Substandard Airbnbs- AIBU here?

[Flawedperfection]

Definitely inspired- in part- by other threads, but I’m also genuinely interested to know if I’m being a diva (!).

I’m staying in Airbnbs at the moment and am SHOCKED at how shite some of them are. Yes, I get that many of the hosts are NOT doing it for fun and might be desperate for the extra cash, but some things are awful. In the last 2 weeks, these are some things I’ve encountered:-

1. Blood stains (looked like a wound had dripped everywhere) all over top of duvet cover in one place.
2. Smelly bathrooms and toilets (costs v little to chuck alpine fresh bleach around/open windows imho). This is particularly where there are male only inhabitants.
3. A no shoe rule, but then the floors and carpets are filthy- dirty, sticky, mud-encrusted etc.
4. Dirty loos and no loo brushes or toilet cleaner or air freshener.
5. Grimey tv controls, light switches, TVs, mirrors etc.
6. Shit, low quality, mismatching bedding.
7. Crap, threadbare, ripped towels that feel like sandpaper (but thanks for thought as many don’t bother with a ‘luxury’ like towels!!).
8. Mucky, dirty curtains.
9. No lock on door.

One place was so foul that I couldn’t use the bathroom or toilet and had to use other means for a toilet.

And as for some of the hosts…one woman clearly didn’t want anyone in her house and was terrified of covid and us germ-bags (ie humans). I wasn’t allowed anywhere but my room and the bathroom; she followed me around with a sanitizing spray that she squirted at me and wherever I went. Then she kept cornering me for 30-40 minute chats, spraying again afterwards.

Are these lack of standards normal, or is it just because I’m staying in cheap ‘basic’ Airbnbs? It’s put me off a bit tbh, and making me rethink renting a woodland annex next year, finances permitting.

I think there is an element of “you get what you pay for” yes

I've stayed in one Air BnB.

There wasn't a door; just a curtain. The house was extremely cluttered, there was even a mattress behind the sofa in the living room (I'm aware that's more my issue than theirs). The bedroom has rubbish on the floor from - I'm assuming - the previous guests. The bedroom was also their junk room. It wasn't nice to sleep in there. The breakfast bowls were dusty so we left really early and decamped in a Starbucks until our train arrived.

I'd also asked if we could drop our bags off early before booking, told that was fine, booked, was then told this wasn't possible so we arrived and found a restaurant to waste some time in until check in. I then received a voicemail having a go at me for not being at the house after he'd arranged for his daughter to let us in!

It's put me off, if I'm honest.

This is why we only stay in AirBnBs where the accommodation is separate from the host’s home.

You're thinking of renting a woodland annex next year? I don't understand how this squares with your other thread.

Why don't you read reviews before you book places?
Also yes if you're paying bargain basement prices you'll get crap accommodation. I rent my spare room on Airbnb and while it's obviously a spare room not a hotel room it's clean, comfortable and has every comfort so I get 5* reviews. If the places you stay are that crap I hope you're reviewing them at least??

Hi @Palavah, it’s a dream and a goal to keep me going. Hopefully for next year. I saw something akin to just this for £50 a night but it’ll probably be a shed cobbled together by Dave the neighbour’s friend’s uncle’s milkman for a few extra pennies!

What are you paying?

Would it not make more sense to stay in a Premier Inn or something?

Bloody heck @MerryHellbreakingloose, that sounds horrendous! And @CloseYourEyesAndSee, yup, I agree. I had to go for the cheapest I could get so it was never going to be the Shangri-la. I only read a few reviews as I often booked things last minute due to house sits ending earlier than expected (have done lots of sits this summer). Will be better at reading before I book in future rather than after, but some people take the piss in the substandard crap they charge money for. And basic cleanliness is surely particularly important atm?

Never book a place with average reviews under 4.5 and always check the stars as well as the reviews.
Obviously basic cleanliness is a requirement but you should be able to avoid filthy places if you do due diligence first.

Also go for places with lots of reviews over shorter periods of time rather than

i am frankly scared of air bnbs, you literally have no idea, despite reviews which sometimes don't tell the full story. I like trusted agencies where politeness is still a thing, or large scale booking sites personally.

If you’re booking a room in somebody’s house then ultimately it’s only going to be as clean as they consider clean to be - and since everyone’s standards differ so much it’s likely to be hit and miss as to what you get. If you don’t have the luxury of being choosy due to low budget, always best to pick something like a Travelodge which is at least reliably consistent.