30 Hotel And Airbnb Experiences That Were Nothing Like Promised

Both travel content creators have had their fair share of bookings that fell terribly short of the listing pictures. Angela Liu from Ange On A Plane says it happens because the posted photos are usually from when the accommodation is new and freshly cleaned.

And after some years have passed, the wear and tear does do a number on these hotel rooms and Airbnbs, making our expectations clash with reality.

Her worst experience was when she stayed in an accommodation that hired a photographer who really knew his editing tools.

"The place was much smaller than in the photos, a lot less bright, and also much dirtier. There were spiderwebs on the inner corners of the windows, and there were a lot of windows in that house! It looked like no one had opened the blinds for years. When we lifted the bedsheets to check for bed bugs, we found lots of little spots of blood all over the mattress. I didn't bring any bug spray and had the worst sleep of my life there, covered in peppermint oil (after a quick Google search on what would deter bed bugs)," she shared.

It turns out the bed bug issue in booked accommodations is quite common, as travel blogger Carrie Green-Zinn had also reserved apartments in great neighborhoods on two separate occasions and both times, her daughters got horrible bed bug bites. It was so bad they had to leave and ask for reimbursement.

Unfortunately, those weren't the only times Carrie was disappointed when arriving at hotels or Airbnbs. "Once in London, the apartment was so tiny and the owner's things were everywhere—not what we expected by the photos at all. Once in Provence, the apartment was great but the location felt very unsafe and sketchy," she told us.

Carrie's go-to strategy for handling a stay that wasn’t at all as promised in its description and pictures is to immediately contact the manager or owner to try to resolve the issue. "And if that is unsuccessful, to request reimbursement. In the case of the bed bugs, the owner was so mortified that they offered a refund right away!"

Meanwhile, Angela says, "It depends if I've booked the stay, but usually I'll message the host first before leaving a review. Thankfully, most of the stays I've had have been incredibly accommodating and clean."

To avoid disappointment when booking accommodations, Angela recommends thinking about what locals are used to in that particular area or country. This is something she wasn't used to considering, which got her in quite a few unpleasant situations.

"I stayed in Amsterdam and the photos looked beautiful online, but there was no elevator and we were on the 4th floor. We had 3 large bags/suitcases, but luckily staff helped us with this. On another stay in Bali in the rainforest, I didn't consider that bugs inside the accommodation might be quite normal—I slept in a bed of (small) ants most of the nights and I'm terrified of bugs! I'd definitely remember this when booking in a foreign country."

Another tip she has is trying to spot if furniture looks too small in the center of photos, which is a telltale sign that the photographer used a wide-angle lens that makes the room look bigger. "When booking boutique hotels and accommodations, the chance of encountering these things is more common, so I try to be cautious when I do consider booking them. Also, reviews from other people are your best friend and don't ignore them!"

Carrie is also a big believer in the importance of always checking the reviews. "I think it is critical to read reviews! Keep scrolling as you read. Most people with a bad experience will share it in reviews," she says.

"Also, any time you can get recommendations from a trusted source—a friend or private travel Facebook group that you might join—is helpful. There are private Facebook groups for all kinds of travelers and destinations that you can join before a trip to ask for recommendations of places to stay."

Lastly, Carrie advised, "We love staying in apartments and home rentals but know that it can be risky, so do your research before booking and ask all your questions to the owner in advance."

But, "Even if you're stuck in a bad stay, try not to let it ruin your day! You're on holiday after all. Happy travels and have fun!" said Angela as a farewell.

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