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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Air bnb is over rated?

207 replies

jennymanara · 23/09/2019 12:54

We have stopped using air bnb unless it is literally just for a bed for 1 night. Because the standard is invariably poor, unless they are very expensive, or are already a proper bnb just advertising on air bnb.
I adopted a few years ago a policy of only staying with superhosts. But have decided to abandon even that after staying with a few that were fine, they had all 5 star reviews, but not as good as other places I had stayed for similar money in the same city.

I think when air bnb started there were genuinely real bargains for what you got. But this is no longer the case. Instead it is full if people who are renting at the going rate locally, but really have no idea how to be professional.

OP posts:
eeksville · 23/09/2019 15:17

for self catering?

CodenameVillanelle · 23/09/2019 15:17

I would be surprised if you provide the same as a hotel that charges £100 plus in terms of room, service and professionalism. And by £100 plus I mean what most people actually pay, not the standard rack rate.

Of course I don't! That's the point!

I have a spare room in my house. The whole house is kept clean and tidy when I have guests and the room is clean, vacuumed, dusted, clean sheets between each stay. The room is just a guest room so no clutter.
Guests can make their own breakfast and eat it either in my living room or in the bedroom at a small table.
It's not a hotel. That's the point. Even travelodges charge 50% more than I charge, I am a cheap alternative to a hotel. If people want hotel standard they can pay for it. Many don't, so it suits them fine.

Mordred · 23/09/2019 15:33

Stayed in one in Prague a while ago and also in a couple in the UK. Never any problems and they were good value, clean and welcoming.

yetanothernane · 23/09/2019 15:38

I've stayed a few times in them. I wouldn't ever rent an air b&b that's a room in someone's house, but I have rented the full property.

The properties I have rented have been good and I've shopped around for price etc. I don't think they are necessarily cheaper than hotels but with a DC toddler in tow it's a million times better than a hotel room.

I stayed in one in Edinburgh and it was easily better than a 3 star hotel which would have been comparable in price.

You do have to read the info, and I saw some that charge top whack but are full of cheap furniture or stuff that has been rejected by the owners for their own houses. I did see one property who said the flat was full of antique furniture with large sentimental value... We didn't book. 🤪

buttermilkwaffles · 23/09/2019 15:44

saying that they'd review me only once they'd seen what I said about them

Fairly sure that's impossible, as reviews are only published after both have left one or the time period expires, so they were probably lying to you to pressure you to leave them a 5 star review...

What they can do is leave a response to a review, as they have a right of reply. You cannot in turn leave a response to that (I assume to avoid endless back and forth responses). However this means you can leave a bad review, the host can then say you were lying or you were a terrible guest and you cannot respond to those accusations even if they are false.

Have seen a host where every response to a negative review was one about how terrible the guests were, left the place dirty etc. While this no doubt happens, it seemed a bit too much of a coincidence that every single person who left a bad review happened to be a terrible guest! :)

CodenameVillanelle · 23/09/2019 15:49

saying that they'd review me only once they'd seen what I said about them

Don't know why they would have said that since it's impossible! Reviews are hidden from each other until both have left one or the 14 day review period expires. Any experienced host knows that.

Dutch1e · 23/09/2019 16:03

I don't use Airbnb much any more. They've pushed their fees up hugely and have just announced an upcoming IPO so will be squeezing every penny to make the balance sheet look good for shareholders.

I don't host any more either - we rented out our entire home at a really great price (sleeps 6 for €60 pn as the base price) and while most of the guests were lovely there were some penny-pinching arseholes who wanted the world for their tenner a head. It wasn't worth the hassle.

berlinbabylon · 23/09/2019 16:20

I've never used it. If I need a cost-effective stay I use a Premier Inn or a B&B from the Bed and Breakfast Nationwide website.

bluebeck · 23/09/2019 16:25

I have only used airbnb overseas, never in UK.

I have found it amazing value for money. I tend to holiday with large groups of friends, so we hire huge, luxurious places for a fraction of the cost of a 4 or 5 hotel. It works brilliantly for me Grin

Deadringer · 23/09/2019 16:28

I have never used Airbnb and have no desire to. We always stay in appartments or hotels and just shop around for the best price. I would have no interest in staying in someone's home no matter how nice or cheap it is, and yes reading about secret cameras and stuff would definitely put you off.

