Airbnb expectations

[Anonymous]

We rented a house by the beach for 5 days for 5 people, including a 3yo and 1yo.

I was really surprised to find that the house was essentially empty of essential items with the exception of hand soap, dish soap, toilet paper, and a roll of paper towels.

Check in was at 4pm so we had arrived with groceries for dinner, but I hadn’t expected to need salt, pepper, olive oil, etc.

I would have appreciated some essentials. Like ONE Tide Pod for a load of laundry. Basic seasoning. A wee bit shower gel to through until I can go to the store the next day.

Was this expecting too much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rented a house by the beach for 5 days for 5 people, including a 3yo and 1yo.

I was really surprised to find that the house was essentially empty of essential items with the exception of hand soap, dish soap, toilet paper, and a roll of paper towels.

Check in was at 4pm so we had arrived with groceries for dinner, but I hadn’t expected to need salt, pepper, olive oil, etc.

I would have appreciated some essentials. Like ONE Tide Pod for a load of laundry. Basic seasoning. A wee bit shower gel to through until I can go to the store the next day.

Was this expecting too much?

Yes, you expected way too much. These places almost never provide condiments or shower products.

[Anonymous]

Yes you're absolutely expecting too much.

NONE of that is standard in an Airbnb It's great if they have it but should not be expected.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Rentals don’t come with toiletries, AirBNB or agency.

You get whatever might be left over by precious renters, which varies greatly.

[Anonymous]

I find that beach houses (whether airbnbs or through other rentals) never have anything, while places in the mountains or other locations usually are stocked better. I assume because the latter are someone’s actual second house that they use, vs a full time rental.

[Anonymous]

Beach houses really vary. Don’t expect that stuff.
Some don’t even have linens included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rented a house by the beach for 5 days for 5 people, including a 3yo and 1yo.

I was really surprised to find that the house was essentially empty of essential items with the exception of hand soap, dish soap, toilet paper, and a roll of paper towels.

Check in was at 4pm so we had arrived with groceries for dinner, but I hadn’t expected to need salt, pepper, olive oil, etc.

I would have appreciated some essentials. Like ONE Tide Pod for a load of laundry. Basic seasoning. A wee bit shower gel to through until I can go to the store the next day.

Was this expecting too much?

Yes, they shouldn't provide seasoning, olive oil and other supplies. Those are expensive and people steal them.

[Anonymous]

We own an Airbnb, and after a six month rental, the people living out left lots of items - condiments, coffee creamer, spices, etc. we asked our cleaners to “get rid of them”, because I’ve don’t want the liability of having opened food items. Even unopened half n half or box cake mix gets “thrown out”.

We would rather our guest come and have to go out and buy everything, than to come and find half of what they need, and still have to go out and get the rest.

If you throw in something extra, that is not perfect, people will complain. So we’d rather just have the basics.

We do keep any cleaning products they leave. And there is a small bin of restaurant condiments and straws - which we thin out every few visits. And one family bought and left an electric kettle, that is still there and being used.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the Airbnb. At a minimum they should have salt and pepper and sugar packets.

Mention it in the review so other guests know what to expect.

[Anonymous]

I typically find none of those extra things in US beach rentals. In Europe, they tend to provide you with at least 6-8 nespresso pods plus a small welcome gift like a bottle of wine or chocolates. Whether they have salt, pepper, olive oil is 50-50. The rentals that are professionally managed second homes generally provide hotel like toiletries in the bathrooms, but if it's someone's primary home they are renting while they're on vacation they generally don't. But typically all of this is set out in the description and reviews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that beach houses (whether airbnbs or through other rentals) never have anything, while places in the mountains or other locations usually are stocked better. I assume because the latter are someone’s actual second house that they use, vs a full time rental.

Same. Beach houses are an outlier in terms of being completely bare.

[Anonymous]

I have friends who have their beach condo on Airbnb. They used to provide basic spices and coffee pods but they stopped because people took it all with them when they left.

[Anonymous]

The only place we ever stayed that was stocked just like a home (minus all perishables) was a beach rental we found through word of mouth. The owner didnt advertise anywhere and only rented to previous renters and people those people recommend. It was amazing! Totally full pantry and fridge full of condiments and dressings. All cleaning and laundry products. They only asked that anything you used up please just replace. Sadly when they retired they sold the rental to buy a permanent second home.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I don't know where you are staying, but every AirBnB we've stayed at had toilet paper, linens, and a fairly well stocked kitchen (including oils to spices). We've stayed in several throughout New England, Iceland, Paris, Hershey Pennsylvania and more. We aren't beach people though, maybe it's a beach thing

[Anonymous]

I posted on another thread but AirBnBs used to provide Al these “little” things. Many years ago. Alas, the last one we stayed at we had to buy a frying pan. Despite being advertised as “fully stocked.”