“Why I’m Never Using Airbnb Ever Again”: TikToker Goes Viral After Explaining How The Company Ruined Her Trip To France
InterviewYour safety is no joke when you’re traveling anywhere, whether you’re heading to the next town over for some sightseeing or going on a massive continent-hopping vacation with your family. Obviously, when you pay for your lodgings, you want them to be clean and comfortable so you can relax. The last thing you want to do is to worry about safety because of some glaring issues that nobody mentioned when you booked the place.
UK-based TikToker Emma Watkins, aka _emma_watkins, shared her horrible experience renting out a place via Airbnb while she was holidaying in Southern France with her mom earlier this year. What started out as a headache quickly turned into a nightmare.
In a series of videos, Emma detailed exactly what happened when they got to the apartment, how they tried to solve the issue, and how the Airbnb reps reacted to the entire situation. The TikToker claims that Airbnb left her and her mother stranded in France. Internet users were pretty divided by what they thought about everything.
Scroll down for the full story, Pandas, and let us know in the comments what your experience booking on Airbnb has been like, and how you make sure you’re safe while traveling. Meanwhile, make sure to check out Bored Panda’s interview with Emma herself. She was kind enough to answer our questions.
Traveling abroad is stressful enough as it is. The last thing that you want weighing on your mind is accommodation
Image credits: Ryan KLAUS (not the actual photo)
TikToker Emma, from the UK, went viral after she shared a horrible experience with Airbnb while on holiday in France with her mom
Image credits: _emma_watkins
She said that after what happened, she doesn’t plan on using Airbnb ever again. Her videos were a way to warn others
Image credits: Czapp Árpád (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Ryan KLAUS (not the actual photo)
Here’s Emma’s first viral TikTok about her experience with Airbnb abroad
@_emma_watkins For anyone thinking of using AirBnB in the future, don’t x #fyp #airbnb #airbnbexperience ♬ original sound – emmaa.watkins14
Image credits: Paul Hanaoka (not the actual photo)
Image credits: _emma_watkins
She continued the story in a second video
@_emma_watkins Part 2!! #fypシ #airbnb #airbnbexperience ♬ original sound – emmaa.watkins14
Image credits: cottonbro (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Wikimedia
Image credits: _emma_watkins
And here’s part 3 that wraps the story up
@_emma_watkins Part 3 im so sorry to be that gal xx #fyp #airbnb #airbnbexperience ♬ original sound – emmaa.watkins14
TikToker Emma told Bored Panda that there’s been a “mix of reactions” to her videos about Airbnb. She noted that a lot of people said that they’d have done the exact same thing in her position. However, “there’s also been a lot of people saying it was an overreaction.”
“I suppose it’s to each their own when it comes to accommodation, but for me I’d expect a certain level of safety especially when you pay that much for an apartment,” she stressed that there are certain expectations that come with a high price for rent.
“I’ve heard nothing more from Airbnb, but I suppose that wasn’t the point of making the video, it was just to raise awareness. I think that Airbnb should take more responsibility for ensure their hosts properties meet certain regulations, and their communication overall just needs to be much better, especially when a visitor has expressed they don’t feel safe,” she said.
“Airbnb should be ultimately accountable for both their hosts’ properties and their guests’ experiences.”
According to Emma, anyone using Airbnb in the future should always, always, always read the reviews. However, this might not weed out all the problems.
“I did, and the reviews were all positive! So I suppose if you’re booking with Airbnb, don’t rely on them to make amends if anything goes wrong,” she shared her opinion with Bored Panda.
Emma’s initial video got 1.3 million views while her follow-ups got an additional 170.2k and 136.7k each. Overall, the TikToker has 88.4k followers and has amassed 4.9 million views across all of her videos on the platform.
Her message was simple: she had such an awful experience with Airbnb that she no longer plans to use their services ever again. And she hoped the videos hoping to warn others about what might happen.
When she and her mom arrived in France, they got a tour of the apartment they booked from a representative of the host. Emma spotted a major security flaw, though: the balcony door didn’t just lock, it couldn’t close! Even though the apartment was on the second floor, it was right next to a busy street. She wasn’t going to be taking any chances.
