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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the recent changes to Air BnB will mean fewer people will book with them?

362 replies

Movinghouseatlast · 29/05/2022 10:14

Have you looked at Air BnB in the last 2 weeks and noticed the changes they have made to the website?

I ask because I have a glamping business and since the 'summer release' I have had no bookings at all. Absolutely there are issues with the cost of living/ energy crisis but it seems a bit of a coincidence that I was getting plenty of bookings before the changes happened.

I just wondered if from a consumer point of view if the changes are making a difference? I just think it's not user friendly any more!

I do have my own website but I have stuck with Air BnB as I have always had a lot of bookings and to me as a business they work out cheaper than other platforms like Canopy and Stars etc.

Thanks!

OP posts:
bellac11 · 29/05/2022 18:21

SnackSizeRaisin · 29/05/2022 18:12

The problem with air BnB is that it is designed for home stays with the reviews etc. Yet now it lumps single rooms in a grungy house together with professionally run guest houses and campsites, making it difficult to find what you want.
It is handy for obscure locations and can give a quiet night if you are in a work trip. But I find the website difficult to navigate and the fees annoying. Plus there's also a lack of information. Often they fail to tell you it's next to a busy road or has no parking. You have to rely on the reviews to work out those things. And it's often hard to work out what the local facilities are and whether they are within walking distance.
I do find it insane that a two bedroom house costs the same as a glamping hut

I agree, if I cant find it on streetview I dont take it any further

Chubarubrub · 29/05/2022 18:26

locok · 29/05/2022 11:08

I did notice when booking that some tents were charging 2/3rds of what the small cottage we booked cost.

One of my favourite listings during covid was a life raft thrown in someone's garden, not even inflated & I think they wanted £80 a night. 😆

🤣🤣🤣 what??

Original poster
Movinghouseatlast · 29/05/2022 18:35

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 18:20

Without saying whereabouts you are so that the search can be tested, its impossible to say

I said earlier in the thread, its perfectly possible to search for a shepherds hut by the beach, a load of them came up.

Show quote history

The changes generally, not just my listing. I asked if people had noticed the changes and whether it had any impact on booking. I know its effecting most owners, not just me.

OP posts:
nongnangning · 29/05/2022 19:50

I read this thread all the way through. Unusually large amounts of love for booking.com, I thought to myself - either booking.com's PRs are on here or it actually is really good. So I had a look. I very often stay in a small UK seaside village where there isn't much accommodation, so I know the options there quite well. As other posters have said, all the same locations are on both AirBnB and booking.com.

OP there possibly is a factor of the change of algorithm, which is demoralising for all your hard work. However the pandemic gave UK holiday owners a big boost, which might have given a false impression of the longer-term market.

Anyway if Airbnb is not delivering the customers, maybe it's time to look again at your marketing plan? Sorry if you thought of this already, and I know it is a cost, but what about advertising eg even on Mumsnet? Or if you are in the country, maybe in a city local to you?

nongnangning · 29/05/2022 19:50

That should read 'either booking.com's PRs are on here' ...

nongnangning · 29/05/2022 19:51

Weird. When I write the initials 'P R s' they don't show up in the post!

locok · 29/05/2022 20:00

@Chubarubrub I know!

locok · 29/05/2022 20:04

@Movinghouseatlast you were the one who mentioned how long it takes you to clean, hence why I asked what you charged. Many air bnbs do charge extra for cleaning. And it's not something that I mind paying for.

Intrigueddotcom · 29/05/2022 20:10

Movinghouseatlast · 29/05/2022 18:35

The changes generally, not just my listing. I asked if people had noticed the changes and whether it had any impact on booking. I know its effecting most owners, not just me.

Show quote history

It can’t possibly be impacting “most owners”otherwise air bnb would haemorrhage owners and it would have been in the papers as air bnb basic goes down the drain as “most owners” record 0 views of their listings.

PurpleButterflyWings · 29/05/2022 20:11

francesfrankenfurter · 29/05/2022 13:16

So this is typical of shepherds huts. Over £100 a night for a weekend in July for a hut with no electricity, lanterns provided,patchy wi if, and shower and toilet in a separate hut. The interior does not even look that special. It is the location that looks attractive. But I would rather pay more and get something better at the location.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/43721801?sourceimpressionnid=p3165382627665BaN75vq6B7j%2B6cp&guests=2&adults=2&checkin=2022-07-16&checkk_out=2022-07-18

OMG, that's extortionate. £222 for two nights in a shed? No thanks. And LOL at them trying to sell it by calling it 'quirky.'

CoralPaperweight · 29/05/2022 20:41

Oh I had to go and look at the shepherd's hut (linked above) It's very basic for the money and just doesn't look comfortable tbh.

I've also done a search on AirBNB for an area I know well - for October - and to be honest the prices are through the roof - £50 more per night than I would've expected for the type of property, then cleaning fee etc on top. I think a lot of owners have become a bit greedy when they had a captive audience which was willing to pay stupid ££ for uk breaks. Things have changed and I expect more people are watching their budgets for holidays etc so are looking for accommodation that's more reasonable price wise

ATadConfused · 29/05/2022 22:19

Frannyhy · 29/05/2022 14:17

@locok I don’t want them to strip the beds that’s my job. If a guest does it for me, that makes them an exceptional five star guest.

i agrees Scianel, Airbnb are very hard taskmasters. I’m a super host but too many four star ratings mean that could go. I lost it during the pandemic but found it made no difference to bookings. I don’t stress myself about anymore.

