I sent this email to Airbnb: Thank you. I am 54. Your firm has a larger market cap than Hyatt Hotels. You took my $3,000.00 without any verification—no problem. When I tried to get the address of what I purchased, I had to be verified! Imagine Hyatt taking my money and telling me they will get back to me when they want to to tell me what I actually reserved. It is inconceivable. It took me TWO weeks and time I do not have to conform to YOUR system which is utterly incapable of working with someone who does not fiddle with Linked in, Facebook or gmail. This should be disclosed to unwary customers like myself that you really don’t have a way to serve dinosaurs like me. Do send this up your chain IF you truly want to be a customer focused firm and earn the market cap that you have not in my humble opinion. You and Jordan were attempting to be most helpful—this is no reflection on you two but you work within a system that is not meant to serve all consumers—only those that conform to Airbnb’s specific requirements. With kind regards, Jim Johnson
Category Archives: Airbnb Guest Stories
These are real, uncensored stories from Airbnb Guests. We encourage our site visitors to read and share their Airbnb Guest Stories to help warn others of the dangers of using Airbnb, and consider using alternative options in the sharing economy.
Smelly, dirty airbnb room
We were put up in airbnb accomodation for 2 nights. The place looked a delight on the internet…However, the title should of been “Old, Cold, & Moldy” The worst part was suspecting that the sheets weren’t clean! My 8 year old told me she didn’t like the place cause it smelled bad and the bed was smelly. There were 2 single beds for the kids…neither had mattress protectors on them. An absolute minimum standard of cleanliness were clean sheets and towels! Not this place. BE WARNED what you think is basic cleanliness, may not be someone else’s!!
Money Taken, Place Already Booked, Couldn’t Get Money Back For 7 Days
We saved up money to book a place with a few specifics. when we tried book after getting pre approval it airbnb told us it was booked for our date. not a problem we thought as we still have 2 other places that meet our requirements. when we tried to book our next choice, our card was declined. ok so we think that it might be a day or so to get our money back into our account. no we have to wait over a week to get 500 euro back into our account. our holiday is ruined now because their is no other place that can accommodate our needs and we have already spent money on our flights. horrible 1st time experience with airbnb and we havent even left our house!!!!
Left in the Lurch After Host Cancelled on Short Notice
Last December I booked an airbnb in Santa Barbara listed as a “Sweet Serene Getaway.” I needed a place to stay while in town for UCSB graduation weekend June 12-14. Knowing how quickly places book up and how much hotels jack up their rates to gouge the graduates’ families, I felt lucky to find the 2 bedroom house not far from campus at a very reasonable rate.The reservation was accepted, My credit card was charged, and I felt I was all set. Wrong. Yesterday, a week and a day before my scheduled artival, the host informed me the property would not be available, citing an unspecified “emergency.” To say that I was livid would be an understatement. I was faced with the daunting task of finding a reasonably priced place to stay in an expensive city on short notice on a weekend that has been fully booked for months. After two frustrating hours of making phone calls and hearing nothing but “sorry,” I finally found two hotel rooms a half hour away at an exorbitant rate. I grabbed them in desperation just as another airbnb host accepted what was by then a last ditch effort at making a reservation. The new reservation came with a $616.00 price tag, $134.00 more than the first reservation. Meantime, the original host had not yet officially cancelled the reservation thtough airbnb, so I had to send her a message requesting that she do so. Finally, hours later, she did and I received an e-mail from airbnb telling me they would keep the $482.00 I spent on that failed reservation and apply it to a future booking. I had to call airbnb this morning and argue with a customer service rep about getting my refund. We went around and around for a few minutes before he finally saw the light and agreed to issue the refund in fullI. I have my fingers crossed that the new reservation works out, but I still also have my back up hotel rooms on hold. Airbnb indicated that they would do nothing more for me except issue a $70.00 credit for a future booking, which doesn’t help me at all with the current situation. I have no intention of ever booking with this company again, so they can stick their credit where the sun don’t shine. They also have no way for me to write a negative review on their site. So, I am writing here to warn people, as others have done, that airbnb guarantees nothing. Their hosts can be complete flakes and cancel up to the last minute without suffering any consequences. Meanwhile, the guests, who’ve booked well in advance and paid in full, can be left in the lurch. It’s fraud and I don’t intend to let this go. This seems to be a frequent occurrence and is simply unacceptable.
