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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel so miserable about this air b and b? Or are my expectations too high?

76 replies

Hiaa · 19/04/2025 19:16

It’s supposed to have 4.75 rating on air b and b.

it’s £130 a night but in the north so not the most expensive area and this seemed like an ok amount to spend to get something decent.

the shower is like someone is dripping luke warm water out of a plastic cone. The towels are crispy and hard. It’s very dark. No central heating (we should have check this to be fair) so there’s lots of heaters to turn on and off and it takes ages to heat up. There’s weird notices around the property warning visitors not to touch this or not to move that… never known anything like it!

The living room is dark and sofa uncomfortable. Despite all this it has some great reviews. It does have a nice garden and things like a bbq and it’s reasonably big. But I can’t actually believe anyone would think this is a decent stay, especially for this cost? I wish we had just spent an extra 30 a night and been somewhere nice.

Feeling miserable and DP thinks I’m being ungrateful.

OP posts:
UndermyShoeJoe · 19/04/2025 19:18

It all depends on the advert vs what you got.

Id never even book a caravan that doesn’t state double glazed central heating.

cookielove · 19/04/2025 19:18

Why are you being ungrateful, forking out alot of money for a not very pleasent stay.

MoreChocPls · 19/04/2025 19:18

That’s why I hate Airbnb…. Most are rubbish. Hotels are better.

Original poster
Hiaa · 19/04/2025 19:21

@MoreChocPls we’ve stayed in some really nice ones recently. But this has totally changed my mind on them!

OP posts:
Delatron · 19/04/2025 19:22

What were the pictures like? What do the reviews say? It does sound shit but I am normally very thorough looking through all the photos.

A uncomfortable sofa wouldn’t bother me as we’d be out a lot. Shower sounds annoying. Dark - I would just put all the lights on.

Arlanymor · 19/04/2025 19:22

Hiaa · 19/04/2025 19:16

It’s supposed to have 4.75 rating on air b and b.

it’s £130 a night but in the north so not the most expensive area and this seemed like an ok amount to spend to get something decent.

the shower is like someone is dripping luke warm water out of a plastic cone. The towels are crispy and hard. It’s very dark. No central heating (we should have check this to be fair) so there’s lots of heaters to turn on and off and it takes ages to heat up. There’s weird notices around the property warning visitors not to touch this or not to move that… never known anything like it!

The living room is dark and sofa uncomfortable. Despite all this it has some great reviews. It does have a nice garden and things like a bbq and it’s reasonably big. But I can’t actually believe anyone would think this is a decent stay, especially for this cost? I wish we had just spent an extra 30 a night and been somewhere nice.

Feeling miserable and DP thinks I’m being ungrateful.

If things are factually wrong that’s one thing. But things like being too dark or uncomfortable sofa as are subjective. Complain if you’re even missold but Niro if it’s a mismatch with what you prefer. Case in point, shelled out loads for somewhere last November, my best friend came. I sent him the details and when we got there he said but: “It’s not walkable to anywhere, the bathroom is outside and there’s only one bedroom.” I pointed out that he knew all of that and he was taking the bedroom anyway! In the end he didn’t want to leave, decided to sleep in the main pavilion area with me and made friends with all the goats at the end of the garden. It’s about expectation versus reality and what is fair. The shower would annoy me if it was underpowered and I might ask the host about this. But the rest sounds like a mismatch of expectations.

FortyElephants · 19/04/2025 19:24

4.75 isn't a brilliant overall rating TBH. Did you filer by lowest rating? Always worth looking at the worst reviews.

MsFogi · 19/04/2025 19:24

Make sure you write a full and honest review once you get home.

Icanttakethisanymore · 19/04/2025 19:34

4.75 isn’t great because most people are very kind

Fluffyholeysocks · 19/04/2025 19:38

I too would be annoyed at a weak luke warm shower. I take reviews now with a pinch of salt - reviews show that we are all looking for something different from a property. I booked a remote cottage once which was highly recommended, described as luxury and wasn't cheap. I'd explained to the owner I was travelling 6 hours to get there. The cottage was lovely - it had little containers on the dining room table full of 'food for the birds' and 'food for the squirrels', but when I opened the fridge there wasn't a pint of milk, not one tea bag or any coffee! The nearest shop had closed and was miles away. I was expecting some milk for the 500 quid I'd paid for 3 nights - but obviously other people don't.

