Air BnB Discussion

[justinbrett]

Actually, AirBnBs are quite affordable and there’s a lot of them in and around Waikiki. Have one booked again in a few months.

But yes, hotels are crazy expensive…. . Not sure there’s been any/many new hotels built/opened for years?

You couldn’t pay me to use AirBNB again. I’ve been done with that platform for years.

 

[SYD]

E

You couldn’t pay me to use AirBNB again. I’ve been done with that platform for years.

Each to their own.

OT, but why?

It’s been our Go To choice for longer stays* around the world for some time. Bets the cough out of hotels when you can self cater, do laundry etc.

*ie 4 or more days, sometimes a week or two, even a month or three. BUT it pays to careful read the reviews!

 

[justinbrett]

E

Each to their own.

OT, but why?

It’s been our Go To choice for longer stays* around the world for some time. Bets the cough out of hotels when you can self cater, do laundry etc.

*ie 4 or more days, sometimes a week or two, even a month or three. BUT it pays to careful read the reviews!

Surely this musn't be news to you that people are turning off Airbnb? It's been in the news for ages (and matches my own opinions). Basically not cheap enough to make up for the hassles associated - especially when competing with a hotel that offers early check in/late checkout/ bag storage etc. For me I've had more than one host cancellation within 72 hours of the booking, which is just unacceptable.

If you want an apartment for laundry and cooking you can get them through other sites including booking.com.

What happened to Airbnb?

Financially, the sharing economy darling is thriving, but guests, hosts, and cities have had enough.

www.vox.com

 

[SYD]

Surely this musn't be news to you that people are turning off Airbnb? It's been in the news for ages (and matches my own opinions). Basically not cheap enough to make up for the hassles associated - especially when competing with a hotel that offers early check in/late checkout/ bag storage etc. For me I've had more than one host cancellation within 72 hours of the booking, which is just unacceptable.

If you want an apartment for laundry and cooking you can get them through other sites including booking.com.

What happened to Airbnb?

Financially, the sharing economy darling is thriving, but guests, hosts, and cities have had enough.

www.vox.com

Staying OT, yes there are limitations to AirBnB etc. I wouldn’t book one if arriving late (unless I was familiar with the self checkin process). I wouldn’t bother for one or two nights (unless it’s an area where there aren’t hotels - done that). I wouldn’t consider it for work travel, unless it was a long stay - maybe.

Never had a host cancel (out of many many stays). But that that would be the pits.
Again, pays to read the reviews. Any that say “Host cancelled” is a big red flag.

Yes, you can book on other platforms but in many locations, it’s generally still the same properties / hosts. And yes, I use / check Boooking.com, Expedia etc.

Lurching further OT, I’m on way to to China and basically all the attractions, tours, transfers sold by Viator are being resold by Expedia, Booking.com, Trip.com etc Usually similar pricing (so go with the one you might be accumulating credits with) but also some remarkable differences in price.

Whatever you’re comfortable with. We’re still fine with AirBnB (amongst others)
and happy with the healthy serve of QFF points along the way.

 

[justinbrett]

Never had a host cancel (out of many many stays). But that that would be the pits.
Again, pays to read the reviews. Any that say “Host cancelled” is a big red flag.

One of my cancellations was in Manhattan and the guy had nearly perfect reviews. And to be fair he gave me a good reason (a burst pipe). The problem is the individual nature of the listings, if something goes wrong there’s not an identical unit on another floor they can move you to, and even if the owner has multiple properties, a replacement is most likely completely different in a different location (which was offered to me on another stay in West Virginia but I moved to a Hilton apartment instead).

Yes, you can book on other platforms but in many locations, it’s generally still the same properties / hosts. And yes, I use / check Boooking.com, Expedia etc.

Again I steer clear of the single listings, you can usually find a serviced apartment with a reception desk. Even the major chains operate them like Embassy Suites (Hilton) and similar. Airbnbs are good when all goes to plan but when it goes wrong, it goes very wrong and recovery options are limited to none.

Lurching further OT, I’m on way to to China and basically all the attractions, tours, transfers sold by Viator are being resold by Expedia, Booking.com, Trip.com etc Usually similar pricing (so go with the one you might be accumulating credits with) but also some remarkable differences in price.

Viator is a reseller just like the others. I usually try to find the company direct or if not book through my hotel. I have used Viator but they usually add a huge commission on top.

 

[Happy Dude]

We love them for short term house rentals in coastal areas that have limited hotel options which often also don't allow dogs. Using a kennel for a sneaky long long weekend is not only costly but impractical due to the kennel drop off/pick up rules.

