Any experience with Airbnb?
Jun 1, 2014, 1:43 pm
#181
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: A bright and happy place
Posts: 68
I recently started using Airbnb and so far the experience has been mixed. I enjoy living in a "normal" neighborhood, so the locations have been great, but the hosts can be a headache.
I recently had two hosts cancel with little warning. One of them took 6 days to officially cancel the reservation on the site, which kept my money in limbo and gave me warnings when I tried to reserve a replacement apartment.
Another host wanted me to send a scan of my passport to her Hotmail account even though Airbnb already has my passport on file and I would have been happy to show it to her on arrival.
Another was renting out his apartment without the landlord's knowledge or permission, and unknown to me, his lease was about to expire. A realtor for the landlord kept interrupting my stay to show the apartment to potential new renters. The host also didn't want to pay for any garbage service, so I was supposed to sneak my trash into neighbors' bins.
These were all places with several good reviews. I wouldn't recommend using Airbnb for any critical travel because of the flakiness I've experienced. I also won't use it anymore in countries where there's a big language barrier, because in my experience the hosts are in other countries or continents and not quickly available to help.
I recently had two hosts cancel with little warning. One of them took 6 days to officially cancel the reservation on the site, which kept my money in limbo and gave me warnings when I tried to reserve a replacement apartment.
Another host wanted me to send a scan of my passport to her Hotmail account even though Airbnb already has my passport on file and I would have been happy to show it to her on arrival.
Another was renting out his apartment without the landlord's knowledge or permission, and unknown to me, his lease was about to expire. A realtor for the landlord kept interrupting my stay to show the apartment to potential new renters. The host also didn't want to pay for any garbage service, so I was supposed to sneak my trash into neighbors' bins.
These were all places with several good reviews. I wouldn't recommend using Airbnb for any critical travel because of the flakiness I've experienced. I also won't use it anymore in countries where there's a big language barrier, because in my experience the hosts are in other countries or continents and not quickly available to help.
Jun 1, 2014, 2:00 pm
#182
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,945
I recently started using Airbnb and so far the experience has been mixed. I enjoy living in a "normal" neighborhood, so the locations have been great, but the hosts can be a headache.
I recently had two hosts cancel with little warning. One of them took 6 days to officially cancel the reservation on the site, which kept my money in limbo and gave me warnings when I tried to reserve a replacement apartment.
Another host wanted me to send a scan of my passport to her Hotmail account even though Airbnb already has my passport on file and I would have been happy to show it to her on arrival.
Another was renting out his apartment without the landlord's knowledge or permission, and unknown to me, his lease was about to expire. A realtor for the landlord kept interrupting my stay to show the apartment to potential new renters. The host also didn't want to pay for any garbage service, so I was supposed to sneak my trash into neighbors' bins.
These were all places with several good reviews. I wouldn't recommend using Airbnb for any critical travel because of the flakiness I've experienced. I also won't use it anymore in countries where there's a big language barrier, because in my experience the hosts are in other countries or continents and not quickly available to help.
I recently had two hosts cancel with little warning. One of them took 6 days to officially cancel the reservation on the site, which kept my money in limbo and gave me warnings when I tried to reserve a replacement apartment.
Another host wanted me to send a scan of my passport to her Hotmail account even though Airbnb already has my passport on file and I would have been happy to show it to her on arrival.
Another was renting out his apartment without the landlord's knowledge or permission, and unknown to me, his lease was about to expire. A realtor for the landlord kept interrupting my stay to show the apartment to potential new renters. The host also didn't want to pay for any garbage service, so I was supposed to sneak my trash into neighbors' bins.
These were all places with several good reviews. I wouldn't recommend using Airbnb for any critical travel because of the flakiness I've experienced. I also won't use it anymore in countries where there's a big language barrier, because in my experience the hosts are in other countries or continents and not quickly available to help.
Re: subletting, as a landlord, I make it clear to my renters that going down that sneaky subletting road ends badly...like me retaining the security deposit and immediately evicting them for breach of contract. For that reason, I only deal with property owners on airbnb, and perhaps that's not a bad rule.
Jun 2, 2014, 10:10 pm
#184
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
That would be illegal in most, if not all, states. A security deposit can only be retained for unpaid rent, damage to the apartment, or certain other reasons, not for any breach of contract. Furthermore, not every breach of contract is grounds for eviction, especially if the breach is corrected within a specified time.