BobbyBiscuits · 19/04/2025 19:38

If they were promising things that are not present or the facilities are very different to the pics or description then I'd say you could complain.

If it's dark then that's just the way it's built or positioned, they can't really change that.

Give them an honest review but if you have all the stuff they said then it could just be a live and learn situation.

IthasYes · 19/04/2025 19:41

Sounds like one we had recently by the coast,very dark, cold and tons of hand written signs everywhere

UndermyShoeJoe · 19/04/2025 19:42

Icanttakethisanymore · 19/04/2025 19:34

4.75 isn’t great because most people are very kind

Depends on the amount of reviews surely. 20 reviews and it only takes one to drag it down. 200 reviews and slightly different.

MissyB1 · 19/04/2025 19:43

Fluffyholeysocks · 19/04/2025 19:38

I too would be annoyed at a weak luke warm shower. I take reviews now with a pinch of salt - reviews show that we are all looking for something different from a property. I booked a remote cottage once which was highly recommended, described as luxury and wasn't cheap. I'd explained to the owner I was travelling 6 hours to get there. The cottage was lovely - it had little containers on the dining room table full of 'food for the birds' and 'food for the squirrels', but when I opened the fridge there wasn't a pint of milk, not one tea bag or any coffee! The nearest shop had closed and was miles away. I was expecting some milk for the 500 quid I'd paid for 3 nights - but obviously other people don't.

Oh totally agree there should be a pint of milk, tea bags and coffee especially if the property is in a remote area!

MissJeanBrodiesmother · 19/04/2025 19:43

I think air bnb ratings are not that helpful. I have stayed in many underwhelming places on air bnb. I tend to avoid them now and go instead for hotels.

Overhaul54 · 19/04/2025 19:45

Yes its disappointing. I have staying in ones that exceeded expectations and one so bad I just left.
Just compose your review and think on when you can reframe it as a funny story over dinner in later years.

Original poster
Hiaa · 19/04/2025 19:48

So fed up. Under the weather too and really wanted some tlc somewhere nice! The notes around the place make it a horrible atmosphere too

OP posts:
suburberphobe · 19/04/2025 19:48

That’s why I hate Airbnb…. Most are rubbish. Hotels are better.

I agree.

Most people who rent out via Air BnB haven't a clue about hospitality, never worked in it.

Plus they're taking away homes from a community and subsequent housing shortage.

Arlanymor · 19/04/2025 19:49

Hiaa · 19/04/2025 19:48

So fed up. Under the weather too and really wanted some tlc somewhere nice! The notes around the place make it a horrible atmosphere too

Well offer the notes as feedback if you wish. You feeling under the weather isn’t the fault of the place though, so don’t let it be transference, that’s not fair.

UndermyShoeJoe · 19/04/2025 19:49

I’d definitely stick to hotels and holiday parks in future. I book Caravans that sound nicer than your air bnb tbh.

Sea view front row, central heated, double glazed 3bedrooms, Pools and pubs. Can be under £500 a weekend depending where.

WeeOrcadian · 19/04/2025 19:50

cookielove · 19/04/2025 19:18

Why are you being ungrateful, forking out alot of money for a not very pleasent stay.

Because £130 is a fucktonne of money

Paying for something unreasonable, if it was £13 or £130

Augustusjoop · 19/04/2025 19:51

MsFogi · 19/04/2025 19:24

Make sure you write a full and honest review once you get home.

This.

Forewarn other people.

Pandimoanymum · 19/04/2025 19:51

MoreChocPls · 19/04/2025 19:18

That’s why I hate Airbnb…. Most are rubbish. Hotels are better.

Oh, I don't know, I've never had a bad experience (touch wood) and I've stayed in loads. Mind you, I never trust the AirBnB reviews by themselves. I always look them up elsewhere, booking.com/tripadviser etc. Maybe I've just been lucky and am about to find out!

Istgisforreal · 19/04/2025 19:53

I run an Airbnb (not taking any home away from the community as next door part of our property). It makes me sad when I read posts like this as I put so much effort into making my place as comfortable as possible for each and everyone of my guests.

I'm a Superhost with all 5* ratings that I strive hard to maintain, I would never stay somewhere with only 4.75 though tbh.

notacooldad · 19/04/2025 19:53

That sounds awful, especially for the money.
So far I have been to some amazing airbnb's. They are not all bad. Sounds like you got unlucky.