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People Are Roasting Airbnb For Getting Completely Out Of Hand, Here Are 30 Of The Most Savage Tweets
More and more people are beginning to think that Airbnb is bad. The company markets itself as a way to connect guests with unique local hosts and experiences but as it has grown, Airbnb has had to wrestle with more instances of scams and low-quality listings.
Then, there are the extensive cleaning fees and house rules which can pile up really quickly—the company has a hard time striking the right balance between allowing hosts to express their individuality and ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience for guests.
Of course, it's quite often that the middlemen are often hated by their clients but Airbnb is taking heat from even outside their user base. For example, if your neighbor is renting their property through the platform, you might get sick and tired of the home next door constantly throwing loud parties.
And that's just scratching the surface. Airbnb has also been exploiting legal loopholes that allowed it to pay way less in taxes than hotels. The list goes on.
So to recap all the reasons why folks dislike it, we collected their complaints (and a few jokes) from Twitter and are putting them on display for everyone to see.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Caro Caro 3 years ago
Something that started out to be fun and quite nice changed into a money grabbing assholery nightmare. Go to a local hotel. Google BnB in the area you want to stay and contact the BnB owner(s) directly... you'll get a good price and no b******t. Most BnB's have their own website with photos and stuff.
Travel blogger and speaker A Lady in London, who has been to 112 countries, fires up the app from time to time.
"I use Airbnb on occasion when I travel," she told Bored Panda. "I've generally had positive experience with its services, but every property and stay varies."
However, she said a hotel is a better choice when you want to know exactly what you're getting. "Hotels are more consistent with what they offer in terms of amenities and services, whereas Airbnbs can vary widely. Hotels are also better if you need to store your bags after you've checked out, as many Airbnbs don't offer that service," A Lady in London explained.
RELATED:
#2
For years, Airbnb had been battling local officials over requests to collect occupancy taxes and ensure that the properties listed on its site comply with zoning and safety rules.
Consider this: in a five-month span between 2018 and 2019, the company spent more than half a million dollars to overturn regulations in San Diego and has sued Boston, Miami, and Palm Beach County over local ordinances that require Airbnb to collect taxes or remove illegal listings.
Elsewhere, Airbnb had fought city officials over regulations aimed at preventing homes from being transformed into de facto hotels and requests from tax authorities for more specific data about hosts and visits.
#3
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
Sadly most people using Airbnb aren't too bright so they'll keep paying $500 for a stay in an apartment when the hotel across the street would charge them $300.
#4
Marco Hub-Dub 3 years ago
Yup! Old (old job, older person) coworker of mine began buying rental homes as investment in the 70s. Ended up converting 10 of 14 homes to AirBnBs in one of the leanest rental markets in the US, SF Bay Area. Makes a killing and many times more than rent, uses a rental service so no work for him. Part of the problem studio apartments go for $2500/month.
Suspecting that Airbnb may have been shorting states and local governments billions of dollars in taxes, lawmakers eventually began to push legislation to take control of the process.
While the proposals vary, many states in the US, for example, aim to close what they saw as a yawning tax gap caused by reliance on hundreds of industry-driven voluntary compliance agreements (VCAs) with local governments.
Some local jurisdictions speculate Airbnb and other similar platforms are banking only a quarter of the occupancy taxes owed. The revenue implications are only getting larger as the U.S. short-term rental industry continues to expand.
#7
Catpoker88 3 years ago
The 1st and only time my husband and I stayed at an airbnb, we got a 1 star review because we left a day early because we were uncomfortable. We didn't ask for a refund or anything, we just cleaned up and left because we felt unwelcome.
"The short-term rental industry is a large business worth more than $30 billion a year. The average lodging tax rate is in the 8% range across the country. So there should be total collections in the billions of dollars, but I don't think that's actually happening," Ulrik Binzer, chief executive officer of Host Compliance LLC, which provides lodging-tax compliance services to more than 300 municipalities across the U.S. and Canada, told Bloomberg.
Binzer said that Host Compliance took on Nashville, Tennessee, as a client after the city declined to negotiate an agreement with Airbnb. At the time, annual occupancy tax collections hovered around $1 million. But after implementing a series of short-term rental compliance and enforcement strategies, Nashville boosted its collections to $9 million annually.
As regulators have sought to crack down, Airbnb has entered into "voluntary" agreements with many local governments, promising to collect taxes on behalf of hosts, which is one of the reasons why customers may have seen higher taxes on more listings.
#10
Mad Dragon 3 years ago
It’s ridiculous that they can charge a cleaning fee, especially one that large. It’s your house, either clean it yourself or factor in the price of cleaning when you decide how much to charge per night (the way hotels do).
#12
Brady Raphael 3 years ago
The problem is nobody is fighting it considering in most places it's illegal to break a lease with intention to rent the property to someone else.
Airbnb's increasing popularity has attracted hordes of corporate real-estate owners and professional property managers to its platform, many of whom own or operate dozens of listings within the same city.
In 2021, Skift reported that, according to the analytics site AirDNA, just 5% of hosts own or operate nearly a third of all Airbnb listings, reflecting the massive power wielded by corporate and professional hosts.
This has most likely been driving up rent and housing prices in neighborhoods with Airbnb listings, according to research from recent years.
#13
#14
rumade 3 years ago
Not if you're doing it the original way it was designed, which is renting out a spare room in your own home, or renting out your home when you're away. I stayed with a lovely lady in Vienna who had her daughter's old bedroom up on AirBnB. It was like staying with a family member.
Gregg Long 3 years ago
That's right. It was not supposed to be an investment vehicle. It was supposed to be for renting out a room or a situation like mine where I take contract jobs in other cities for 6 months where I can't afford to travel back and forth or maintain two homes. I rented out my house as an ABnB while I was in another city and then came back and lived there while looking for the next contract. Or possibly if you had a vacation home that you could only use a weekend or two a month a a few weeks in the summer or winter and wanted to get a little income out of it instead of it sitting vacant for 250 nights a year.