Jun 2, 2014, 10:27 pm
#185
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,945
That would be illegal in most, if not all, states. A security deposit can only be retained for unpaid rent, damage to the apartment, or certain other reasons, not for any breach of contract. Furthermore, not every breach of contract is grounds for eviction, especially if the breach is corrected within a specified time.
But I think we're getting off track--the important thing to remember is that airbnb stays approved by owners is far preferable than airbnb stays granted by dwelling renters.
Jun 3, 2014, 1:29 am
#186
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
That would be illegal in most, if not all, states. A security deposit can only be retained for unpaid rent, damage to the apartment, or certain other reasons, not for any breach of contract. Furthermore, not every breach of contract is grounds for eviction, especially if the breach is corrected within a specified time.
Jun 3, 2014, 1:55 am
#187
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
I have experienced this too. Even the company that ran the housing at my university did it. A stern letter (not e-mail) citing the relevant law usually does the trick.
Jun 3, 2014, 5:33 am
#188
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
Because of fraud where landlords keep deposits, the UK now requires escrow, and check in/out by a third party on all rentals. Works very well.
Jun 3, 2014, 6:06 am
#189
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 195
I used Airbnb for the first time on our honeymoon back in 2010. Went flawlessly in London, France and Ireland. Used them again for going all over Scotland. Now we're doing a trip to London, using Airbnb for stays in Iceland on the way there and Bergen Norway on the way back (staying with friends in London).. The experience has been universally good.
Jun 3, 2014, 11:52 am
#190
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 13
I actually just used AirBNB for the first time in my own backyard. Got married last month and we wanted a house for some family to stay at, so found a great place locally. All worked out well, and I'd definitely consider it when traveling.
Jun 4, 2014, 2:18 pm
#191
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: SPG, Rapid Rewards, HHonors.
Posts: 186
Have used Airbnb for two bachelor parties and its definitely the way to go when you have more than two guest. The extra space and bathrooms make everybody more comfortable and it is usually cheaper than a hotel.
Jun 6, 2014, 7:48 am
#192
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Used AirBNB when we went to my brother's graduation. Was very impressed and certainly enjoyed it more than staying at a hotel (for cheaper as well!). Guess it helped that my brother scouted out the place before hand as well but i'm sure places with good reviews would work too!
Jun 22, 2014, 7:48 am
#193
Join Date: May 2009
Location: TPA Bay area
Posts: 485
Four experiences: two negative, one neutral, one good. All were in Istanbul. The first was a large 3BR bedroom apartment. It turned out the apartment, when not occupied by AirBnB guests, was used as a "flophouse" for college students or artists who are out of work. We arrived to an apartment that had not been cleaned, and was poorly maintained: a bedroom door completely off the hinges, a cracked and leaking showerhead, burned out light bulbs, no WiFi as advertised, and no heat--very cold in March! The transaction was being handled by a friend of a friend of the tenant; needless to say, we moved out and were fully refunded.
The second room looked great in photos, was advertised as nonsmoking and 5 minutes walk to Besiktas bus and ferry stop. In fact it was 25 minute walk (we did it 2x, timing it). Upon arrival we discovered the six-story stairwell was in total darkness; a safety hazard the hostesses laughed away, saying they used their cell phones as flashlights. Also, the apartment was smokey and uncleaned-- strange, because the hostesses required a $30 weekly cleaning fee of each guest to pay the "cleaning lady", who, in fact, was the hostesses themselves.
The neutral experience was advertised as a single room in a 3Br apartment with 2 other young professional women, mid-20s. Turned out the other 2 women had decided to rent floor space in their respective (single) rooms; so in each other room there were 2 people, for a total of 5 persons in a very tiny apartment.
The one positive we have with AirB&B was a guest house. It turns out that this guesthouse was also listed on booking.com at a slightly cheaper rate!
I am a frequent traveler who is accustomed to staying in low cost accommodation such as hostels or hospedajaes. I have found the AirB&B rooms to be overexaggerated in terms of quality for the price. Of course these are my only experiences thus far with AirBnb, but overall I prefer other booking alternatives like HostelBookers, HostelWorld, Booking.com, Travellerspoint, or word-of-mouth forums like TripAdvisor.
The second room looked great in photos, was advertised as nonsmoking and 5 minutes walk to Besiktas bus and ferry stop. In fact it was 25 minute walk (we did it 2x, timing it). Upon arrival we discovered the six-story stairwell was in total darkness; a safety hazard the hostesses laughed away, saying they used their cell phones as flashlights. Also, the apartment was smokey and uncleaned-- strange, because the hostesses required a $30 weekly cleaning fee of each guest to pay the "cleaning lady", who, in fact, was the hostesses themselves.
