Travelers who use Airbnb hate its cleaning fees. You know, those annoying expenses attached to a property that supposedly cover the costs of tidying up the place for the next visitor.
In fact, they got so bad that in November, Airbnb said it was planning to make some big changes and make customer bills more transparent that should, in return, incentivize hosts to reduce or forgo them altogether.
To show you that this decision was long overdue, we at Bored Panda decided to compile some of the most absurd Airbnb cleaning fees people have noticed. Having said that, I guess it's better late than never, eh?
Continue scrolling to check them out and don't miss the conversation we had about the platform with travelers and authors of the blog Finding the Universe, Laurence and Jessica Norah; you'll find it spread in between the pictures.
This post may include affiliate links.
Port Huron, MI, Outrageous Airbnb 67$/Night Listing Came Out To 261$. Can't Forget The 150$ Cleaning Fee That Will Be Conducted By The Guest
Addendum: Please add $1/per breath taken per person inside Airbnb
Fees That Add $653 To A 2-Day $210 Per Night Airbnb
Airbnb cleaning fees are a one-time charge pocketed by hosts to cover things like doing laundry or scrubbing toilets between stays. They're separate from the base price and are in addition to service fees or charges for optional add-ons.
A NerdWallet analysis of 1,000 U.S. Airbnb reservations with check-in dates in 2022 or 2023 found that the median cleaning fee per listing for a one-night stay was $75.
The analysis also discovered that cleaning fees amounted to about 25% of the total price paid. In fact, in almost 40% of listings, they were from 20% to 29.9% of the actual price. On a few listings, cleaning fees were even higher than the nightly rate.
$59 For One Night
Can we just clean it for 2 days by ourselves, and stay 2 days for free.
Airbnb Owner Expects Us To Tip His Cleaning Service He Hired On Top Of The $250 Cleaning Fee
😂 😂 😂 Before I saw this comment, I actually showed the screen my middle finger... Great minds think alike! 😂
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I wonder how much of that cleaning fee actually went to the cleaners?
I’d leave a tip… lovingly written, suggesting they find a different employer since they’re clearly not being paid enough and are being extorted, so are the guests staying in the house, as well as trying to be guilted into paying them what they’re worth, because Tightarse owners won’t.. there’s my tip.
I've seen this posted on Reddit several times and there will always be comments from owners saying this is the Housekeeper doing this without their knowledge or approval. One guy was truly shocked to have a complaint filed about a tip envelope because he was simply unaware. Many owners don't go to the rentals between guests so wouldn't know a tip envelope was left. I would say if you see one, complain. Most owners don't support this, they feel the cleaners are being adequately paid.
Or are the owners really the housekeepers trying to get a tip, and they are pretending like it was someone else cleaning if they get a complaint?
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Bet you 10 to 1 the owner cleans this house and does not use a service.
I would give them (fake but looks real) money to that figure but shredded.
Crazy! Why don't you tip them from the $250 fee you're charging to guests for the cleaning...G-U-E-S-T-S!! That have already paid to stay there!
So I’d leave a note that the tip was already charged. America is out of control about tipping. Never happened to me in Europe.
This gives me the idea to leave a tip in the form of an empty gift card as a hidden middle finger.
The housekeepers do that and it's common practice. Don't leave a tip if you are too cheap
Namaste
However, that doesn't mean that the site is all bad. "We have used Airbnb many times over the years in destinations around the world," Laurence and Jessica Norah told Bored Panda, adding that one of the most recent apartments they rented was in Nairobi, Kenya, and they had it for four nights.
"We've generally had a positive experience with our stays. We have had a couple of negative experiences—one where the apartment had many issues like no heating or hot water, and one where the apartment no longer existed. In both cases Airbnb support was quite helpful," the couple recalled.
Not Cool Airbnb
This Is Why Nobody Wants To Use Airbnb Anymore… Price Nearly Doubled After All The Fees
Honestly, the best thing to happen for the housing market would be a complete collapse of Airbnb and all those investors that bought homes they don't use to use as Airbnb rentals. Also looking at you apartment owners that rent out apartments for airbnb. Airbnb has been a massive contributor to the global housing crisis causing expensive homes and way too high rents
How Airbnb Allows You To Be Charged A Large Cleaning Fee Then Be Required To Clean Before You Check Out
One of these by themselves is fine, but together? What are you even paying the service fee for????????????????
Sure Can't Wait For The Airbnb Bubble To Pop
It's like home delivery for take away food. Used to be cheap. Then they started adding minimim order, delivery fees, and service fees and charges. The total of the fees is almost the same as the food total
When choosing a property, Laurence and Jessica said the most important thing is to read its latest reviews and to make sure people are getting the experience that is advertised.
"When we have had issues, they have nearly always been with properties with very few or no reviews, where it's hard to see exactly what you are getting," the couple explained.
My Airbnb Estimate - No Wonder Bookings Are Down
This Airbnb Would Have Only Cost Us $278 To Book For 2 Nights, But Has A $405 Cleaning Fee!
All Those Fees
My Airbnb Host Wanted Me To Tip Housekeeping…on Top Of The $200 Cleaning Fee
"I've heard you loud and clear—you feel like prices aren't transparent," Airbnb CEO Brain Chesky tweeted in November.
The updates come as Airbnb has seen travel demand rebound from its pandemic lows. But it is still confronting a more uncertain economic environment, including high inflation and recession fears, that could weigh on its customers' purchasing decisions.
