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Original poster

dear airbnb hosts

221 replies

comeondover · 12/08/2023 19:21

Enough of the plug-in air fresheners. They're foul a matter of personal taste. Also they make me very suspicious about what you might be trying to hide.

And if all the temperature and function settings have been rubbed off, what am I supposed to do, play oven roulette? Give me a fighting chance and leave me the manual so I can look at a picture of it.

Anything else?

OP posts:
DuesToTheDirt · 13/08/2023 10:14

icecreamisforwintertoo · 13/08/2023 07:41

If you leave the code for the key safe please ensure it’s correct and you are at least contactable (and not on a flight for several hours) around the usual time of check in if it’s not (true story)

Had trouble at our last rental when we couldn't get in using the keypad (I'd written down the numbers) - and I had no phone signal in the village to either recheck my messages, or find the owner's phone number and call them. DH had a signal but didn't have the messages, but I managed to hotspot to his phone, and just as I did the owner called to see if we were in yet.

Not the owner's fault, just a warning not to rely on phones in remote villages!

ilovebagpuss · 13/08/2023 10:23

For the love of god if I'm stumping up 1600 quid for a week you can leave me a few Aldi dishwasher tablets and a pack of bog roll surely!

Oldraver · 13/08/2023 10:24

I realise you got your first (can I say, irritating sock stealing dog, who quite frankly I dont want gatecrashing and sniffing around the cottage), but I think this makes you nose blind to the 'doggy smell' in the cottage

Also putting a stair gate across the patio doors to stop said dog gatecrashing is not the answer. I want the patio doors open and not have to battle with a not properly working gate

The dog needs shutting away or the cottage patio needs fencing off

ProfYaffle · 13/08/2023 10:25

Cloudsandrainnotsunandsand · 12/08/2023 21:15

Dear Airbnb guest please stop changing the furniture around. I mean who even does that? Except the frigging people I have just cleaned after!

We moved the sofa in a holiday cottage just recently. It was at right angles to the tv so you had to watch with your head twisted over your shoulder. We moved it in the evenings, moved back again before we went to bed.

I'd appreciate knowing in advance what's provided in terms of washing up liquid, dishwasher tabs, bin liners, foil, cooking oil and salt and pepper. I don't really mind if they're provided or not but would like to know what I need to bring.

Oldraver · 13/08/2023 10:26

Yea and the plug ins didnt hide the doggy odour

letsghostdance · 13/08/2023 10:31

Sure, you just do it for the love of it. Tell another one.

Makemineacosmo · 13/08/2023 10:36

letsghostdance · 13/08/2023 10:31

Sure, you just do it for the love of it. Tell another one.

To be fair, most people don't do a job just for the love of it. My neighbour has an air b & b annexe in their garden and it's her only source of income as a retiree. She puts so much time and effort into her lovely wee place I wonder if the stress is worth it for her.

Ginmonkeyagain · 13/08/2023 10:36

@SkaterGrrrrl ha! Definitely that.

I remember a torturous 20 mins while our host went over in great detail every aspect of the tiny one bed flat in French (which my exhausted and hot brain only understood about 2/3 of) - we had been up since 4.30am and travelled for 5 hours acorss France by train in 40 degree heat. All I wanted was a cool shower and to change my sweaty clothes.

I think I zoned out at the detailed description of the city recycling services and long complex instructions for using the parking space (which we already told them we did not need as we were arriving by train).

MonumentalLentil · 13/08/2023 11:03

comeondover · 12/08/2023 19:21

Enough of the plug-in air fresheners. They're foul a matter of personal taste. Also they make me very suspicious about what you might be trying to hide.

And if all the temperature and function settings have been rubbed off, what am I supposed to do, play oven roulette? Give me a fighting chance and leave me the manual so I can look at a picture of it.

Anything else?

This should also apply if you are wanting to sell your house.
I have had to leave houses due to the stench of fake perfumes. I battled on while the agent was waffling but had to escape to the garden before a quick exit. Shame because the house was quite good, but no way was I going back for another look.

storminamooncup · 13/08/2023 11:14

If you breed dogs, tell the guest in advance so they are not surprised by 20 dogs running around. Its not enough to simply say your cottage is 'dog friendly' because we might expect to see one other dog (yours) but not be surrounded by an entire pack. Also if you have dogs, pick up their poo. Don't think that by advertising your property as 'dog friendly', we will be happy to see dog poo all around. Oh and be aware that registered assistance dogs are not just guide dogs so don't try to charge other assistance dog owners a dog cleaning fee.

snurtifier · 13/08/2023 11:24

If I was lucky enough to own a 16th century building, I wouldn't obliterate the interior with horrific tat from my mate's interiors shop.

Also, yes, plug-in air fresheners are vile.

SM4713 · 13/08/2023 11:47

Host- If YOU change plans, and decide not the physically meet/greet me after my 24hr flight, please don't leave the keys at a 'convenience store nearby'. It is neither convenient or nearby, to cart my luggage 1 mile, or a 30min round trip to collect the keys. This was central London, and I walked past 4 other 24hr convenient stores to get to the one you'd left the keys at! 😡

Namddf · 13/08/2023 11:49

CaptainSeven · 13/08/2023 05:50

@SheilaFentiman I realise this - but this particular AirBnb was taking the piss. Check in after 4pm. Gone by 10am.