No control of hosts – no help for guests
A very bad experience in Uptown West69th Street apartment It was described as spacious, comfortable, you feel like in a hotel ecc It had good reviews. It was the contrary: extremely small, badly equipped with old stuff, smelly, old kitchen, cushions, sofa, carpets with stains. The fotos years old. When we arrived the sheets on the bed were so smelly, that is was not possible to sleep in them, we had to take it off and went out to wash and dry them and I bought one new pillow. We wanted to cancel immediately. But first you have to report to the host and find a solution with him. Only within 24 hours. You must be lucky to reach somebody and get an answer. The guy I contacted at airbnb told me to call back, but never did. The host agreed to accept the cancellation, but only at 50%, airbnb take their share anyway. They did not take any action even though I had sent them fotos that showed the reality. Only the host decides and counts. We had booked nearly two weeks, so we were not ready to lose so much money. We stayed and tried to be as little as possible in the flat. I wrote a realistic description of the flat in my review. Jane, the host, accused me in her review aggressively. Only lies and retaliation. Airbnb had our emails, knowing it was not true, only said: free speech. The only one that looses iand gets the blame is the guest.
SCAM both Airbnb and their infantile host members( Alges, Portugal )
Booked straight 8 nights on Airbnb i found a room in suburb area of Lisbon, Portugal.( Alges ) The host member seems qualified adult people and its room qualified to sleep according to her Airbnb profile. the followings are i had experiences in reality……. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Evidence a) the host had hidden negative profile in her House Rules, conditions a-1. The entrance space of the host’s door stinks always.( leak from neibour ) a-2. The host frequently invites her Frenchman boyfriend, ( did not inform in advance to the guest, no details in her profile and House Rules…. ) a-3. The host’s Frenchman boyfriend disturb my stay and made uncomfortable a-4. The host gave the duties to the guest implicitly that dinner offering instead a-5. No details definition in House Rules in her Airbnb profile but complained the guest and forced strict shower usage. The guest only used to took 5min. shower at 6:30 in the morning once a-6. The host, her boyfriend and his sister and brother in low disturbed my sleep 4 straight nights with the loud conversation/music until 12 mid-night a-7. The host forced the guest to go to buy breakfast bread in the morning( implicit duty ) a-8. The host forced the guest to repair her broken raptop computer( insist several times and brought it in front of the guest . the host recognized I am engineer…….not such field anyway ) a-9. Explicit scam behavior, cheated me the compensation amount when the guest lost the deviden small room key( losing the key is the fault to the guest and gave the appology to the host……….) I caught their Portuguese word “EUR30”, later they talked EUR80, then the host corrected EUR110( 30 + 80), and then key guy corrected EUR80. But 1st day he just unlock the door. On next day, other guy came and try to prepare spair……..and showed insufficient details reciept. Thus I suspected to ask the details, no answer and insisted to say proper amount and sufficient detailed receipt. And the guest phoned tourist police officer to confirm about the fairness receipt format. Tourist police officier suspected the item “Contribution No” was missing. The key guys no answer and immediately left with temper. And then the host woman gave the screaming with the temper. And she tried to hide the reciept from the guest. Anyway, I gave the amount EUR80 cash to the host as the compensation.( key lost ) ( a time to the guest has to catch a private taxi to the airport ) a-10. The host’s Frenchman boyfriend needs help to move the furniture to prepare his sister bed room usage, forced to the guest to work in their matter. a-11. The lie review by the host allowed to show on Airbnb site. b) the host’s hidden mind ; sly to force duties to the guest c) Airbnb did not want to solve the above cases properly and miss leading the guest complaint form in their Resolution Center. At their leading, just gave the waist of my time to led to give up. And eventually, we could not offer any refund. Offered useless future coupon in Airbnb and few appology words. No imbusement/compensation.( 1st contact person in Airbnb; Miss.Yejin-support division ; offered me the refund through in Resolution Centre, definitely ) and Airbnb just replied me their final decision( 2nd contact person in Airbnb; Miss Florence, her manager and special task team ); d) No penalty to the host member.( just advice her to correct profile…..and so after the fact) e) No penalty to the 3rd person disturbance on their business either <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Airbnb support should manage properly to this matter case and offer proper imbursement to the guest as the professional business manner x-1> Airbnb support should manage to take proper action to prevent such ridiculous case. y> The host member in Airbnb should manage properly to this matter case and offer proper imbusement and the appology to the guest. z> The host member in Airbnb should manage to eliminate her Frenchman boyfriend. the host’s Frenchman boyfriend is the Definitely 3rd person in this Airbnb business contruct. And also, if this ridiculous Frenchman got involve into the Airbnb contruct. That is explicit duty to the host the eliminating him. otherwise obvious SCAM case
Sexually Assaulted and Horrible Airbnb Experience
Fatima Rahim, 33-year old African American from New York City, is running a hotel out of the small apartment she is renting at Al Retaj Building A Floor 6 Apartment 3, Al Saad, Doha, Qatar.
I was verbally harassed and sexually assaulted by a friend of Fatima’s within 48 hours of my arrival. I had never met nor seen him before nor since this event, yet I found him in the flat which Fatima had vacated to Abu Dhabi for the first weekend of my stay in April 2015. This man was one of several questionable characters who seemed to live there, entering the residence as they pleased, as the front door to the flat was left unlocked 24/7; thereby putting my personal safety at risk when I was there and my personal possessions at risk when I was not.