When she tried to resolve the issue, getting in touch with the owner of the apartment and then Airbnb reps, she found that they weren’t as helpful as she would’ve liked. She claims that she and her mom were essentially left stranded abroad, without alternative accommodation, even though Airbnb had given them a coupon to allow them to book another place. Emma believes that Airbnb ignored her when she tried to follow-up and make sure that she’d be reimbursed for the price difference when booking other suitable accommodation.
She and her mom then decided to stay at a hotel while waiting for a proper response from Airbnb. Feeling that the entire vacation was utterly ruined by this whole experience, Emma and her mom decided to fly back home, to the UK, and paid massive prices when booking the new tickets. The TikToker felt like nobody really cared to help her and that everyone was passing along the responsibility from one person to another.
However, the responses to the videos weren’t as clear-cut as you’d think. Some people definitely had the same concerns as Emma did about safety: they’ve had people break in through the balcony. Again: safety is no joke. However, others pointed out that they’ve never had major problems with Airbnb. Still, others thought that Emma might want to consider legal action to get back at least some of the money she lost during the trip.
Airbnb states on their website that they score each reservation for risk before it’s confirmed. “We use predictive analytics and machine learning to instantly evaluate hundreds of signals that help us flag and investigate suspicious activity before it happens,” they explain.
“While no screening system is perfect, globally we run hosts and guests against regulatory, terrorist, and sanctions watchlists. For hosts and guests in the United States, we also conduct background checks.”
They continue: “We run safety workshops with hosts and leading local experts and encourage hosts to provide guests with important local information. We also give any host who wants one a free smoke and carbon monoxide detector for their home.” What’s more, Airbnb states that they do their best to secure payments, protect users’ accounts, and fight scams using their “multi-layer defense strategy.”
People had a variety of different reactions to the video. Here’s what some TikTok users thought
Other TikTokers shared their own similar Airbnb stories
Could have moved a piece of furniture in front of that balcony door or gotten a chain latch for it for the stay and just enjoyed the apt. But no. Let's make a stink over it and maybe hire a handyman to get repaid for. But no. Let's go to a shitty hotel an suffer through a massive company trying to figure s**t out for u over a door. On the second floor. Cuz Spider-Man might pop by. There are plenty of fixes I would have done in this instance to just enjoy the trip.
Your lack of compassion for someone traveling to a country they’ve never been to is astounding.
Load More Replies...My god what a pain in the a*s these people muste be. 2nd floor, in Nice, in a complex with a pool facing the sea. you are f*****g safe. wondering the street in the south of France in the summer, in a city like Nice is safe. Also, i really doubt that there's no outdoor blinds that can be shut. It's south of France, every building has blinds. open the windows and shut the blinds. Morrons. Or block the door with a stick or a chair. there were like a million solution but no. they decide to bother every person they could for a F** door that dosen't shut. and she's surprised nobody gives a s**t about her virtual fear.
I found it so odd that she was talking about feeling unsafe at night in France. It's Nice, not Compton. What did she think was going to happen?
Load More Replies...Why doesn’t she provide any pictures of the said door which does not close?!? Weird. I don’t know, she was vacationing in France and not in a jungle.
Personally, I would have gone out and purchased something- a bicycle chain and a screwdriver- and effing well made the doors secure. THEN I would have got on to management and tore them a new one. I would not have given up my ideal accommodation just because of that. The chances of someone entering uninvited are so slim - I would have risked it. Ps. I live in France half the year and rarely lock my car or doors. Only if I'm out for the day.
Load More Replies...Couldn’t chairs have sufficed for the night and a bike lock for the rest of the trip? She acted as if there was no door at all.
Airbnb used to be just that: Bed and Breakfast to make a bit of extra money. Now it's become a huge company with little to no experience in the hotel and hospitality business. The people working at Airbnb have no clue about the industry. Management doesn't care and are in it for the money. Even good reviews are bs. Lots of people are so called property-managers and don't even check the accommodation after the guests have left.
I feel like these stories are made just to get some likes. No proof, and a weird thing between "I don't feel safe" and "help us find another place... but with the same comforts." When you are really in danger and you want to feel safe, you do not think in trivialities.
