by "LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
Published 11/09/2017 at 10:15
by "LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
Published 11/09/2017 at 10:15
Tags: AirBnB
STARS: 0
Okay, I looked very carefully at a number of properties to find one to reserve for Thanksgiving week vacation, and now, 12 days before we were to arrive, the host cancelled the reservation! AirBnB is offering 10% extra booking credit to find something else, but it is a bit late at this point to get something attractive - anybody have this experience before?
This is my first time using AirBnB. My wife was really looking forward to staying at this location, and will be EXTREMELY disappointed, and I’m pretty disappointed, too.
Edit: Aaaand for the moment the place appears as available on Airbnb, although I imagine it may be a glitch as it is being brought off line. I did message the host to see if we could stay for even part of the time, and got a response: “Driving” - I’m holding out hope that it might have been a mistaken button push, but I doubt it.
And checking all of the other places we considered? All booked now.
[UPDATE]
I spoke with the host (after getting around Airbnb trying to block us exchanging phone numbers in their messaging app) and was told that the owner for who she was managing the property had a disagreement with her, so they parted ways and she had to cancel my reservation. (That’s the short, polite version.) She did give me the owner’s number, and we texted this morning, planning to speak later today to try to work out a new deal directly.
I’m a bit cautious, since each party is claiming that the other was the problem. And if I don’t book through Airbnb I may have even less protection. I’m leaning toward the host being okay, since she went to extra effort to communicate with me, so I’m nervous about how well things will go with the owner. But the property is available, and what we want, so I’m going to take the risk as long as the conversation goes okay.
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
11/08/2017 at 12:58, STARS: 5
If you make a stink with Airbnb, it’s possible to get additional credit. YMMV.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/08/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 3
This is what I would do, if for no other reason that to sooth my nerves.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/08/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 0
Ugh, that sucks, and especially because it’s a holiday, and especially because it’s your first time trying to use the service...
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
11/08/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 1
Technically, you could say that it’s the second time, because the first place I booked I immediately canceled when I realized that it lacked internet, which my wife requires due to possible work demands. I will say that the cancellation went smoothly, particularly thanks to an understanding host.
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
11/08/2017 at 13:24, STARS: 1
Forgot to mention, but friends and myself have had experiences like this. It is unfortunate for both the customer and Airbnb since the problem is really due to the host. The host really makes the experience. Just be glad you’re not on the complete opposite side of the world when it happens to you which is what happened to me last month in Bangkok!
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
11/08/2017 at 13:31, STARS: 0
I know you are trying to stick with AirBnB, but a general search for VRBO’s in the area may reveal something worth renting. Contact is usually with the host directly.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
11/08/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 1
I have used VRBO a number of times and like it. I previously found a couple of places that were listed on both, and were about 20% cheaper on VRBO than on Airbnb! So, yes, VRBO is in my search approach, not beholden to Airbnb at all.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
11/08/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
Ooof. Yes, that would be bad, at least in a worst case we can find a hotel (but not near where we wanted to be) or stay home at this point, not on the opposite side of the world. I’m just glad we weren’t coordinating with others who would be affected, it’s just us in this case.
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
11/08/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 0
Best of luck! Let us know what happens.
"TractorPillow" (tractorpillow)
11/09/2017 at 10:21, STARS: 3
I host airbnb and to cancel a reservation is a huge deal. Your listing will be buried in the future, you’ll face penalties, and it’s basically considered the worst (legal) thing can you do. Sorry you had to go through that. I would make a stink with airbnb and see how much you can get out of them.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
11/09/2017 at 10:25, STARS: 0
I’m just cutting my losses and getting the refund, since there isn’t anything else to book right now that meets my criteria and I don’t anticipate looking for another rental until next year.
Interesting to know about the hit to the host as a result of the cancellation.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/09/2017 at 10:41, STARS: 1
am I the only person who thinks the whole concept of AirBnB is just plain “icky?” I would feel like an enormous intruder staying in someone else’s place, and I sure as hell wouldn’t want a bunch of randos in mine. not least because I don’t want to deal with the insurance implications should one of them injure themselves or burn the place down.
it’s just fucking creepy to me on so many levels.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
11/09/2017 at 10:46, STARS: 2
It makes sense to me for whole house rentals, which is what I’m doing, since the whole property is a rental property, and should be managed as such.
It could work for me to use a room if I have the best-case-scenario host, but I can’t assume that, and I definitely wouldn’t rent out a room in my house to someone using Airbnb for the reasons that you describe.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/09/2017 at 10:52, STARS: 0
but why wouldn’t you rather a long-term tenant for a rental property?
