My 1st Experience Using airbnb .....

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A few weeks ago I attended a national conference in Miami. My employer paid for everything Thursday night and Friday night and I decided to stay an extra night (Saturday night). I could’ve rented a hotel but decided to give airbnb a shot.

From using Priceline and whatever I figured I could’ve gotten a half way decent hotel for about $150. I booked a room on airbnb for $73 everything included so I cut my lodging costs in half.

I lived in Coral Gables (a Miami suburb) for about 5 years so all I wanted to do was site see for one evening, get something to eat, and then drive home early the next day. I needed, literally, just a bed and a bathroom so I didn’t feel like paying for a hotel. I got to the place an hour and a half late because I went to lunch with friends from the conference but the guys who were supposed to give me the key were still there, not mad, waiting for me. They were completely cool and helpful.

They took me into the room and as soon as I walked in, I almost walked out. There was no bed. It was an air mattress. What am I like 12? But I didn’t say anything because it was 110 degrees and I was hot and after getting lost twice all I wanted was to lay down. The bathroom wasn’t much better and the guy who gave me the key warned me the water gets super hot so not to turn the knob past a certain point. Well, he turned out to be right. However, the water was cold at first so I did turn the knob too far and then next thing i knew scorching hot water was coming out and, making it worse, it wouldn’t cool down again no matter what I did including turning it off for a few minutes.

So, I decided to towel off with lots of soap still on my body and some shampoo still in my hair. Speaking of towels. You might want to bring your own. You have been warned.

I didn’t do much site seeing. I left at 5 am the next morning because, what the heck, it’s not like I got much sleep. It turns out the guys who let me in live in the next unit, it was a duplex, and apparently they had some friends over. Loud friends. At one point, I swear, I thought someone was out of control and the cops would be there any second.

None of which really bothered me much. I didn’t expect much and it takes a lot to make me complain. I left a glowing comment afterwards because I didn’t want any problems. The lesson here is take the glowing comments you read about airbnb, or uber, with a grain of salt.

Despite all that, I will use airbnb again for day trips. I just don’t think hotels are worth it. However, this time I might not go for the cheapo version of a room. There were some really nice places a valuable but they cost almost as much as a hotel so you might as well get the hotel. No, wait, let me correct that. You will still save some money if you are willing to rough it.

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Did you read the reviews ahead? Any comment suggested anything close to your experience? I think you should at least describe your experience as accurately as possible so future customers will at least beware of the situation. Not complaining but not giving wonderful endorsement either.

3

Especially the part about the air mattress. That’s not something one would expect.

4

Yes, definitely write a review

5

The owner of the property owns multiple properties so I can’t recall if the previous reviews were on other properties or on this one. It might have been a new property for him. But he was nice and there was a picture of the room and air mattress … it just was staged to look like a bed. I actually went back to look at it again to see if I had missed that important fact or not.

I do feel like I have a duty to warn future customers but I decided to fudge that anyway. I’ve had some conflicts at work lately and just do not have the stomach for as much honesty as was needed. I also had a conflict with a writer friend recently, because I reviewed his script, that made me rationalize being less than honest to avoid conflict. I am usually pretty honest but I just ditched this time.

The room was clean. It surely was not quiet. The location was great and the price was fair. There were no hidden fees or tricks. I had internet access and … oh I almost forgot … I couldn’t turn the TV on, I finally turn it on, I accidentally sat on the remote control and changed the channel so suddenly the TV was making a loud annoying sound with no programming, just static, really loud, like crazy loud, and I swear to God I could not get the TV to turn off no matter what buttons on the remote or the TV I pressed. I had to unplug it. It was insane. It was the night from hell. Traveling makes me appreciate home. I really am not a good traveler.

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I am sorry you had a bad experience. I have been on both ends of Airbnb…as a guest and as a host. I have had nothing but very positive experiences. I have stayed in 4 different Airbnb places in NYC, 2 in Argentina, and 1 in Norway. As well, last year, I hosted guests in my home in a resort area of Vermont.

