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.

You're overthinking this!

From what you've said, I'd give a 5* review as it sounds like it more than met the description. In the review I'd emphasize all the positives, but also something like "future guests might want to be aware that the host is present quite frequently in the shared spaces". That sort of info is useful, as it does vary.

I've quite often given 5*, mostly enthusiastic reviews, with a bit of a caveat.

I don't think this is a good example, but I also sometimes leave a private review with one or two (polite, helpful I think) suggests for improvement eg additional kitchen items, or things that aren't working as well as they should.

Thats good for small things the host will probably fix and won't affect future stays.

But things like location, major furniture, or the fact that the host also lives there, what's the point of mentioning them in a private review.

I think you just say something that is true like that your room was lovely. You don't need to say anything else.

If you want your own space you have to
filter for the whole house/ flat option and not book a
shared space

Having read your subsequent posts I really would not leave a review at all . It could be really damaging to the owner who doesn’t really sound like they’ve done anything wrong .
Just take from the experience that you do not like shared spaces

I read reviews and would appreciate you saying it how it was.

So you, and a few other previous guests, who ‘left immediately’ when they found out, mistakenly thought they were staying in an annexe?

The host didn’t think to make it clearer on the website? Sounds like something that could be cleared up so easily.

Do they still receive the full payment if someone doesn’t stay?

Seems odd they could easily rectify the issue but didn’t bother to?

the offer was good but I felt like I was in their space
You were. The space that they told you you were welcome to share.
Bloody hell 🙄
And now you’re contemplating being spiteful enough to lie about it?

You were in their space!

And that's exactly what you signed up for

YAVU

this is what I have done - Praised what I liked. What I didn’t like was essentially my issue not hers or my friend’s.

it is a great property - that’s what matters. Other people accept that if you have shared spaces then that will impact on you.

exactly, that's what I said

In the nicest way possible, I do think this whole thread is the work of an over thinker.

You're not being dishonest by leaving a positive review because there are plenty of accurate and positive things that you can say.

You clearly don't want to mention your personal feelings of being made to feel like an intrusion because you're aware they are very subjective and could negatively impact the host. That's fine.

I have no problem with the existence of this thread at all and I'm glad you feel you can ask for opinions. But ideally you would not need reassurance on this and perhaps you would benefit from therapy if every decision is as difficult as this one.

You are BU to be dishonest … the review should be an honest and true account of your experience. If you had personal feeling you can express that but be sure to clarify that they are your own personal feelings and preferences.
If anything was unclear on arrival why did you not ask the host to clarify?

I think I would leave it as there was nothing bad nor was it great. I don’t think it warrants a thread or a review tbh. Don’t worry about it

I'd go with something like:

Our AirBnB was excellent value for money and the room we stayed in was very well appointed. The room had an en suite bathroom/a bathroom the host didn't use/a shared bathroom with the host. It was spotlessly clean.

Our host was welcoming, and we really appreciated being invited into their home. Given it was the host's home, they were using the shared sitting room/kitchen etc.

The location was very convenient - free parking and directly on the bus route. You can catch the Number X bus from just a couple of hundred yards away.

In addition to the public review, Airbnb encourage you to leave notes that only the host will see. I often use this to comment on things that the host might consider to make future stays more comfortable for guests, but not things that warrant a bad review. e.g. after my last experience I messaged the host suggesting bigger bath towels would be welcomed by those of us who are a bit larger. They immediately got back with thanks saying they hadn’t considered that and would order some bath sheets.

Sorry @Ineffable23 but this is what I mean when I mentioned gushing reviews on Airbnb.

The issue is that the host doesn’t appear to have been particularly welcoming and as OP was paying them money of course they were in their home.

But I do agree highlighting the actual positives e.g. convenient parking.

I don't think it's reasonable to leave a lower * rating for something that was accurately described in the accomodation listing.

If the listing doesn't mention shared spaces and in reality the kitchen, living room etc are shared then that's different, I wouldn't leave 5*s in that case.

But if the listing says which spaces are shared and you realise you don't like shared spaces, it's really not reasonable to leave a lower rating. The accommodation was as described. It's on the OP for either not reading it properly or not thinking properly about what that would mean for her.

I guess she could mention it in the review. I actually prefer airbnbs that are part of someone's house and have no issues with shared spaces, if I saw that in someone's review I'd just assume they hadn't read the description properly. If they had left a low rating for that reason I'd think they were being pretty mean, the Airbnb * ratings can really affect future bookings. If the mean rating drops then a lot of people won't even bother looking at the listing.

Just don't leave a review OP, it's really not worth fretting over!

What else would you base a review on? Yes, you can review on objective observations but the reason they matter to us because they generate feelings. If they didn't no one c.b.a.to write a review ever.

I think I feel the host has become a bit jaded with the letting of their space but dependent on it

I was going to suggest much the same, @queenceleste; also that the "shared spaces" might have been added more to attract a better rate than because they were actually happy to share them

That said I think you're doing the right thing in letting it go; after all they were open about them being shared and it's not as if you were sold something "private" which turned out not to be

I think it would be quite reasonable say something along the line of 'This is the host's main residence so the shared spaces are frequently occupied rather than lightly used. Not a problem but something of which to be aware." I would find that sort of review helpful as, whilst I can cope with lightly used, I wouldn't want to be in a hosts well-used space. It's factual and not rude or negative.

I rent out a spare room on Airbnb and I'd be annoyed with a negative review because I was using my own living room or kitchen! Guests are welcome to use our shared spaces too but of course we will be there! They said you could use it so use it if you want to!

Yabu.

Yes, that's perfect. Not a criticism but information that is helpful to potential guests.