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Michelle Garrett 3 years ago
We rented out our camper while it just sat in the back driveway. Basically made our payments the summer we ran it. And we met lots of great people!
#16
More places listed as short-term rentals also means fewer long-term options. Felix Mindl and Dr. Oliver Arentz, researchers at the University of Cologne in Germany, reported that short-term rentals via apps such as Airbnb contribute to housing shortages and rent increases.
Their econometric regression analysis shows that 14.2% of overall rent increases for the affected apartments within the study period (in the city of Cologne) can be attributed to short-term rentals. This results in a rent increase of around €27 ($27.7) per month or €320 ($351.9) per year for new tenants.
#18
Pittsburgh rare 3 years ago
I'm enjoying it as well. I so hope this summer everyone goes back to hotels
#19
Rosie McLeod 3 years ago
Ah nothing says relaxing holiday than the stares of aggrieved residents
"While a large proportion of hosts can be considered home sharers, we find an increasing proportion of providers who have developed a professional business model from short-term rentals," Mindl said in a statement. "Professional short-term rentals are available to tourists throughout the year, and thus compete directly with long-term tenants, for whom the rooms are then no longer available."
#21
BarBeeGirl 3 years ago
In addition to the ridiculous fees, UberEats jacks up the prices. Went to order subs the other day and compared the prices on the website vs UberEats and they were 10% more expensive and then $10 in fees
#22
Wise beauty 3 years ago
I remember one time my family stayed at an Airbnb that had a literal GARDEN HOSE as a shower
#23
Natalie Cavendish 3 years ago
Once booked an Air BNB that did not disclose that it had NO TOILET FACILITIES
However, Airbnb isn't all bad. Earlier this month, the company said it will help shelter some of the 2 million Ukrainians who have fled their country after Russia invaded it.
According to a company spokesperson, Airbnb is prepared to offer housing of up to 14 days for up to 100,000 refugees.
The organization works with nonprofits on the ground to book and coordinate stays for refugees, who also receive a range of other support in their new lives, the spokesperson explained.
#26
Carol Fischer 3 years ago
If it is true it is not slander. I think the word you are looking for is censure.
#28
Rosie McLeod 3 years ago
The quiet times are probably because it's a residential area. I'm next door to a holiday let in a terrace house and it's a massive problem for all of us. The stupid garden of the property is set up like an outdoor dining thing so holiday makers stay up really late drinking etc. they don't give one f**k about my kids needing to go to school the next day. This is every night bbq's and parties. It's not like living next to someone who might throw a party one or two nights a week. There's no parking either and they park outside our house so I can't get the buggy down my steps. It's ridiculous
Plus, it's a really good place to work at. In Glassdoor’s well-regarded ranking of the best workplaces in 2016, based on anonymous employee reviews, Airbnb was rated number 1.
And while ratings and rankings are up for discussion, the workplace and culture at Airbnb experts think the company can be used as a case study to provide instruction for other companies and HR managers. But does this negate all the things we talked about before?
#30
Francisco Manuel Teruel Gutiérrez 3 years ago
Cleaning workers, they are sucking our blood to feed their ferraris.
#31
#32
#33
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
Or rent a cabin in the area instead through a realty company or something. In some areas you'll have this option with a wide variation of prices and from my experience with the ones I've stayed in, they're a lot less headaches.
#34
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
Or rent a cabin near a lake or state park if there's one near where you want to go. A lot less headache.
#35
What_the_actual_sloth? 2 years ago
right? if I was an Airbnb host, I'd keep it as cheap as possible- however I'm socially anxious and a crazy people pleaser so
#36
Jill Pulcifer 2 years ago
In all fairness they don't say what sort of cleaning fee it is, if you look at it like your paying 114$ for the added fun of cleaning someone else's place then it makes perfect sense.
#39
Oliver Nelson 3 years ago
You know it's bad when even the nft bros are saying you're charging too much.
#41
Phil Vaive 3 years ago
They were only cheaper because they avoided paying taxes that hotels and cab companies paid. Once governments caught on that they were just hotels and cab companies, but using other people's assets as their own, they started charging the taxes and somehow, even without paying for infrastructure, managed to be the same price.
#48
Kate Johnson 3 years ago
You feel that way because you were. Do they list all of the extra fees before you pay? Or is this stuff added on?
#50
Anonymous Female 3 years ago (edited)
Back when airbnb started, I paid $60 for a 3 day weekend for a room with a shared common area (living room, kitchen, bath). Circumstances out of my control, the second day I was there, I was hospitalized for 3 days. Called the hosts, and they were so kind, they did not charge me the extra for the days my things were there and I wasn't, and even had a card for me when I got back hoping I was well. There were no cleaning fees or anything like that (however, they did ask that I strip the beds and put in a laundry chute). Now, I'll find somewhere close to where I need to be and camp.
#51
Stacy B 3 years ago
I agree! We had a family emergency out of state and my in-laws were going to come to where we were staying because it was centrally located to the hospital and their homes to wrap up funeral plans. We had 4 family members over, in the 10 person house we rented, for a few hours during a weekday and the host called me threatening to call the police and kick us out. I paid over 2k for 3 days and you can't understand I have a major family emergency. Unreal!
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What do you think ?
Jo Choto 3 years ago
On a completely different note, I am currently supporting Ukrainian refugees by booking no-show Airbnb stays with some Polish people I found, who are driving to the border multiple times a day to pick up refugees. They bring them to the rental house and are letting them stay for free, feeding them, offering clothes etc. and helping them with the next leg of their journey. I have been able to inject cash to these amazing people and directly speak to some refugees to help them with information, all because they had an Airbnb. It's so good to be able to do even a little something to help, when the invasion and the exodus and all the suffering is weighing so heavily on my mind.
