Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if I’m being overly picky, or if you’d mention these things in an Airbnb review?

182 replies

raisemyheartrate · 31/08/2026 07:32

I’m currently staying in an Airbnb, solo, and thinking about the review I’ll write.

There are two main sticking points for me:

  1. The listing did not mention, anywhere, that key pick up for the flat is located about half a mile down the road. I didn’t get check in instructions until the day of check in. I had to drag my bags to the flat, at 1 in the morning. It’s just an annoyance that to be honest, I would have avoided if I’d known about it.
  2. The courtyard is really not as described. It was pictured to look huge, with a sea view and sun all day. In reality you can’t see the sea unless you’re in the flat, and the sun is gone by about 8:30 in the morning.

AIBU to mention these? It was an expensive apartment so I think I’m being slightly more critical than I’d usually be

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Partingofthewaves · 31/08/2026 21:22

pulpJarvis · 31/08/2026 07:38

I’d definitely mention the courtyard as well as the key pick up. Can just be factual.

I would mention courtyard as that would be something I would have chosen the property for.

Minasama · 31/08/2026 18:32

Definitely mention both, in a factual way.

wheresthesnowgone · 31/08/2026 18:31

Rachelshair · 31/08/2026 09:21

The most annoying key pick up I've had was a 30 minute drive away. Half a mile on foot would also be really annoying.
I really don't like getting instructions on the day, I always think they've forgotten me. Seems to be quite normal with Airbnb.

It's not down to Airbnb, it's the host who's supposed to provide check in information and descriptions.

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 17:20

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 17:12

Of course they are skewed positive. That's how manipulative algorithms work.

Show quote history

I guess I interrogate the reviews so carefully before I ever book that I have never (17 times and counting!) had a bad experience

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 17:12

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 17:06

But you think they just do it by the positive reviews first?

Of course they are skewed positive. That's how manipulative algorithms work.

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 17:06

But you think they just do it by the positive reviews first?

To ask if I’m being overly picky, or if you’d mention these things in an Airbnb review?
Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 17:04

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 17:02

Just tested it myself
Automatically filtered by most relevant
No idea why yours is filtering otherwise. See screenshot of Airbnb site.

Show quote history

Notion down the list…. All mine are chronological

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 17:02

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 16:31

again. No you don’t

the automatic list sequence is by most recent

then you can amend the list sequence

Show quote history

Just tested it myself
Automatically filtered by most relevant
No idea why yours is filtering otherwise. See screenshot of Airbnb site.

To ask if I’m being overly picky, or if you’d mention these things in an Airbnb review?
Jaxhog · 31/08/2026 16:54

I'd mention both, but be factual rather than critical

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 16:32

I am literally on a listing

scroll to reviews
the automatic sequence of reviews without doing any filtering is by most recent

you can than change to highest / lowest rated

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 16:31

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 16:30

Yes I am aware. But if you just click on reviews, you don't see them in chronological order, you see the highest ratings first, so it might appear as if bad reviews have been deleted unless you specifically look for them

Show quote history

again. No you don’t

the automatic list sequence is by most recent

then you can amend the list sequence

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 16:30

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 16:27

Incorrect

you can filter by

Highest
lowest
most recent
Most relevant

Show quote history

Yes I am aware. But if you just click on reviews, you don't see them in chronological order, you see the highest ratings first, so it might appear as if bad reviews have been deleted unless you specifically look for them

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 16:27

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 08:54

Negative reviews aren't deleted but Airbnb promotes the best reviews to you so unless you filter by 'lowest rated' you won't see them

Show quote history

Incorrect

you can filter by

Highest
lowest
most recent
Most relevant

To ask if I’m being overly picky, or if you’d mention these things in an Airbnb review?
JustChillin70 · 31/08/2026 15:28