"We started as an affordable alternative to hotels, and affordability is especially important today," Chesky wrote on Twitter. "During this difficult economic time, we need to help our Hosts provide great value to you."
In Our Airbnb In The Middle Of Nowhere
"Leave a tip on top of the fees we charged you, but don't be like that other tipper that we mock to other guests for not meeting our tipping standards! No need for us to thank you for your generosity as a closing to this note; shaming and bullying you into leaving more money in addition to what we already collected should do the trick. Come back again!"
This Misleading Airbnb Listing That Was Most Definitely Not $74/Night
Just A Short List
Sounds Fair
Still, sometimes you might just prefer a hotel. "It's a lot easier for shorter trips," Laurence and Jessica Norah said. "We normally use Airbnb for stays of 3 nights or more as otherwise, the hassle of coordinating check-in and check-out times can be tricky."
"In addition, a hotel is really useful for things like leaving luggage behind, and on-site amenities like a printer or restaurant. Often, a hotel can also be more reasonably priced as well."
I’m Paying $200 Cleaning Fee And Expected To Do Most Of The Cleaning!
27% Service Fee
Why?
The service fees going to AirBnB, the taxes goes to government (it’s the same fees charged at a hotel)
Insane
I want to know what the "service fee" is on all these. I'm done with AB&B anyway after spending four nights in Galveston, Texas (100+ degrees and only getting down to the mid 80s at night) where we were paying $150 a night for a unit smaller than a hotel room with a window unit that couldn't keep it any lower than 82 degrees at night. All this and claimed it was walking distance from the beach (yeah, if you're willing to walk 11 miles). Whole list of cleaning demands AND a steep cleaning fee. This is not the first time we've been cheated by
How About No
You know who else is infamous for this nonsense? Ticketmaster. You know what words have never been uttered in the same sentence? "Wow, I really love Ticketmaster." Especially after you spend 20 minutes navigating through the ticket buying process just for a fee that is often more expensive than the tickets you're trying to buy. AirBnB is just as annoying and shady.
Not Cool
No the wild part is when they give you a list of cleaning chores to do before check out on top of that fee. Lol
Charge Ya Momma
These reminders seem perfectly reasonable...turn off the lights, don't leave trash out in the open, what's wrong with that? Even the cleaning fee is not crazy. But the reason I'd never choose this place is because of their $205 service fee. $205 for what? To use an app? I'd choose a hotel instead.
Will Never Use Airbnb Or Vrbo Again. These Fees Are Insane!
My First Airbnb Bill. I Booked This In February. The Website Says Nothing About Cleaning Or Service Fees Which Raises The Price 30%. Should Have Stayed In A Hotel
Airbnb Is Refusing To Give Refund After Host Demands $250 Extra Before Arrival, Not Mentioned In Original Posting
Fees On Airbnb
Airbnb Advertised As $20/Night - With Over $100 Of Additional Fees
Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
There is now no use for AirBnB, it killed itself. When you cost more than a 5star hotel, and as a guest, you are expected to provide services to the owner, the idea that you are a "cheap alternative" to hotels just becomes a sick joke.
Also, and hear me out Steve, someone could be actually living in that house.
Load More Replies... I tried to stay at an Airbnb in Cruz Bay Saint John’s virgin island and the woman refused to give me the address in advance so I could look up how to get there or anything. I asked for it a few times she ignored me, and so I spent most of my first day there, waiting for her to get home from New York (where she told me she was at instead of on the island where she was renting a room to somebody )in a restaurant while my phone charged because she couldn’t be bothered to contact me before my trip. All I wanted to do was drop a couple bags off so I could go to the beach. She told me I should take them with me to the Beach. then when I got a message from her that night saying that they were ready for me to come over and could give me directions I informed them that I already found a place to stay. They still charged me the 2 nights I had booked and a CLEAING FEE for place Id never been!!! She wasted The better part of one out of two days that I was expected to be there. Thanks, Allie. Oh, also left me a bad review because she said I had Contacted her too many times trying to get the address before my trip , Didn’t see the necessity or want to give it to me before their 2 o’clock check in -not even considering that I had luggage it was 100° and she lives on the top of the hill -I think- I never did get the address
I used Airbnb a good number of times and have liked it less and less as time has gone by. I have a future trip booked at a very nice hotel for what Airbnb hosts wanted. Aside from perhaps a group trip where a multi-bedroom house is in order I think I'm done with the Airbnb experiment.
Whenever we used to stay at Bnbs, we would always leave a handwritten note in a relatively clean room (at most, a piece of trash in the can) to express our thanks. Now we're afraid it'll be considered litter and charged to our account.
This why people should go back to real B&Bs. The room rate is what they say it is + tax and you get an awesome breakfast. Most cost less than local hotels
I really don't understand how people have the audacity to ask for a cleaning fee, a massive one at that, AND demand that you clean AND it's on top of a pricy nightly charge. Hotels are better, when people choose to stay at an Airbnb they're doing that person a favour. Helping them make a little extra cash. Yet they act like it's a privilege to stay at their badly decorated, tiny 1 bed apartment. Makes me so mad.
Fair and clear pricing should be automatic - there is such a thing as the cost of doing business - ie cleaning your home for your guests, and assuming all taxes. Added to that, the hosts can remove bad ratings, so you never really get the truth about these places. AirBnB is self-destructing and thank goodness for that. Bring back true bed and breakfasts.