Virginie Michaud 3 years ago
My husband's cousin is doing the driving back and from the border thing. Not getting any money for it, just because it's the right thing to do. His other cousin is a reservist in the Polish army, he's currently posted at the Bielorussian border. And the small village he's from has 1500 refugees from what we last heard. Not just AirBnB hosts are helping. Everybody is.
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Roman Hans 3 years ago (edited)
Airbnb ruins neighborhoods because speculators rent apartments just for Airbnb & rents go way up. The woman who lived upstairs from me in Brooklyn rented her place on Airbnb & moved to Paris on the proceeds. Her guests flooded her bathroom -- so mine too -- three times. Airbnb is illegal in NYC so police finally came out to investigate -- but couldn't do anything because no one answered the door. Finally I checked her calendar & every day a new tenant checked in I taped a very nice note to her door saying it was an illegal rental. She threatened to sue me, then asked me to please stop, then finally closed up shop. A real person moved in & never flooded the bathroom once.
Lynn Drew 2 years ago
Sue you😆. So glad you didn't take that one seriously.
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TheDivineMsM 3 years ago
I don't know- I've had 4 really great airbnb experiences. Now mind you, it's usually a cabin in the woods away from everyone and everything, maybe that's the trick? Or maybe I'm just lucky.
Yort 3 years ago
We stayed at one for a weekend trip to Portland (Airbnb was not IN Portland) and it was nice. It was clean, way cheaper than a hotel, there were board games provided, owner said that we were welcome to hang out with them but there was no pressure (never even saw the owner while we were there). Also I can tell a lot of the people complaining have never had to try to find a hotel that allows dogs. Pet friendly hotel, you’re looking at either the shadiest bed buggiest place or somewhere that already costs at least $150 but also there’s a pet fee and if your dog makes any noise you’re at risk of getting kicked out with no refund.
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Two_rolling_black_eyes 3 years ago
My city requires a license to run an AirBnB/other platform and has 5 simple requirements 1)home must meet code, 2)must pay taxes (goes up if you rent more than 29 days), 3)the person (must be a person) with the license must live in the unit at least 185 days a year, 4)must purchase insurance, and 5)must post the residence as listed on the license or the license does not cover the rental. They have a data scientist whose going after the slum lords buying up homes just to rent them out ridiculously. If she busts you, they suspend your license. If you keep it up, they treat you like any other business operating without a license up to seizure or criminal arrest. They try switching platforms but she's good and they get the cease and desist that day (next time the script runs). Addresses don't change so as long as you're on the naughty list, the web scrappers find you. If there's a post that doesn't match a license(see #5), you get added to the naughty list so name change doesn't work
Ban-One 3 years ago
I stayed in over 60 different airbnb places over the past few years. In all different kind of West European countries. Most of them were great. A few average. Never bad. Mostly we try to stay in smaller towns. Nicer folks, better food, better value. More calm and quiet. We chose to stay at airbnbs a bunch of years ago because we decided that our dog will travel with us from that time (until today). And having a whole apartment or even a house is great. More space for the dog, less noise than in a hotel. And many times some outside space. Really enjoyed it and met lots of wonderful hosts along the way.
Ozacoter 3 years ago
Yeah I am very surprised. I have used airbnb in west europe for years (mostly spain and netherlands) and my experiences have always been great. Much more affordable than a hotel, you get a kitchen and the hosts are always super nice.
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Jo Choto 3 years ago
So these are all US Airbnbs from US perspectives, which completely skews everything. There are lots of fantastic Airbnb homes and hosts, and I have used quite a few, sharing space with the owners and never had a problem. Shame to judge the rest of the world on US standards.
aubergine10003 3 years ago (edited)
I've had fantastic Airbnb experiences in the US, Canada and Europe (I am American).
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zububonsai 3 years ago (edited)
🇺🇦🇺🇦 Go to Airbnb, type "Ucraine" and look at some offers. I finally picked a lady who is a host for some years (because I'm pretty sure there are some suspicious folks from who-knows-where who want to make a pretty penny) she has some "before" and more "after" pics, from lovely to bomb crater mess. I just booked a stay in Kiew in the middle of may for a week for 1adult one kid. Not that I want to go there anytime soon, just to support her. (11€/day and I didn't know how to up it, unfortunately ) - Slava Ukraini from Germany!🇺🇦🇺🇦❤️
digitalin 3 years ago
I've used AirBnB a lot with a positive experience. It's good for families traveling together or who want to make their own food, especially for a longer visit. I've had good interactions with hosts. That being said, yeah, makes sense that it's crunching the housing market and overpricing things now. I guess all good things must come to an end.
Buren 3 years ago
I used airBnB once and never again. The place was filthy and the host was rude, nothing is as advertised and the previous reviews must be fake. It was at the time when the price was still good though. Can imagine now after reading all these posts.
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
Sorry you had a s***ty experience. Please don't judge all AirBnBs by that bad one.
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Ruben Valido 3 years ago
I was transitioning residences. From the time I sold my home and moved out of state until the time I finally closed on our new home, two months went by. I tried renting an apartment but they all wanted a minimum of 3-mos lease at an outrageous price of $3,250 per month. I found this humble Airbnb that I was able to rent for 2 months at less than $3,500 for the entire stay. And they allowed me with my two old cats. It worked out for me and my family. You have to look and look and look again, and read the fine print before you sign the dotted line.