This. I understand that the doors that won't close might make people uneasy, but sometimes you have to assess the risk and weigh in your options. We had similar problem in the Brugge AirBnb when our room key simply wouldn't turn/lock. It wasn't ideal, but we simply decided that taking the risk that Brugge is safe enough and we leave the room unlocked, taking all valuables with us (we did, nothing happened), is easier than the alternative in that situation, like this story we have here.
Load More Replies...of course they canceled the previous stay if u got the money back via a voucher...they didnt want u to use both, dooh
Exactly. Plus, she's whinning and whinning about how 'unsafe' it is and how she 'can't stay there' and then cries when the cancel it??? Stupid self-centered dumb idiots.
Load More Replies...If the door had closed and locked, they probably would have left it open all day and night anyway. Sleeping with a breeze and not giving it a second thought on their way to the beach. Some people are just impossible to please, complainers.
I've stayed with AirBnBs in England, Spain, Italy, and France. Never had a problem. If you're unsure about renting on AirBnB or Vrbo or any other such app: Check to see how long the place has been on the app. Check to see how many reviews there are and how far back they go. True - every place has to start some time. But if you're worried - try to rent from someone who's been on the app for a few years with reviews from more than a few people who all strangely post their reviews around the same time.
I've stayed all over the east coast USA and I LOVE airbnb. I've met so many cool people, including this sweet middle eastern family in New York, the little girl had been the victim of an acid attack (her face and upper body) and they were fleeing their country. Airbnb was hosting them for free in NYC. I've met the funniest elderly couple and just tons of wonderful people and hosts! These people on here blow my mind. If you wanna go stay in a soulless chain hotel and never truly experience anything, I kinda feel sorry for you. Looking at how long the listing has been up is a GREAT way to filter them, can confirm. You can also talk to the people first. I'm thinking folks just don't know how to do this right, I bet they order shrimp cocktail and steak at the strip club too
Load More Replies...Meh. Woman is an idiot. Whining about how it's getting dark,bits not safe whiny whiny whiny. All she and her mum had to do was go to a hotel, enjoy their evening and sort it out the next day. I have no sympathy for anyone who books an Airbnb.
This is why I book through private accomodation sites (such as for chalets etc) or stay in a hotel. Airbnb is a joke tbh. That said, there was no proof of this said door that wouldn't close, also, it probably would have been an easy and cheap quick diy fix. Yes, you shouldn't be the one to have to do it, I agree with that, but are you really going to have such a tantrum and give up what would otherwise be the perfect accomodation?
Maybe it’s just me, but that particular door being broken just smells bad. Either it had been broken into during a previous guest’s stay—-begging the question whether the guests locked themselves out and broke this lock to get back in, or it was a burglary attempt, or what—-or it was fixed to look “broken” so the foreigners could be robbed. Maybe it’s because I used to have a real estate license and handled vacation rentals for a living, but if I was the owner, I would’ve been so mortified, I would’ve had a locksmith dispatched to fix it before I even got off the phone with my guests. If I was an out of town owner, I would’ve also ripped the cleaners and inspector, regardless of whether they worked for AirBnB or me, a new one for not reporting, then having it fixed before the guests arrived! Some people just have no standards and no sense of shame.
I always use Booking.com. Only time I didn't was at a small ski resort in the Pyrenees where we ended up in a small brown room with a minuscule kitchen and army blankets on the bed. Asked for an upgrade but what we were shown was worse; nothing like the advertised photos. Airbnb just doesn't appeal to us at all.
I've had good experiences with Airbnb but the most unexplainable bad experience was during the pandemic. Had planned a trip in Portugal and Spain in January 2020 for August 2020. Booked a couple places in Portugal and Spain. Obviously once the pandemic hit I started canceling everything since I wouldn't be able to travel. Airbnb refused to refund my money for a place I booked in Spain because the owner refused to refund. Essentially, Airbnb said I canceled too early and it was up to the owner to decide whether I could get a refund. I couldn't travel to Spain if I wanted to. The Border was closed, how are you not refunding my money? They refused to do anything about it. Airbnb has the worst customer service
"So"..."so"......"so"......"so"... FML, this is hard to read with every 2nd sentence starting with "so".
traveling overseas you don't really know where it's safe and where it isn't. And second floor isn't high enough to stop people getting in - I used to live in LA and the night stalker serial killer was getting into upstairs apartments. But I would have tied the door shut and blocked it and nagged the owner to fix it. The threat of a very negative review to AirBNB should have motivated him enough.