I immediately reported the incident to Fatima upon her return from Abu Dhabi. While Fatima had initially supported me stating that the perpetrator would never be welcome back to her flat, within 24 hours she was with him in the flat. The following day, I gave my notice to Fatima, requested a refund (to which she initially agreed) for the days I would not be staying and I left.
Fatima is now refusing to give me a refund. She has changed the original price of our agreement increasing it by over 50% and is now claiming that I owe her money. She is also telling me to go to the man who sexually harassed me if I want my money returned.
I am writing not in the hopes of obtaining my rightful funds from a tightfisted person, but to warn anyone wishing to stay with Fatima Rahim in Qatar within Doha that in addition to the environment above, you will also have:
-rancid cigarette smoking
-putrid smells in the kitchen fridge from old food
– Dirty dishes overflowing the sink from numerous late night meals eaten
– No public space in the kitchen, living room or storage areas for food or personal belongings
– No control over the air conditioner in 45 degree C heat (if you turn it on, she will turn it off)
– Noise pollution in four distinct forms.
-Fatima speaking loudly and colloquially on Skype without headphones
-The jackhammer that beats and pounds for 18 hours a day 6 days a week from the construction site 50 meters away from the window
-The minaret blasting the call to prayer every morning at dawn 10 meters away from the window
-Noisy child neighbors. I might add, whose safety is also at risk in this toxic environment of shady characters
Rude Unprofessional Host
Hello Internet! I was booking a trip to Korea with the girlfriend using AirBnB I decided to ask a few questions to the host to get a guage of who they are and to inquire about their properties which we were interested in staying in. One host “Jinju” (https://www.airbnb.com.au/users/show/17503108) was hosting a property “Eternal Sunshine @Gangnam” (https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/3864681) We asked the following: “Hello, my name is Royston. I am interested in staying here with my partner. However, I just wanted to ask a few questions first. On the description you mentioned there is portable WiFi for rent. How much is it to rent the portable WiFi for 5night stay? are we able to checkout late as our departing flight leaves at 3pm.. are we able to check out at 12pm? thank you, looking forward to your response” She replied with: “Hi, Royston Thank you for your interest in my studio. But you can’t book that days you want to stay. I am sorry about that. I hope you find good house for your trip. Thank you.” Straight after I got this email, I noticed that the EXACT DATES we wanted to stay at her property were blacked out (even when I logged out) All the months surrounding those dates were COMPLETELY OPEN! I personally find this response to be completely rude and unprofessional. I understand that AirBnB is a review based system, and that people can deny others at the drop of a hat. But in this instance, It is blatantly obvious that she lied and blacklisted the dates that we were after just to prevent us staying at her property.. Hopefully the host and many others like her learn how to be most honest, professional and diplomatic.
BEAUTIFUL 1 BR APT IN RITTENHOUSE forget this one!
This is not a bad apartment though not great. Really bad experience though due to poor instructions about how to leave the key. They confiscated our security deposit because we left the key incorrectly even though they were at fault for late communication. That’s the gist; buyer beware. They can and will take your deposit over a minor detail. Specifics: The communicator sent us an email 48 hours prior to our arrival with instructions about how to get the key from the lockbox (including details like “Can be sticky”, “Use a key for pressure”). The lockbox flung itself open before the code had been fully entered, and the face fell off. We had the key then and got in, and with some difficulty re-assembled the (old rusted) lockbox. We’d retrieved a message from the AirBnb site about our occupancy and instructions for check-out, but no word about where to leave the key. Reluctant to leave it in that hinky lockbox where it was not secure, we left it on the kitchen table. The apartment was spotless when we left. I received a literally screaming voice-mail message from someone associated with this apartment (female), and numerous angry texts later; “WHERE IS THE KEY?” I think there’s a disconnect between the person who appears to be advertising this AirBnB and the staff person who seems to be pretending to be that guy. Your messages go to the person who will scream at you if any problem occurs. Your deposit is in her hands. I will never go back to this place.
1 BR Condo in Ideal Location Listing #1023861 User/show/5636158
Host, James Boykin cancelled the prepaid reservation I had with him for three months just a couple weeks before my travel to a family wedding without notice or my consent. When I went to write to arrange the key for my stay, only then did I find out that he had cancelled my paid reservation. The reason James cancelled the reservation was because he found another guest who wanted to stay longer so he dishonored his commitment. As this is not a home that is lived in, but an exclusive rental property, there was no legitimate reason to cancel other than his personal greed. I warn every Airbnb customer to avoid this listing at all costs as my money was kept for four months and I was left with no place to stay. I cannot be strong enough in expressing the hardship that his cancellation has caused me in increased expense longer distance to travel to my location and the truthful experience that this awful host seriously did me wrong. The Airbnb policy is to allow such people to continue to continue to list on their site. This is a bad policy. When a host is this mercenary he should be dropped immediately. Airbnb could not find another listing in the area to rescue my situation, but they did help me find a hotel. I am thankful to them for this.