Trevor Nicholson 3 years ago
My sister-in-law's entire neighbourhood in central Kyoto was overrun by AirBNBs and it just ruined everything because the shitty foreigners absolutely do not know how to behave. AirBNB is good in certain circumstances but, like a lot of travel stuff, became ruined when people learned to exploit it. I used to love Couchsurfing when it was a word-of-mouth thing and made some of my best friends through there, even just through events and not hosting. But lots of jerks joined because it became a "hack" to get free travel and too many people lied to me. Now that I'm an adult, I look at Hotels first, then hostels, and AirBNB last. I have an idea of what I want to pay, where I want to stay, and the quality and see what my options are. I've never had any truly terrible AirBNB experiences, but I did have to see the owner a lot when I was in Baku because the shower was messed up and was leaking into the Salvatore Ferragamo store below.
aubergine10003 3 years ago
A lot of these posts are people complaining about the ridiculous cleaning fees that Airbnb owners put into place... during the PANDEMIC. First of all, don't you want that place extra-clean? And second, WHY are you traveling on vacation during the pandemic (many of these posts are from last year)? FFS. I call out Airbnb's b******t when I see it, and they are absolutely responsible for displacement/gentrifcation, but c'mon.
Kellynn D 3 years ago
I've never used airbnb, but I despise them with an unholy passion. I live in what's called "cottage country" well north of Toronto. This is our home, we work here, it's not a vacation for us. The the rentals started, both directly across the small narrow river from us... the cops were nightly after only a few weeks. Fireworks all hours of the night Parties all night Drunken fights, screaming, whooping, and yelling at all hours Drunk idiots riding boats up and down the river and other toys And so many other things Call the cops, call airbnb to complain and they'd kick that bunch out to be replaced by the next set within a day.
Karen Sandness 3 years ago
If I were to stay in a city long-term but not long-enough to rent an actual apartment, I'd look for a so-called "apartment hotel." It's like getting a studio apartment but with hotel services, such as weekly cleaning, a front desk, and maybe coffee and rolls or even a breakfast buffet included in the price.
Karen Sandness 3 years ago
Residence Inn is one chain that is common in the U.S. In Japan, look for Tokyu Stay, and for a more upscale experience, look for Citadines in Europe and Asia.
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zeynep 3 years ago (edited)
I used three times airbnb and never had a trouble. Using washing machine, seperate rooms for parents and kids, cleaner beds, stove, books, toys, games are advantages of this houses. You are using someone else's house. Of course, you have to be sensitive about cleaning. If you don't need these, hotels might be better options for you
Mary G----no 3 years ago
Used AirBnB when we went to Ireland... one home in particular was great. The hosts were awesome. Wish we could've stayed with them longer. Other places included a guest house, a boarding home, and a room in an apartment. The first one was the best though. Now, we have a dog. And she barks every time she hears a car door or sees someone outside. We're afraid to go to a dog-friendly hotel because we're afraid she'll p**s off other guests. So we've used cabins. All 3 times, though, were for cabins in a little vacation cabin rental community that are basically one room buildings with a bed, bathroom, and kitchenette. Haven't taken homes from people. It's good that Atlanta has changed its laws to keep people from buying up a bunch of homes to use for airbnb and vrbo.
Lunar 3 years ago (edited)
I have never like Airbnb. Pictures are always better than the place actually is, looking for the keys is like a treasure hunt, number of beds is a lie, there's no assistance when you need something, and there's a bunch of stupid rules that make you feel like you are staying at a hostel. For those who say Airbnb gives homey feeling....hello, i am on holiday, I don't need to feel like i am at home...
Thecoolbonnie 3 years ago
Personally, I've had nothing but good experiences w/airbnb... Not trying to take anything away from ppl's bad stories. I've never been charged a 'cleaning' or 'service' fee. You pay before u go, so I don't really see how they could sneak stuff like that in, without your knowledge
Julie Aaaa 3 years ago
I wish i would have seen this sooner. Had a HORRIBLE beach experience in Lincoln City via VRBO and VACASA. (Whoever is ultimately in charge, will NEVER use either again).Payed over $1000 after fees and taxes for 2 nights. Had to pay extra to check out at 2. Dirty dishes in cupboard, faulty construction and numerous safety issues. Got back a cleaning fee only. In still angry about it.
Jessica Julian 3 years ago
I've never used AirBNB, nor Über nor Lyft. It seems I have been very lucky.
Lottie Florell 3 years ago
My family has a second house that's out of flood zone so we can escape to it in case of a hurricane, we rent but we NEVER rent it on airB&B because it's shadier than other options
Melissa Hollowell 3 years ago
What is an occupancy fee? Isn't the nightly fee the price to occupy the property?
Lazy Panda 3 years ago
I work at a hotel and occupancy tax is a special tax placed by your province/state to all vacation rentals of all kinds. That is why it is usually grouped with sales tax.
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Oopsydaisy 3 years ago
I've always loathed the whole idea. I've only stayed in one once, in NY, and it was actually with the host. I really didn't enjoy it, but it was cheaper then a hotel room then. But I otherwise always stay at hotels. I love staying in hotels! However it seems to me that most of the bills posted here are pretty cheap if two or more people are staying at the Airbnb. I kind of thought that's what they were for.
Amanda Panda 2 years ago (edited)
In 2012, airbnb was the coolest. I spent 3 months in Europe staying in a house, room, or apartment for 25-45 dollars a night. Most of them had cool hosts who would tell me all the must see spots in town, invite me to dinner, give me veggies from their garden. It's really too bad everything good gets spoiled by greed.
2picklesinabun 2 years ago
Never understood the obsession with Airbnb. They've always had that ridiculous cleaning fee. It has always been more expensive than staying in a hotel.
Porpoisepower 2 years ago
To be fair, Airbnb is just one way that speculative investors ruin neighborhoods. Flipping, is a big problem too.
