AirBNB - Share your experiences here

[daft009]

Good luck with that - I tried to change the card and had no luck at all

never updated my results.
no issues paying first 50% on my explorer (pre April 2019 deval), then balance 50% in July with my charge card

 

[VPS]

Airbnb will verify listings, 11 years after launch

Airbnb says it will start to verify every property after an investigation found a series of scams.

www.bbc.com

So Airbnb are actually going to check what they rent out now

 

[Max Samuels]

I am a regular Airbnb user for many years but lately I find many hosts (especially those renting entire homes) are just rental agencies using Airbnb as their portal. When you book a place suddenly you get sent rental agreements stating all sorts of cough like they can access the property whenever they like etc. And also demanding copies of Passport etc - which isn't even legal in Australia. A hotel in Australia must "sight" your ID not copy it.

So an update..... I recently used an Airbnb in Adelaide that not only had a rental contract similar to a residential tenancy, but also DEMANDED a list of names of the guests (10 of us in total), which also asked for D.O.B. and nationality!!! Ah, excuse me? What on earth would they need this for unless they were planning on handing over the list to the gestapo.... I refused to comply with the demand and we "compromised", where I gave a list of first initial and last name, approx age instead of DOB, and didn't mention nationality. They were happy enough.

Interestingly, and this is just an observation, but the hosts were Chinese nationals, so maybe this is what they are used to back home in the surveillance state? Or possibly a way to discriminate?

I know that when I lived in Singapore where discrimination seems to be encouraged, it was not uncommon to see ads for rental properties, mostly Chinese owned, that would simply say "no Indians" etc.

 

[Max Samuels]

Airbnb will verify listings, 11 years after launch

Airbnb says it will start to verify every property after an investigation found a series of scams.

www.bbc.com

So Airbnb are actually going to check what they rent out now

I would be interested to know where the scams occur the most.....

 

[VPS]

I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

While searching for the person who grifted me in Chicago, I discovered just how easy it is for users of the short-term rental platform to get exploited.

www.vice.com

- this was an interesting read

 

[Max Samuels]

I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

While searching for the person who grifted me in Chicago, I discovered just how easy it is for users of the short-term rental platform to get exploited.

www.vice.com

- this was an interesting read

wow - fascinating read. Worth the time everyone!

I'm staying in NYC for a few nights in January, and arrive really late (or I suppose early!) at 2am.
While we were initially looking at Airbnbs, in a city like NY scams like this are certainly going to be problem. Even if it is not a scam, so many neighbourhoods are pokey and dark, and a late night arrival to an old apartment building with vague entry instructions was just too much of a risk for me..... so first 2 nights = hotel with hotel car pre-booked for pick-up. Then move to Airbnb for the remainder of stay (during daylight hours).

 

[get me outta here]

Just be aware that AirBnB is in NYC is illegal and the locals try to enforce it strictly and 'guests' have found themselves with no accommodation nor their money.

The Tripadvisor destination experts will look up for you if the address you are going to is a legal one - there are a few under certain circumstances. New York Forum, https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k13016794-Airbnb_in_New_York-New_York_City_New_York.html

Travel Discussion for New York - TripAdvisor

wow - fascinating read. Worth the time everyone!

I'm staying in NYC for a few nights in January, and arrive really late (or I suppose early!) at 2am.
While we were initially looking at Airbnbs, in a city like NY scams like this are certainly going to be problem. Even if it is not a scam, so many neighbourhoods are pokey and dark, and a late night arrival to an old apartment building with vague entry instructions was just too much of a risk for me..... so first 2 nights = hotel with hotel car pre-booked for pick-up. Then move to Airbnb for the remainder of stay (during daylight hours).

 

[jb747]

This year we have used it extensively. Always with 'superhosts', and careful reading of the reviews. In Europe, most collected a tourist tax, and were quite open about it.

Our first experiment with it was a booking for an apartment in Melbourne. No issues, nice apartment in the city, at a fraction of the hotel price.

The recent Europe trip was all AirBnB. There were never any issues with gaining access. The worst of the 10 apartments was perfectly acceptable. The best (and it's a toss up between Salzburg, Graz, Venice or Lucca) were astounding.