What spoiled, ugly, self-entitled, extremely stupid little brats. Morons. Nothing was going to happen to ya on the 2nd floor, idiots. Put a chair in front of the door, and go to bed. Oh, wait, that would make too much sense - better create a HUGE problem, when there is no actual problem. Only a completely spoiled little brat would make a STUPID choice to FLY home and then expect OTHERS to compensate her for HER STUPID CHOICES. Idiots.
I stayed at an Airbnb once. It was in Beverly Hills CA. Rented a studio apartment for a week in an old building. Since the building was old, there were some quirks. For one, the hot water was shared with every unit. When I would take a shower, the water pressure would drop to a trickle and turn cold. I contacted the host, that explained the hot water heater is shared for the whole building. Enough said. I'm just changed my shower routine to when no one was likely to be using hot water and showered really quickly. Not a big deal to me. The savings of renting this over a quality hotel were a lot. I paid $125 a night for a week. Comparable hotels in the area were $250 to $345 a night. The apartment also had a full kitchen, so we cooked most of our meals, which saved us money. AirBnB has it's good and bad. For one, it takes housing of markets. But it also allows people with limited means access to travel accomodations
A bunch of people who’ve never traveled alone commenting about this woman is ridiculous. I work directly with ABB & they have plenty of resources to resolve this. The fact that you joke about her feeling unsafe shows a lot about your empty passport. If you’ve never been to France, don’t pretend like the movies tell the truth. Any new place is scary when you have no support.
People critisize her lack of common sense. you fear an intruder will come get you througt this door ? block it. simple. i also don't understand the resonning "facing a busy road is unsafe". It is safe, facing a discreet back alley isn't safe. She could have enjoy her stay but no. Decide to make a fuss over a door. Ask for a discount and that's it. Ps : 2 women "alone" in the street of Nice in the summer won't happen. they won't be alone there's a lot of people here during the summer and certainly countless women of all ages strolling in group or alone. And countless police officers
Load More Replies...A funny AirBnB story- Me and my mom stayed in an AirBnB on a farm. It was gorgeous and super cute. It even had a fireplace! We were settling in, and that was when the first wasp came. I started freaking out because I had a fear of wasps (since have gotten over it). My mom got him with a flyswatter and we continued unpacking. Three more started flying around, smack smack smack. We then realized how many wasps there were. So many flying around and landing on windows. They would go away during the night (thank god). The next few days the same stuff happened. So. Many. Wasps. We thought there was a nest in the fireplace and they were attracted to the windows’ heat in the daytime, but WOW. The hosts were super apologetic and let us look around the farm and feed the animals and stuff, and it was overall an okay stay.
I worked for Airbnb for exactly 2 hours. Saw how they run their business and quit.
I will never ever use Airbnb again. I tried it a few times, some were nice, but I've had so many hosts cancel on me - the last one just yesterday for a trip in a few weeks, because "he needs the appartment to accomodate his family coming to town." Look, I get it, these are private properties, but if you have a reservation confirmed, only extremely urgent situations should warrant a cancellation. For the rest, it's just being a straight up a*****e. I'll just stick to hotels.