As a guest, I really researched all the options and compared them online. I looked for places that had lots of photos and detailed descriptions. I also went for places that had some reviews and where the host had some reviews (hopefully all positive). I was never disappointed. My experience was nothing like yours.

As a host, I was renting out my master bedroom suite in a large country home, but I was usually home when the guests were spending the night (though a couple nights, I wasn’t). I also checked out their own reviews. I met really nice people. All seemed happy with their experience in my home. I have now moved to the city and am considering possibly hosting guests again.

I think if your experience was not good, you should write an accurate and respectful review and not make it into what it wasn’t (or leave no review…better than a misleading one). I would not be apt to discount reviews as you say, if a host has a number of reviews as the collective can say a lot. Make sure to communicate adequately ahead of the booking…have emails to discuss any questions you may have before making a commitment. One bad experience is not indicative of what it could be if you do it again. Often, it is cheaper than a hotel, and you get more in a lot of respects.

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@ 5,

All good points. I felt like I researched it pretty well but freely admit I went for the cheapo option. I don’t think the host was intentionally misleading in his airbnb picture and description. I think it was part my fault. Either way, except for the noise, I got what I paid for.

i should have given an honest review but as I mentioned in my previous post I simply decided not to. I usually do what is right not what is easy but this time I did what was easy.

However, as I also said, I will use airbnb again. Next time I’ll save a little money but get a more comfortable place. I think airbnb will encourage people like me to travel more because I kind of hate hotels and the chance to meet people, instead of staying in a impersonal hotel, kind of appeals to me. Real people. Locals. That seems cool to me.

I’ll do it again next time I travel especially for day trips and long weekend trips.

8

That does not sound worth $73 to me. I would rather do couchsurfing for free. Or the no tell motel. Air mattress should definitely be noted. Same with old towels. The renter should have put it in, but sat least it should be in the review.

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Just curious … what is a no tell motel? And how would an adult find a way to couch surf? Isn’t that what airbnb is basically? I like airbnb. I decided to rough it and LOL that is exactly what happened.

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So you left a nice review so some unsuspecting next person can also have a miserable experience? Thanks a lot. No not all airbnb experiences are like this. My brother stayed in an amazing place in Paris. 18th c painted ceiling. Just gorgeous. But the system works on honest reviews. I can’t tell you how angry your post has made me.

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Airbnb works only if there are people out there who give accurate reviews. It’s a community service I believe.

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Airbnb user off and on here, for several years. It can be a bit more adventure than bargained for. But it can be a real bargain, so it depends on tolerance levels for other than hotel industry standard. What I have learned from your post, is to ask about real bed vs air bed. And pack ear plugs. I also have stayed in the cheaper options, as I don’t care much about lodging, as when I travel I am out and doing till well into evening hours. In my various stays, noise has never been an issue, or the bed quality. Bathroom cleanliness has not always been to my liking. But I never see it mentioned in reviews, so maybe others don’t expect as much as I do.

My favorites, are staying in a flat in Hong Kong rather than a hotel. The discussions about Occupy HK with the host were worth a great deal. I had to haul my bag up 5 flights, no lift, but never mind.

The flat in Tacoma at the time of Ds college graduation was lovely, and by the water besides, for less than any hotel room in the area.

On the coast of Spain, D and I stayed in another 5th floor walk up. This couple was doing it for the money, and living in their living room, renting out the tiny bedroom with bunk beds. All fine, and the young host was nice enough, if rather formal. But I longed for a mattress pad, as the thin sheet kept coming off the mattress during the night. But I am glad to understand better how the average Spaniard lives.

I love being in a neighborhood, rather than off busy streets. Far quieter, and I can usually find places to walk in the morning.

For the review, I would mention being surprised by the airbed. Keep it neutral tone, as you liked the guy, right?

