Comments on: Airbnb Guest Stories

By: Joel Sommers

Joel Sommers — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 23:03:47 +0000

In reply to KB. Why assume we homeowners wouldn't want short term rentals in our neighborhood? That's pretty elitist. I have no problems with my neighbors opting to AirBnB. Why should I?

By: Kirk

Kirk — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:06:06 +0000

This is not as bad as some others, but just this morning I was feeding a cat on the street near the Airbnb. The owner has spies and one of them tipped him off. I went in to get the cat some water and when I came back the owner had the plate of paper cat food in his hand and started ranting about how feeding cats is forbidden! This is on an island with many cats, and they are beloved. I just stood there in disbelief. Now I know I’m going to get a negative review for not following unstated house rules. The previous evening he went off on me for leaving the exterior light on during the day. I didn’t even know it was on. He also got testy that I haven’t been to his cafe yet. After this morning, I’m not going!

Something like this has happened with a previous host, but not as bad. I left him a good review and right after that he left me a terrible review. The lesson I learned is to not leave a review until AFTER the host does. Otherwise you play all your cards and they say anything. Also, check your star rating because sometimes they’ll leave a nice review but hit you with low stars. Guests can only check their star rating with the help of another host. If you have a friend who is a host, make an ‘insta booking’ reservation for far in the future. Then you can email them to check your star rating prior to leaving a review for a host.

It’s like war out there. Some of these hosts take pleasure in wrecking your rating.

By: Jason rose

Jason rose — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 19:58:00 +0000

I had a unit in a building in toronto the had many air bnbs when I looked online i couldn’t break my lease so I turned it into air bnb I was getting many booking but when a guest who had a fake picture and was very suspicious couldn’t find my lockbox wich was weird because it had pictures and many directions as 12 previous guest never had an issue he went to my condo board office and asked them they immediately targeted my unit I had my lock box amd key cut off and my bookings I had made couldn’t access my unit I contacted air bnb let them know thus listing needs to be canceled as new building policy’s were being enforced for covid 19 no air bnb but they stopped it for 30 days n reactivated I was getting calls not even knowing it was being booked and had very angry guest I already have up the unit. Later found out all the other air bnbs in my building were stil going strong im younger with tattoos maybe don’t fit the businessman description I feel rules aren’t enforced to everyone wich makes it very hard on both sides and liability limited

By: JB

JB — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 23:35:17 +0000

I’m done with Airbnb. I was a client for many years. I just stayed in a place in Hamstead NC wherethe host charged top dollar for a molding single wide trailer and then left me a bad review for not cleaning enough. The house was so moldy, I don’t know how it could ever be clean. In I followed the check out instructions, tidying and cleaning as instructed. Apparently they expect me to pay $300 for one night, including cleaning fee, and then I’m supposed to do a deep clean of their decrepit trailer. In the many years of staying with Airbnb I never received anything other than a glowing review. The nastiness from the host has absolutely turned me off Airbnb for good. Totally ruined my vacation.

By: Darya

Darya — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 20:31:46 +0000

I’m shocked to see so many negative comments about Airbnb from the people! I have never used this platform, although I was intended to. The reason is obvious – negative experience with the platform itself even before I have booked any accommodation. I have planned to visit Frankfurt Main with my husband and my friend told me about this renting platform and she sent me an invitation link by email so I could create my account and get a bonus for our trip. I’ve done it and got the coupon. After some time when I tried to book a the place, it turned out that I can not use the coupon, because my profile was not verified. So I attached the copy of my ID and selfie for the verification and it was confirmed in the email from Airbnb, but I was still unable to use the coupon. I contacted the customer support and was told, that they will look into it. Then I received some message about their policies and coupon suggesting, that it’s a fraud. I don’t know what fraud, I just followed the steps given on the site when creating the account. The amount was not high, just enough for us to repay the train ticket for one way, but I got so much frustrated, that I decided to ask them to delete my account. I decided that it’s not worth to spoil my holidays with a company, which is not trustworthy from the very beginning and not giving something that was promised. We have booked the trip with other platform, it was more expensive, but also our experience was positive. Now, when reading all the stories I think that it was my very good decision – to remove the account immediately instead of booking with them.

By: Janis Hail

Janis Hail — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 18:24:47 +0000

All it takes is one rotten apple and I will never use Air BNB again. The Company doesn’t hold Hosts accountable and there are too many loop holes for con artist Hosts to take advantage of people by making there own rules and regulations which are different for all Hosts.. What a joke, its a poor mans way to get a room and support rip off artists to take money from their customers!!!

By: I hate Air b n b

I hate Air b n b — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:45:49 +0000

In reply to Dina.

Nightmare booking via Air b n b …their inability to push through a refund…it is just a booking system and a bad one at that…booked into guesthouse…wasnt happy with the room…no windows and mosquito in the room….wanted to cancel after 1st night but wasnt allowed to by host…awful treatment by the host. Wanted to leave…eventual got a refund from the guy who had called the police…thankfully they took my side and forced him to pay me back money…non the less it was an awful experience and I complained to air b n b …of which they never took it seriously…I will not use their platform again…there are better booking platforms out there and I’d rather have peace of mind and not just keep expecting dirt cheap accommodation. Also If another guest has come through at a higher price then you they will give that guest preference over the cheaper booking…I will never use them again …awful company, awful ethics, unfair booking platform, doesn’t work in favour as a Guest …only seems to be for the host…

By: Tiff

Tiff — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 13:28:46 +0000

In reply to Kathy. Myself and daughter used an airbnb for a long time, when in between places. It was a little over a year ago and the worst experience of my life. For the months of July and August, after the couple who ran it told me my sister wasn't allowed to stay past a certain time, I was being drugged and raped. I have a couple memories but most was a blur. Sadly, it was not just me, but my then 2 year old daughter who was assaulted. We are just picking up the pieces. No one believed me for a long time. Some still claim not to. Including my parents which is incredibly hurtful. The place is still running but they are being investigated by dcf, and I'm hoping it will go further. (They have a 6 year old daughter and I'm certain they have done this to others)

By: Mack Ag

Mack Ag — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 14:08:46 +0000

Airbnb is pretty good. They have refunded me for the last booking but yesterday booking which i have made was not confirmed and money deducted from my account. Please suggest where to go now. Support are not helping me.

By: Mac B

Mac B — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:29:33 +0000

In reply to Sophia.

Hi Sophia, I’m an investigative reporter working on a story about AirBnB’s lack of safety measures for guests. If you are interested in talking further about this, you can reach me at mb4652@columbia.edu