Your statement about removing negative ratings is patently false.
Load More Replies... That’s really a US thing because prices are displayed without any tax, service or whatever additional fee and you end up paying 3x the advertised price. No such thing in the EU or in Asia. Then it’s just a matter of price breakdown and it’s not different from a hotel. When you’re paying your hotel room bill, 10-20% goes to tax, 10-20% goes to the booking platform, 30-40% goes to labor costs for cleaning/maintaining the room and the remaining for the hotel. If your bill is 200 the actual price of the room itself is roughly 75. Somehow not knowing this makes it more acceptable.
Why don't people just stop using these? Hotels motels bed and breakfast spots were fine for eons! And minimal hidden fees - they do this because they can- it's obscene!!!
This summer we went in a lot of Airbnbs and never had a problem like this... but maybe in Canada things are different? Or maybe we were just lucky.
I’m guessing this is just the US? I’ve stayed in Airbnbs around the world and never had a problem.
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Always hated airbnb. Destroyed the housing market and it is not cheaper, than a hotel. Also in my city usually bachelor/bacherolette parties book airbnbs ....and with no supervisors the guests go insane. A hotel would throw them out but an airbnb host is not gonna do anything.
I'd rather take the money and stay in a good hotel. At least that way I don't have to clean the damn place on my own.
I'm seeing a lot lately about the hidden fees. Are these fees not specified before you finalize the booking?
You see them at checkout so before you actually book but after spending a lot of time picking out the property. So in an area that has hundreds of rentals at what you think is your price range you can spend ages going through the process over and over because final prices are 2-3x what the initial per night says
Load More Replies... As others have stated, a nice hotel offers you services, cleans your room and changes the bed linens, at no additional costs! Why in God's name would someone chose to stay at an Airbnb?? They are getting richer by charging these outrageous cleaning fees while demanding you do all the cleaning, before you leave! How does this make any sense at all?? ;(
Last time I stayed in a regular B’n’B they stripped the beds after I left, they cleaned and didn’t charge me and they cooked my breakfast, AirBNB don’t do that! I’ve used AirBNB in the U.K. and it’s been a simple and transparent thing, if they start using these tactics here it’ll be all over for me. The cleaner is paid by the owner, they get the privilege of tipping the cleaner if they wish to. As for cleaning, we used a holiday home for a week in Wales and left the place as we would wish to find it, that’s the polite way to work, we may want to return at some point and I’d like to think our host would be happy to have us back, having said that, if I get a list of demands then I’m out. This is a holiday let not a shared property.
Is this just in the US? I stay in Airbnbs in Asia, Australia and Europe and have never, ever had a bad experience. Hundreds of nights, no problem except one place the TV wasn’t working, which wasn’t an issue as I watch on my laptop anyway. I hope this trend doesn’t travel, I love the apartment experience and the space and freedom it offers over and above a hotel room.
I think the main issue is that the fees are not included in the initial price. If they were, market forces would lower them or at least make it so comparison shopping would be apples and apples. My nephew booked one last year, they canceled on him and still charged him, including a canceled charge. I had told him to get an hotel, but he didn't listen and paid for it. Eventually he had to go to a hotel, where the final price was less than what the failed BnB charged. Now, it's possible he could have screwed up something, young, stupid and bad english, but I did see with my own eyes that the host canceled his booking while still charging for it. That's unacceptable. Considering the damage Air BnB is doing to the housing market, I am happy to see it fail.
I had been taking the checkout to-do list + cleaning fee in stride for the first few years I used Airbnb, especially at the beginning when it was more of a house swap situation where hosts actually lived at the house when guests weren't there. But my last experience at an Airbnb put me over the edge. When we arrived, the dishwasher was absolutely heaped with wet dishes that had been left there for who knows how long, so we had to load it properly and run it again. The counters were dirty with crumbs, and the cleanliness of the toilets was not up to standard. So we had to clean when we arrived and when we left. After complaining, they did refund the cleaning fee, at least. Also, they charged $1 per bottle of water you removed from the fridge, which struck us as greedy, and by the way, there were mice in my bedroom!
Why would anyone even bother with Airbnb, now that they cost more than a 5 star hotel, and they expect you to do a bunch of chores.
I have had only good experiences with AirBnB. However, I carefully vet venues before booking them. I have stayed at one in Asheville several times and always gotten a good deal. Maybe what AirBnB needs is reform and better regulation.
I wonder if anyone actually stays at these AirBNBs? Their individual ratings must plummet after those sort of experiences. I haven't used AirBNB much but the ones I've been haven't been like this.
I have never understood the appeal of Airbnb. Many synopsis I’ve read could basically be defined as paying for the privilege of housesitting for somebody, when I could stay at a hotel for the same price or less.
Two friends and I stayed at an Airbnb for ten nights, and while we left the place immaculate, there was still a cleaning fee charged (we paid right up front, before we ever checked in). We had to go find things to do because we arrived in the city four hours before our scheduled check-in time, or we'd have had to p$75 per hour of early check-in, or a total of $300 more. We all said "never again," and we'll just get our own separate hotel rooms this year when we go to the same event this fall. I'll never voluntarily stay in an airbnb again, not with all the work we had to do before we left just to make sure there'd be no extra charges.
