Air BnB

[Shel_B]

I'm planning a short holiday and, since I'll be in one place for a few days, I thought I'd look into an AirBnB accommodation. I've never used them before. Has anyone here had experience with them? Caveats? Tips or suggestions? Thanks!

 

[dishdude]

Look for a Superhost and read the reviews carefully, they'll often reveal annoyances about the property or host.

 

[ecotourist]

We used a number of AirBnB places on our trip to Norway. They worked especially well for our large group (7 adults). Having a full kitchen was very good for preparing meals and bringing home ready to eat food in an otherwise very expensive environment.

There was occasionally something missing (no toaster, only a few rolls of toilet paper) but that was a minor issue. We privately pointed out the problems to the host and in every case commented positively on what were otherwise very good places.

We caught a late coastal ferry one day and that host let us stay a few extra hours without additional cost.

All in all using AirBnB was a good experience.

 

[Alien]

I have used AirBnB, Vacasa, and VRBO/Homeaway on multiple occasions. The only issue I encountered was with an AirBnB "Superhost" canceling my fully paid for reservation on me. Here are my notes on using the different services:

Vacation rental options, from lowest to highest risk:​

1. Properties I have booked before. But beware of owner or manager changes.
2. Property managers such as Vacasa, Odalys, Turnkey, or Wyndham Vacation. But note that Vacasa, which was formed with the merger of 200 property management companies, is now attempting to compete with AirBnB by listing owner-managed properties.
3. AirBnb Plus (currently only in a few cities; inspected property only, no host cancelations for previous 12 months, standards regarding maintenance, equipment, comfort, and design; otherwise same as AirBnb)
4. AirBnb (good payment protection, penalties for host cancelations and travel issues, automatic reporting of host cancelations in reviews)
   • AirBnb tries to keep the identities of the hosts and guest secret as well as the true location of the property, in order to prevent side deals. But that means that hosts and guest are completely dependent on reviews, photographs, and “Superhost” designations, all of which have at times proven to be unreliable.
   • Airbnb holds all payments until 72 hours after check-in.
   • Starting of August 26, 2022, AirBnB’s new policy on “avoidable Host cancellations”: In addition to a full refund to the guest, the Hosts must pay AirBnB a penalty fee from $50 to $1,000 (a 10x increase) if they “cancel on guests for preventable reasons—like accidentally double-booking or wanting to host friends and family instead”. They also owe the fee and guest refund if a reservation is canceled by a guest post check-in (up to 72 hours), due to a “serious issue created by hosts” which justifies rebooking them elsewhere. Airbnb customer service reps are the ones deciding whether an issue post check-in is serious enough to force hosts to refund guests, Airbnb to rebook another place, and the host to pay a cancellation fee.
   • If the reservation is canceled more than 30 days before check-in, the host’s penalty fee is 10% of the reservation amount. If the reservation is canceled more than 48 hours and less than 30 days before check-in, the fee is 25% of the reservation amount. If the reservation is canceled 48 hours or less before check-in, or after check-in, the fee is 50% of the reservation amount for the nights not stayed.
   • When a host cancels a confirmed reservation, the host’s calendar will be blocked for those dates, preventing a unit from getting relisted at a higher price.
   • The host may face account suspension for repeated cancellations.
   • The host’s Superhost status or eligibility “may change”.
   • Beware of fake AirBnb sites with fake listings that look and behave exactly like AirBnb but keep your wired deposit.
5. Homeaway/VRBO (same company) using their secure payment system (best legally binding guarantee including return of deposit; but many owners qualify for Advanced Payment that distributes payments to them immediately rather than holding them until after check-in which means that Homeaway/VRBO does not have your money to refund in a dispute)
   1. Started out as a “lead generation” service to connect owners and renters, and still operates that way for many of its properties. Although that can make payments more dangerous, it allows the owners to build long term relationships with their renters, and for prospective renters to check out the property with Google maps, local authorities, etc. before renting C. Also, it allows both trusted parties to avoid heavy fees by bypassing VRBO.
   2. Complaints note that VRBO refers guests to the owners to resolve disputes. Also, “they hide behind their excuse of the contract not being with them but with the owner and therefore the owner is allowed to deduct from your credit card whatever amount of money what they like for damages”.
   3. Complaints support that VRBO hosts sometimes cancel a reservation on no notice and then relisted their units for more than twice the price. VRBO has no policies to prevent or even discourage that.
   4. Owners view VRBO as more friendly than AirBnb toward the owners as opposed to tenants in disputes
   5. AirBnB’s much more aggressive new policies on host cancelations will chase hosts who want to maintain the privilege of arbitrary cancelation over to VRBO, which could have the effect of making VRBO host cancelation more likely than before
6. TripAdvisor Rentals listings using their secure payment system (second best legally binding guarantee, but does not cover return of deposit; good payment protection: as with Airbnb, owner does not receive funds until after check-in)
   1. “Visited by Tripadvisor” ribbon means that they used a Tripadvisor hired photography service – at least it provides some evidence that the property actually exists and is as photographed
   2. Otherwise, same as VRBO or even just a pass-through to VRBO
7. Homeaway, TripAdvisor or Bookings.com not using their payment system (unless it is for categories 1 or 2 properties above)
8. Ebay, Craigslist (unless it is for categories 1 or 2 properties above)

