AIBU to want to be dishonest in my Airbnb review?

[queenceleste]

I just stayed in a good well priced airbnb which is within someone’s home.

The experience was fine but the owner sent different signals to the advertised offer.

I felt that the listing said one thing about shared spaces but they didn’t confirm that on arrival. My friend who stayed with me said I was making my discomfort up!

I just feel I want to give them a great review as they were really good - I just felt much more uncomfortable than usual - but we usually stay where we don’t see the owner!

I’m always loathe to give anything negative in a review. I’m interested if other people feel that same reluctance.

What did the ad say about shared spaces and what actually happened when you were there?

I'd listen to your friend

You want to write a bad review because you had a feeling?

So the ad said you would have free access to shared space but that actually meant the host would also have free access also ?

I wouldn’t write a bad review unless the listing said explicitly that you’d have the whole house to yourself. But maybe mention in a neutral, factual way about shared spaces, eg the shared kitchen was well equipped, which highlights it to other people who may potentially miss it like you did.

It's not a very clear post

The title says should you be dishonest

Well obviously you shouldn't be dishonest

Are you saying you know it's not something worth complaining about?

Well it’s just that the listing said various areas were shared. But when we arrived the host didn’t actually show us the spaces in a welcoming way. They were often in some of those spaces so I immediately felt better in our room. It’s a subtle thing but I think if a host lives there they need to reinforce the welcome, I think it’s about the warmth. My friend said the host is just very black and white and assumed we would act on the published facts. I think I am maybe too old to share living spaces!😆.
I could have checked of course but I was a tiny tiny bit intimidated…

the owner sent different signals to the advertised offer.

What does this mean? What text did you read and what was the actual situation?
I'd probably not bother leaving a review or mentioning this as it sounds quite unclear.

Ywbvu to be dishonest. If there was a mismatch between the advert and the actual provision, ywnbu to mention that.

Just don’t leave a review. I never do.

But when we arrived the host didn’t actually show us the spaces in a welcoming way.

I don't think you should be dishonest based on this. It sounds like a difference in interpretation, which isn't the host's fault.

You can’t leave a negative review for those reasons, that’s so petty.

Well you can’t leave a negative review for that. But this is a non issue, just don’t leave a review at all.

Bit unfair to hold your own issues against someone trying to make a bit of income . I doubt anyone would willingly share their home otherwise . Your friend shared the same experience and she is telling you not to leave an unfavorable review .

Yeah you sound hard to please. You’re basically saying you are uncomfortable because the host was in the shared facilities that were advertised as shared. You’re going to look very hard work if you post that. Just don’t review this one.

They advertised shared spaces

The spaces were shared

Turns out you dont like shared spaces but host did nothing wrong

I’m aware that this is a subtle thing!

I could write “lovely place but the host is very present in the space”
or
“lovely room in a house where the host is always there”
or
”great room in a lovely house the host is great and I appreciated how much thought went into the little details”

I mean I think how I felt isn’t necessarily anything to do with them! But I was so happy to leave 😆 I was physically comfortable, the offer was good but I felt like I was in their space.

A shared space means exactly that.

You wanted a cheap place where you effectively have the space to yourself, but you can’t expect that if it’s advertised as shared.

You’ve been lucky that the owner hasn’t been around to use the shared spaces, however they would have had every right to.

Your review should confirm that the shared spaces are in fact shared spaces. The owner did nothing wrong from what I have read.

They were often in some of those spaces

What did you think a 'shared space' was?

Leave a fair review - do all the positives bits and then say something along the lines of "the only slight niggle about the place was that it was unclear where the shared spaces were and when we could have access to them but otherwise we enjoyed our stay"

Reviews don't have to be all positive or all negative. When looking for reviews myself I tend to focus on the more nuanced posts because I'm aware that it's highly unusual for a place to the best or the worst and that different people experience things differently.

So basically you wanted the cheaper rate of a shared space, but the owner to disappear while you were there. This is on you, OP.

Please listen to your friend - you are being silly.
Shared spaces are just that shared. Does not matter if other places that you stayed had shared spaces but the owner was not there.
Sounds like the host assumed that you would behave like an adult.
They did nothing wrong, do not damage their reputation because of a feeling.

I think I know what you mean. We stayed somewhere once where we were 'welcome' to use the shared kitchen. They might have felt they were 'welcoming', but we didn't feel very welcome and actually very uncomfortable using the kitchen when they were there. I didn't feel it was fair to say this in a review though as it was so subjective.

From what you say, I'm not seeing the difference in what was posted and what happened. She said that there would be shared space and there was - you just seem to have thought that she wouldn't actually use the shared space?

The level of welcoming is a personal opinion kind of thing but still doesn't show any contradiction in the ad.

thank you , this helps, their good reviews speak for themselves! I do think it was my issue.
I think we did not have an easy understanding of each other is all - and you’re absolutely right.

But, I know even if I simply put that they are always there…. That would constitute an off putting review. I’m just interested in how other people decide what to add.

The most negative thing I’ve ever done is give a place 4 stars but it did smell of damp.