Yes 10am!!!

I find a lot are like this now.

SheilaFentiman · 13/08/2023 12:00

Namddf · 13/08/2023 11:49

I find a lot are like this now.

Show quote history

I’m going to stick up for these check
in and out times. They are clearly shown when you book, you can message the host with a request for early/late and - as per the notes on this thread - people reasonably want a properly cleaned property with topped up loo roll etc - it takes time to do.

SheilaFentiman · 13/08/2023 12:02

We did landmark trusts before we did Airbnb. All the checkouts are at 10am, there are clear cleaning instructions annd polite requests to strip the beds if uoh have time and cleaners literally will arrive at 1005.

rookiemere · 13/08/2023 12:03

I haven't got an issue with checking in at 4 and out at 10, it's fairly standard with a lot of rental properties even pre covid.

I did have a bit of an objection to one - mid covid times - that didn't want us in until 6pm and out at 9am, but it turned out their housekeeper was obsessed by covid and it was all about airing for hours before she went in.

I would add though if they expect you out at 10, not much should be expected in the way of cleaning.

garlictwist · 13/08/2023 12:37

ShinyBandana · 12/08/2023 21:41

Please…. Some shelves in the bathroom, coat hooks in every room, mirrors near a light source and 2 keys not just 1

See this does seem quite fussy to me. Coat hooks in every room?

SheilaFentiman · 13/08/2023 12:40

I think pp means hooks on backs of doors for dressing gowns etc

PensAndPapers · 13/08/2023 12:41

Towels! I need more than one bath towel and one hand towel for a week. We both have very long hair so a small hand towel is not enough for our hair after it’s been washed. And if I’m using the hand towel for my hair, I need another hand towel to dry my hands. And don’t leave the towels on the bed. Put them in the bathroom. Nothing worse than arriving after a long journey, needing to use the toilet, rushing to the bathroom and then realising the towels are on the bed when you need to dry your hands.

Matching cutlery and crockery. If I’m paying north of 700 for a week, and if you’re hoping for a 5-star review, then at least make sure the crockery and cutlery is matching and in good order. Doesn’t need to be expensive. Plain white dinner sets from Tesco or IKEA are perfectly acceptable. But please don’t make me feel like I’m rummaging through a school jumble sale when I’m looking for plates, mugs, etc in the kitchen, trying to find the one with the fewest chips and cracks, and nothing matches, knives and cookware are rusted and scratched. I would rather have a nice set of matching, undamaged plates to eat from than you waste money on fancy bottles of wine and wanky organic oat cakes that I’m not going to drink/eat. That would make me feel more welcome and at home.

bellaronaldo · 13/08/2023 12:49

Chopping boards, knives, decent frying pan, cafetière, cooking oil, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, toilet rolls, cleaning spray and cloths, tea towels. These are the things I always take when staying in self catering- it would be really nice not to have to but I’ve learnt that it’s just much much easier to take them rather than having to (yet again) buy them once there.

CharlotteBog · 13/08/2023 12:52

bellaronaldo · 13/08/2023 12:49

Chopping boards, knives, decent frying pan, cafetière, cooking oil, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, toilet rolls, cleaning spray and cloths, tea towels. These are the things I always take when staying in self catering- it would be really nice not to have to but I’ve learnt that it’s just much much easier to take them rather than having to (yet again) buy them once there.

Very hard to take when you fly long haul to a rental!

We are staying in a place which I'm sure has never hosted guests for a week with only suitcase luggage.

bellaronaldo · 13/08/2023 12:56

obviously impossible when abroad, I agree- uk car based only. Abroad is a whole different ball game although I have caved and bought some of the things I listed when staying for a week….

Saverage · 13/08/2023 12:59

I'm having more sympathy for the hosts after reading some of these - aprons, matching crockery, unopened coffee (which will go in boiling water anyway even if someone did sneeze on it).

mondaytosunday · 13/08/2023 13:03

If you allow dogs, allow them in all rooms. Dogs will not be happy being confined the kitchen if they can hear their family in the livingroom.
Also if there's a low beam cutting the kitchen in half put it in the description!
No one likes scratchy sheets - good quality cotton, and no saggy mattresses!
Mix matched dinnerware, cheap diner cutlery - get rid!
And leave me alone! I do not want you to come over to 'check on things', water the garden, take the rubbish out - and then come back to take the bins back in. And do not say you need to have the fire extinguisher tested resulting in two more visits!

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 13/08/2023 13:08

I love reed diffusers but not so much plug ins.

I'd just like realistic pictures on the websites. I don't need to see a close up of some flowers on a tray on top of a throw draped over a footstool. I want to see the rooms without a wide lens. I want to see all the areas I have access to and any communal areas onsite.

The place we've just booked has lots of little quirks but the pictures are really vague so I can't see them properly so unsure how/if they're functional