Any experience with Airbnb?
Sep 30, 2014, 6:18 am
#228
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Spain
Posts: 169
I've only had good experiences with AirBnb (after renting in at least 6 European countries and in Boston). If you book a place with multiple positive reviews, you're probably all set! Places without reviews are a bit riskier but they're usually cheaper. And to be fair, the worst experience I've had with properties without reviews was one rental in Vienna where the kitchen smelled very strongly of tuna.
Sep 30, 2014, 9:15 am
#229
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Toronto-YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, BA Executive- Blue, Lifemiles, AA Advantage, VIA Rail Preference, Iberia Plus
Posts: 565
+1 on Airbnb.
I've used it multiple times (Londonx2, Nice, Florence, Rome, Tokyo, and here in Canada.)
I would definitely use it again and plan on doing so in the future.
more bang for the buck compared to hotels I find, plus you actually get to meet a local.
I've used it multiple times (Londonx2, Nice, Florence, Rome, Tokyo, and here in Canada.)
I would definitely use it again and plan on doing so in the future.
more bang for the buck compared to hotels I find, plus you actually get to meet a local.
Oct 1, 2014, 12:05 pm
#230
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 7
I don't like the recent introduction of verification whereby one uploads an ID card or passport photo. It seemed to work reasonably well without such a move. Sure there were one or two well-publicized problems with guests but such systems as these and similar social sites (FB, Twitter et al) will always be open to abuse. Maybe the photo ID policy will help reduce airbnb's insurance premiums.
Oct 1, 2014, 3:31 pm
#231
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: YYC/MNL
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy SE
Posts: 520
+1 on AirBnB.
Just have really low expectations haha. It looked awesome in the photos but the room I had in Miami was tiny and was under renovation.
Location was awesome though and it was cheap, so what's up.
Just have really low expectations haha. It looked awesome in the photos but the room I had in Miami was tiny and was under renovation.
Location was awesome though and it was cheap, so what's up.
Oct 8, 2014, 11:23 pm
#232
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
SF just passed a law directed at AirBnB. They are going to have to start paying more insurance. They are going to have to abide by normal hotel regulations including city hotel taxes. Several similar requirements which are going to significantly increase their cost of doing business which means rental rates will go up.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
Oct 9, 2014, 5:09 am
#233
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Spain
Posts: 169
SF just passed a law directed at AirBnB. They are going to have to start paying more insurance. They are going to have to abide by normal hotel regulations including city hotel taxes. Several similar requirements which are going to significantly increase their cost of doing business which means rental rates will go up.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
Oct 9, 2014, 5:14 am
#234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Oct 9, 2014, 9:00 am
#235
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: YYC/MNL
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy SE
Posts: 520
SF just passed a law directed at AirBnB. They are going to have to start paying more insurance. They are going to have to abide by normal hotel regulations including city hotel taxes. Several similar requirements which are going to significantly increase their cost of doing business which means rental rates will go up.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
Oct 9, 2014, 9:16 am
#236
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,946
SF just passed a law directed at AirBnB. They are going to have to start paying more insurance. They are going to have to abide by normal hotel regulations including city hotel taxes. Several similar requirements which are going to significantly increase their cost of doing business which means rental rates will go up.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
I would expect to see more and more of this in other cities.
Oct 9, 2014, 5:55 pm
#237
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
On the contrary, I think this law actually benefits AirBnB, because it makes it legal for them to operate. Before this law was passed, renting out a room using the site in SF was technically illegal. The hotels would have liked to keep it that way, but didn't have the power to stop it, due to SF being a very technology-friendly city with a government that wants to support local startups. In most of the rest of the country, I think the hotel industry will have the power to prevent laws like this from passing, at least for the time being.
Oct 10, 2014, 12:55 am
#238
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
On the contrary, I think this law actually benefits AirBnB, because it makes it legal for them to operate. Before this law was passed, renting out a room using the site in SF was technically illegal. The hotels would have liked to keep it that way, but didn't have the power to stop it, due to SF being a very technology-friendly city with a government that wants to support local startups. In most of the rest of the country, I think the hotel industry will have the power to prevent laws like this from passing, at least for the time being.
Oct 18, 2014, 9:39 pm
#240
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1
Beware of AirBnb!
Beware of AirBnb... I hope the pending city law suits put these guys out of business because they don’t deserve to be in business. Check it out - http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...are-the-issues
I’ve talked to their customer service several times over the last couple of months for all kinds of issues with their disfunctional web site, erroneous communications, and issues with the handling of taxes as a legal requirement for most states, etc...
I setup a reservation with a guest a few months ago and they collected funds from the guest. They then turned around and cancelled the reservations without my knowledge. I actually found out 1 week prior to my guest's arrival. That left me with lost revenue and no way to fill the lost week with the little time that was left. My guest informed me that they cancelled due to security issues... What the hell issues were those? My AirBnB dashboard showed I was a verified host. I have listings on every major vacation rental site on the web. Like I said, these guys are a joke!
I have since removed my listing from their website and will never ever list with them again! Perhaps their leadership team should take some training from HomeAway or VRBO to learn how to run a real vacation rental site. They obviously have NO clue!
If you want to list for free on similar sites that actually work and don't force your guests to pay for the entire reservation up front.. Look at FlipKey.com part of TravelAdvisor.com. Or if you want to pay a subscription with no guest fees, choose HomeAway or VRBO... I get 99% of all my bookings through these two sites.
Hope that helps..
- vbtech
I’ve talked to their customer service several times over the last couple of months for all kinds of issues with their disfunctional web site, erroneous communications, and issues with the handling of taxes as a legal requirement for most states, etc...
I setup a reservation with a guest a few months ago and they collected funds from the guest. They then turned around and cancelled the reservations without my knowledge. I actually found out 1 week prior to my guest's arrival. That left me with lost revenue and no way to fill the lost week with the little time that was left. My guest informed me that they cancelled due to security issues... What the hell issues were those? My AirBnB dashboard showed I was a verified host. I have listings on every major vacation rental site on the web. Like I said, these guys are a joke!
I have since removed my listing from their website and will never ever list with them again! Perhaps their leadership team should take some training from HomeAway or VRBO to learn how to run a real vacation rental site. They obviously have NO clue!
If you want to list for free on similar sites that actually work and don't force your guests to pay for the entire reservation up front.. Look at FlipKey.com part of TravelAdvisor.com. Or if you want to pay a subscription with no guest fees, choose HomeAway or VRBO... I get 99% of all my bookings through these two sites.
Hope that helps..
- vbtech