The neutral experience was advertised as a single room in a 3Br apartment with 2 other young professional women, mid-20s. Turned out the other 2 women had decided to rent floor space in their respective (single) rooms; so in each other room there were 2 people, for a total of 5 persons in a very tiny apartment.
The one positive we have with AirB&B was a guest house. It turns out that this guesthouse was also listed on booking.com at a slightly cheaper rate!
I am a frequent traveler who is accustomed to staying in low cost accommodation such as hostels or hospedajaes. I have found the AirB&B rooms to be overexaggerated in terms of quality for the price. Of course these are my only experiences thus far with AirBnb, but overall I prefer other booking alternatives like HostelBookers, HostelWorld, Booking.com, Travellerspoint, or word-of-mouth forums like TripAdvisor.
Last edited by elizadoo; Jun 22, 2014 at 7:56 am
Jun 22, 2014, 6:31 pm
#194
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Sydney
Programs: QFF, Krisflyer, US Air DM, VelocityRewards, Hertz Gold, Hilton Gold, Accor Plat
Posts: 446
Four experiences: two negative, one neutral, one good. All were in Istanbul. The first was a large 3BR bedroom apartment. It turned out the apartment, when not occupied by AirBnB guests, was used as a "flophouse" for college students or artists who are out of work. We arrived to an apartment that had not been cleaned, and was poorly maintained: a bedroom door completely off the hinges, a cracked and leaking showerhead, burned out light bulbs, no WiFi as advertised, and no heat--very cold in March! The transaction was being handled by a friend of a friend of the tenant; needless to say, we moved out and were fully refunded.
The second room looked great in photos, was advertised as nonsmoking and 5 minutes walk to Besiktas bus and ferry stop. In fact it was 25 minute walk (we did it 2x, timing it). Upon arrival we discovered the six-story stairwell was in total darkness; a safety hazard the hostesses laughed away, saying they used their cell phones as flashlights. Also, the apartment was smokey and uncleaned-- strange, because the hostesses required a $30 weekly cleaning fee of each guest to pay the "cleaning lady", who, in fact, was the hostesses themselves.
The neutral experience was advertised as a single room in a 3Br apartment with 2 other young professional women, mid-20s. Turned out the other 2 women had decided to rent floor space in their respective (single) rooms; so in each other room there were 2 people, for a total of 5 persons in a very tiny apartment.
The one positive we have with AirB&B was a guest house. It turns out that this guesthouse was also listed on booking.com at a slightly cheaper rate!
I am a frequent traveler who is accustomed to staying in low cost accommodation such as hostels or hospedajaes. I have found the AirB&B rooms to be overexaggerated in terms of quality for the price. Of course these are my only experiences thus far with AirBnb, but overall I prefer other booking alternatives like HostelBookers, HostelWorld, Booking.com, Travellerspoint, or word-of-mouth forums like TripAdvisor.
The second room looked great in photos, was advertised as nonsmoking and 5 minutes walk to Besiktas bus and ferry stop. In fact it was 25 minute walk (we did it 2x, timing it). Upon arrival we discovered the six-story stairwell was in total darkness; a safety hazard the hostesses laughed away, saying they used their cell phones as flashlights. Also, the apartment was smokey and uncleaned-- strange, because the hostesses required a $30 weekly cleaning fee of each guest to pay the "cleaning lady", who, in fact, was the hostesses themselves.
The neutral experience was advertised as a single room in a 3Br apartment with 2 other young professional women, mid-20s. Turned out the other 2 women had decided to rent floor space in their respective (single) rooms; so in each other room there were 2 people, for a total of 5 persons in a very tiny apartment.
The one positive we have with AirB&B was a guest house. It turns out that this guesthouse was also listed on booking.com at a slightly cheaper rate!
I am a frequent traveler who is accustomed to staying in low cost accommodation such as hostels or hospedajaes. I have found the AirB&B rooms to be overexaggerated in terms of quality for the price. Of course these are my only experiences thus far with AirBnb, but overall I prefer other booking alternatives like HostelBookers, HostelWorld, Booking.com, Travellerspoint, or word-of-mouth forums like TripAdvisor.
Jun 22, 2014, 7:57 pm
#195
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
I have never gotten to use AirBnB for a simpler reason. Every time I've tried, I have found better rates and more options elsewhere: VRBO, Homeaway, Booking.com, etc. Granted, I don't look for shared space, so that might explain it.