Are AirBnBs still a 'room with the host' experience?

[CantFindTheBeat]

I remember when Airbnb first became mainstream-ish.

There was an Italian guy who became quite well known as the guests would book his spare room and get invited out with him and his friends to experience the city 'like a local'.

Now, I only see whole flats/houses/cottages etc - pretty different to the original premise.

Has anyone stayed with a host recently and had a good experience ? I quite fancy pitching up in Paris or Italy (with DH!) and having an adventure - or is it pretty much Booking.Com with a different name?

Even if they have a host, they are generally renting a room to offset the cost of living crisis, not have long chats and hang out with you. I stay in shared flats every week and honestly we don't have much to do with each other.

Having said that, DH and I stayed in an AirBnB in Ghent where the host left us a bad review as she wanted to chat to us more, when we were coming home late tired from sightseeing and going to bed.

So I can recommend you a place in Ghent!

🤣🤣 thank you @AnnaMagnan!

Hmmm. What a strange review!i