Bluewavescrashing · 23/09/2019 16:29

I just love hotels. I'd live in one if I could.

Drogosnextwife · 23/09/2019 16:34

Oh no. I've just booked a whole How's through air bnb, I'm concerned now!

Drogosnextwife · 23/09/2019 16:34

House

Shockers · 23/09/2019 16:35

@Deadringer- the Airbnbs we stay in are apartments.

Greggers2017 · 23/09/2019 16:35

I love Airbnb, only got back from a weekend away this morning. Stayed in loads and not had one bad experience. You are literally paying for a place to sleep, if you want hotel standards book a hotel 🙄

MarshaBradyo · 23/09/2019 16:37

I used it once in Berlin. It was a very nice old Berlin apartment. Someone there told me it’s popular for people to do it in Berlin due to how the rent system is set.

Overall though I’m not very attracted to it.

Nanamilly · 23/09/2019 16:38

Oh no. I've just booked a whole How's through air bnb, I'm concerned now!

The last Airbnb I stayed in accommodated 18 of my family It was the third time we'd rented it.

Next month Im staying in one and there will be 9 of us.

Its never a problem.

SunnivaGunne · 23/09/2019 16:39

I rent out part of my home (self contained and very private) through Airbnb. We would have lost our home otherwise as we live in a pretty, touristy area which does not have many jobs available and I do not qualify for welfare assistance (partner self employed). I charge less than local hotels but I scrub my place in between bookings to be as clean as I would like to find a place. Mostly guests are lovely and it has been a positive experience as well as a life saver. Of course I would prefer to have my home to myself and I would prefer a job outside of the home but this works for us for now. We also get repeat business which is good.

However, as an Airbnb host we are so up against it. On Mumsnet alone there are so many posts complaining about Airbnb. I see the reason in some problems such as professional landlords, just supplying bed but not breakfast, shoddy expensive places.

Without this facility I would be really stuck. My place is great. I am a superhost and work hard at it. My place is spotlessly clean and I am available if guests need me but otherwise they won't see or hear us (separate entranceways), I supply breakfast (bread, milk, eggs, juice, tea, coffee butter, jam) and all other basics (washing powder for the machine, shower gel, washing up liquid, fuel for the stove, chargers, dvds, magazines, books, and so on). I am at least 20% cheaper per night than the cheapest hotel (though that is without the (17%?) Charge Airbnb add on but i do a discount for 5 or more nights) and I know it is cleaner because I have worked as a chambermaid in the past. So when you slag off Airbnb en masse you are slagging off my business, my livelihood. And my airbnb is excellent and not a bit over rated so YABVVVVU.

Nanamilly · 23/09/2019 16:39

You are literally paying for a place to sleep

I don't agree thats the rule of thumb for everyone.

We look for places that are as good as what we have at home and that we can live in the way we are used to.

Marinetta · 23/09/2019 16:45

I've used airbnb a few times and never been impressed. As you said, you can find professional accommodation for similar prices where standards are higher. Airbnb seems to be full of people just wanting to make some easy money rather than people interested in offering a decent place to stay or sharing an experience with a guest. Obviously professional accommodation providers are obliged to comply with certain health and safety regulations which aren't applied to Airbnb hosts and some of the places on there are just unsafe.

Winsomelosesome · 23/09/2019 16:47

Never used air BnB but always private rent and had nothing but good experiences. I use homeaway.co.uk which used to be ownersdirect or TripAdvisor. I do research very thoroughly though and only rent properties with plenty good reviews.

Deadringer · 23/09/2019 16:48

shockers I mean appartments owned by a company, or through booking.com or similar. I have looked at Airbnb and didn't find them any cheaper anyway.

redchocolatebutton · 23/09/2019 16:49

sunniva
why don't you run it as professional b&b or rent it out? and pay taxes on the income

MT2017 · 23/09/2019 16:50

I have just booked my first one then saw this thread Confused

My booking was to break up a very long journey and I am paying £20 for a bed, private entrance & toilet. Hotels were over £50.

flamingjune123 · 23/09/2019 16:50

I have a friend who moved next door to an Airbnb ( whole house rent in student town) His life has been made absolute hell and his house is now on the market. He believes he will have to declare the house next door to a potential buyer and is terrified he'll never sell.
Also please don't fall for the super host thing. Another friend used someone else's super host thingy when she started up

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