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

[Abouttogonuts]

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...

Yes YABU.. this happened to me a few days before (not even the day before!) and it absolutely messed up our trip which we'd planned ages in advance for my mum's birthday. Had to cancel our entire holiday. Please don't do it!

This is why I never have - and never will - use air B&B

I think you need to give them the option of coming or not coming with a bug around. Sell it to them that it probably wouldn't be a good idea but leave the decision to them.

Just cancel, I would rather go somewhere else than get sick.

I don’t know what you decided OP, but you posted this at 21:25 for cancellation tomorrow. That’s really unreasonable. You’ve had a sick child all day and should have done it this morning, or just during the day so your guests have a fighting chance of finding something else nearby.

I wouldn't cancel but I would absolutely let the guest know right now, out of courtesy, that there is a sickness bug in your house and that they might want to find somewhere else to stay on that basis.

This is why I never have - and never will - use air B&B

All the Air BnB accommodation I've ever booked has been a) a holiday property and not one where you stay with a family and b) available to book through other booking sites in addition to Air BnB. Most Air BnB experiences do not involve staying in some random stranger's spare room while their kid throws up every five minutes.

I would rather be cancelled than stay in a place with a vomiting bug in situ.

Is there an option to find them another place to stay?

unreasonable, I would be devastated if a host cancelled on me like this, I didn't even realise that was possible.

Actual, I read it as though the child was sick yesterday as well so the guests could’ve had 48 hours notice or more depending on when DC first became unwell. Absolutely mad.

I think what would be reasonable would be to explain the situation, present suitable alternative accommodation and as a gesture of goodwill pay the difference in price to them

Why on earth would you Airbnb your house for half term - it’s potty.

Surprised this hadn’t happened before if a sick child throws you off.

If you say ‘norovirus’ they will probably be glad not to come. It’s not true though.

From the reading of your post, you are going away tomorrow and have a cleaner coming in tomorrow in advance of your guest arriving tomorrow. So there won't be anyone in situ with the bug at the time when the guest is there? The vomiting child will have left with you?

Can the cleaner and you steralise the place before the guest arrives to reduce contamination? I understand about the 48 hour rule but surely with very high hygiene standards this can be circumvented? What do hospitals do?

You are being VVUR to cancel. I would be livid if I was cancelled on the morning I was due to leave even if you said "here, try these places" which is what people are suggesting.

If you did this to me, I would be mightily pissed off, but would accept that it probably had to be done. However, considering the extreme late notice, I would also expect to be in no way inconvenienced or out of pocket - so I'd be looking to you to find me an alternative of equal standard, meeting whatever my original requirements were, and making up any increase in price

This.

Most of the trips I take involve flying long haul, or perhaps getting a train from another city if I'm travelling within Europe. I then go straight to the accommodation upon arrival. I may not even have access to the internet until arriving there, so would not be even aware of the cancellation. Ditto phone contact if things aren't synched up properly yet.

If I turned up and found my booking had been cancelled, you'd better believe I'd be pissed off. I'd be fully expecting you to have alternative accommodation nearby already lined up, and to foot the bill for any taxis required and increase in accommodation price.

But this proves why my decision to never use Airbnb anyway is a sound one.

This really puts me off booking Airbnb in the future...

You are incredibly selfish op.

You need to cancel imo and explain sick child needs to stay in bed for another day. Travelling with sick child may be really difficult anyway.

Just one of those things OP, not yours or DC’s fault. I’d be annoyed but not angry.

If you have cancelled them at this point, you absolutely need to arrange (and not just suggest places for them to try) alternative nearby accommodation and pay and difference in cost yourself.

I would 100% rather have my stay cancelled than stay in a house with a vomiting bug. Definitely, no question.

I suggest you contact them, tell them the truth and offer to phone around a few places for them. And possibly pay the extra if any should arise.

You HAVE to tell them. They might have compromised immune systems, might have a tiny baby, etc, etc. Not nice but not your fault.

God I wouldn't want to stay in a house with vomit bug germs everywhere. I'd cancel, they'll probably thank you when you explain why.

As a frequent traveller I'd much rather you cancelled my accommodation than that I got sick. What if the guest is pregnant and ends up in hospital from catching the vomit bug? I don't think you should rent out the room, even though it's last minute, even if the guest isn't happy, you're doing the right thing by cancelling.

I hope you contacted them/ Air BnB and told them the situation - in your prospective guests' place I would far rather know about the vomit bug so I could choose to cancel and go somewhere else too!

You could ring and apologise saying your child has norovirus and you are worried they could catch it so giving them the option to cancel. Suggest a few other places they can stay.

We live in London, there is other availability locally. Though pricier for less nice (making me also think I undercharge!).

Pricier, less nice (allegedly) but RELIABLE. I know which option I’d prefer.

Now I know why I hate air bnb. Why our apartments keep being cancelled. It's because of mindsets like this. It's not the sick child I have a problem with, that does happen. It's your underlying view of it, your attitude.
You shouldn't be doing air bnb.

What did you end up doing op?

Like a pp, I would expect you to find me alternative accommodation and pay any uplift in price.