Not a trap , just most people are too lazy to read the booking details and rules , easy come easy go ? It was all there for you to read , just you did not ? Just so you dont think I am just a nut , I have a small place on booking.com 3 yrs review score of 9.575 / 10 over 3yrs and I get 30% cancellations 17,000 euro of “messers “which is so unfair but what can I do as a host …….Just live with it and often lose money as the dates are not rebooked . But hey surprise to you …..you thought we dont get screwed , we do by guests not reading or playing fair ?

Why , what would you do if you turned up and the hosts said “sorry ..no accommodation ” you would be livid , so when you cancelled a week in advance if it wasnt rebooked show they forfiet all the booking costs …….what did they do wrong ……..nothing ? Be fair , problem is it is not a world that is used by the general public these days as all make it so easy . the housing market made it easy and then 2009 it went crazy and people had their homes lost ……but all wnats everything and commits to nothing ……..welcome to the REAL world my friend , as hosts we live in it , you dont ?

I this case you should not have cancelled but , insisted the host cancelled this . the problem is if you cancelled it , on their system it will show you cancelled and therefore you should pay . If this was done by the host in order to leave you “high and dry “contact airbnb and explain but unless you can prove with e-mails your case them it is you infact that cancelled. It is unfair by the hosts as it looks like he knew what he was doing , sorry you have had this experience as we as hosts are not all the same and dont wish to be. Never be coaxed into cancelling for someone elses fault. Good Luck in the future .

That is exactly the sort of behaviour that we as hosts are trying to avoid . Why do you talk about advantage from the gusts side but nothing about the hosts ? If you were to have your accommodation cancelled by the hosts as they found someone who would pay more , you would be horrified ? I rent out on booking.com , if I cancel a guest for whatever reason , I have to suggest suitable accommodation as an alternative and if it is more expensive booking.com will consider charging me the difference to ensure the guest is not out of pocket , so hosts dont pay games , do not cancel unless an emergency . How often have I had cancellations a week before or waited till midnight for the guests to appear and they dont answer e-mail , sms , phone and dont show up . One 2 bed log house 3 years 17,000 euros of cancellations 30% …and its not the quality of accommodation over 3 yrs we have average 9.575 / 10 on 120+ reviews…..and you think it not only is wrong to pay a cancellation fee but want to suggest that you screw us around further by throw your teddies out of the pram as you cannot get everything and all you want ……..where I come from its called fair and you would be sellfish ? Small buisinesses cannot survive with people like you ?

No Jane. With a hotel the cancellation fees are much clearer. If they say “Full refund” you get every penny back, period. When canceling a week before it’s pretty common to get a full refund. Hotels would call what airbnb do a “Partial Refund”. It’s not the fact that they retain the money that’s a problem. It’s the fact they hide it in the small print while still claiming its a full refund.