well with all the migrants raping their way across europe i can see why theyre worried
I’ve only had one bad experience with Airbnb. I called them immediately and explained what the issue was and they instantly refunded my entire stay and asked if I wanted to stay or go elsewhere (they’re ere going to let me stay after the refund. I said elsewhere. They helped me find a place and got me to it right away. There are a few things in this story that seem a little weird to me…like how they say they have to take exorbitant flights back to the UK…why not just take the train? It’s a hell of a lot cheaper…maybe not as quick as a flight (I’m not sure how long the flight time is between the two) but they could have easily got back to the UK and either trained or flown from there for im sure a heck of a lot cheaper…idk it’s weird to me. I do however understand not staying in a place that doesn’t lock up. I would have also said eff that sh!t too. But I would have first reached out to Airbnb and dealt directly with them
You guys are super cute. Let me tell you about a "broom" in a sliding door. It was how my house got broken into. The slider was locked AND there was a 2X4 in the bottom to prevent folks from getting in along with broomsticks in the slider windows. They rammed the door open until it in an angle and then broke in and took everything my house. 2 women alone in a scalable 2nd-floor unit on a busy street with a non-closing door is not a time to MacGyver a f*****g door with a chain and just "get over it" or "prove you feel unsafe" so that you can feel justified in calling them babies for complaining? I've been in France on a 2nd floor scalable unit. I know exactly what she's talking about. You don't feel safe. And in a country alone, balcony/slider break-ins are the easiest because people think no one would "EVER" do that. Drop down or climb up and you're right inside. Especially when you know it's an AirBnb. You guys can move furniture and chain up open doors if you like, I'm not the one.
My mom reserved an AirBNB for us for the end of the month. We normally would stay on a hotel, as we get free nights with our credit cards, but this was the only option because of how tiny the town is, and a hotel would be way out of the way. Thankfully the town is so small that everyone knows one another, and we know people that live there, so if it goes awry, I guarantee it’ll be the last time it’s listed! Lol
If it is a sliding door you could easily put a broom handle (or piece of wood) in the side so the door cannot slide to open.
Why Airbnb? I'm sure if you would have looked into hotels at the same time as when booking Airbnb, you would have noticed hotels a cheaper. First they carry liability, second they offer 24/7 services, third if your balcony doesn't lock they will provide a new room or will book you new room at no extra cost. Airbnb option is great for big families or people with pets. But if you only going for a place to stay near markets, beach and airport then an apartment hotels is a thing. Please remember Airbnb was supposed to be an cheaper option for people having free temporary accommodation to earn money. But if you go for superhost and you notice they have multiple.locations, listings, rooms then you are being scammed put of money, chances are he charges hotel or above prices for minimal services. Basically if something happens you have to prove it to Airbnb and host, if something happens in hotel they have services and insurance in place for you 24/7.
Even though there surely are bad examples of hosts and accommodations on airbnb, I gotta say I do love staying with them. Traveling with our dog in Europe the past few years, airbnb was always a great choice with mostly great - and never even bad - experiences. Currently having nice stays throughout the UK. I'm starting to get fed up a bit of BPs BnB and America (USA) bashing posts btw. Also the more and more annoying AITA posts. I come to this site for positive vibes, fun and laughs. More of that please.
What does " BPs and America (USA) bashing posts" have to do with anything??????? Is it cause Airbnb is an American company? Nope, I'm sorry but I DO want to read about other ppl's experiences with companies that make millions if not billions out of customers so I can have a full picture of what's going on. The fact that you had "mostly great experiences" is you. Good for you. Now let other people tell their story too
Load More Replies...Could have moved a piece of furniture in front of that balcony door or gotten a chain latch for it for the stay and just enjoyed the apt. But no. Let's make a stink over it and maybe hire a handyman to get repaid for. But no. Let's go to a shitty hotel an suffer through a massive company trying to figure s**t out for u over a door. On the second floor. Cuz Spider-Man might pop by. There are plenty of fixes I would have done in this instance to just enjoy the trip.
Your lack of compassion for someone traveling to a country they’ve never been to is astounding.
Load More Replies...My god what a pain in the a*s these people muste be. 2nd floor, in Nice, in a complex with a pool facing the sea. you are f*****g safe. wondering the street in the south of France in the summer, in a city like Nice is safe. Also, i really doubt that there's no outdoor blinds that can be shut. It's south of France, every building has blinds. open the windows and shut the blinds. Morrons. Or block the door with a stick or a chair. there were like a million solution but no. they decide to bother every person they could for a F** door that dosen't shut. and she's surprised nobody gives a s**t about her virtual fear.
I found it so odd that she was talking about feeling unsafe at night in France. It's Nice, not Compton. What did she think was going to happen?
