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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not put a tv in an Airbnb?

514 replies

PutTheCakeDOWN · 16/04/2021 14:34

Pondering going find the Airbnb route. There’s no tv in the place we’d do it and it would be a right faff putting one in. I don’t watch loads of tv, and I know lots of people watch on tablets etc anyway.

For context, it’s a couples/single adult space in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

YANBU - tv not needed
YABU - get a tv you cheapskate

OP posts:
User478 · 16/04/2021 15:42

Could you put in a mini projector, you can get them really cheaply these days even ones with a smart TV built in, then you only need a blank bit of wall and a page in your instruction book.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 16/04/2021 15:43

Why would it be such a faff to get a TV?

KoalaOok · 16/04/2021 15:44

As long as listed very clearly on the description it should be fine. If you are in a sought after location people might not mind. If you find it tricky to get guests/there is lots of competition you might have to charge a bit less to compensate.

WombatChocolate · 16/04/2021 15:45

Agree that in a competitive market, you don’t want to limit which customers your place appeals to.

All basics need to be included as a minimum. TV is viewed as a basic.

2bazookas · 16/04/2021 15:49

Make a USP of having no TV; advertise your place as a getaway break to nature, in an AOB, away from all the stresses of modern life. Peace and quiet.
Aim at the guests who come for the outdoors ; they will be out all day walking or bird watching or playing golf.. Out doorsy people will require a means to dry wet clothes and I'd suggest washable floors (because they'll come in with wet /muddy boots). Supply maps, guidebooks for local wildlife and walking trails, books., recommedn the best pubs with food within walking distance.

If you're letting one room I suggest twin beds (that can be pushed together for couples.). That way you appeal to both the couples market, and pairs of friends.

Original poster
PutTheCakeDOWN · 16/04/2021 15:50

@Crystal90567

The Bill does exist anymore. You're watching wrong.

What do you do in the evening?

Play with kids/reading books. Kids to bed. Make supper. Chat with husband. Gardening. Do my crafty stuff. Generally potter. Read. Have a bath. Phone friends. Walk dog. Work. Have friends round.

All sorts!

Think I will try without. Agree with the PP who says about the big black screen being ugly. I’m not bothered about maximum occupancy, especially at first. I suppose if it becomes apparent that a tv is a dealbreaker we could look at it further down the line!

Thank you so much for all the views, it’s really helpful! Much more pro-tv than I was expecting which is surprising!

OP posts:
knittingaddict · 16/04/2021 15:50

We recently rejected a beautiful holiday cottage because it had no wifi at all. It was a few weeks back when most of the decent holiday homes were all booked up. It was lovely, but we obviously weren't the only ones to turn our noses up.

I could cope without a washing machine and dishwasher, but a decent tv and wifi is a must.

Original poster
PutTheCakeDOWN · 16/04/2021 15:51

@Dontforgetyourbrolly

Why would it be such a faff to get a TV?
It’s a self contained building with no aerial do we’d have to drill through the exterior wall etc.
OP posts:
TatianaBis · 16/04/2021 15:51

For me, the shit wifi would be a huge problem and stop me wanting to stay there. If it wasn't flagged in advance and I got there and it didn't work properly, I would write a complaint about it in the review to warn other guests away. I suggest that if you can, update to better wifi.

This is absolutely true. Even if it is flagged in advance people will still complain about it. Either because they didn't read the listing properly or it was more rubbish than they thought.

You need to get the best wifi you possibly can.

Original poster
PutTheCakeDOWN · 16/04/2021 15:53

WiFi can’t be improved sadly until the network/wire/whatever it is is upgraded. Circa 2028 probably 😂

OP posts:
knittingaddict · 16/04/2021 15:53

This is why I like to rent properties with customer reviews. Someone can always be relied on to flag up terrible tv signals and rubbish wifi.

TatianaBis · 16/04/2021 15:53

It’s a self contained building with no aerial do we’d have to drill through the exterior wall etc.

Drilling a hole isn't that big a deal. But at the same time, you can get small, slim, powerful aerials these days that plug into the USB socket on the TV (as well as the aerial). Depending on the area signal.

If the reception isn't good you will get complaints, so drilling a hole would work out less faff in the long run.

FTEngineerM · 16/04/2021 15:55

@katy1213

It wouldn't bother me. What's the point of going away to spend your evenings watching the same rubbish as at home?
This sums up my thoughts.

