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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Stuff AIRBNB hosts.

137 replies

Bangolads · 09/07/2022 16:53

I used to love AIRBNB - it’s felt like the world was your oyster, you could stay in houses rather than sterile hotels and often the price was really reasonable. I loved the quirkiness.
Now the price is often extortionate, the place is run my professional hosts, it’s ruining communities and the rules and lists of things you can and can’t do feel as if hosts think they’re doing you a favour rather than offering a service for which you are paying. For the first time in years we stayed in a hotel on holiday - amazing! Airbnb is dead for me- AIBU?

OP posts:
Whopbamboom · 09/07/2022 19:08

We very rarely consider AirB&B anymore unless there's literally nothing else available.

Quite often you'll see one price advertised and by the time it gets to check out the cost has doubled (or more!) The fact you pay what is quite often a sizeable cleaning fee too, only to then be expected to do the lions share of the actual cleaning is ridiculous and really rubs me up the wrong way.

I was also really not comfortable with having to upload photos of ourselves last time we tried to book anything. Can you imagine that from a hotel. Bizarre!

There are some fabulous unique stays on there and some fantastic hosts, but it's gone to shit from what it once was, in my opinion.

ItsSnowJokes · 09/07/2022 19:13

We have done it a couple of times, but no more. I can't deal with all the rules and regulations etc...... and then all the fees and then you get a shit review if you haven't left the place like a team of 10 cleaners have been in and made the place look brand new when I was also paying a £60 cleaning fee. We always leave the place tidy and sides wiped etc.... but if I am paying a cleaning fee I am not cleaning it for you!

Hotels are so much easier.

mizzo · 09/07/2022 19:19

The cleaning expectations and charges are ridiculous.
We stayed with family (not my choice!) at a place that had a £300 cleaning charge, late check in time due to extra cleaning, guests expected to strip beds, put sheets in the washing machine and vacuum 'visible dirt' when we got there the beds and floors were covered in dog hair.
When we complained the owner said it was a family home and they had a dog and we just didn't get their vibe. The vibe IMO was ripping people off 🙄

FeelingwearyFeeelingsmall · 09/07/2022 19:20

I've given up on them. Too many cancellations bu hosts leaving us high and dry.

Snoken · 09/07/2022 19:42

I’m another one that has gone off it. It’s only worth it if you are staying somewhere for a long time and you need a fully equipped kitchen. I love the flexibilty of hotels where you can check in when you want, leave your luggage if you have a late flight/train, good breakfast and no cleaning.

Blankbias · 09/07/2022 20:02

I love it, never had a bad one. I only pick trusted hosts and ones with lots of reviews. Having a young child, it’s perfect for us as like the fact there’s a kitchen and washing machine. Always pick somewhere with a terrace and central to town so we can put the baby to bed and enjoy the evening. Tend to go out during the day, and eat out for lunch. I would hate a hotel now, would feel confined to the room without being able to cook some food (we like to eat around 9pm which is too late for our baby in a restaurant), or make some drinks etc. also always pick a place where we can have our own room separate from the child as then we don’t have to tiptoe around all the time. I don’t think I’d go back to a hotel now, maybe when the children get older possibly.

drpet49 · 09/07/2022 20:04

I’d never use it for fear of being cancelled at the last minute

IdisagreeMrHochhauser · 09/07/2022 20:12

I stayed in one this week with a random bloke because all the hotels were extortionate due to the football. It was awkward but meant I had somewhere to stay. The hotels were at least triple the usual price.

My3bigdogs · 09/07/2022 20:13

We had used air BnB a lot because most hotels don’t allow 3 dogs and we take them with us everywhere. But lately it’s become more hassle than it’s worth. Being expected to clean despite paying a cleaning fee, for example. Most recently we stayed in one that gave us a long list of things we weren’t allowed to use or touch as they held “great sentimental value”. So why put them in your air BnB then?

The worst experience we had was when we stayed in an extension to someone’s house with our own entrance, etc but the listing failed to mention (and the camera angles also cleverly hid) that the family’s chest freezer was kept in the bedroom of the extension and the teenage sons wandered in and out at all hours getting frozen pizzas and ready meals from the freezer. The listing said the the place was a completely separate dwelling. We only book places like that where we are completely separate from the hosts with no shared entrances or common areas.

Bestshapeever · 09/07/2022 20:16

I run an Airbnb and am shocked that you have to clean or take bins out! I do all that for my guests, I want them to totally relax and forget about all that stuff when they're staying with me.

IWasFunBeforeMum · 09/07/2022 20:19

We recently had one in France and were told to leave it "really clean" !! I thought isn't that what the cleaning fee we paid is for?!

PutYourBackIntoit · 09/07/2022 20:21

Not another Airbnb bashing thread 😞

Not all hosts have strict rules, unreasonable charges or are in places where it's destroying the community. Our little town is better for our Airbnb, it's bringing in a tiny bit of tourism in a town with very few accommodation options.