Load More Replies...Why doesn’t she provide any pictures of the said door which does not close?!? Weird. I don’t know, she was vacationing in France and not in a jungle.
Personally, I would have gone out and purchased something- a bicycle chain and a screwdriver- and effing well made the doors secure. THEN I would have got on to management and tore them a new one. I would not have given up my ideal accommodation just because of that. The chances of someone entering uninvited are so slim - I would have risked it. Ps. I live in France half the year and rarely lock my car or doors. Only if I'm out for the day.
Load More Replies...Couldn’t chairs have sufficed for the night and a bike lock for the rest of the trip? She acted as if there was no door at all.
Airbnb used to be just that: Bed and Breakfast to make a bit of extra money. Now it's become a huge company with little to no experience in the hotel and hospitality business. The people working at Airbnb have no clue about the industry. Management doesn't care and are in it for the money. Even good reviews are bs. Lots of people are so called property-managers and don't even check the accommodation after the guests have left.
I feel like these stories are made just to get some likes. No proof, and a weird thing between "I don't feel safe" and "help us find another place... but with the same comforts." When you are really in danger and you want to feel safe, you do not think in trivialities.
This. I understand that the doors that won't close might make people uneasy, but sometimes you have to assess the risk and weigh in your options. We had similar problem in the Brugge AirBnb when our room key simply wouldn't turn/lock. It wasn't ideal, but we simply decided that taking the risk that Brugge is safe enough and we leave the room unlocked, taking all valuables with us (we did, nothing happened), is easier than the alternative in that situation, like this story we have here.
Load More Replies...of course they canceled the previous stay if u got the money back via a voucher...they didnt want u to use both, dooh
Exactly. Plus, she's whinning and whinning about how 'unsafe' it is and how she 'can't stay there' and then cries when the cancel it??? Stupid self-centered dumb idiots.
Load More Replies...If the door had closed and locked, they probably would have left it open all day and night anyway. Sleeping with a breeze and not giving it a second thought on their way to the beach. Some people are just impossible to please, complainers.
I've stayed with AirBnBs in England, Spain, Italy, and France. Never had a problem. If you're unsure about renting on AirBnB or Vrbo or any other such app: Check to see how long the place has been on the app. Check to see how many reviews there are and how far back they go. True - every place has to start some time. But if you're worried - try to rent from someone who's been on the app for a few years with reviews from more than a few people who all strangely post their reviews around the same time.
I've stayed all over the east coast USA and I LOVE airbnb. I've met so many cool people, including this sweet middle eastern family in New York, the little girl had been the victim of an acid attack (her face and upper body) and they were fleeing their country. Airbnb was hosting them for free in NYC. I've met the funniest elderly couple and just tons of wonderful people and hosts! These people on here blow my mind. If you wanna go stay in a soulless chain hotel and never truly experience anything, I kinda feel sorry for you. Looking at how long the listing has been up is a GREAT way to filter them, can confirm. You can also talk to the people first. I'm thinking folks just don't know how to do this right, I bet they order shrimp cocktail and steak at the strip club too
Load More Replies...Meh. Woman is an idiot. Whining about how it's getting dark,bits not safe whiny whiny whiny. All she and her mum had to do was go to a hotel, enjoy their evening and sort it out the next day. I have no sympathy for anyone who books an Airbnb.
This is why I book through private accomodation sites (such as for chalets etc) or stay in a hotel. Airbnb is a joke tbh. That said, there was no proof of this said door that wouldn't close, also, it probably would have been an easy and cheap quick diy fix. Yes, you shouldn't be the one to have to do it, I agree with that, but are you really going to have such a tantrum and give up what would otherwise be the perfect accomodation?
Maybe it’s just me, but that particular door being broken just smells bad. Either it had been broken into during a previous guest’s stay—-begging the question whether the guests locked themselves out and broke this lock to get back in, or it was a burglary attempt, or what—-or it was fixed to look “broken” so the foreigners could be robbed. Maybe it’s because I used to have a real estate license and handled vacation rentals for a living, but if I was the owner, I would’ve been so mortified, I would’ve had a locksmith dispatched to fix it before I even got off the phone with my guests. If I was an out of town owner, I would’ve also ripped the cleaners and inspector, regardless of whether they worked for AirBnB or me, a new one for not reporting, then having it fixed before the guests arrived! Some people just have no standards and no sense of shame.