All of these can cancel right up to or even past the last minute (i.e. after your arrival). But AirBnB now penalizes hosts with substantial penalties for doing that and guarantees a rebooking or return of all payments to the guests, with all decisions made by AirBnB (not the hosts). Since they do not transfer the payments to the hosts until 72 hours after check-in, they control the funds to do any refunds. Also, they now automatically report host cancelations in the reviews.

If Tripadvisor Rentals actually starts displaying the number of owner cancelations (as their contract warns owners that they will), and if the displayed number is reliable (unlike AirBnb’s Superhost rating), then they could move up a notch on the list. But for reason outlined below, this may not happen. (And it is not clear to me that Tripadvisor Rentals is anything more than a front for VRBO).

All are much riskier than hotels, especially hotels booked through third parties such as Priceline, Hotels.com, Bookings.com, or Hotwire. Consider a cancelable backup booking.

Thoughts:

What owners want: a set of known good renters who will rent for weeks at a time, return next year, pay their bills, do no damage, do not give them bad reviews, and are willing to bypass the booking companies and their fees.

What the booking companies want: for everyone to use their payment system, pay their full fees, no side deals, no defections to their competitors, renters and owners completely dependent on them, no liability.

Host/owner cancelations: The reality that the industry wants to hide is that host/owner cancelations are part of the game that owners use to fill their calendars. For example, if there are no penalties all of the owners would cancel my 3 day reservations if it meant they could book a longer reservation, especially from a known good customer. They only want short rentals to fill in the holes or if there is a bad season and they cannot fill out their calendars with long rentals. When they cancel a reservation, it is the booking company that takes the hit in reputation, since the canceled owner cannot post a review (2022 update: AirBnB now automatically reports owner cancelations). So they do a dance with their booking companies, where the booking company attempts to dissuade cancelations, while the owners threaten to jump ship to their competitor if they let prospective renters know that they cancel. In contrast, hotels do not want a reputation of unreliable reservations (since most of their business comes from business travelers, travel agents, and tour companies), so they rarely cancel, and if they do they attempt to make it up to the customer. Property rental companies probably fall somewhere in between: less likely to cancel than owner-managed listings, but not as reliable as hotels, inns, and resorts. With owner-managed properties, short duration rentals in high season from an unknown renter are the most likely to be canceled by owners. On the other hand, AirBnB’s new penalties and automatic reporting of host cancelations change this calculus in the guest’s favor. They are probably reacting to a problem that is getting worse, per this quote: “We operate a Florida specialist B2B vacation home channel to the travel trade called Ocean Beds. 2022 has been the most challenging year on record for avoidable cancellations.”

 

[dishdude]

Also keep in mind they generally don't provide the basics a hotel provides. Don't expect body wash, shampoo, etc....even though some will provide.