I don’t understand going away with your family which you probably don’t spend much time with in normal life, well at least as much as you’d like, and then glue your eyes to a screen.

poppycat10 · 16/04/2021 15:56

Why would you need one? Everyone has phones and tablets these days.

And if you're on holiday you hardly need to be catching up with the latest episode of Coronation Street.

I think it's a good idea.

poppycat10 · 16/04/2021 15:57

(though if the wifi is rubbish too, that would bother me. I do have a National Trust handbook but they're out of date as soon as they are published - you need to be able to look up opening times for attractions, book restaurants etc)

Acovic · 16/04/2021 15:58

I like to sit and knit in front of the TV in the evening.

I also really appreciate an airbnb with a smart TV so I can log into my netflix account....

Kaptain · 16/04/2021 15:58

I'll tell you why I would need it. DH and I have been stuck at home in lockdown for months. We have teen DC who are here as well. We can't sit and watch a film at night, on our own, pretty much ever.

We have nothing wildly interesting to talk about because, you know, lockdown. So planning to spend two hours after supper but before fun Wink watching a film would actually be a treat for us. And if that film was an 18...

wesowereonabreak · 16/04/2021 16:01

@poppycat10

Why would you need one? Everyone has phones and tablets these days.

And if you're on holiday you hardly need to be catching up with the latest episode of Coronation Street.

I think it's a good idea.

I wouldn't watch a movie on my phone or my tablets.

And funnily enough, the only time I watch a movie is when I am on holiday, I am on internet a lot but don't watch tv in normal life.

wesowereonabreak · 16/04/2021 16:03

I don’t understand going away with your family which you probably don’t spend much time with in normal life, well at least as much as you’d like, and then glue your eyes to a screen.

Being with your kids from 8am to 8pm is plenty for family time, and doesn't stop anyone from enjoying a movie.

I love the judgemental posts, written on social media no less, but frankly you are ridiculous.
If you don't want to watch tv, it's not 1984, you don't have to!

sunflowersandbuttercups · 16/04/2021 16:04

I don’t understand going away with your family which you probably don’t spend much time with in normal life, well at least as much as you’d like, and then glue your eyes to a screen.

Are you really so lacking in imagination?

  • it's a great way to entertain small children in the mornings.
  • maybe some people want to cuddle up and watch a film with a glass of wine after a meal.
  • if you've been out all day, there can be a 2-3 hour "lull" before dinner where people might just want to relax and switch-off for a bit.
  • even if you're away with family, you don't have to spend every single waking moment with them.
  • some people just like it. There's nothing wrong with "glueing your eyes to a screen" on holiday. It won't kill you.
notalwaysalondoner · 16/04/2021 16:05

I'd book somewhere without a TV, no question. I do appreciate though that especially if it's in the middle of nowhere and people might eat in a lot that it's nice to watch a film on a big screen - we often pack an HDMI cable for this purpose, we don't care about watching actual broadcast TV one jot, but if you feel like it it's nice to watch a film or episode of something via our laptops on the TV screen.

2bazookas · 16/04/2021 16:05

@WombatChocolate

Agree that in a competitive market, you don’t want to limit which customers your place appeals to.

All basics need to be included as a minimum. TV is viewed as a basic.

If the Air BB is within their own home, then of course OP DOES want to target which customers the place appeals to. The art of BB is to identify exactly what kind of guest you want to attract (and what sort you don't cater for.)

There's an entire tourism market geared to guests who want to get away from it all.

www.coolplaces.co.uk/b-and-bs/uk/remote

starfishmummy · 16/04/2021 16:05

@CharlotteRose90

If your in the uk then yew I would want a tv and good WiFi. It’s all well being out and about during the day but if the weathers crap or at night people want a tv or atleast WiFi to be able to do anything. I’d cancel in a heartbeat if I found out you didn’t have it.
This. We have a disabled ds so are generally not out very late, and if we were to "wrap up and go out" anyway we would all be fed up in a very short time. Everyone else is doing the same and pushing a wet wheelchair around a tiny crowded museum or amusement arcade is no fun!! (DS loves arcades. Us not so much)
sunflowersandbuttercups · 16/04/2021 16:06

I love the judgemental posts, written on social media no less

Exactly. TV threads often bring out the snobs though!

Kaptain · 16/04/2021 16:06

I don’t understand going away with your family which you probably don’t spend much time with in normal life, well at least as much as you’d like, and then glue your eyes to a screen

Are you actually kidding @FTEngineerM? We've seen nothing but our family for a year now!! We're all sick to the back teeth with each other Grin