For comparison I pay $180 to get my house cleaned and they spend about 4 hours cleaning. My place is bigger than any Airbnb I've stayed in (around 2400sf) and I only get it cleaned once a month. Who are they hiring that charges so much to clean a place every 2 or 3 days?
I stayed in some airbnbs in Panama, and they were all great and very affordable and friendly ( we lived in rooms at people's houses or guest houses people had on their own property on the country side, so it wasn't keeping living space away from locals by that).
Story time: My partner rented out her port st Lucie home as an airbnb while abroad. 'family of 4' rented it for a long weekend to visit relatives. nothing unusual with that though we preferred the longer rentals for less hassle for everyone. all paid up - can’t remember the numbers exactly but it was about $100 a night, cleaning was $150 because that's what the cleaner charges us who does all the laundry as well. $500 refundable damage deposit and tax (that you have no say over). So, after manager had left on the Friday, (we find out later from neighbours) 4 cars turn up with at least 12 (probably 16) people in - 3 big dogs (we had a fenced in yard) and a few children. they proceed to have a full-on house party over the weekend and run on the Monday before checkout (manager would usually walk-through house with guest).
EVERY room was ruined, soda over every floor, food and sauce rubbed up the walls, every bit of linen/towels used, they had a f******g barbecue IN the garage, sofa torn and stained, dog waste left everywhere, cigarette holes in one mattress (non-smoking house), one bed frame collapsed. Sink broken, TV broken PlayStation controller and game stolen. That is why Airbnb hosts charge so much, you can’t subsequently charge more because some a******e has trashed your place, reporting them does nothing to recoup your losses and the offender just opens a new account and repeats the process. It been ruined for everyone.
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I do Airbnb and these people are taking the biscuit. Some people have no scruples at all and are ruining the Airbnb platform.
One of this cases where I am really happy about EU laws. This would not happen here, you always see the full price for a night before even clicking something.
Actually, it's the same, just checked out of curiosity. You can only see the fees when you click on "reserve" (and hope that's not the final step because it's not always clear).
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Found a "glamping" site on AirBnB. It was a campsite IN Joshua Tree National Park. $100 over what the park charges for a camping site ($20 a night from NPS) in a site that has no running water, no electricity, no flushing toilets (pit toilets are available for the campground) BUT - you get a tent (no flooring, just the dirt) a mattress on a metal frame with bedding, and an empty cooler. I reported it to a friend who was a ranger out there - it's totally illegal!! However, no cleaning fees...
Think this says more about how disrespectful Americans are of other people's property. Have used AirBnB for years and have never been asked for a deposit or a service charge.
Absolutely agree. We stayed 3 nights in Germany, 120 euro cleaning fee, then list of cleaning required included sweep and mop all floors, wipe down all surfaces, clean out all kitchen cupboards, strip all beds and load washer etc. Never again. We always clean up after ourselves but I'm not cleaning the house for you so you can pocket the €120 .
My family has rents AirBnB's in Canada, and as one of the three cleaners in our small family business, I'd say that asking guests to turn off the lights, return the keys, take out the trash, and strip the beds and wash their own dishes is reasonable. Especially in cases where there are gaps between bookings, and things start to smell. We don't charge a cleaning fee, and although AirBnB itself charges a small service fee, we try and keep those "hidden costs" to a minimum. We love getting notes from guests, and rarely have to request money for damages (Maybe 10 times in our 23 years of business) . It's terrible how so many people have jumped to AirBnB to make a quick buck, and are making people who are trying to make an honest living look bad, as they are all clumped together as "Greedy AirBnB hosts". Ah well.
We use AirBnB because with our crew most hotels will only book us if we get two rooms. Also we usually take our old dog with us. Our kids are loud, and for some reason hotels in particular give them a case of the shouty-jumpies. AirBnB rentals can accommodate everybody and we don't have to share space or worry about waking up neighbors. Plus we usually end spending more time in the house than out and about. All the places we have stayed at have been great. Owners are more varied. Most give us good reviews, a few are very nitpicky. The fees are a pain in the a*s though. Most one or two day stays just would not be worth it.
I kinda got bored just reading receipts but I love the cover pic lol
From all the above comments am I to infer that the customer experience of US-based AirBnBs is bad? We have stayed in AirBnBs in several cities in Europe in 2018 and 2019 and our experience has always been excellent.
By and large, it seems that customers' experience in US-based AirBnB is bad. How's the experience in Europe? We have stayed in AirBnBs in several cities of Europe in 2018 and 2019 and our experience has been very good.
This is a dumb question but... Where does this "cleaning fee" go?
Why would anyone want to stay in an AirBNB, I hope that the greedy ones go out of business. Some of them are so greedy it's sickening
My first and only experience with AirBNB was this last summer in the Boston area. The house wasn't very clean when we got there, we ended up throwing out a lot of spoiled food from the fridge, along with running the vacuum cleaner. We had to strip the beds and throw the sheets along with any towels into the wash before we left and the "cleaning" lady was supposed to fold them. We had to fold the wash that was left in the dryer after the last guests because their "not so clean" cleaning lady didn't do her job. I will stick with hotels from now on.
The cleaning fees are insane! Sure, you'll get some chancers who leave a big mess but even then up to $250 to clean?! What's the minimum wage for cleaners in the US because if it's not over a hundred dollars an hour - and of course it isn't - this is nothing less than a scam. For most of those prices people could have stayed in a pretty fancy hotel with breakfast included and still had money left to buy some fine meals. The greed is strong in these people.
