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).

We stayed in an apartment in Brooklyn via AirBnB early last year and mid way through our stay got a visit from the local council enforcement officers! We also didn’t realise it was illegal in all of NYC.

Fortunately we didn’t get kicked out on the spot but it was a tense couple of days until our stay ended.

Like I said above, lots of us put our properties on multiple sites, I'm every bit as professional on Airbnb as I am on booking. com

Try the Sonder Battery Park…brilliant location…right next to about 5 subway lines so can get around really quickly, quiet, clean, good size apts for New York. We got a two bedroom and had a big open plan kitchen dining living space (and oddly a peloton bike as a perk which the kids used as a climbing frame 🙈).

We used them a few times years ago. Once when we arrived we got a message saying that they didn't know if we would be able to stay the whole time as the neighbours were taking them to court and we might be evicted half way through our stay. Luckily we weren't but it was nerve wracking. Another place left a note inside which said that we should lie and say we were friends of the owners if a neighbour asked us who we were because it was illegal to let out a property for holidays in the block where we were staying. Both times in the US on the same holiday and we wouldn't use them again now.

This is why we stay in hotels and B&Bs. Had too many Airbnb cancellations.

They don't have the same constraints and have to abide by the same rules and regs as b'n'b's and other rental sites.

I was let down 20 mins before arrival after driving 3 hours (so not so bad as the op), but we were going to a wedding and meeting up with family the next day. Ended up cutting our trip short and driving back after the wedding. Was a right royal fuck up. If I do use Airbnb I'm now careful that it won't fuck up plans if they cancel

For all those who say they are safer in a hotel. The Albion Hotel in Brighton caught fire last weekend. All their upcoming booked guests have had their reservations cancelled.

There seems to be more flaky owners on Airbnb that other rental sites like Holiday Lettings or Vrbo. They seem to cancel more regularly than others. Airbnb is also very poor when there's an issue. We arrived at a very expensive rental only to find video cameras recording us and our conversations at the front door. It was very intrusive and against Airbnb regulations not to have declared it. But Airbnb didn't even reply to the complaint we made.

Air b n b was great in the beginning but it’s had such a destructive effect. I tend to avoid it now although I caved in for an upcoming Paris trip as I needed to stay centrally and hotel prices have jumped SO much since pre-Covid.

Airbnbs can be legal in NYC if you are staying for longer than 30 days or if the host lives there too.

Brooklyn is NYC same as Manhattan is.

I completely agree with you.