I always use Booking.com. Only time I didn't was at a small ski resort in the Pyrenees where we ended up in a small brown room with a minuscule kitchen and army blankets on the bed. Asked for an upgrade but what we were shown was worse; nothing like the advertised photos. Airbnb just doesn't appeal to us at all.
I've had good experiences with Airbnb but the most unexplainable bad experience was during the pandemic. Had planned a trip in Portugal and Spain in January 2020 for August 2020. Booked a couple places in Portugal and Spain. Obviously once the pandemic hit I started canceling everything since I wouldn't be able to travel. Airbnb refused to refund my money for a place I booked in Spain because the owner refused to refund. Essentially, Airbnb said I canceled too early and it was up to the owner to decide whether I could get a refund. I couldn't travel to Spain if I wanted to. The Border was closed, how are you not refunding my money? They refused to do anything about it. Airbnb has the worst customer service
"So"..."so"......"so"......"so"... FML, this is hard to read with every 2nd sentence starting with "so".
traveling overseas you don't really know where it's safe and where it isn't. And second floor isn't high enough to stop people getting in - I used to live in LA and the night stalker serial killer was getting into upstairs apartments. But I would have tied the door shut and blocked it and nagged the owner to fix it. The threat of a very negative review to AirBNB should have motivated him enough.
What spoiled, ugly, self-entitled, extremely stupid little brats. Morons. Nothing was going to happen to ya on the 2nd floor, idiots. Put a chair in front of the door, and go to bed. Oh, wait, that would make too much sense - better create a HUGE problem, when there is no actual problem. Only a completely spoiled little brat would make a STUPID choice to FLY home and then expect OTHERS to compensate her for HER STUPID CHOICES. Idiots.
I stayed at an Airbnb once. It was in Beverly Hills CA. Rented a studio apartment for a week in an old building. Since the building was old, there were some quirks. For one, the hot water was shared with every unit. When I would take a shower, the water pressure would drop to a trickle and turn cold. I contacted the host, that explained the hot water heater is shared for the whole building. Enough said. I'm just changed my shower routine to when no one was likely to be using hot water and showered really quickly. Not a big deal to me. The savings of renting this over a quality hotel were a lot. I paid $125 a night for a week. Comparable hotels in the area were $250 to $345 a night. The apartment also had a full kitchen, so we cooked most of our meals, which saved us money. AirBnB has it's good and bad. For one, it takes housing of markets. But it also allows people with limited means access to travel accomodations
A bunch of people who’ve never traveled alone commenting about this woman is ridiculous. I work directly with ABB & they have plenty of resources to resolve this. The fact that you joke about her feeling unsafe shows a lot about your empty passport. If you’ve never been to France, don’t pretend like the movies tell the truth. Any new place is scary when you have no support.
People critisize her lack of common sense. you fear an intruder will come get you througt this door ? block it. simple. i also don't understand the resonning "facing a busy road is unsafe". It is safe, facing a discreet back alley isn't safe. She could have enjoy her stay but no. Decide to make a fuss over a door. Ask for a discount and that's it. Ps : 2 women "alone" in the street of Nice in the summer won't happen. they won't be alone there's a lot of people here during the summer and certainly countless women of all ages strolling in group or alone. And countless police officers
Load More Replies...A funny AirBnB story- Me and my mom stayed in an AirBnB on a farm. It was gorgeous and super cute. It even had a fireplace! We were settling in, and that was when the first wasp came. I started freaking out because I had a fear of wasps (since have gotten over it). My mom got him with a flyswatter and we continued unpacking. Three more started flying around, smack smack smack. We then realized how many wasps there were. So many flying around and landing on windows. They would go away during the night (thank god). The next few days the same stuff happened. So. Many. Wasps. We thought there was a nest in the fireplace and they were attracted to the windows’ heat in the daytime, but WOW. The hosts were super apologetic and let us look around the farm and feed the animals and stuff, and it was overall an okay stay.