I've just booked a couple of days in the Gold Coast. I'll only go back to hotels now, if I have no choice. And even then, I might just go somewhere else instead.

 

[get me outta here]

I've used AirBnB in Anchorage, Dubai, SYD, NYC (legal one), YVR, Toronto etc etc. Just be aware where, esp in USA, they are legal or not. AirBnB doesn't give a stuff if they are locally illegal. I too only choose superhosts with very many + feedback comments.

 

[dajop]

And also demanding copies of Passport etc - which isn't even legal in Australia. A hotel in Australia must "sight" your ID not copy it.

When we take a booking of our holiday home "offline" there is a clause in our (previous) insurance to verify via photo ID of the guest whose name is on the booking. Note though, this is only for the main guest, not all people staying and also does not apply for bookings through Airbnb or HomeAway/Stayz, which are assumed to do their own identity verification.

 

[VPS]

I've used Airbnb extensively and only had one where the reality didn't meet what was advertised but I couldn't find anywhere else to stay. It wasn't bad it just wasn't good

 

[sdubefx]

I am a AirBnb host in Sydney hosting an entire house. Been doing that for the past three years. The one problem I see especially from overseas guests is that they can’t work out Sydney is big and my property in SW Sydney is approx 45 mins away by train to the Opera House and CBD. They look at cheaper rates and instantly book , then comment about the distance to the CBD in the review.
The best way to address concerns is to message beforehand your concerns. Most people will not read the description and quickly book before asking questions.

 

[Hvr]

An article about an airbnb scam in the USA.

I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

While searching for the person who grifted me in Chicago, I discovered just how easy it is for users of the short-term rental platform to get exploited.

www.vice.com

 

[Buzzard]

An article about an airbnb scam in the USA.

I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

While searching for the person who grifted me in Chicago, I discovered just how easy it is for users of the short-term rental platform to get exploited.

www.vice.com

Already posted #106

 

[VPS]

An article about an airbnb scam in the USA.

I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

While searching for the person who grifted me in Chicago, I discovered just how easy it is for users of the short-term rental platform to get exploited.

www.vice.com

Keep up @Hvr - see post 105 - you've spent way too much time in the humour thread

 

[Hvr]

D'oh, note to self; read before posting.

 

[baldman]

My Airbnb experiences:

Paris, 1 great, 1 disappointing
Bordeaux, 1 disappointing
Barcelona, 1 great
London, 1 terrible
Daylesford, 1 great
Gold Coast, 1 great

Every host / place had great reviews
go figure..

 

[drron]

Now New Jersey is clamping down on AirBNB.

Airbnb Suffered a Big Defeat in Jersey City. Here’s What That Means. (Published 2019)

Restrictions approved by voters on Tuesday followed concerns over rising rents. They were a rebuke of Airbnb as it prepares to go public.

www.nytimes.com

And the email from AirBNB after 5 people were murdered in a California AirBNB.

In The Business Of Trust

Earlier today, Airbnb Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Community, Brian Chesky, shared the following email with global employees.

news.airbnb.com

 

[dajop]

Airbnb will verify listings, 11 years after launch

Airbnb says it will start to verify every property after an investigation found a series of scams.

www.bbc.com

So Airbnb are actually going to check what they rent out now

I remain skeptical, but good to see them doing something other than just processing transactions for the 15-16% cut that they take. Eventually these disruptors need to realise they can't just take their money on the way through, they need to do more than just run an app/website and actually support their customers and suppliers.

 

[drron]

I remain skeptical, but good to see them doing something other than just processing transactions for the 15-16% cut that they take. Eventually these disruptors need to realise they can't just take their money on the way through, they need to do more than just run an app/website and actually support their customers and suppliers.

We have stayed in 3 places that turned out to be on AirBNB.However we had booked direct.When we found out about them being on Airbnb we looked them up on that site.We were saving up to $50 a night booking direct.

And on the other side of the deal a place across the canal home is on airbnb and often there are very late night parties there.It sold just before I came down to Tassie and there are quite a few hoping that whoever bought it is going to live there.