Ah, AirBNB. People who want to be paid to do no work whatsoever, then act entitled when their little fiefdoms begin to crumble. We love to see it.
Hotels should benefit greatly. Sure, it's nice to have a refrigerator and kitchen to save on the cost of eating out, but if you are paying that much for Airbnb, you will save money by staying in a hotel and can afford to eat out..... and you won't have to cook or clean up.
Until AirBNB fixes this, I just stay at hotels. I don't have to clean nothing and no extra hidden fees. I used them for years, but won't even look at what is listed anymore
And those who rent out properties to Air BnB are crying no one will rent their units while they charge ridiculous fee's and lower available housing inventory. I guess some landlords catch greed fever of all the money they think they will make, without looking the rates of a hotel or for sure money if they leased it out. I'm also sure the "cleaning fee" is just them coming in afterwards to make sure you cleaned the place.
I read an article recently about Airbnb "cracking down" on the extra fees. The amazing thing is that they insisted that most rentals aren't actually price-gouging with the extra fees and will let most if not all the fees stay, but they'll be cracking down on the cleaning renters will have to do before they leave a rental. They're not addressing the real problem...outrageous fees that more often that not will go to the people renting the places. IDK why they think $200-$400 is reasonable for cleaning when renters stay a day or two. They seriously think these people are hiring staff to clean their properties? No...they're doing the cleaning themselves and pocketing the money. Greed at it's "finest" I've never done the Airbnb thing and I never will
It takes a lot to make my old motorhome look like a good investment, but this did it
The fees are outrageous but can I jsut say: If someone would calculate realistically, charge a proper rent adn regular cleaning fee, noone would even look at it because people want teh cheapest price. Also: Yes, hotel rooms are cheaper but it's a room, not a whole appartment. I do hate AirBnB, especially in cities, but I feel these fees are the result of everybody always shopping for the cheapest option.
You stated that cleaning fees are an extra charge pocketed by the host. That is a false statement. Cleaners spend hours doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms and cleaning floors. They charge for their service. Why don’t you complain about Airbnb service fees. Those fees are pocketed by Airbnb and can really add up if you spend several hundred dollars a night. My advice is if you don’t like it then go somewhere else. Cleaning is not free as you state. Maybe someone does it for you for free but it’s actually a great deal of work. Service fees are for nothing.
People need to understand that the "service fee" goes to Airbnb. That's what you pay them to use their platform. Occupancy taxes go to the local municipality based on their ordinances. There was a big push nationwide to basically force short-term rentals to pay a hotel tax. The nightly price and cleaning fee are the only things controlled by the host, and the cleaning should be done the same whether or is a 1 night or 5 night stay. Do you want a subpar cleaning done if the person before you only stayed one night? There are definitely large, commercial investors who host on Airbnb. But for smaller hosts, they are literally welcoming you into their home. If you don't like being asked to clean up after yourself and not leave a huge mess, then please absolutely go stay in a hotel and be dirty there. When you are in someone's home, you should respect it. The entitlement here reaks.
I go to hotels not be be dirty, but to support a business that's transparent, creates more jobs and doesn't ruin the local rental market. And it's a growing trend, so good luck with your rant.
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Media always has stupid coverage of Airbnb. If you want a single room for one night, a hotel is going to be better. Hotels have economies of scale that an owner of a single family home can't compete with. I host a 4 bedroom home with a private pool, fire pit, laudery room, full kitchen, and grill. You can't get those things at a hotel and it's much more comfortable for a large family or group to stay at than a hotel would be. It also is MUCH cheaper per night per person than getting a bunch of small rooms at a hotel. My cleaners charge me $140 to clean the house and set everything up for the next guests plus I have to pay for snacks, charcoal, hand+dish soap, dish+laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, a bundle of wood, etc. There is a set cost per stay to turn things over. I can't just build that into a nightly rate, because a bunch of 1-night stays cost me more than a long stay. Its definitely fair. If someone finds a better deal, stay there!
There is now no use for AirBnB, it killed itself. When you cost more than a 5star hotel, and as a guest, you are expected to provide services to the owner, the idea that you are a "cheap alternative" to hotels just becomes a sick joke.
Also, and hear me out Steve, someone could be actually living in that house.
Load More Replies... I tried to stay at an Airbnb in Cruz Bay Saint John’s virgin island and the woman refused to give me the address in advance so I could look up how to get there or anything. I asked for it a few times she ignored me, and so I spent most of my first day there, waiting for her to get home from New York (where she told me she was at instead of on the island where she was renting a room to somebody )in a restaurant while my phone charged because she couldn’t be bothered to contact me before my trip. All I wanted to do was drop a couple bags off so I could go to the beach. She told me I should take them with me to the Beach. then when I got a message from her that night saying that they were ready for me to come over and could give me directions I informed them that I already found a place to stay. They still charged me the 2 nights I had booked and a CLEAING FEE for place Id never been!!! She wasted The better part of one out of two days that I was expected to be there. Thanks, Allie. Oh, also left me a bad review because she said I had Contacted her too many times trying to get the address before my trip , Didn’t see the necessity or want to give it to me before their 2 o’clock check in -not even considering that I had luggage it was 100° and she lives on the top of the hill -I think- I never did get the address
I used Airbnb a good number of times and have liked it less and less as time has gone by. I have a future trip booked at a very nice hotel for what Airbnb hosts wanted. Aside from perhaps a group trip where a multi-bedroom house is in order I think I'm done with the Airbnb experiment.