I worked for Airbnb for exactly 2 hours. Saw how they run their business and quit.
I will never ever use Airbnb again. I tried it a few times, some were nice, but I've had so many hosts cancel on me - the last one just yesterday for a trip in a few weeks, because "he needs the appartment to accomodate his family coming to town." Look, I get it, these are private properties, but if you have a reservation confirmed, only extremely urgent situations should warrant a cancellation. For the rest, it's just being a straight up a*****e. I'll just stick to hotels.
well with all the migrants raping their way across europe i can see why theyre worried
I’ve only had one bad experience with Airbnb. I called them immediately and explained what the issue was and they instantly refunded my entire stay and asked if I wanted to stay or go elsewhere (they’re ere going to let me stay after the refund. I said elsewhere. They helped me find a place and got me to it right away. There are a few things in this story that seem a little weird to me…like how they say they have to take exorbitant flights back to the UK…why not just take the train? It’s a hell of a lot cheaper…maybe not as quick as a flight (I’m not sure how long the flight time is between the two) but they could have easily got back to the UK and either trained or flown from there for im sure a heck of a lot cheaper…idk it’s weird to me. I do however understand not staying in a place that doesn’t lock up. I would have also said eff that sh!t too. But I would have first reached out to Airbnb and dealt directly with them
You guys are super cute. Let me tell you about a "broom" in a sliding door. It was how my house got broken into. The slider was locked AND there was a 2X4 in the bottom to prevent folks from getting in along with broomsticks in the slider windows. They rammed the door open until it in an angle and then broke in and took everything my house. 2 women alone in a scalable 2nd-floor unit on a busy street with a non-closing door is not a time to MacGyver a f*****g door with a chain and just "get over it" or "prove you feel unsafe" so that you can feel justified in calling them babies for complaining? I've been in France on a 2nd floor scalable unit. I know exactly what she's talking about. You don't feel safe. And in a country alone, balcony/slider break-ins are the easiest because people think no one would "EVER" do that. Drop down or climb up and you're right inside. Especially when you know it's an AirBnb. You guys can move furniture and chain up open doors if you like, I'm not the one.
My mom reserved an AirBNB for us for the end of the month. We normally would stay on a hotel, as we get free nights with our credit cards, but this was the only option because of how tiny the town is, and a hotel would be way out of the way. Thankfully the town is so small that everyone knows one another, and we know people that live there, so if it goes awry, I guarantee it’ll be the last time it’s listed! Lol
If it is a sliding door you could easily put a broom handle (or piece of wood) in the side so the door cannot slide to open.
Why Airbnb? I'm sure if you would have looked into hotels at the same time as when booking Airbnb, you would have noticed hotels a cheaper. First they carry liability, second they offer 24/7 services, third if your balcony doesn't lock they will provide a new room or will book you new room at no extra cost. Airbnb option is great for big families or people with pets. But if you only going for a place to stay near markets, beach and airport then an apartment hotels is a thing. Please remember Airbnb was supposed to be an cheaper option for people having free temporary accommodation to earn money. But if you go for superhost and you notice they have multiple.locations, listings, rooms then you are being scammed put of money, chances are he charges hotel or above prices for minimal services. Basically if something happens you have to prove it to Airbnb and host, if something happens in hotel they have services and insurance in place for you 24/7.
Even though there surely are bad examples of hosts and accommodations on airbnb, I gotta say I do love staying with them. Traveling with our dog in Europe the past few years, airbnb was always a great choice with mostly great - and never even bad - experiences. Currently having nice stays throughout the UK. I'm starting to get fed up a bit of BPs BnB and America (USA) bashing posts btw. Also the more and more annoying AITA posts. I come to this site for positive vibes, fun and laughs. More of that please.
What does " BPs and America (USA) bashing posts" have to do with anything??????? Is it cause Airbnb is an American company? Nope, I'm sorry but I DO want to read about other ppl's experiences with companies that make millions if not billions out of customers so I can have a full picture of what's going on. The fact that you had "mostly great experiences" is you. Good for you. Now let other people tell their story too
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