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
11/09/2017 at 10:55, STARS: 1
I think there are two reasons to look for short-term renters:
1) If it is a vacation home that you want to use on occasion yourself, precluding long-term rental, or
2) You want to make more money on each rental and think it is worth the hassle and uncertainty. I could see this working if you expect the property to be in high demand, leaving low vacancy while still getting the short-term premiums rates.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
11/09/2017 at 11:01, STARS: 3
I agree that staying in someone else’s house is kind of weird, but it’s a great service for small, unique lodging to get seen by a lot of people. Last summer we drove the Blue Ridge Parkway and stayed in a converted train caboose. This family had purchased a handful of cabooses, moved them to a scenic ridge, and converted each one to a private suite with a King size bed, jacuzzi tub, full bathroom, and kitchenette. All for less than a hundred bucks a night. It was fantastic, and I might not have found it without airbnb.
We’ve also stayed in a few airbnbs that were a separate building, like an apartment above the garage. Maybe you don’t want the obligations of a full time tenant and being a landlord, but if you want to make some extra money renting it out on weekends in the fall why not?
"jimz" (jimz)
11/09/2017 at 11:03, STARS: 0
hey, you can do whatever you want :) I’m just saying why I would never use it myself.
"gettingoldercarguy" (gettingoldercarguy)
11/09/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 0
It’s just you. I’ve done this for decades whenever I go to Europe. If the host keeps the property clean, how is it any different than staying in a hotel?
"jimz" (jimz)
11/09/2017 at 11:46, STARS: 0
a hotel is not my (or anyone else’s) personal space.
"gettingoldercarguy" (gettingoldercarguy)
11/09/2017 at 11:51, STARS: 1
Typically the rental isn’t anybody else’s personal space either. It’s unused space that is rented out. I guess if people can’t delineate unused space vs. personal living space it may seem odd.
"E92M3" (E46M3)
11/09/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 1
They do it to get more money. Just an example: A friend of mine lives in St Augustine. A rental on the beach rents for $300+ a night on AirBnB, two blocks over a similar house rents for $1800 a month with a 12 month lease. Let’s say it only rents for 20 days out of the month. That’s $6,000 compared to $1800.
"Svart Smart, traded in his Smart" (svartsmart)
11/09/2017 at 21:26, STARS: 0
Counterpoint: I’m traveling to a resort city for a long weekend next month, and I’m staying at a misterb&b rental (like Airbnb but LGBTer). It’s a casita attached to a house but with a separate entrance. (So I can’t go into the main house, and my hosts won’t enter the casita unless it’s an emergency.) The house and casita share a pool and hot tub area that the homeowners have designated clothing-optional, as there is a privacy wall around the yard. Definitely wouldn’t be able to find that level of freedom and privacy in a regular hotel.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/10/2017 at 10:28, STARS: 0
maybe it’s just my personal hang-ups, but that (the “clothing optional” part) is even more squicky.
"Svart Smart, traded in his Smart" (svartsmart)
11/10/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0
LOL fair enough.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/21/2017 at 20:18, STARS: 0
I find the concept of hotels to be “icky”. Airbnb is actually my go to first choice for lodging anytime I go anywhere really. I would gladly pay more for the Airbnb experience just because there are some amazing hosts out there. But generally its also significantly cheaper for what you get. Hotels are just so “cookie cutter” and rarely clean enough (unless you REALLY spend on it) that it takes away from vacationing. Hotels serve their place for business travel and if you really needed that extra privacy.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/21/2017 at 20:21, STARS: 0
Seems you just got stuck with a crappy host. On airbnb, you are best off only renting from people with a solid number of reviews and actually read the content. The content should talk about the great things the host does to make the experience worthwhile. Depending on where you are going, this can often yield quite a few results that are all excellent choices. I have also found that Airbnb customer service is quite helpful in most scenarios.
I like to call Turo the “Airbnb but for cars”, however the customer service at Turo is abysmal in comparison. Twice I have had to rent the car directly from the owner in cash because Turo sucks. I would have no issue doing the same on Airbnb since there is less risk in a house, but I would rather have the protection since houses do cost quite a bit more money.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/21/2017 at 20:23, STARS: 0
Hotels are just so “cookie cutter”
I don’t give a rat’s fuck. when I go somewhere the hotel is not my destination.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/21/2017 at 20:28, STARS: 0
I mean I still dont like sleeping in a prison cell, regardless of how long I spend there. I wouldnt necessarily pay more for the unique experience, but I would gladly pay the same or less for something better. And that is why I love Airbnb.
The key point though is to get a good host. And while reviews can be helpful, its not foolproof. I have had poor experiences but they are rare in comparison to the great ones. I would never want to be a host since I dont like interacting with people that much, but some people are so good at hosting, that I am happy to talk to them.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/21/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
“I mean I still dont like sleeping in a prison cell,”
I’m pretty sure your lily white arse has never even seen a prison cell, nevermind slept in one.
HAND.