Whenever we used to stay at Bnbs, we would always leave a handwritten note in a relatively clean room (at most, a piece of trash in the can) to express our thanks. Now we're afraid it'll be considered litter and charged to our account.
This why people should go back to real B&Bs. The room rate is what they say it is + tax and you get an awesome breakfast. Most cost less than local hotels
I really don't understand how people have the audacity to ask for a cleaning fee, a massive one at that, AND demand that you clean AND it's on top of a pricy nightly charge. Hotels are better, when people choose to stay at an Airbnb they're doing that person a favour. Helping them make a little extra cash. Yet they act like it's a privilege to stay at their badly decorated, tiny 1 bed apartment. Makes me so mad.
Fair and clear pricing should be automatic - there is such a thing as the cost of doing business - ie cleaning your home for your guests, and assuming all taxes. Added to that, the hosts can remove bad ratings, so you never really get the truth about these places. AirBnB is self-destructing and thank goodness for that. Bring back true bed and breakfasts.
Your statement about removing negative ratings is patently false.
Load More Replies... That’s really a US thing because prices are displayed without any tax, service or whatever additional fee and you end up paying 3x the advertised price. No such thing in the EU or in Asia. Then it’s just a matter of price breakdown and it’s not different from a hotel. When you’re paying your hotel room bill, 10-20% goes to tax, 10-20% goes to the booking platform, 30-40% goes to labor costs for cleaning/maintaining the room and the remaining for the hotel. If your bill is 200 the actual price of the room itself is roughly 75. Somehow not knowing this makes it more acceptable.
Why don't people just stop using these? Hotels motels bed and breakfast spots were fine for eons! And minimal hidden fees - they do this because they can- it's obscene!!!
This summer we went in a lot of Airbnbs and never had a problem like this... but maybe in Canada things are different? Or maybe we were just lucky.
I’m guessing this is just the US? I’ve stayed in Airbnbs around the world and never had a problem.
Load More Replies... Always hated airbnb. Destroyed the housing market and it is not cheaper, than a hotel. Also in my city usually bachelor/bacherolette parties book airbnbs ....and with no supervisors the guests go insane. A hotel would throw them out but an airbnb host is not gonna do anything.
I'd rather take the money and stay in a good hotel. At least that way I don't have to clean the damn place on my own.
I'm seeing a lot lately about the hidden fees. Are these fees not specified before you finalize the booking?
You see them at checkout so before you actually book but after spending a lot of time picking out the property. So in an area that has hundreds of rentals at what you think is your price range you can spend ages going through the process over and over because final prices are 2-3x what the initial per night says
Load More Replies... As others have stated, a nice hotel offers you services, cleans your room and changes the bed linens, at no additional costs! Why in God's name would someone chose to stay at an Airbnb?? They are getting richer by charging these outrageous cleaning fees while demanding you do all the cleaning, before you leave! How does this make any sense at all?? ;(
Last time I stayed in a regular B’n’B they stripped the beds after I left, they cleaned and didn’t charge me and they cooked my breakfast, AirBNB don’t do that! I’ve used AirBNB in the U.K. and it’s been a simple and transparent thing, if they start using these tactics here it’ll be all over for me. The cleaner is paid by the owner, they get the privilege of tipping the cleaner if they wish to. As for cleaning, we used a holiday home for a week in Wales and left the place as we would wish to find it, that’s the polite way to work, we may want to return at some point and I’d like to think our host would be happy to have us back, having said that, if I get a list of demands then I’m out. This is a holiday let not a shared property.
Is this just in the US? I stay in Airbnbs in Asia, Australia and Europe and have never, ever had a bad experience. Hundreds of nights, no problem except one place the TV wasn’t working, which wasn’t an issue as I watch on my laptop anyway. I hope this trend doesn’t travel, I love the apartment experience and the space and freedom it offers over and above a hotel room.
I think the main issue is that the fees are not included in the initial price. If they were, market forces would lower them or at least make it so comparison shopping would be apples and apples. My nephew booked one last year, they canceled on him and still charged him, including a canceled charge. I had told him to get an hotel, but he didn't listen and paid for it. Eventually he had to go to a hotel, where the final price was less than what the failed BnB charged. Now, it's possible he could have screwed up something, young, stupid and bad english, but I did see with my own eyes that the host canceled his booking while still charging for it. That's unacceptable. Considering the damage Air BnB is doing to the housing market, I am happy to see it fail.
I had been taking the checkout to-do list + cleaning fee in stride for the first few years I used Airbnb, especially at the beginning when it was more of a house swap situation where hosts actually lived at the house when guests weren't there. But my last experience at an Airbnb put me over the edge. When we arrived, the dishwasher was absolutely heaped with wet dishes that had been left there for who knows how long, so we had to load it properly and run it again. The counters were dirty with crumbs, and the cleanliness of the toilets was not up to standard. So we had to clean when we arrived and when we left. After complaining, they did refund the cleaning fee, at least. Also, they charged $1 per bottle of water you removed from the fridge, which struck us as greedy, and by the way, there were mice in my bedroom!
