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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would I be unreasonable to cancel on an Airbnb guest arriving tomorrow?

265 replies

Abouttogonuts · 22/10/2019 21:25

I’m about to explode with stress. Got a sick child (been cleaning up vomit all day) and another child on half term. We’re going away tomorrow to stay with in-laws and putting our place on Airbnb (as we usually do when we go away).

Got a cleaner coming of course, but haven’t been able to organise or do anything because of sick child, other child on half term. (I usually lock up one room with all our valuables, but haven’t been able to start doing that yet.)

And there is laundry coming out of my ears!

Also behind on the one day of work I had to do this week (yesterday but couldn’t because of said sick child).

I know I’d get fined by Airbnb, but would I be unreasonable to cancel on guest? We live in London, there is other availability locally. Though pricier for less nice (making me also think I undercharge!).

If we cancelled, I’d go to in-laws’ a bit later this week, when sick child is better, and stick the telly on for him tomorrow to properly sort the place out and finish my work...

OP posts:
Raphael34 · 22/10/2019 21:28

It’s not unreasonable for you, but it is unreasonable for the guest to have their accommodation cancelled the day before they arrive

berringer · 22/10/2019 21:28

I think if you tell your guest about the vomit bug they’ll probably cancel with thanks

makingmammaries · 22/10/2019 21:28

Yes, that would be unreasonable. Makes a big mess of the guest’s plans.

Echobelly · 22/10/2019 21:29

Might you be able to contact other local airbnbs so you could actively offer another option? I know it's more for you to do, but it's a small thing that would reduce invenience - eg 'Sorry, I have to cancel due to illness meaning we can't leave the house - but this host nearby can take your booking...'

Perunatop · 22/10/2019 21:30

Yes of course it would, don't do Airbnb if you cannot commit to it.

CAG12 · 22/10/2019 21:30

It very unreasonable.

If you want to cancel at this late notice then you need to arrange and offer alternative accomodation.

KnickerBockerAndrew · 22/10/2019 21:30

Very unreasonable I think. If you haven't got a contingency plan to deal with something as simple as a child's bug, you probably shouldn't be on airbnb.

ThatssomebadhatHarry · 22/10/2019 21:31

It’s poor form but a sick child can’t be helped. I would offer to search phone around for other spaces for them as a curtesy.

k1233 · 22/10/2019 21:32

I think if you explain vomiting bug, the person would thank you for cancelling. It would be nice to offer them other near by options so they are minimally inconvenienced.

Skipsaretheanswertoitall · 22/10/2019 21:33

I would rather know than come into a house that had a sickness bug. We went away with friends, and within 24-36 hours 9 out of the 11 of us were all throwing up. I’m sure we picked up Norovirus from the previous guests who were in the accommodation before us. It was hideous! So I would be grateful if you cancelled!

AgathaTheAardvark · 22/10/2019 21:34

If I was due to stay in your house and you told me what you just said in this OP I would 100% cancel.

Vomity house? No thanks!

Hope your dc is better soon.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 22/10/2019 21:34

If you're going to cancel, do it soon so they have a chance to find something else or potentially change their own plans. I'd be annoyed if I'm honest, but completely understand and I'd rather avoid a vomiting bug!

Perunatop · 22/10/2019 21:35

Air bnb guests are not interested in your personal circumstances or family situation, they just want somewhere to stay. Hosts who are charging more are more likely to actually be conscientious hosts. People who just want the money without providing the service (as in your case) should not be doing Airbnb.

Newkitchen123 · 22/10/2019 21:36

We've booked an Airbnb for next week and I wouldn't be happy if it was cancelled last minute.

Dieu · 22/10/2019 21:36

YANBU but only if you lend a hand finding alternative accommodation.

RedskyToNight · 22/10/2019 21:37

Please don't. We had a holiday house cottage cancel us at short notice once. We'd picked the place because of very specific requirements and it took a long time to find something else which was time I didn't want to spend - and it ended up costing more because of course we couldn't be picky with being last minute.

If you must do it I suggest you should also do the legwork in finding them other suitable places for the same price.

BeardedMum · 22/10/2019 21:37

Yes you would be unreasonable to cancel. Agree with poster above don’t Airbnb your house if you cannot commit. It’s a business.

waterrat · 22/10/2019 21:38

It's London they will easily find somewhere else.

WhoTellsYourStory · 22/10/2019 21:39

Of course it’s unreasonable - they may lose money on transport etc. if they’re unable to pay more for a pricier-less-nice option and have to cancel the trip. This is the kind of thing that puts me off Air BnB to be honest. Of course you can’t help having a sick child but I’d be seriously rethinking doing Air BnB if I were you.

Original poster
Abouttogonuts · 22/10/2019 21:40

I use Airbnb a lot - both hosting and staying in places - and I’ve never cancelled or been cancelled on before.

This is the first time I’ve thought “maybe I’m done with hosting”. It just feels like massive hassle this week, making me want to explode. Usually it doesn’t feel so big!

OP posts:
NWQM · 22/10/2019 21:42

I'm not sure you have an awful lot of choice do you? So I'd say do it ASAP rather than dilly dallying

Sexnotgender · 22/10/2019 21:42

Totally unreasonable! Someone did that to me, I’d booked an Airbnb in Wales to watch the rugby. So flights booked, rugby tickets bought.
Cancelled on me 2 days before. Cost me an absolute fortune and a lot of stress trying to find accommodation at such short notice and I couldn’t really not go given I’d bought everything else!

MutedUser · 22/10/2019 21:44

Your unreasonable I would hate to me on my way somewhere and get cancelled on the day I was meant to be staying there . Especially half term and availability. Maybe they don’t have the money to spend more and will end up without a place to stay. Maybe they have young kids and all this stress will be horrible on them.

raviolidreaming · 22/10/2019 21:44

Help with finding them an alternative and know you're doing them a favour by not exposing them to a vomiting bug on their holiday.

RedskyToNight · 22/10/2019 21:45

It's London they will easily find somewhere else.

a family house of the required size, in the location they want for the price they want, when they have to start looking at 10pm (assuming the OP can even get hold of them tonight) for a place they are meant to be arriving at tomorrow.

Personally don't think it's that easy.