Your 'logic' is batshit.

someone who does what you have asked gets 4 stars, someone who ignores what you have asked get 5 stars.

🤦🏻‍♀️

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 22:22

CoralPaperweight · 29/05/2022 20:41

Oh I had to go and look at the shepherd's hut (linked above) It's very basic for the money and just doesn't look comfortable tbh.

I've also done a search on AirBNB for an area I know well - for October - and to be honest the prices are through the roof - £50 more per night than I would've expected for the type of property, then cleaning fee etc on top. I think a lot of owners have become a bit greedy when they had a captive audience which was willing to pay stupid ££ for uk breaks. Things have changed and I expect more people are watching their budgets for holidays etc so are looking for accommodation that's more reasonable price wise

Anywhere that a person cant get out of the bed on their side of the bed is awful

I get up about 3x in the night and so does OH, if one of us was on the inside of the bed it doesnt bear thinking about

MelonsMelonsMelons · 29/05/2022 22:26

I’m also a bit over Airbnb. I feel a bit uncomfortable about how it’s starting to hollow out some areas. I’ve started booking hotels where I can.

CoralPaperweight · 29/05/2022 22:28

@MelonsMelonsMelons but hotels are really unsuitable for families IMO, crammed into one room, few facilities, most cannot cater for us (food intolerance and allergies) - what are we supposed to do?

Frannyhy · 29/05/2022 22:33

@ATadConfused

i have never asked a guest to do anything before they leave, except arrange what time I’m going to get their keys back.

if I had a pound for the guests who tell me that they never give five stars because nothing can be that perfect, I’d be a rich woman. However, I do find it strange how upset they get when hosts apply that reasoning when rating them.

MelonsMelonsMelons · 29/05/2022 22:37

CoralPaperweight · 29/05/2022 22:28

@MelonsMelonsMelons but hotels are really unsuitable for families IMO, crammed into one room, few facilities, most cannot cater for us (food intolerance and allergies) - what are we supposed to do?

Fair point, I was just referring to my own circumstances. Appreciate not everyone will be in the same boat.

smileyworld · 29/05/2022 22:39

I refuse to use Airbnb since I had the
most horrid host (personality clash between us) and she slated me with completely untrue claims. I wrote diplomatically about my experience with her.
I complained to Airbnb but was told they couldn't do anything, and her review was here to stay.

After the lies she wrote about me, I would never have let someone like that stay with me (despite all other reviews being excellent).

So that was the end of that. I would much rather pay a bit more money than experience something like that ever again.x

smileyworld · 29/05/2022 22:40

CoralPaperweight · 29/05/2022 22:28

@MelonsMelonsMelons but hotels are really unsuitable for families IMO, crammed into one room, few facilities, most cannot cater for us (food intolerance and allergies) - what are we supposed to do?

For family holidays we use eurocamp, canvas or vacancies solaire. Can't fault them!

Doubleraspberry · 29/05/2022 23:08

Frannyhy · 29/05/2022 22:33

@ATadConfused

i have never asked a guest to do anything before they leave, except arrange what time I’m going to get their keys back.

if I had a pound for the guests who tell me that they never give five stars because nothing can be that perfect, I’d be a rich woman. However, I do find it strange how upset they get when hosts apply that reasoning when rating them.

This argument is my whole point though. I just want to pay to stay somewhere - not enter into some personality transaction. I don’t want to be rated at all. I don’t want an overnight stay to be a measure of me in any way!

Frannyhy · 29/05/2022 23:10

@siepie over the last year 87.5% of my overall ratings were five star. So 12.5% thought I wasn’t an exceptional host.

Frannyhy · 29/05/2022 23:14

@Doubleraspberry

Don’t use Airbnb then.

smileyworld · 29/05/2022 23:17

I fully agree @Frannyhy
It's quite ridiculous. All of my hosts found me pleasant and some I have stayed in touch with.

One was manic, posted that I was sleeping on a mattress without it sheets (I wasn't!) and that I broke her postbox (I didn't, I never touched it?). And apparently this was a personal dispute.

And I didn't even mention the ranting and raving she used to do which led to me staying in my room a lot.

Just not worth the hassle.

Frannyhy · 29/05/2022 23:24

@smileyworld I’ve had women from 37 countries staying with me and I am in touch with some of them.

The worst guest I hosted had 25 five star reviews. I couldn’t stand her and I refused to let her extend her stay, saying I didn’t think we were a good fit. I declined to review her.

Kennykenkencat · 29/05/2022 23:28

Hathertonhariden · 29/05/2022 10:35

Perhaps because more people are seeing Airbnb as having a negative impact on the local community? Whether that's raucous partying or depriving locals of somewhere to live so that they can do tourist industry jobs. Obviously a glamping site is less likely to be an issue

I don’t think people think too deeply about things like that.

FWIW I know someone who has a holiday cottage he lets through all the usual agencies and he gets told all the time he is taking away a house from a local

He isn’t. Part of the planning was that it would never be a permanent home. The local council insisted it was a holiday let to boost tourism so when you look at the next Airbnb Booking.com etc holiday let and shake your head that someone is being robbed of a home. Check with the local council that it has actual planning permission to be used as a home.