Our Air bnb is rated 4.64 out of 5 and yet..

[PurpleBaskets]

…it is dirty, it’s noisy, it smells. There are hardly any kitchen utensils, no baking trays etc. The windows don’t shut properly. I have had to put pieces of cardboard in the huge gap in the front door because it was rattling. It’s so cold. The house creaks and rattles, the road outside sounds like it is in the living room and bedrooms. Everywhere is sticky and dirty.
Yet it is rated so highly! Over 100 reviews. It wasn’t cheap either. This keeps happening to us, maybe I’m just expecting too much?

Op have you been drinking

Honestly I’ve given up on AirBnB temporarily after 2 bad experiences last year.

Once place had glowing reviews but it was awful and we left after one night. I was so disappointed.

Wrong thread sorry op
No advice with air bnb either

@allgreythings

Wrong thread sorry op No advice with air bnb either

Well I have been drinking 🍷, the only way to get through my noisy and smelly air bnb - when I saw your post I panicked at how you had guessed, had to double check was it that badly written!

We had one like this, i never read the reviews i just looked at the 4.x star rating and presumed it was good. The place was an absolute state - everything broken, floor tiles missing in several rooms, kitchen cupboard doors hanging off, awful. When u went back and actually READ the reviews, people mentioned all of the above. Yet they still gave 5 stars all the time! Bonkers

I’m so done with Air b n B’s. Some charge £300 for a night and they’re shite. I’d rather stay home tbh.

Air BnB is garbage, they wreck cities anyway. Next time use a proper holiday rental?

Airbnb is not what it used to be. They are in some instance more expensive than hotel, it used to be a cheaper alternative but not anymore in the majority of case. I was going to book one for our summer holiday but it is cheaper to stay in an hotel.

One place we stayed in was £££ but other reviewers overlooked the minimal facilities, rusty gas bbq, uncomfortable bed and death trap cooking stove. I wondered what the previous occupants had paid. If it was really cheap you might overlook a few problems that are totally unacceptable in a more expensive place.

I'm surprised - all the air b'n'b places we've stayed in have ranged from quite nice to lovely. We've never had a well-reviewed place be anything other than pleasant.

We only stay in places with 30+ reviews and read them all. We have had such wonderful experiences as a family

I think you have to be really careful with reviews on Airbnb now - it very much depends what the person reviewing was looking for. Someone who went out to eat every evening probably didn’t notice the lack of utensils or baking trays, for example, and that’s pretty common on holiday. I’ve stayed in places with drafty front doors, but mine is at home too, so it doesn’t bother me as much as it might others.

I’m not suggesting a noisy, smelly Airbnb is worth nearly 5 stars - but I think the stars are pretty meaningless now.

I’ve heard so many bad reviews with Airbnb that I’ll stick to booking dot com and premier inn

Airbnb is completely unregulated. Best to go with a reputable agency and/or check TripAdvisor.

I only use Booking.com, reviews are more accurate. I don't cook on holiday so wouldn't have noticed kitchen utensils

It's a bit of a gig economy thing, I think.

People don't like to think they're affecting an individual's direct income in the same way they'd not mind slating a business.

@IdrisElbow

Is it because the air b&b owner can also rate the guests? So it's not in your interest to leave a bad air b&b review as they can then leave an equally bad review for the guest who then will struggle to rent other places in future. So everyone gives each other glowing reviews , rendering the whole thing pointless.

It doesn't work that way. Neither party can see the others' review until they're both posted simultaneously by Airbnb. A strategy employed exactly to avoid tit for tat reviews.

I must admit that I'm baffled at expecting baking trays. But the rest doesn't sound great, particularly the dirty part. But if you're paying £50/night, maybe that's ok. If you're paying £300/night, not so much.

What did the owner say when you contacted them and complained it's dirty?

People don't like to think they're affecting an individual's direct income in the same way they'd not mind slating a business.

I think this is the issue. You're renting from an individual, and especially if you've communicated with them beforehand, they feel 'real' and you can be reluctant to be too critical.

We've stayed in a lot and they've all been great. But I read through the reviews meticulously and have cancelled a place one week in advance of going because a bad review popped up. I would never book a place that isn't over 4.94 as this seems to be the tipping point to when some aren't as good.

It is unregulated and it is a risk but I agree, some highly ranked places can be very poor. Worth keeping a very close eye after you book something but before you travel

@IdrisElbow

Is it because the air b&b owner can also rate the guests? So it's not in your interest to leave a bad air b&b review as they can then leave an equally bad review for the guest who then will struggle to rent other places in future. So everyone gives each other glowing reviews , rendering the whole thing pointless.

that's what I was going to say

Why use Air bnb when there are perfectly good hotels?

@saraclara
"It doesn't work that way. Neither party can see the others' review until they're both posted simultaneously by Airbnb. A strategy employed exactly to avoid tit for tat reviews."

that makes it less likely but won't stop it

I must admit that I'm baffled at expecting baking trays

But do you not need a baking tray/ sheet to cook almost anything in the oven? I mean, fine I guess if there's some alternative receptacle I can use instead like eg roasting veg in a pyrex dish or something.

Poorly equipped kitchens are tiresome when you are away.

We can’t use hotels as we need self catering due to severe DC allergies. Also hence the need for a baking tray to be able to use the oven..the poster that is baffled by my annoyance of no baking tray, I’m curious as to what you would use to place food in to an oven with? It’s quite literally useless with nothing available to put the food on to cook. I understand others who have stayed may just eat out but that’s not an option for us, plus when they state an equipped kitchen I’m always hopeful but just always seem to be frustrated! I think it’s the last time we use air bnb and hopefully the other sites are better.