2picklesinabun 3 years ago
I hate airbnb. I really don't get it. You spend SO much money. What a waste. Hotels are cheaper and you don't have to clean
Himory TheDreamer 3 years ago
I looked at Airbnbs when going to another state (Brazil) this year, just looked at fron page per night value and no taxes, they were already more expensive than hotels. Ended up staying in the nicest hotel I've ever been to for less than any airbnb. As for Uber they're still way cheaper than cabs in my country, it goes for about half the price but some (not all) drivers act a bit entitled or unreasonable.
Mavreen Espinosa 3 years ago
That's why I part timed in Marriott saves me more money than Airbnb, but when I travel with more than 4 people we used Airbnb but I checked the reviews ALL THE TIME.
Scourge McCloud 3 years ago
What confused me is the one complaining about the owners stuff being in their own house. Like it's their house, what is it supposed to look like, like no one lives there? If was empty then they'd complain about the owners being a problem of the housing situation. Sounds like a no win situation.
DrGirlfriend 3 years ago
My husband worked for VACASA , They condo airB&B it's like the same thing ITS A RIP OFF he was a regional manager and he was so miserable they literally rip people off in corporate they plan to scam,pass the buck and GIVE ZERO F'S ABOUT ANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS . THEY ARE TOO BIG TO FAIL IN THEIR OWN NASTY WORDS. They don't care people are homeless they make money, my husband left and has been so much happier because of how miserable of a company they are. Vermont was going to pass a law that you have to live at the property for 6 months out of the year to operate the AB&B. Wish they would no one can find housing in this state
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago
Then just don't stay in one. If there are no takers the owners will have no choice but to shut down. Same with ubers. Real cabbies pay ridiculous fees to keep their licenses. Being a cab driver is a living not one of those 'when I need a few extra bucks'. I'll always take a cab over an uber and stay in a hotel over a bnb, air or otherwise.
Ivana Bašić 3 years ago
Staying at a hotel next week with my big furry dog. Beachfront, breakfast included. Still cheaper than an Airbnb. Not cleaning, but instead of a cleaning fee, I will get a discount for our next trip.
keighterz 3 years ago
Husband and I booked an AirBnB for a weekend in Chicago to see our favorite band. Then the Cubs won. Less than 24 hours from our arrival the hosts cancelled our stay and re-listed it for twice as much. Thankfully I had a friend in the city with spare room for an air mattress.
Bobbi McGough Robert 3 years ago
I never thought of using an airbnb. Looks like I'm one of the lucky ones!!!
jjdubs W 3 years ago (edited)
I'm truly grateful for Airbnb experiences in Okinawa. They were pretty fabulous --and a great way to enjoy the area when we weren't allowed to do a lot with the pandemic. My cousin has a terrific Airbnb stateside where she walls off her bedroom with a bookshelf and gives guests the rest of the place. It's a really nice gathering space and a good deal for both sides. Are there problems with the service? Sure! And I checked out the total fee before I went anywhere. It's not all bad.
Rylee Evergreen 3 years ago
I really liked the one AirBNB I ever stayed at (it was an a-line cabin next to a lake that was GORGEOUS in the nights and early mornings as the sun rose and set) but I agree with these posts! AirBNB is getting ridiculous!
Patricia Fonda 3 years ago
In Berlin Germany, students leased a tent on their balcony, they needed the money. Also in germany a Sofa on the outside of the house with only a roof over you no walls.
Andrea Careless 3 years ago (edited)
I had a fantastic experience with all the places I stayed in Europe, the UK, Iceland and elsewhere, and the cost was much less. But this was five years ago so maybe things have changed drastically. ??
Ivana Bašić 3 years ago
I'm actually old enough to remember the beginnings of Airbnb. It was awesome, stayed in a young couple's extra room when travelling for a job interview. Got a 1bd in an area without hotels when visiting family. Loved being able to cook because we have specific food requirements. Now with all the instructions and requirements, it sounds like a boot camp for renegade teenagers. Too old to play that game.
Lorraine Woollands 3 years ago
I live in a seaside town in Kent, England and Airbnb is killing the local hotels and bed and breakfasts. Putting people off coming here. Oh and upsetting the locals too. The sooner we have RIP Airbnb the better.
Katinka Min 3 years ago
My city tried to put a lid on AirBnB. They were not radical enough, though. Hoever, in Berlin some AirBnBs are a cheaper option than hotels, so at least the backpacking kind of tourists can profit from it. And they are sometimes in places where there are no hotels.
Marnie 3 years ago
The worst part is all of the complaints against it are of things that were obviously predictable the first time a person heard about this new thing. People, please think before you buy into some new thing. And nip bad trends in the bud by laughing at it and not spending money on it BEFORE it becomes entrenched. Same goes for uber and Lyft.
MzFitz1215 3 years ago
Bwahahaha, I spent 600.00 for a suite in a very nice hotel for 5 days over Thanksgiving in Kentucky. AirBnB can f**k right off.
Carney 3 years ago
In the early days of AirBnB I had many great experiences with lovely property owners. The cost was reasonable and each place I stayed was clean, comfortable and often very nice. Then...something changed and...well, never again. I stayed in one that charged me almost $500 for one night and then downrated us because we left a glass in the sink ONE GLASS! The place was dirty, the bed very uncomfortable and the hosts were unfriendly and rude. The original quoted price was $200/night and somehow changed to $500 with no explanation. I've stayed in a number of other places over the past couple of years and each has been terrible. Rude and indifferent owners, dirty premises, no bed linens, no towels, no shower/bath in one place; the doors could not be locked in another; no working heat in another (it was sub-zero outside!) and lots of rude and unpleasant owners. I'm done and now stay in motels/hotels and generally have good experiences.