13

Haven’t stayed in an airbnb place yet, but have used vrbo and homestay many times without issues. We are usually paying a decent amount for a really nice home rental, though. Also have had great success with Priceline, especially for college road trips.

The kids have used airbnb and have been ok with it in general. However, one kid recently booked an apartment for the month and the request was accepted and the booking was made. A few weeks later the owner pulled the listing off the website and disappeared. Kiddo wasn’t out money but it left little time to secure a new place and by then the options were leaner and more expensive, plus the extra hassle and time of arranging a new place.

Echo others’ comments about writing an accurate review. To me, its part of the experience and responsibility of choosing this route of accommodations, and its easy to say nice things (guys were friendly and had no problem waiting when you were late) and to mention the bad (air mattress, water situation). Feedback is helpful not only to other travelers but to the owner as well if they are seeking to make improvements

Better to leave NO review than an undeserved and inaccurate glowing review.

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@ 9,

Okay. Your anger will pass, I assume.

@10,

True. I failed in my responsibility to give an honest review to protect the next guy or gal. I could’ve taken the review a tad more seriously but I equate it to Ebay where, once again, the reviews are so skewed towards not getting into pointless extracted long distance arguments that they long ago stopped being useful. Maybe that is why every Ebay seller has north of 99% approval ratings.

@ 11,

Yes, I really did like the owner. I never met him but we did talk on the phone when I booked and I didn’t want to cause harm to him. I really didn’t. I would have been his first negative review.

@ 12,

That is a friendly and nice way too look at it. I should have tried to go at it that way but I honestly have no stomach left for conflict for at least three weeks.

I probably should check out the other options you mentioned (VRBO and Homestay). I’ve heard of VRBO. I think VRBO and airbnb are going to make it really tough for traditional hotels to keep their rates so crazy high. Likewise, Uber will kill the taxi industry.

15

Well, at least you actually had a place to stay, so that’s positive!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/vanessagrout/2014/04/11/how-to-avoid-the-internets-hottest-scam-fake-vacation-rentals/

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@ 14,

That Forbes article was excellent. TY so much for sharing it. Once again. I am sorry for letting my fellow travelers down with my far less than honest review. My biggest mistake was being cheap but like another poster said, I didn’t really plan on being in the room much, so why pay $150 when you can pay $75? Next time I’ll pay more because it would be cool to meet a local.

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Knowing that there are people like the OP who for whatever reason don’t want to leave an honest review, I could never trust this company. Not interested in being “surprised” by things like air mattresses instead of beds, and having to choose between being scalded or taking a sponge bath.

I don’t understand the OP saying he/she doesn’t 'have the stomach" to write an honest review when she posted a pretty detailed critically honest review here. Copy/paste and done, right?

I feel for the people who follow the OP, not being given the heads up on that property. But as the OP says, I guess their “anger will pass.”

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I’ve never ventured into airbnb tho know some who have had great experiences. H likes hotels, so we’ve stuck to them so far. I like being able to cancel up to 24-72 hours prior with no penalty. Hotwire and Priceline have served us nicely so far when we’re not so picky about the specific location in the city.

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@GoNoles85 Can I ask your age? Based on an article I recently read, you sound like you could be in your 20s. I was surprised to learn how differently the younger generation views things.

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We stayed in an airbnb in Copenhagen recently. I did my research on how to be successful with the process, narrowed down the selections to a few, and then started an email correspondence with each. I made sure I didn’t ask all my questions in the first email so I could follow up and keep the conversation going. That way I could get a feel for the host.

We had a fabulous experience! Our place felt like home, and our host was excellent. Cleanliness is extremely important to me, and this place was immaculate.

There was another place that was more reasonably priced, but we were expected to clean before we left. From experience I knew that the place would not be as clean as I wanted. The star rating for cleanliness was slightly less than 5 stars although there were not any negative comments regarding that. But still, I felt the star rating was telling since every other apartment I looked at had a solid 5 star rating.

I would definitely use airbnb again.