Why would anyone even bother with Airbnb, now that they cost more than a 5 star hotel, and they expect you to do a bunch of chores.
I have had only good experiences with AirBnB. However, I carefully vet venues before booking them. I have stayed at one in Asheville several times and always gotten a good deal. Maybe what AirBnB needs is reform and better regulation.
I wonder if anyone actually stays at these AirBNBs? Their individual ratings must plummet after those sort of experiences. I haven't used AirBNB much but the ones I've been haven't been like this.
I have never understood the appeal of Airbnb. Many synopsis I’ve read could basically be defined as paying for the privilege of housesitting for somebody, when I could stay at a hotel for the same price or less.
Two friends and I stayed at an Airbnb for ten nights, and while we left the place immaculate, there was still a cleaning fee charged (we paid right up front, before we ever checked in). We had to go find things to do because we arrived in the city four hours before our scheduled check-in time, or we'd have had to p$75 per hour of early check-in, or a total of $300 more. We all said "never again," and we'll just get our own separate hotel rooms this year when we go to the same event this fall. I'll never voluntarily stay in an airbnb again, not with all the work we had to do before we left just to make sure there'd be no extra charges.
For comparison I pay $180 to get my house cleaned and they spend about 4 hours cleaning. My place is bigger than any Airbnb I've stayed in (around 2400sf) and I only get it cleaned once a month. Who are they hiring that charges so much to clean a place every 2 or 3 days?
I stayed in some airbnbs in Panama, and they were all great and very affordable and friendly ( we lived in rooms at people's houses or guest houses people had on their own property on the country side, so it wasn't keeping living space away from locals by that).
Story time: My partner rented out her port st Lucie home as an airbnb while abroad. 'family of 4' rented it for a long weekend to visit relatives. nothing unusual with that though we preferred the longer rentals for less hassle for everyone. all paid up - can’t remember the numbers exactly but it was about $100 a night, cleaning was $150 because that's what the cleaner charges us who does all the laundry as well. $500 refundable damage deposit and tax (that you have no say over). So, after manager had left on the Friday, (we find out later from neighbours) 4 cars turn up with at least 12 (probably 16) people in - 3 big dogs (we had a fenced in yard) and a few children. they proceed to have a full-on house party over the weekend and run on the Monday before checkout (manager would usually walk-through house with guest).
EVERY room was ruined, soda over every floor, food and sauce rubbed up the walls, every bit of linen/towels used, they had a f******g barbecue IN the garage, sofa torn and stained, dog waste left everywhere, cigarette holes in one mattress (non-smoking house), one bed frame collapsed. Sink broken, TV broken PlayStation controller and game stolen. That is why Airbnb hosts charge so much, you can’t subsequently charge more because some a******e has trashed your place, reporting them does nothing to recoup your losses and the offender just opens a new account and repeats the process. It been ruined for everyone.
Load More Replies... I do Airbnb and these people are taking the biscuit. Some people have no scruples at all and are ruining the Airbnb platform.
One of this cases where I am really happy about EU laws. This would not happen here, you always see the full price for a night before even clicking something.
Actually, it's the same, just checked out of curiosity. You can only see the fees when you click on "reserve" (and hope that's not the final step because it's not always clear).
Load More Replies... Found a "glamping" site on AirBnB. It was a campsite IN Joshua Tree National Park. $100 over what the park charges for a camping site ($20 a night from NPS) in a site that has no running water, no electricity, no flushing toilets (pit toilets are available for the campground) BUT - you get a tent (no flooring, just the dirt) a mattress on a metal frame with bedding, and an empty cooler. I reported it to a friend who was a ranger out there - it's totally illegal!! However, no cleaning fees...
Think this says more about how disrespectful Americans are of other people's property. Have used AirBnB for years and have never been asked for a deposit or a service charge.
Absolutely agree. We stayed 3 nights in Germany, 120 euro cleaning fee, then list of cleaning required included sweep and mop all floors, wipe down all surfaces, clean out all kitchen cupboards, strip all beds and load washer etc. Never again. We always clean up after ourselves but I'm not cleaning the house for you so you can pocket the €120 .
My family has rents AirBnB's in Canada, and as one of the three cleaners in our small family business, I'd say that asking guests to turn off the lights, return the keys, take out the trash, and strip the beds and wash their own dishes is reasonable. Especially in cases where there are gaps between bookings, and things start to smell. We don't charge a cleaning fee, and although AirBnB itself charges a small service fee, we try and keep those "hidden costs" to a minimum. We love getting notes from guests, and rarely have to request money for damages (Maybe 10 times in our 23 years of business) . It's terrible how so many people have jumped to AirBnB to make a quick buck, and are making people who are trying to make an honest living look bad, as they are all clumped together as "Greedy AirBnB hosts". Ah well.
We use AirBnB because with our crew most hotels will only book us if we get two rooms. Also we usually take our old dog with us. Our kids are loud, and for some reason hotels in particular give them a case of the shouty-jumpies. AirBnB rentals can accommodate everybody and we don't have to share space or worry about waking up neighbors. Plus we usually end spending more time in the house than out and about. All the places we have stayed at have been great. Owners are more varied. Most give us good reviews, a few are very nitpicky. The fees are a pain in the a*s though. Most one or two day stays just would not be worth it.