There is a lot wrong with the system now, which has been exploited/weaponised by profiteers, but it's something we put up with. I'd like to see the government exclude AirBnB properties from negative gearing as a way of helping with the housing crisis.

 

[Disco]

One of my cancellations was in Manhattan and the guy had nearly perfect reviews. And to be fair he gave me a good reason (a burst pipe). The problem is the individual nature of the listings, if something goes wrong there’s not an identical unit on another floor they can move you to, and even if the owner has multiple properties, a replacement is most likely completely different in a different location (which was offered to me on another stay in West Virginia but I moved to a Hilton apartment instead).




Again I steer clear of the single listings, you can usually find a serviced apartment with a reception desk. Even the major chains operate them like Embassy Suites (Hilton) and similar. Airbnbs are good when all goes to plan but when it goes wrong, it goes very wrong and recovery options are limited to none.



Viator is a reseller just like the others. I usually try to find the company direct or if not book through my hotel. I have used Viator but they usually add a huge commission on top.

We've had a couple of cancellations that really wrecked planned family weekends with very poor excuses i.e. they had double booked the first night. AirBnb promised a $50 voucher for the next booking which never eventuated - the booking was much later and by that time the voucher was forgotten. The hosts can be nice but often the facilities e.g. bed or bathroom are basic; never had a return visit to a property. I've found the consistency/standardisation of hotels/apartments to work best.

 

[SYD]

We love them for short term house rentals in coastal areas that have limited hotel options which often also don't allow dogs. Using a kennel for a sneaky long long weekend is not only costly but impractical due to the kennel drop off/pick up rules.

Those holiday rental type properties are great examples of where AirBnB (and other platforms) make unique rentals much more accessible when there aren’t many or any other options.

I grew up on the NSW mid north coast and there were a dozen or more properties only used over the summer holidays. Long before any housing crisis. That obviously was not the Byron Bay area - which is having serious challenges with year round demand.

There is a lot wrong with the system now, which has been exploited/weaponised by profiteers, but it's something we put up with. I'd like to see the government exclude AirBnB properties from negative gearing as a way of helping with the housing crisis.

Actually, owner / landlords are taking a risk using AirBnB (and others) over a secure long term rental (I know what I prefer - a long term tenant!). If there is genuine issues with supply and demand, than perhaps do what NYC has done for years (even before AirBnB) and limit apartment rentals to min 30 days. Works for me.

One of the real problems are “dark properties” ie offshore investors parking cash in secure assets but neither living in them, nor renting via any means…

 

[Quickstatus]

Actually, owner / landlords are taking a risk using AirBnB (and others) over a secure long term rental (I know what I prefer)

I think AirBnb have a place but I also think they do cause problems in the long term rental market as they restrict long term rental availability.
We are seeing it in my other place Jindabyne.
Several cities have sought to restrict short term rental availability. Not just NYC but SF and closer to home Byron Bay.


As a consumer I am marginal about AirBnB. Increasingly Im going back to commercial hotels/motels

 

[burmans]

Personally a big fan of apartments over hotels (probably would go 70/30) but these days booking.com gets my money 90% of the time. You can occasionally get Airbnb gift cards at 10% off and this makes them competitive but booking.com usually cheaper, sometimes by a lot if you have guru status.

 

[DC3]

You couldn’t pay me to use AirBNB again. I’ve been done with that platform for years.

I’ve never got into the AirBNB thing, but your posts are very useful.

 

[aikman]

There seems to be Airbnb people and hotel people. Hard to convince fans of one to switch to the other.

Airbnb marketing does seem to revolve more around feelings, living like a local, and all that. They seem to not want to be directly comparable to hotels.

The feelings message doesn't work on me. I'm a hotel person. I only consider Airbnb on segments which hotels don't service - residential areas, large family groups, unique novelty properties.

 

[burmans]

Absolutely, different folks, different strokes.

 

[Maca44]

I am usually a hotel person, but have rented a few airbnb property, one at Turtle Bay, Hawaii which was great, one in Perth - again great, and have another booked in July this year in Madrid. I am travelling solo to Madrid and even a cheap hotel in the area I want was, on average, AUD$500 per night. Whereas, the airbnb for 6 nights worked out at $194 p/n and right in the heart of Madrid, again where I wanted. Anyway, horses for courses and I have not had any problem with airbnb thus far. However, if this booking goes pear shaped, my son who is studying at Madrid University until end of July, has a small apartment two blocks away so I could crash on his lounge.

 

[dajop]

Been a host for years, but really thinking twice about Airbnb now that I've been on the other side of the equation. On our trip to Europe last month, we mainly stayed in hotels but had a couple of Airbnb's interspersed because of location, access to laundry and that there were 4 of us (us, a couple, plus both of our mothers) so larger place came in handy.

