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

[Movinghouseatlast]

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!

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. 😆

I’ve never used it, but had a look recently when I was looking for a 1 night stay in a town and wasn’t impressed. All the rooms were quite expensive, it wasn’t always completely clear what you were getting for your money, and you can’t see the exact location until you book. I found somewhere on hotels.com (have had a bit of trouble with bookings.com).

"Architect designed"?! I'd bloody well hope most buildings were designed by an architect!?

You're assuming people are on Air BnB all the time - would help if you could list the changes you'd noticed OP?

I last used it a couple of months ago and found the website ok but a total pain if you wanted to change your dates to look at alternative dates.

I agree with this. I am paying this for a four star hotel abroad.

Good. Airbnb is an absolute scourge on communities. I hope it dies a rapid death.

I literally did just list the changes!!!

Yep, I use AirBnB a lot (not a host, just for holiday bookings) and really don't like the changes to the website - noticed it straight away and find it much harder to use!

For the first time, I've downloaded Vrbo and am really liking it.

I've never found their site to be user friendly and it really annoyed me that they hide costs. I don't like to feel tricked. Booking.com is open and honest with costs and is easy to use.

really? I’ve never had to do this..,used Airbnb twice in the last month

I don’t massively like AirB&B. I get stressed at the whole review thing. I am a perfectly law abiding and clean guest (although I do have young children) but I really don’t feel relaxed knowing someone is going to judge me. Also young children means I am always on alert for something to happen and I’d rather be in a commercial self catering place or hotel than worry about someone’s own lamp getting knocked off a table etc. And then the company itself has been pretty shit about fraudulent listings and poorly behaved owners.

Couldn't agree more. Why would i pay £100 a night for someones house in the country i live in, when i can explore new countries for the same price.

I’ve been on Air Bnb this morning and gave up as it’s almost unusual.

Unless I’m being really dim, I am able to put a start date but no duration or check out date. It’s infuriating!

Just looked and yes those changes are incredibly annoying. The owner description titles made it much easier to differentiate properties. Now the titles are generic and I have to rely on the photos instead.

Booked with them a few weeks ago for the first and last time and we haven't even been in the holiday yet. Hated the fact that the price quoted wasn't the actual price. Also doesn't give the exact location of the house. I'm not impressed.

Same here. I've never used it and never will. Scotland has introduced a licensing system for short term holiday let's which hopefully will put an end to the many opportunistic owners who don't care about the impact they have on communities and other residents.

I've heard from a couple of friends who have had their holidays cancelled last minute with Airbnb owners with no support from Airbnb to offer alternatives.

Will be a while before I book with them! I prefer to book direct - may as well if Airbnb offers no value.

I stopped using them after booking somewhere last year, the host cancelled immediately and it took 6 weeks to get our money back.

Which meant I had to take money out of another account to cover the booking for that night, and it was an absolute shit show.

Never, ever again.

The changes you’ve mentioned wouldn’t affect how I look for accommodation. Normally I search by date and area, and then look at properties within my budget and criteria using the map.

Things that do put me off Airbnb are the hidden fees and affect on local communities that have already been mentioned. Not so relevant for your business model but I have also booked two places that were listed as “Entire place”, then arrived to find it’s a room within someone’s house and bathroom and cooking space was shared which I found misleading.

Have you noticed if the downturn in bookings is just via Airbnb, or via your website? Have you noticed a difference in the amount of visitors to your website versus conversions to bookings at this point last year and previous? What’s your normal customer profile - have you tried to market to this group in other ways?

I have booked for 5 years running with Canopy and Stars but this year thought they were just too expensive compared to other places. I booked this year with air B&B so we will see! I didn't notice many glamping things come up in my search, mainly cottages.

I didn't submit multiple ID. Strange.

What on earth is the difference, a second home rented out as a holiday let, is a second home rented out as a holiday let. A cottage website is just the same as airbnb, they are simply hosting people who are renting out their properties

My beef with airbnb is that you cant filter by price, I like to look at the cheapest to more expensive, last time I booked I had to upload a photo, once I had booked I removed the photo, I dont have any photos of myself on any internet websites and dont see why I should for this, why on earth does an owner want to see my picture, made me think it is to do with racism or something

Also as others have said, cleaning fees etc. It should be part of the provision that a property is cleaned, not an extra fee

Also in this day and age some owners still expect people to go on holiday using their own towels and bedding!! Unbelievable. And impossible, I have a kingsize bed so if the place Im booking is a double bed I would have to go out and buy bedding for a holiday?? Forget it

I have used them a fair bit, but my last three bookings have been with Booking.com.

The website is a pain in the arse, and I hate all the hidden charges. They need to be up front with the actual price at the beginning of the booking process.

Didn’t know about any changes.
Op, domestic bookings for holidays have crashed. Everyone is going abroad, although having seen the chaos at airports and flight cancellations over the past few days you may well pick up some business!

It automatically moves on to checkout date. Put in check in date, straight away click on when you want to check out and voila!

I really hate Airbnb, much prefer VRBO.

The site has evolved far away from its original premise, now it’s just a money making exercise on the part of the owners. The service charges have risen and risen as they get more and more greedy.

They don’t look after their owners and they don’t look after their travellers. They just look after themselves.

Oh yes not seeing the exact location until booking, I HATE this because of need for walking/cycling routes, parking, driving etc etc I need to look these things up

I normally spend a lot of time travelling around on street view to work out where it is