To think this is stupid? (Air Bnb)

[MathsFail]

They want proof we are vaccinated to book. No problem.

But I can't upload any photos in the chat.

I ask AirB&B why, they say you can't send photos until you have a confirmed reservation.

The hotel place wants us to place the reservation just so we can send the documents, but they take a 50% deposit!!

They said once they've recieved the documents they will review whether we can stay.

So I can't upload the documents without booking and they won't accept the booking without the documents.

But they will if I send £500.

They won't just give me an email to send them to!

I even tried uploading them to a photo bucket type thing but Airbnb removed the link from the message.

I'm so frustrated

Don't book or send money. They could give you an email if they wanted to!

Just say sorry your unable to proceed without an email

Yeah I wouldn't entertain this. They are being difficult, book elsewhere!

I wouldn’t book with them, there’s other hosts with more logical policies

Book through some other site instead. Booking.com or Travelocity.
I just booked for London next week, no deposit required and pay on checkout.
I don't get all the hype with Airb&b. You see so many complaints about bookings through them on here.

I don't really see the problem. Presumably you want to book the place, presumably you've had the vaccine and presumably you need to pay the deposit anyway.

So book it, send proof and all is well? If you are vaccinated the hotel is not going to refuse the booking.

@UrAWizHarry

I don't really see the problem. Presumably you want to book the place, presumably you've had the vaccine and presumably you need to pay the deposit anyway.

So book it, send proof and all is well? If you are vaccinated the hotel is not going to refuse the booking.

They used the word "decide" I wouldn't like that implication

Deposits usually say non refundable

That’s a ridiculous process. I’d be frustrated too.

Could you upload a photo as your profile pic and get them to look at that? Though, to be honest, I would be looking for a different host.

@UrAWizHarry

I don't really see the problem. Presumably you want to book the place, presumably you've had the vaccine and presumably you need to pay the deposit anyway.

So book it, send proof and all is well? If you are vaccinated the hotel is not going to refuse the booking.

I was all for agreeing with the OP, but now you've put it that way, you're quite right. They are not going to say no if there is proof of a vaccine are they? And in the very unlikely scenario that they do, they surely wouldn't be able to keep the deposit. So yes, I don't see the problem.

Bugger that , you could well lose your deposit

Ask them for proof that they have had their vac's and anyone else ( cleaners / maintenance etc ) that may go in there have had theirs too and see how they deal with that .

In the mean time look elsewhere !

Look on the hotel website under contact us. Bound to be an email address

I would never book with air b&b I've heard far too many bad things. We went on a luxury weekend in a cottage which was listed on various sites but booked it through booking.com and it was totally no hassle and payment taken on day we arrived. No deposit, good cancellation policy.

Don't do it, could be a scam.
Does the air BnB have reviews from other travellers? What do they say?

I wouldn't
I am an air bnb host. We were asked to confirm cleaning policy etc but nothing about vaccine

@Dogscanteatonions I think it’s horses for courses a lot of the time… most of the apartments on Booking.com are also on AirBnB.

I’ve used both extensively, and the only issue I’ve ever had was oddly with an Italian apartment on Booking.com who cancelled my booking three hours before check in, when I was already in Italy on my way to it. There was nothing else available to book nearby and in the end we had to book a weird hotel for a few nights and I spent about three weeks calling Booking.com daily to get a refund…

Oh and bed bugs in an AirBnB once, but again, dealt with fine in the end, they refunded us and found us somewhere else to stay even when the host refused and said another traveller must have infested the apartment.