Jo Choto 3 years ago
On a completely different note, I am currently supporting Ukrainian refugees by booking no-show Airbnb stays with some Polish people I found, who are driving to the border multiple times a day to pick up refugees. They bring them to the rental house and are letting them stay for free, feeding them, offering clothes etc. and helping them with the next leg of their journey. I have been able to inject cash to these amazing people and directly speak to some refugees to help them with information, all because they had an Airbnb. It's so good to be able to do even a little something to help, when the invasion and the exodus and all the suffering is weighing so heavily on my mind.
Virginie Michaud 3 years ago
My husband's cousin is doing the driving back and from the border thing. Not getting any money for it, just because it's the right thing to do. His other cousin is a reservist in the Polish army, he's currently posted at the Bielorussian border. And the small village he's from has 1500 refugees from what we last heard. Not just AirBnB hosts are helping. Everybody is.
Load More Replies... Roman Hans 3 years ago (edited)
Airbnb ruins neighborhoods because speculators rent apartments just for Airbnb & rents go way up. The woman who lived upstairs from me in Brooklyn rented her place on Airbnb & moved to Paris on the proceeds. Her guests flooded her bathroom -- so mine too -- three times. Airbnb is illegal in NYC so police finally came out to investigate -- but couldn't do anything because no one answered the door. Finally I checked her calendar & every day a new tenant checked in I taped a very nice note to her door saying it was an illegal rental. She threatened to sue me, then asked me to please stop, then finally closed up shop. A real person moved in & never flooded the bathroom once.
Lynn Drew 2 years ago
Sue you😆. So glad you didn't take that one seriously.
Load More Replies... TheDivineMsM 3 years ago
I don't know- I've had 4 really great airbnb experiences. Now mind you, it's usually a cabin in the woods away from everyone and everything, maybe that's the trick? Or maybe I'm just lucky.
Yort 3 years ago
We stayed at one for a weekend trip to Portland (Airbnb was not IN Portland) and it was nice. It was clean, way cheaper than a hotel, there were board games provided, owner said that we were welcome to hang out with them but there was no pressure (never even saw the owner while we were there). Also I can tell a lot of the people complaining have never had to try to find a hotel that allows dogs. Pet friendly hotel, you’re looking at either the shadiest bed buggiest place or somewhere that already costs at least $150 but also there’s a pet fee and if your dog makes any noise you’re at risk of getting kicked out with no refund.
Load More Replies... Two_rolling_black_eyes 3 years ago
My city requires a license to run an AirBnB/other platform and has 5 simple requirements 1)home must meet code, 2)must pay taxes (goes up if you rent more than 29 days), 3)the person (must be a person) with the license must live in the unit at least 185 days a year, 4)must purchase insurance, and 5)must post the residence as listed on the license or the license does not cover the rental. They have a data scientist whose going after the slum lords buying up homes just to rent them out ridiculously. If she busts you, they suspend your license. If you keep it up, they treat you like any other business operating without a license up to seizure or criminal arrest. They try switching platforms but she's good and they get the cease and desist that day (next time the script runs). Addresses don't change so as long as you're on the naughty list, the web scrappers find you. If there's a post that doesn't match a license(see #5), you get added to the naughty list so name change doesn't work
Ban-One 3 years ago
I stayed in over 60 different airbnb places over the past few years. In all different kind of West European countries. Most of them were great. A few average. Never bad. Mostly we try to stay in smaller towns. Nicer folks, better food, better value. More calm and quiet. We chose to stay at airbnbs a bunch of years ago because we decided that our dog will travel with us from that time (until today). And having a whole apartment or even a house is great. More space for the dog, less noise than in a hotel. And many times some outside space. Really enjoyed it and met lots of wonderful hosts along the way.
Ozacoter 3 years ago
Yeah I am very surprised. I have used airbnb in west europe for years (mostly spain and netherlands) and my experiences have always been great. Much more affordable than a hotel, you get a kitchen and the hosts are always super nice.
Load More Replies... Jo Choto 3 years ago
So these are all US Airbnbs from US perspectives, which completely skews everything. There are lots of fantastic Airbnb homes and hosts, and I have used quite a few, sharing space with the owners and never had a problem. Shame to judge the rest of the world on US standards.
aubergine10003 3 years ago (edited)
I've had fantastic Airbnb experiences in the US, Canada and Europe (I am American).
Load More Replies... zububonsai 3 years ago (edited)
🇺🇦🇺🇦 Go to Airbnb, type "Ucraine" and look at some offers. I finally picked a lady who is a host for some years (because I'm pretty sure there are some suspicious folks from who-knows-where who want to make a pretty penny) she has some "before" and more "after" pics, from lovely to bomb crater mess. I just booked a stay in Kiew in the middle of may for a week for 1adult one kid. Not that I want to go there anytime soon, just to support her. (11€/day and I didn't know how to up it, unfortunately ) - Slava Ukraini from Germany!🇺🇦🇺🇦❤️
digitalin 3 years ago
I've used AirBnB a lot with a positive experience. It's good for families traveling together or who want to make their own food, especially for a longer visit. I've had good interactions with hosts. That being said, yeah, makes sense that it's crunching the housing market and overpricing things now. I guess all good things must come to an end.
Buren 3 years ago
I used airBnB once and never again. The place was filthy and the host was rude, nothing is as advertised and the previous reviews must be fake. It was at the time when the price was still good though. Can imagine now after reading all these posts.
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
Sorry you had a s***ty experience. Please don't judge all AirBnBs by that bad one.
Load More Replies... Ruben Valido 3 years ago
I was transitioning residences. From the time I sold my home and moved out of state until the time I finally closed on our new home, two months went by. I tried renting an apartment but they all wanted a minimum of 3-mos lease at an outrageous price of $3,250 per month. I found this humble Airbnb that I was able to rent for 2 months at less than $3,500 for the entire stay. And they allowed me with my two old cats. It worked out for me and my family. You have to look and look and look again, and read the fine print before you sign the dotted line.
