For hating Airbnb

[Userhey983]

We are moving in April (our tenancy agreement already ended last month) and in the meantime are staying at an Airbnb for the month and will have to find accommodation for the next month as well. I opted against this as I think they are unsuitable for young kids we have 3 under the age of 7. It’s been a nightmare so far as it’s in a quiet area and I try to be considerate of the neighbours but naturally we have a noisy bunch as they are young. They also have broken stuff already. I have found that Airbnb’s are not kid friendly. It’s also in the countryside and as DH takes the car to work at a cafe there is nothing in walking distance. I have told DH there is no way I can look after them here next month; I am working overtime trying to prevent them from wrecking the place, the host regularly visits as she lives next door and I feel terrible when she sees her precious home with toys scattered everyone and not to mention there is no playground or soft play nearby that I can take them to during the day. They have been playing outside but have ruined many of the host’s plants. I will pay for her to replace them but that’s not the point. They are her possessions. I feel so embarrassed but it’s very hard to control such young kids. DH wants to stay here as it’s cheaper but a hotel close to amenities would be way better. We can afford it but I understand what he is saying. And we will probably spend the same amount after cleaning fees or damage fees that will certainly be incurred by the kids staying here.

We ended up in a series of Airbnbs during the first lockdown after a house purchase fell through after we'd just moved country. I'm the last one to think it's easy. One of ours was so tiny that I was trying to homeschool DS on the same sofa from which DH was doing Teams meetings in a very new job! My 'desk' was a window sill. But that's not Airbnbs fault!

It's stupid to write off all AirBnBs on the basis of one experience, but the idea that staying in a hotel would be BETTER is just absolute madness.

When families are made homeless they're often put up in hotels like Travelodges - it's recognised that this is so unsuitable for families that there's a legal limit on how long they can live like this. Nowhere to cook. Nowhere to play. You think managing noise is a problem now, it'll be ten-fold worse when you're trying to stop your toddlers screaming at 5am when there's people trying to sleep in rooms all around you.

What's going wrong here is how you're managing it. It sounds like you're going stir crazy being stuck at the AirBnB because your DH is taking the car to go and work at a cafe. What's stopping him working at the AirBnB while you take the children out? Even if you take the toddlers out in the morning, come back for lunch and afternoon nap and DH takes the car out to the cafe for the afternoon if he really can't work at home while the children are there.

Nope I’m not. For hating Airbnb. It’s hard to defer what I’m saying while online which I now see and understand the backlash lol. I should’ve said I hate the Airbnb I’m staying at. It’s like if I would’ve said for hating hotel. I would’ve said for hating Airbnbs if I meant all of them. Which I did when talking about all of them collectively. I’m confusing myself now. But this is what I meant. Believe it or not. That’s the truth.

🤣 rumbled

Let's be real 2 years olds are extremely destructive. It's really hard to watch the every minute. It's almost impossible to control them. You need to get out of the house and let them use their energy. Being cooped up at home is just not it

We Airbnb with our kids because we have more room and save a fortune on hotel costs, can buy/prep food etc.
I’d love to just get 2 rooms or a suite in a hotel and eat there but we’d be bankrupt!

Normal toddler behaviour doesn't excuse lack of parenting. My children’s behaviour is, whilst not ideal, very normal. No, it's not. You just let them.

I never had a 2 year old destroying the place. I wouldn't let them for a start. You supervise, and stop them?
"terrible 2" is about their temper, not destroying things.

You don't let your kids eat washing powder, put their fingers in an electric socket or jump out of the window. Because you are not a bad parent. It's exactly the same with destroying the garden or anything else! You PARENT. With that lazy attitude, it looks difficult to find a place suitable for your needs, if you let them trash the place, they will do it anywhere.

Agreed. Why not an AirBnB in walking distance of a bus stop or park? It isn't all or nothing.

I'm an Airbnb host! We have a v kid friendly property, are pretty cheap, and are v comfy!! If u stayed with us for a long stay I'd not mind about a few plants being damaged or a bit of noise. We never hear our guests anyway!.

I'd say the problem is u r overly worried, and maybe the Airbnb isn't the right one for you!

Get to know the host, explain your concerns, and if they r nice, they'll put at your ease!

U r welcome at ours anytime!!

Aww.. mines not!! It's impeccably clean and i spend hours cleaning it :) You need to find Airbnb's which r ranked in the top 1 or 5% and have great reviews, including 5* for cleanliness!

There's some lovely Airbnb's out there!

Erm, sorry, but pretty much this 😬

How far away is the nearest anything, from a coffee shop or woods/stream/hill?

I agree some properties are tricky with young kids but the great thing about Airbnb is that you can see all the photos and work out if it will work for you. Have spent a couple of months in one with young kids and it was fantastic - toys for the kids, lots of outdoor activities nearby. Maybe you just need a different place. No cooking facilities for a month sounds awful to me so the hotel option doesn't seem great at all

Hang in there!
You're in a strangers house and going through a big period of change. It will get better.
Is there anything positive about the place? Nice to be in the countryside and have a bit of space perhaps?
Perhaps the owner wants to befriend you and thats why she visits so often?
Obviously, try to limit destruction and replace everything broken with nicer things- you don't want a bad review! Next time, maybe chat to the host more pre booking and ask about things you consider child friendly/not.
Everything is a learning curve. Put this air b&b down to experience, make the best of it and learn from it.
It's all temporary.. good luck with the move!

Just move to a different Airbnb closer to soft play, parks, civilisation. Tell your DH this what is happening even if the next Airbnb is more expensive, he cannot expect you and the kids to be stuck in the middle of nowhere without a car.

Have you thought about renting a mobile home or park home, might be cheaper and there would probably be less personal stuff to get broken.

It's a shame you had to move out of the rental. You could have stayed there until you were evicted (although I'm sure that would have been stressful for the landlord). A park home/mobile caravan is a good call as there are usually on site facilities for kids like an indoor pool/playground.

OP ignore all the absolute CFs on this thread. your kids are normal and at that age bound to be into all sorts. Honestly some women on MN just love any chance of piling onto someone!! Really uncalled for

I have found that Airbnb’s are not kid friendly.

I think it’s the other way around - it’s more likely your kids aren’t Airbnb friendly. Why are they wrecking the place?

It’s not normal for a 6yo to wreck a home.

And toddlers aren’t easy but it doesn’t take much for them to not endlessly break other people’s property. Keeping an eye on them is a good start!

Was literally coming on to say this as just realised she is the poster with the kids who have too much screen time. Her kids are Benjamin Buttoning all over the shop aren’t they

Of course young children can be lively and playful, but there’s a line between being lively and being destructive. I’ve had young children, but they didn’t break things in the home, or destroy plants in the garden. And I’ve hosted parents with toddlers and also never had that problem. Loud noisy play, yes, wrecking stuff, no. And I really wouldn’t consider living in a hotel. The owners will probably not be as forgiving of their rooms being trashed, so you might end up with a large bill at the end of your stay.

Was thinking this too!

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Probably why they’re destroying everything in sight. Ageing 3 years in one day must come with Hulk-like distress

I’m sorry but saying that it’s normal for two year olds to break things and wreck the garden suggests that it’s your lack of parenting boundaries that is allowing that to happen. I’ve had two year olds and would not dream of allowing this stuff, so it doesn’t happen. Don’t accept it as normal, teach them not to do it.