 

[Shel_B]

Also keep in mind they generally don't provide the basics a hotel provides. Don't expect body wash, shampoo, etc....even though some will provide.

Thanks for the heads-up, although I don't really care for such things, much preferring to use my own.

 

[k1xv]

Behave yourself there. You are in somebody's residential neighborhood. Like, mine.

Some of these renters think they are in Disneyland, not a residential neighborhood. And they are obnoxious.

 

[Shel_B]

I have used AirBnB, Vacasa, and VRBO/Homeaway on multiple occasions. The only issue I encountered was with an AirBnB "Superhost" canceling my fully paid for reservation on me. Here are my notes on using the different services:

Vacation rental options, from lowest to highest risk:​

1. Properties I have booked before. But beware of owner or manager changes.
2. Property managers such as Vacasa, Odalys, Turnkey, or Wyndham Vacation. But note that Vacasa, which was formed with the merger of 200 property management companies, is now attempting to compete with AirBnB by listing owner-managed properties.
3. AirBnb Plus (currently only in a few cities; inspected property only, no host cancelations for previous 12 months, standards regarding maintenance, equipment, comfort, and design; otherwise same as AirBnb)
4. AirBnb (good payment protection, penalties for host cancelations and travel issues, automatic reporting of host cancelations in reviews)
   • AirBnb tries to keep the identities of the hosts and guest secret as well as the true location of the property, in order to prevent side deals. But that means that hosts and guest are completely dependent on reviews, photographs, and “Superhost” designations, all of which have at times proven to be unreliable.
   • Airbnb holds all payments until 72 hours after check-in.
   • Starting of August 26, 2022, AirBnB’s new policy on “avoidable Host cancellations”: In addition to a full refund to the guest, the Hosts must pay AirBnB a penalty fee from $50 to $1,000 (a 10x increase) if they “cancel on guests for preventable reasons—like accidentally double-booking or wanting to host friends and family instead”. They also owe the fee and guest refund if a reservation is canceled by a guest post check-in (up to 72 hours), due to a “serious issue created by hosts” which justifies rebooking them elsewhere. Airbnb customer service reps are the ones deciding whether an issue post check-in is serious enough to force hosts to refund guests, Airbnb to rebook another place, and the host to pay a cancellation fee.
   • If the reservation is canceled more than 30 days before check-in, the host’s penalty fee is 10% of the reservation amount. If the reservation is canceled more than 48 hours and less than 30 days before check-in, the fee is 25% of the reservation amount. If the reservation is canceled 48 hours or less before check-in, or after check-in, the fee is 50% of the reservation amount for the nights not stayed.
   • When a host cancels a confirmed reservation, the host’s calendar will be blocked for those dates, preventing a unit from getting relisted at a higher price.
   • The host may face account suspension for repeated cancellations.
   • The host’s Superhost status or eligibility “may change”.
   • Beware of fake AirBnb sites with fake listings that look and behave exactly like AirBnb but keep your wired deposit.
5. Homeaway/VRBO (same company) using their secure payment system (best legally binding guarantee including return of deposit; but many owners qualify for Advanced Payment that distributes payments to them immediately rather than holding them until after check-in which means that Homeaway/VRBO does not have your money to refund in a dispute)
   1. Started out as a “lead generation” service to connect owners and renters, and still operates that way for many of its properties. Although that can make payments more dangerous, it allows the owners to build long term relationships with their renters, and for prospective renters to check out the property with Google maps, local authorities, etc. before renting C. Also, it allows both trusted parties to avoid heavy fees by bypassing VRBO.
   2. Complaints note that VRBO refers guests to the owners to resolve disputes. Also, “they hide behind their excuse of the contract not being with them but with the owner and therefore the owner is allowed to deduct from your credit card whatever amount of money what they like for damages”.
   3. Complaints support that VRBO hosts sometimes cancel a reservation on no notice and then relisted their units for more than twice the price. VRBO has no policies to prevent or even discourage that.
   4. Owners view VRBO as more friendly than AirBnb toward the owners as opposed to tenants in disputes
   5. AirBnB’s much more aggressive new policies on host cancelations will chase hosts who want to maintain the privilege of arbitrary cancelation over to VRBO, which could have the effect of making VRBO host cancelation more likely than before
6. TripAdvisor Rentals listings using their secure payment system (second best legally binding guarantee, but does not cover return of deposit; good payment protection: as with Airbnb, owner does not receive funds until after check-in)
   1. “Visited by Tripadvisor” ribbon means that they used a Tripadvisor hired photography service – at least it provides some evidence that the property actually exists and is as photographed
   2. Otherwise, same as VRBO or even just a pass-through to VRBO
7. Homeaway, TripAdvisor or Bookings.com not using their payment system (unless it is for categories 1 or 2 properties above)
8. Ebay, Craigslist (unless it is for categories 1 or 2 properties above)