Trevor Nicholson 3 years ago
My sister-in-law's entire neighbourhood in central Kyoto was overrun by AirBNBs and it just ruined everything because the shitty foreigners absolutely do not know how to behave. AirBNB is good in certain circumstances but, like a lot of travel stuff, became ruined when people learned to exploit it. I used to love Couchsurfing when it was a word-of-mouth thing and made some of my best friends through there, even just through events and not hosting. But lots of jerks joined because it became a "hack" to get free travel and too many people lied to me. Now that I'm an adult, I look at Hotels first, then hostels, and AirBNB last. I have an idea of what I want to pay, where I want to stay, and the quality and see what my options are. I've never had any truly terrible AirBNB experiences, but I did have to see the owner a lot when I was in Baku because the shower was messed up and was leaking into the Salvatore Ferragamo store below.
aubergine10003 3 years ago
A lot of these posts are people complaining about the ridiculous cleaning fees that Airbnb owners put into place... during the PANDEMIC. First of all, don't you want that place extra-clean? And second, WHY are you traveling on vacation during the pandemic (many of these posts are from last year)? FFS. I call out Airbnb's b******t when I see it, and they are absolutely responsible for displacement/gentrifcation, but c'mon.
Kellynn D 3 years ago
I've never used airbnb, but I despise them with an unholy passion. I live in what's called "cottage country" well north of Toronto. This is our home, we work here, it's not a vacation for us. The the rentals started, both directly across the small narrow river from us... the cops were nightly after only a few weeks. Fireworks all hours of the night Parties all night Drunken fights, screaming, whooping, and yelling at all hours Drunk idiots riding boats up and down the river and other toys And so many other things Call the cops, call airbnb to complain and they'd kick that bunch out to be replaced by the next set within a day.
Karen Sandness 3 years ago
If I were to stay in a city long-term but not long-enough to rent an actual apartment, I'd look for a so-called "apartment hotel." It's like getting a studio apartment but with hotel services, such as weekly cleaning, a front desk, and maybe coffee and rolls or even a breakfast buffet included in the price.
Karen Sandness 3 years ago
Residence Inn is one chain that is common in the U.S. In Japan, look for Tokyu Stay, and for a more upscale experience, look for Citadines in Europe and Asia.
Load More Replies... zeynep 3 years ago (edited)
I used three times airbnb and never had a trouble. Using washing machine, seperate rooms for parents and kids, cleaner beds, stove, books, toys, games are advantages of this houses. You are using someone else's house. Of course, you have to be sensitive about cleaning. If you don't need these, hotels might be better options for you
Mary G----no 3 years ago
Used AirBnB when we went to Ireland... one home in particular was great. The hosts were awesome. Wish we could've stayed with them longer. Other places included a guest house, a boarding home, and a room in an apartment. The first one was the best though. Now, we have a dog. And she barks every time she hears a car door or sees someone outside. We're afraid to go to a dog-friendly hotel because we're afraid she'll p**s off other guests. So we've used cabins. All 3 times, though, were for cabins in a little vacation cabin rental community that are basically one room buildings with a bed, bathroom, and kitchenette. Haven't taken homes from people. It's good that Atlanta has changed its laws to keep people from buying up a bunch of homes to use for airbnb and vrbo.
Lunar 3 years ago (edited)
I have never like Airbnb. Pictures are always better than the place actually is, looking for the keys is like a treasure hunt, number of beds is a lie, there's no assistance when you need something, and there's a bunch of stupid rules that make you feel like you are staying at a hostel. For those who say Airbnb gives homey feeling....hello, i am on holiday, I don't need to feel like i am at home...
Thecoolbonnie 3 years ago
Personally, I've had nothing but good experiences w/airbnb... Not trying to take anything away from ppl's bad stories. I've never been charged a 'cleaning' or 'service' fee. You pay before u go, so I don't really see how they could sneak stuff like that in, without your knowledge
Julie Aaaa 3 years ago
I wish i would have seen this sooner. Had a HORRIBLE beach experience in Lincoln City via VRBO and VACASA. (Whoever is ultimately in charge, will NEVER use either again).Payed over $1000 after fees and taxes for 2 nights. Had to pay extra to check out at 2. Dirty dishes in cupboard, faulty construction and numerous safety issues. Got back a cleaning fee only. In still angry about it.
Jessica Julian 3 years ago
I've never used AirBNB, nor Über nor Lyft. It seems I have been very lucky.
Lottie Florell 3 years ago
My family has a second house that's out of flood zone so we can escape to it in case of a hurricane, we rent but we NEVER rent it on airB&B because it's shadier than other options
Melissa Hollowell 3 years ago
What is an occupancy fee? Isn't the nightly fee the price to occupy the property?
Lazy Panda 3 years ago
I work at a hotel and occupancy tax is a special tax placed by your province/state to all vacation rentals of all kinds. That is why it is usually grouped with sales tax.
Load More Replies... Oopsydaisy 3 years ago
I've always loathed the whole idea. I've only stayed in one once, in NY, and it was actually with the host. I really didn't enjoy it, but it was cheaper then a hotel room then. But I otherwise always stay at hotels. I love staying in hotels! However it seems to me that most of the bills posted here are pretty cheap if two or more people are staying at the Airbnb. I kind of thought that's what they were for.
Amanda Panda 2 years ago (edited)
In 2012, airbnb was the coolest. I spent 3 months in Europe staying in a house, room, or apartment for 25-45 dollars a night. Most of them had cool hosts who would tell me all the must see spots in town, invite me to dinner, give me veggies from their garden. It's really too bad everything good gets spoiled by greed.
2picklesinabun 2 years ago
Never understood the obsession with Airbnb. They've always had that ridiculous cleaning fee. It has always been more expensive than staying in a hotel.
Porpoisepower 2 years ago
To be fair, Airbnb is just one way that speculative investors ruin neighborhoods. Flipping, is a big problem too.
