I am a host for a remote cabin too. Remote locations make self checkin (lock box checkin) a real nuisance to other neighbors in the community along with maybe no help if you get lost of have an issue.

Part of the problem here with airbnb is that the platform (airbnb.com) penalizes hosts that do not use a lock box. Airbnb knows it will get more money if they can allow/promote guests to have events, over occupancy, or other illegal activities on a hosts property (at the hosts risk of citations). This promotes less responsible behavior by a host and guest since there is no check-in or guest count conformation . Orienting the guest to a new, maybe “first time out of town cabin experience” is super important for safety and guest comfort. Educating a guest on the property fire/smoking restrictions could save the whole community from burning down as we get more extreme weather and higher fire danger conditions.

You will probably get your money back now question, since it is a double occupancy and you did not stay overnight! But you do need to prove that … by maybe a screen shot of the others res (as shown to you) and document where you stayed that night.

The host & management company are to blame for the double booking not Airbnb.

It sounds like:

1. The host is using a property management company with multiple rental listing sites so there if the calendar isn’t well maintained, they can double book.
2. The host nor property management company could know about the mud the workers tracked in. HOWEVER they should have notified you that repair people would be on the property.
3. The property management company and host ARE responsible for the double booking, the A/C failure not being reported to you AND to Airbnb so they could help with alternate accommodations
4. You didn’t give Airbnb the ID verification they needed so they couldn’t handle your request appropriately.
5. Unfortunately AIRBNB allows property management companies to list but they don’t do it well. I won’t rent unless I am working directly with the owner.
6. The Owner & Property management company should be help accountable.

Explanation:

As a host, I CANNOT double book if all my rentals come through the Airbnb platform. If a host or property management company lists with more than one listing site such as VRBO, Booking.com, Flipkey, etc. in addition to Airbnb or accepts “private” bookings, a double booking can occur.

Airbnb routinely asks hosts and guests to verify their identity. For me as a host they would ask for the bank account number linked to my account for rental deposit. I would guess you don’t have a linked bank account so they asked you for your credit card number. It is for your protection they ask for some way to verify you as the actual account holder. This is so someone claiming to be you doesn’t call & cancel or change your reservation.

Because both reservations did not go through Airbnb, of they needed to research the issue and find out from the host what had happened. HOWEVER the Airbnb customer service rep should have offered you alternate accommodations. But you didn’t provide the credit card information to verify your identity so I’m not sure they could.

By the way, I live in North Carolina & grew up in the mountains. Long gravel driveways are common. I can understand how it could make a city-person uncomfortable but to refer to the dirt roads as SCARY is a bit melodramatic. After all you arrived in broad daylight. Please don’t make it sound like you were surrounded by rifle toting moonshiners or awaiting the guys from “Deliverance”

.