The second went off without a hitch, host was great, we checked in at midday and checked out at 2:30pm.

The first though at Tallinn was cancelled by the host 1.5 hrs before checkin (although 3 hrs before we were planning to arrive), due to double booking with another platform. Airbnb were extremely helpful ( ) by telling us to rebook ourselves and sending us a link to Tallin accommodation for 4 people for our three nights (something I never would of that have or even knew how to do myself, it was amazing assistance!!!).

By that stage we'd already identified a place that was about $300 more than what we initially paid that was vaguely comparable, and in fact the only one in the same vicinity (in/around the old town) that was available. But we needed our credit back to pay for it, so back and forth with Airbnb (luckily we were on a coach with good wifi). After a couple of hours we got our credit back and also they offered a $200 coupon to compensate for the disruption (with the catch that the coupon could not be used on the rebooking, only for a future booking ), By this time something else was available which would have left us about $70 out of pocket, so we grabbed that. using a top up with our original credit.

Great! Then we turned up and their was no key in the keysafe. Contacted the host who turned up 15 mins later, and turned out the property was occupied (apparently the group had turned up, cancelled the booking but then decided to stay for the first night only, or so we were told). The host suggested alternative accommodation for the first night and move back to original property the next night. So rather than cancelling, walked us to a property 15 mins away, which was not acceptable as it had one double bed and just a couch to lie on. At this point, I suggested they give us 2 x 1 BR properties, so some phone calls by the host, and eventually two of us went off to third property. Eventually we settled in almost 2 hours after arriving, and then moved at lunchtime the next day.

Lessons - probably stick with booking.com rather than Airbnb. And if use Airbnb, don't be cheap and use a gift card (we'd paid for the stay with a Gift Card we purchased through Macquarie with 5% discount). If we'd paid by CC, I think we might have been able to use the $200 coupon to make the fresh booking.

But Airbnb were a pain to deal with, and I assume profited from this. Hosts get a 50% penalty if they cancel <48 hrs). So Airbnb pocketed $500 from the host, gave us $200 back for the future (which they will keep at least $30 of) and got a new booking straight away which would have kept them their original service fee. Disgusting greed .

 

[Aeryn]

Pre-Covid I used to stay in air-bnb in Manhattan on lower east side that offered amazing value compared to hotels near by. Got to live like a local, have a laundry and save a lot over hotels.

It was a legal one, the owners lived there full time and rented out spare room/ensuite/private balcony and I got to be friends with them over the years, such that from 3rd booking onwards I would contact them directly, they block out the dates in Airbnb and Id pay them directly (for a discount) because we hot it off so well.

But they had to sell up post covid, and looking at airbnb prices in same area, hotels now better value; so all trips to NYC from 2022 have been Hotel stays.

There are still some sweet spots for airbnb for whole house rentals but as I mostly travel solo or as a couple; I almost always can find a better hotel or serviced apartment deal through IHG or Accor or Qantas Hotels or Hotels.com.

 

[dajop]

It was a legal one, the owners lived there full time and rented out spare room/ensuite/private balcony and I got to be friends with them over the years, such that from 3rd booking onwards I would contact them directly, they block out the dates in Airbnb and Id pay them directly (for a discount) because we hot it off so well.

We have three regular groups that originally came to us via Airbnb or Stayz and rebook directly with us each year. They are the best guests to have - both in terms of knowing they will look after the place - and we can be a bit more flexible without the constraints of the platform.

 

[kookaburra75]

When we're travelling we like to have the independence to cook for ourselves, especially breakfast, and access to a laundry. Serviced apartments seem to be harder to find the places like the UK and Europe in the places we want to stay, so AirBnB has been good for us. Thankfully we haven't had any issues, and the views from the places have matched the photos on the site.

Not so Australia. We've had a few where the photos on the site were not taken from within the apartment, but rather outside the building - looking at you Balmain. And our most recent booking two weeks ago, when we arrived in Sydney I was still chasing them up for the apartment number so we could find the lockbox, for what was supposed to be a top floor apartment with a view. While waiting for an Uber at Sydney Airport we finally got the message to say they had changed our apartment to a ground floor apartment, which I was not happy about, but at such late notice we couldn't change - they offered to cancel for free . Basically we were dealing with a property management company who had a 70+ units that they on sold through AirBnB.
What they promised

What we got

I did get the extra bed removed, so we had some space but had to clean under the beds. They did offer a $50 refund, which I am still waiting for.

But on the whole our experiences have been very good. Our place in Airle Beach was perfect - we even got a coughie on the railing just like on the photos on the site.