All of these can cancel right up to or even past the last minute (i.e. after your arrival). But AirBnB now penalizes hosts with substantial penalties for doing that and guarantees a rebooking or return of all payments to the guests, with all decisions made by AirBnB (not the hosts). Since they do not transfer the payments to the hosts until 72 hours after check-in, they control the funds to do any refunds. Also, they now automatically report host cancelations in the reviews.

If Tripadvisor Rentals actually starts displaying the number of owner cancelations (as their contract warns owners that they will), and if the displayed number is reliable (unlike AirBnb’s Superhost rating), then they could move up a notch on the list. But for reason outlined below, this may not happen. (And it is not clear to me that Tripadvisor Rentals is anything more than a front for VRBO).

All are much riskier than hotels, especially hotels booked through third parties such as Priceline, Hotels.com, Bookings.com, or Hotwire. Consider a cancelable backup booking.

Thoughts:

What owners want: a set of known good renters who will rent for weeks at a time, return next year, pay their bills, do no damage, do not give them bad reviews, and are willing to bypass the booking companies and their fees.

What the booking companies want: for everyone to use their payment system, pay their full fees, no side deals, no defections to their competitors, renters and owners completely dependent on them, no liability.

Host/owner cancelations: The reality that the industry wants to hide is that host/owner cancelations are part of the game that owners use to fill their calendars. For example, if there are no penalties all of the owners would cancel my 3 day reservations if it meant they could book a longer reservation, especially from a known good customer. They only want short rentals to fill in the holes or if there is a bad season and they cannot fill out their calendars with long rentals. When they cancel a reservation, it is the booking company that takes the hit in reputation, since the canceled owner cannot post a review (2022 update: AirBnB now automatically reports owner cancelations). So they do a dance with their booking companies, where the booking company attempts to dissuade cancelations, while the owners threaten to jump ship to their competitor if they let prospective renters know that they cancel. In contrast, hotels do not want a reputation of unreliable reservations (since most of their business comes from business travelers, travel agents, and tour companies), so they rarely cancel, and if they do they attempt to make it up to the customer. Property rental companies probably fall somewhere in between: less likely to cancel than owner-managed listings, but not as reliable as hotels, inns, and resorts. With owner-managed properties, short duration rentals in high season from an unknown renter are the most likely to be canceled by owners. On the other hand, AirBnB’s new penalties and automatic reporting of host cancelations change this calculus in the guest’s favor. They are probably reacting to a problem that is getting worse, per this quote: “We operate a Florida specialist B2B vacation home channel to the travel trade called Ocean Beds. 2022 has been the most challenging year on record for avoidable cancellations.”

There's a lot to absorb here. Thanks ... I'll spend some time reading and reviewing all of it tonight.

 

[Blueshound]

We've had good and bad rentals; overall the value often isn't there anymore vs a decent hotel. We now look to hotels first every time.

 

[Shel_B]

We've had good and bad rentals; overall the value often isn't there anymore vs a decent hotel. We now look to hotels first every time.