I kinda got bored just reading receipts but I love the cover pic lol
From all the above comments am I to infer that the customer experience of US-based AirBnBs is bad? We have stayed in AirBnBs in several cities in Europe in 2018 and 2019 and our experience has always been excellent.
By and large, it seems that customers' experience in US-based AirBnB is bad. How's the experience in Europe? We have stayed in AirBnBs in several cities of Europe in 2018 and 2019 and our experience has been very good.
This is a dumb question but... Where does this "cleaning fee" go?
Why would anyone want to stay in an AirBNB, I hope that the greedy ones go out of business. Some of them are so greedy it's sickening
My first and only experience with AirBNB was this last summer in the Boston area. The house wasn't very clean when we got there, we ended up throwing out a lot of spoiled food from the fridge, along with running the vacuum cleaner. We had to strip the beds and throw the sheets along with any towels into the wash before we left and the "cleaning" lady was supposed to fold them. We had to fold the wash that was left in the dryer after the last guests because their "not so clean" cleaning lady didn't do her job. I will stick with hotels from now on.
The cleaning fees are insane! Sure, you'll get some chancers who leave a big mess but even then up to $250 to clean?! What's the minimum wage for cleaners in the US because if it's not over a hundred dollars an hour - and of course it isn't - this is nothing less than a scam. For most of those prices people could have stayed in a pretty fancy hotel with breakfast included and still had money left to buy some fine meals. The greed is strong in these people.
Ah, AirBNB. People who want to be paid to do no work whatsoever, then act entitled when their little fiefdoms begin to crumble. We love to see it.
Hotels should benefit greatly. Sure, it's nice to have a refrigerator and kitchen to save on the cost of eating out, but if you are paying that much for Airbnb, you will save money by staying in a hotel and can afford to eat out..... and you won't have to cook or clean up.
Until AirBNB fixes this, I just stay at hotels. I don't have to clean nothing and no extra hidden fees. I used them for years, but won't even look at what is listed anymore
And those who rent out properties to Air BnB are crying no one will rent their units while they charge ridiculous fee's and lower available housing inventory. I guess some landlords catch greed fever of all the money they think they will make, without looking the rates of a hotel or for sure money if they leased it out. I'm also sure the "cleaning fee" is just them coming in afterwards to make sure you cleaned the place.
I read an article recently about Airbnb "cracking down" on the extra fees. The amazing thing is that they insisted that most rentals aren't actually price-gouging with the extra fees and will let most if not all the fees stay, but they'll be cracking down on the cleaning renters will have to do before they leave a rental. They're not addressing the real problem...outrageous fees that more often that not will go to the people renting the places. IDK why they think $200-$400 is reasonable for cleaning when renters stay a day or two. They seriously think these people are hiring staff to clean their properties? No...they're doing the cleaning themselves and pocketing the money. Greed at it's "finest" I've never done the Airbnb thing and I never will
It takes a lot to make my old motorhome look like a good investment, but this did it
The fees are outrageous but can I jsut say: If someone would calculate realistically, charge a proper rent adn regular cleaning fee, noone would even look at it because people want teh cheapest price. Also: Yes, hotel rooms are cheaper but it's a room, not a whole appartment. I do hate AirBnB, especially in cities, but I feel these fees are the result of everybody always shopping for the cheapest option.
You stated that cleaning fees are an extra charge pocketed by the host. That is a false statement. Cleaners spend hours doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms and cleaning floors. They charge for their service. Why don’t you complain about Airbnb service fees. Those fees are pocketed by Airbnb and can really add up if you spend several hundred dollars a night. My advice is if you don’t like it then go somewhere else. Cleaning is not free as you state. Maybe someone does it for you for free but it’s actually a great deal of work. Service fees are for nothing.
People need to understand that the "service fee" goes to Airbnb. That's what you pay them to use their platform. Occupancy taxes go to the local municipality based on their ordinances. There was a big push nationwide to basically force short-term rentals to pay a hotel tax. The nightly price and cleaning fee are the only things controlled by the host, and the cleaning should be done the same whether or is a 1 night or 5 night stay. Do you want a subpar cleaning done if the person before you only stayed one night? There are definitely large, commercial investors who host on Airbnb. But for smaller hosts, they are literally welcoming you into their home. If you don't like being asked to clean up after yourself and not leave a huge mess, then please absolutely go stay in a hotel and be dirty there. When you are in someone's home, you should respect it. The entitlement here reaks.
I go to hotels not be be dirty, but to support a business that's transparent, creates more jobs and doesn't ruin the local rental market. And it's a growing trend, so good luck with your rant.
Load More Replies... Media always has stupid coverage of Airbnb. If you want a single room for one night, a hotel is going to be better. Hotels have economies of scale that an owner of a single family home can't compete with. I host a 4 bedroom home with a private pool, fire pit, laudery room, full kitchen, and grill. You can't get those things at a hotel and it's much more comfortable for a large family or group to stay at than a hotel would be. It also is MUCH cheaper per night per person than getting a bunch of small rooms at a hotel. My cleaners charge me $140 to clean the house and set everything up for the next guests plus I have to pay for snacks, charcoal, hand+dish soap, dish+laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, a bundle of wood, etc. There is a set cost per stay to turn things over. I can't just build that into a nightly rate, because a bunch of 1-night stays cost me more than a long stay. Its definitely fair. If someone finds a better deal, stay there!