On the whole, we have excellent reviews, and we love hosting.

420Bruh · 09/07/2022 20:22

We have had a holiday to Cornwall cancelled WHILE WE WERE ON THE WAY THERE. Took ages to get our refund, air bnb were no help at all. Never again.

Unanananana · 09/07/2022 20:23

My one and only booking with Air BNB got moved (thanks to covid) then cancelled 8 weeks before we were due to go. I only knew because the money appeared in my bank with no courtesy contact from the host or Air BNB. We were priced out of a holiday because the 'superhost' dropped us in the shit at the last minute. Couldn't book anything else remotely similar for anywhere near the price we paid so no holiday for us.

I will never give them my money again. Premier Inn all the way now.

ItsSnowJokes · 09/07/2022 20:25

PutYourBackIntoit · 09/07/2022 20:21

Not another Airbnb bashing thread 😞

Not all hosts have strict rules, unreasonable charges or are in places where it's destroying the community. Our little town is better for our Airbnb, it's bringing in a tiny bit of tourism in a town with very few accommodation options.

On the whole, we have excellent reviews, and we love hosting.

The majority are ruining it for the minority then! I have so many friends and colleagues that have had the same experience as us that I don't know anyone that bothers now. Also now travelling has opened up again, the crazy prices and the rules may make a lot more people drop Airbnb and go back abroad. Hosts took advantage the past 2 years and will have to suck up that people won't pay ££££ to basically clean the property for them when they go abroad for a lot less money and not have to clean etc.....

orangeisthenewpuce · 09/07/2022 20:26

Just stayed in our first Airbnb this month. It was lovely, no rules about cleaning etc. But it was so expensive. As were all of the places we looked at. Next trip away we've booked into a 4 star guest house. More than half the price and looks just as good.

gogohmm · 09/07/2022 20:29

Never used them. Hotel is the way to go - who wouldn't want someone cleaning your room daily!

Homegettinginvaded · 09/07/2022 20:30

I stayed for the first time at Airbnb last weekend…I am now converted! Host absolutely lovely, very cheap for our needs in the New Forest and would go back in a heartbeat! She even left a lovely welcome pack with food and sticker book for 2 year old!

AnaïsM · 09/07/2022 20:30

I feel the same. In the early days of AirBnB we stayed in some lovely places for reasonable prices in better locations than hotels offered.

In recent years there have been too many mediocre places with over-the-top extras and unreasonable requirements. We’re back to staying in good hotels instead.

PutYourBackIntoit · 09/07/2022 20:31

@420Bruh that's absolutely awful, can't blame you for saying never again. Did they give a reason?

We did have one Airbnb cancel us en route to Suffolk recently but it was due to a storm, and they found somewhere else for us which was actually better than the place we'd booked.

AnaïsM · 09/07/2022 20:33

Bestshapeever · 09/07/2022 20:16

I run an Airbnb and am shocked that you have to clean or take bins out! I do all that for my guests, I want them to totally relax and forget about all that stuff when they're staying with me.

We’ve used ones with hundreds of pounds cleaning charges but still with the host expecting us to strip beds, clean floors, take the bins out and run the dishwasher. Then be out for 9am.

NippyWoowoo · 09/07/2022 20:35

Agree OP. I also find they tend to have late check ins and early check outs, more so that hotels, again it's like they want you there for the barest minimum of time, but happily take your money for it.

Last one I booked boasted a 'media room' -- couldn't get anything to work. Wifi was knocked out for hours as well.

I booked it for a nice quiet relaxing weekend for me and my friend with the idea that we'd do explore/visit pubs in the day and spend the evenings binge-watching our favourite show.

When I messaged the host (who lived abroad) that nothing was working and I couldn't connect to the internet I was told that there were board games Confused

TheDogsMother · 09/07/2022 20:36

This again ! Do you realise that Airbnb's are not a homogeneous thing, they are as different as the properties and the owners that run them. We have never cancelled anyone, are five stars and super hosts since we started, do not charge a cleaning fee and do not want guests to clean anything. In fact we'd really rather guests didn't clean because we want them to relax and we will strip it out and clean from scratch when they've gone. Just do your research, look at the reviews and remember Airbnb will be taking their slice.

midsomermurderess · 09/07/2022 20:39

I dislike them for the harm they do to cities: Edinburgh, Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid, Amsterdam on and on. A curse on them. It so irritates me when people glibly say, oh get an air b n b in eg Edinburgh. The damage, the distress, the hollowing out. Damn them.

Ponderingwindow · 09/07/2022 20:42

I just got back from a trip where we stayed on a hotel with a small kitchenette. Small refrigerator, small hob, microwave, and a dishwasher!. That is exactly what I want. I mostly eat out anyway, but the small kitchen and a table is really handy to have if you are staying for a few days. I’ve taken to looking for that style of hotel whenever we travel.

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