I've noticed that prices are higher now than when I last considered using AirBnB, although I have found a few places in the areas I want to stay that are about half the price of other ABnB units and hotels in the area. I'm looking for more than a room, though, and finding something in a nice setting with a usable garden or other outdoor amenities is very desirable and preferable.

 

[TmanP]

I’ve used them a few times in the past year. Before that, we used VRBO occasionally.

Personally, I prefer hotels (assuming you don’t have a group that’s too big for one room). Kitchens are a nice perk that they offer, as well, but the space and kitchens are about all they have on hotels for me.

The biggest issue to me is the ballooning of costs, which is especially bad on shorter stays due to fixed costs like cleaning fees and the like. It’s very easy for a $150/night Airbnb to approach $300/night with fees, cleaning charges, etc.

 

[dishdude]

I’ve used them a few times in the past year. Before that, we used VRBO occasionally.

Personally, I prefer hotels (assuming you don’t have a group that’s too big for one room). Kitchens are a nice perk that they offer, as well, but the space and kitchens are about all they have on hotels for me.

The biggest issue to me is the ballooning of costs, which is especially bad on shorter stays due to fixed costs like cleaning fees and the like. It’s very easy for a $150/night Airbnb to approach $300/night with fees, cleaning charges, etc.

And you have to provide a lot, anytime we get a vrbo/Airbnb we have to check in and then go to Target or a grocery store for some essentials that a hotel would otherwise include.

 

[Dave Hess]

We've had good and bad rentals; overall the value often isn't there anymore vs a decent hotel. We now look to hotels first every time.

Yep, stay at a hotel if it’s the same price.

 

[Shel_B]

I’ve used them a few times in the past year. Before that, we used VRBO occasionally.

Personally, I prefer hotels (assuming you don’t have a group that’s too big for one room). Kitchens are a nice perk that they offer, as well, but the space and kitchens are about all they have on hotels for me.

The biggest issue to me is the ballooning of costs, which is especially bad on shorter stays due to fixed costs like cleaning fees and the like. It’s very easy for a $150/night Airbnb to approach $300/night with fees, cleaning charges, etc.

I'll be sure to look at fees over and above the posted cost for a stay. I didn't know about VRBO and others, so I'll look at what they offer as well. Thanks!

 

[Shel_B]

And you have to provide a lot, anytime we get a vrbo/Airbnb we have to check in and then go to Target or a grocery store for some essentials that a hotel would otherwise include.

I always travel with my own "essentials."

 

[DemoFly]

AirBnB used to be amazing 5 years ago. It is now 2 to 3 times more expensive than a hotel when you include all the fees. The hotel also has breakfast and cleaning service.

If I want to spend the extra money for quiet or aloneness, a luxury suite makes more sense to me.

Of course AirBnB still has an experience hotels cannot compete with. Such as proximity to a place you want to be, or cabins.

 

[dishdude]

I always travel with my own "essentials."

Coffee is a good example. Usually don't know what type of machine they have. Drip, Keurig or french press. I don't travel with various types of coffee but I assure you it is an essential!

 

[Shel_B]

Coffee is a good example. Usually don't know what type of machine they have. Drip, Keurig or french press. I don't travel with various types of coffee but I assure you it is an essential!

You bring up a good point about coffee, but over the years of traveling, I've developed several solutions, so it's a non-issue for me.

 

[Snagglefoot]

The owners of BnB’s are more worried about you than you should be of them. Just be civil and make sure you read their forms left in the counter when you get there. They may want you to strip the bed and or take out the garbage when you leave. I find the owner might or might not be there and other than an initial hello if there are there, they leave you alone. Have fun.

 

[IndyIan]

We've only had good experiences with air bnb and vrbo. You have to shop around in advance and sometimes its cheaper to book through expedia than through vrbo or airbnb directly. We got a bottom floor of a house in North Vancouver for 6 of us with a backyard for mountain bike storage and bbq for $220 a night. The host was there when we arrived then left us alone for the 5 days. It was much better than a similarly priced hotel and much more convenient setup and location for what we were doing.
I'm finding cheaper motels now are getting pretty bad now, but for one night they are easier to use.