To think Air BnB is a bit shit?

[airbnbargh]

So booked an apartment in NY for December, booked flights separately (so obviously paid in full) and now months later the host has cancelled- no message, no explanation, just been told we can book something else or get a refund. We are now constrained by our flights so can't look at package deals, and the choice on Air BnB is now much more limited. We're a group and everyone raves about it so I thought it was a good option, but now left feeling pissed off, I wish I could at least leave a negative review! (I wouldn't mind so much if we got some kind of apology or explanation, but nothing).

That’s nothing to do with air b and b really though. They don’t own the properties, they are just a selling platform. So all they can do is full refund. They can’t just magic up more accommodation.

Well no I know obviously, I meant as a concept as opposed to the company itself.

Your better off find the properties direct. Then you can leave a google review

I hear you, but that flexibility presumably went both ways which can be handy for you.

Sometimes it’s annoying but I’m still glad Airbnb exists because there are so many family friendly properties available now.

Yes definitely. I'm really surprised anyone still uses them as I'd never want to be dependent on them for my accommodation for anything special or long haul. I've heard so many stories of people cancelling and ruining trips.

Lesson learned, it just seemed so popular I hadn't really considered the pitfalls, I think we will just stick with a hotel, at least you know what you're getting then. It just seems so much more expensive to book separately now than when I was looking a few months ago 🙄

You can complain to Airbnb. Maybe they should include cancellation rate alongside host ratings or something.

I personally love Airbnb. Have used it loads all across Europe and had fewer bad experiences in them than I have in the many hotel stays I also have for work. Also cheaper and more flexible and personal.

Sorry you had a bad experience

It's had a huge and terrible effect on the area where I live. 6 out of 9 houses on one terrace in a tiny village are airbnbs, small properties that would make brilliant starter homes. Young people are priced out, so schools are closing... It's really awful. I think it was a great idea when it was about renting out your spare room, but now it's mainly entire homes.

Youre lucky they even told you they were cancelling as Air BnB in NY is illegal.

@Caspianberg Air BnB could penalise the owner for cancelling, or decline to continue to display their property

Air BnB's reputation is on the line when hosts cancel

I had a host cancel on me, not my fault at all, but I still lost the booking fee

This.

Only AirBNBs where you're sharing the home WITH the owner PRESENT are legal in NYC. Renting an entire apartment/home via AirBNB is illegal.

Yes, AirBnB is illegal in NY so this is always a risk when booking there. I’ve had no problems anywhere else at all (was in Washington last week in a wonderful AirBnb) Such a shame though. Springfield Suites (Marriott) is a decent place in NY if you are looking at alternative options.

Airbnb is actually illegal in New York so you should look for alternatives anyway, you wouldn’t be protected if you turned up and the property didn’t exist

This. Loads of cities also have terrible problems because of Air BnB. There seems to be something especially callous about actively damaging the place you're choosing to visit.

I use booking com now instead of air bnb . I prefer that you can see the address before you book so you can see how far it is to the shop or bar or whatever. You only get a circle on air bnb you don't get the address until you book
I didn't realise until last year that it wasn't just for hotels

If they cancel and refund you it goes against them in my understanding. So don't let them tell you that you need to cancel to get your money back. In fact if you try to do this AirBNB warns you not to do it, if you're not the one cancelling.

It is a risk but we've stayed in so many great places for so much cheaper than hotel prices. It's always worth checking booking.com as well though as sometimes the options are better there.

If you can find the host listing on Google then leave them a review
but I think AirnB is illegal in NYC

I agree that I think it was a great idea when it was about renting out your spare room, or even renting out your whole house when you away (for example we used to regularly rent an Air B&B on the British coast that belonged to a family who stayed with family in France all summer) but I think it's been ruined a bit by people who want to be landlords but without the hassle buying up properties to use purely as Air B&Bs.

Yes I have never used them and would never use them.

Airbnb is cheap for a reason. This is the rescue take on fortunately if you don't book a package deal.

"risk you take

I never realised it was illegal there, it's in Brooklyn if that makes a difference although there were plenty in Manhattan when I was looking, host definitely not there. Clearly I need to look into more!

@IMustDoMoreExercise thing is it wasn't cheap, it was more about having more sociable space with a group of us rather than cost, it wasn't much different pp to a hotel, but I need to look again now, dreading how much prices will have jumped since I booked 😩

Yes use booking.com. We find them much better and you can filter for apartments or full houses as well as hotels. Plus all costs are clearer upfront

But Airbnb isn't a thing it s a platform for people to list on exactly the same as ebay or Etsy or Amazon marketplace

You're booking with a host in the same way that in the olden days you'd book say a cottage through a brochure

It's not some kind of cut price second rate homogenous market

I don't understand how you booked in the first place op if it's illegal to do holiday lets in NYC

Yep I’d always just find a hotel. I think it’s more secure anyway I’ve seen far too many horror stories about people spying on you in Airbnb, you don’t know if the host has got a second key… all that sort of stuff