2picklesinabun 3 years ago
I hate airbnb. I really don't get it. You spend SO much money. What a waste. Hotels are cheaper and you don't have to clean
Himory TheDreamer 3 years ago
I looked at Airbnbs when going to another state (Brazil) this year, just looked at fron page per night value and no taxes, they were already more expensive than hotels. Ended up staying in the nicest hotel I've ever been to for less than any airbnb. As for Uber they're still way cheaper than cabs in my country, it goes for about half the price but some (not all) drivers act a bit entitled or unreasonable.
Mavreen Espinosa 3 years ago
That's why I part timed in Marriott saves me more money than Airbnb, but when I travel with more than 4 people we used Airbnb but I checked the reviews ALL THE TIME.
Scourge McCloud 3 years ago
What confused me is the one complaining about the owners stuff being in their own house. Like it's their house, what is it supposed to look like, like no one lives there? If was empty then they'd complain about the owners being a problem of the housing situation. Sounds like a no win situation.
DrGirlfriend 3 years ago
My husband worked for VACASA , They condo airB&B it's like the same thing ITS A RIP OFF he was a regional manager and he was so miserable they literally rip people off in corporate they plan to scam,pass the buck and GIVE ZERO F'S ABOUT ANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS . THEY ARE TOO BIG TO FAIL IN THEIR OWN NASTY WORDS. They don't care people are homeless they make money, my husband left and has been so much happier because of how miserable of a company they are. Vermont was going to pass a law that you have to live at the property for 6 months out of the year to operate the AB&B. Wish they would no one can find housing in this state
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago
Then just don't stay in one. If there are no takers the owners will have no choice but to shut down. Same with ubers. Real cabbies pay ridiculous fees to keep their licenses. Being a cab driver is a living not one of those 'when I need a few extra bucks'. I'll always take a cab over an uber and stay in a hotel over a bnb, air or otherwise.
Ivana Bašić 3 years ago
Staying at a hotel next week with my big furry dog. Beachfront, breakfast included. Still cheaper than an Airbnb. Not cleaning, but instead of a cleaning fee, I will get a discount for our next trip.
keighterz 3 years ago
Husband and I booked an AirBnB for a weekend in Chicago to see our favorite band. Then the Cubs won. Less than 24 hours from our arrival the hosts cancelled our stay and re-listed it for twice as much. Thankfully I had a friend in the city with spare room for an air mattress.
Bobbi McGough Robert 3 years ago
I never thought of using an airbnb. Looks like I'm one of the lucky ones!!!
jjdubs W 3 years ago (edited)
I'm truly grateful for Airbnb experiences in Okinawa. They were pretty fabulous --and a great way to enjoy the area when we weren't allowed to do a lot with the pandemic. My cousin has a terrific Airbnb stateside where she walls off her bedroom with a bookshelf and gives guests the rest of the place. It's a really nice gathering space and a good deal for both sides. Are there problems with the service? Sure! And I checked out the total fee before I went anywhere. It's not all bad.
Rylee Evergreen 3 years ago
I really liked the one AirBNB I ever stayed at (it was an a-line cabin next to a lake that was GORGEOUS in the nights and early mornings as the sun rose and set) but I agree with these posts! AirBNB is getting ridiculous!
Patricia Fonda 3 years ago
In Berlin Germany, students leased a tent on their balcony, they needed the money. Also in germany a Sofa on the outside of the house with only a roof over you no walls.
Andrea Careless 3 years ago (edited)
I had a fantastic experience with all the places I stayed in Europe, the UK, Iceland and elsewhere, and the cost was much less. But this was five years ago so maybe things have changed drastically. ??
Ivana Bašić 3 years ago
I'm actually old enough to remember the beginnings of Airbnb. It was awesome, stayed in a young couple's extra room when travelling for a job interview. Got a 1bd in an area without hotels when visiting family. Loved being able to cook because we have specific food requirements. Now with all the instructions and requirements, it sounds like a boot camp for renegade teenagers. Too old to play that game.
Lorraine Woollands 3 years ago
I live in a seaside town in Kent, England and Airbnb is killing the local hotels and bed and breakfasts. Putting people off coming here. Oh and upsetting the locals too. The sooner we have RIP Airbnb the better.
Katinka Min 3 years ago
My city tried to put a lid on AirBnB. They were not radical enough, though. Hoever, in Berlin some AirBnBs are a cheaper option than hotels, so at least the backpacking kind of tourists can profit from it. And they are sometimes in places where there are no hotels.
Marnie 3 years ago
The worst part is all of the complaints against it are of things that were obviously predictable the first time a person heard about this new thing. People, please think before you buy into some new thing. And nip bad trends in the bud by laughing at it and not spending money on it BEFORE it becomes entrenched. Same goes for uber and Lyft.
MzFitz1215 3 years ago
Bwahahaha, I spent 600.00 for a suite in a very nice hotel for 5 days over Thanksgiving in Kentucky. AirBnB can f**k right off.
Carney 3 years ago
In the early days of AirBnB I had many great experiences with lovely property owners. The cost was reasonable and each place I stayed was clean, comfortable and often very nice. Then...something changed and...well, never again. I stayed in one that charged me almost $500 for one night and then downrated us because we left a glass in the sink ONE GLASS! The place was dirty, the bed very uncomfortable and the hosts were unfriendly and rude. The original quoted price was $200/night and somehow changed to $500 with no explanation. I've stayed in a number of other places over the past couple of years and each has been terrible. Rude and indifferent owners, dirty premises, no bed linens, no towels, no shower/bath in one place; the doors could not be locked in another; no working heat in another (it was sub-zero outside!) and lots of rude and unpleasant owners. I'm done and now stay in motels/hotels and generally have good experiences.
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