Yes definitely mention them both. I would want to know the key safe is a half mile walk away and that the courtyard pics were deceptive. The lack of sun in the courtyard would be a huge issue for us and we would be extremely hacked off if it was made to seem sun drenched, so definitely mention it. We have picked up keys from a letting agent key safe in the past, which was way further than half a mile, and that was a faff and a half even though it was during the day and we had a hire car. Those that try and make out a half mile walk at 1 am, dragging a suitcase is fine are being ridiculous. I’m fit for my age and run daily but wouldn’t be happy not being told that I’d have to traipse half a mile to pick up the key until after I’d booked

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 14:56

What was the rating for the property? I avoid any below 4.5

Backfrombright · 31/08/2026 14:55

It wouldn’t ever occur to me that I’d have a sea view with a court yard garden

Overwhelmedandtired · 31/08/2026 14:39

Any accommodation photos will be taken as flatteringly as possible, so the courtyard photo probably not grounds to complain. Sun exposure may be different at different times of year depending on where you are too. Potentially mention factually, like courtyard is in the sun early morning.

Key collection, I would comment on for information purposes. I can see why its annoying, particularly given your travel/arrival times, so more to ensure future guests are aware for their own planning purposes.

They are a little nit picky if you were making a complaint/after compensation, but if you just include details for others awareness it helps inform future bookings, as you would like to have been aware of these details

SimoneSpeaksSoftly · 31/08/2026 14:06

Ineffable23 · 31/08/2026 07:39

I'd mention both. I'd probably be neutral and factual about the courtyard, not mentioning the view but mentioning that it's shady. "Early morning sun in the courtyard, with shade from around 9am". As for some people that's a positive just as much as it's a negative.

Agree with this approach. The key issue would definitely bother me as well.

Original poster
raisemyheartrate · 31/08/2026 13:18

MCF86 · 31/08/2026 12:16

You being used to walking doesn't mean that everybody else is able to. It might be no problem for a lot of people but they should still known before they book.

Show quote history

I’m halfway through my day and up to 12k steps and not feeling anything, so I’d say I’m fairly used to walking! But this with bags was ridiculous

OP posts:
OVienna · 31/08/2026 12:37

The key safe is absolutely ridiculous. You have to state that, and more importantly, the owner needs to do something about it. I am a little surprised it wasn't mentioned by other reviews?

I would also mention the courtyard but in the more neutral way others have described.

MCF86 · 31/08/2026 12:16

MelonSorbet · 31/08/2026 07:44

I wouldn't mention either. Half a mile isn't far. I'm used to walking as I don't have a car so it wouldn't even register as an inconvenience with me. It must have taken ten minutes to get from the key pick up to the apartment, if that.

You being used to walking doesn't mean that everybody else is able to. It might be no problem for a lot of people but they should still known before they book.

LlynTegid · 31/08/2026 12:11

The key thing to me is trading standards if such rental came in their scope and were adequately staffed.

The sooner such short term lets require planning permission the better.

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 12:06

Switcher · 31/08/2026 11:23

Place I booked in Sheffield was regularly deleting the whole listing with the reviews pointing out the absolute state of it. And then relisting the same property as a new host, complete with amazing reviews from consecutive one-night stays...

Show quote history

Not sure how, as you have to upload your government ID to create an Airbnb host account, but maybe they were doing it under fake business names?? Either way that's highly unusual and a lot of effort to go to to delete reviews.

Switcher · 31/08/2026 11:23

SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes · 31/08/2026 11:14

They don't delete them

Show quote history

Place I booked in Sheffield was regularly deleting the whole listing with the reviews pointing out the absolute state of it. And then relisting the same property as a new host, complete with amazing reviews from consecutive one-night stays...

Aluna · 31/08/2026 11:18

Owner here, not this owner: the key safe should be at the property, and it should state on the listing that the sea views are from the flat itself not the courtyard. Both those should be mentioned on the review.

I send out info with the final payment 60 days before; for last minute bookings the info goes out a week before.

A day ahead is far too late imo and it’s likely an automatic setting by the host. Another time, email well in advance requesting the arrival details as they can send them manually.