow smelled bad etc etc).

FickleOcelot · 23/09/2025 15:53

AirBnB and Booking.com are both just booking platforms. You can have good and bad experiences with both.

secureyourbook · 23/09/2025 15:52

I once had a booking cancel on me three days before a trip and air bnb paid the difference between the old booking and the new one. Not sure if they still do that, have you spoken to them?

Mandylovescandy · 23/09/2025 15:45

The host will be penalised at that notice. However keep complaining at Airbnb. This happened to us and they eventually covered the full extra costs for our trip. Was very mad at them at the time and the slow complaints process did my head in but eventually worked out fine and have used them again. Have used them multiple times and only had this kind of issue once

CicerosHead · 23/09/2025 15:45

People are advising OP to use Booking. Similar thing happened to me on Booking.

Booked a hotel in Venice last September, for the Carnival in Feb. Paid, all good. Less than a week before the trip they cancelled with some bullshit excuse. What actually happened, is the hotel was cheap-ish, and they realized they can charge way more for the rooms during the Carnival. Lo and behold, later they relisted the same room for a much bigger price. And didn't refund me.

Spoke with Booking reps countless of times. Couldn't have been more unhelpful if they tried. Basically told me to find another accomodation, pay for it myself and they will cover the difference (up to 400 quid I think), plus will refund me for the first hotel. No timeframes.

A few days before the Carnival everything was sold out, bar the fanciest megabucks places. Had to stay in Mestre, no other choice. Booking didn't refund me and also had to scramble more money for another hotel. It was stressful.

They eventually did refund me approx a month after my trip. The cancelling hotel is still on Booking.

Original poster
Radiatorvalves · 23/09/2025 15:20

It’s interesting to get different perspectives. I have to say it’s left a nasty taste in my mouth and totally put me off using them again. Usually I head off on hols secure that I have got accommodation sorted, and now I just feel on edge.

As one poster says, the host needs a good reason to cancel. Fair enough…. But I’m still in the lurch and imho AirB&B could have done a lot more to support me.

OP posts:
Whereismyfleeceblanket · 23/09/2025 15:20

There is a wardrobe and drawers...

Rispa42 · 23/09/2025 15:20

And yes, my latest (and probably last time I’ll use them) had the host cancel on me last minute. Incredibly frustrating experience trying to find something last minute.