AirBnB Owners - How's Business?

[Anonymous]

NP. I used to use Airbnb almost exclusively. I traveled across Europe, Latin America, and the US. I was an early adopter of the platform and quickly told people about it because I loved it. The customer support used to be so good. Once we booked a unit that was deceptive in their advertising (easily provable) and once Airbnb got the photo, not only did they refund me but they helped me find alternative lodging that night.

And now I never use it. The last straw was a host who had an Alexa recording all conversations and cameras facing into the unit with warnings and texts about not unplugging them, and nothing disclosed ahead of time. I also got tired of paying $300 for cleaning fees and also getting a checkout task list. I didn’t use it for a year, and then over the summer I tried again. Found a place but when I went to finalize the reservation, the additional fees were more per night than the listed per night cost, with two week cancellation policies. Forget it.

I stay exclusively in hotels at this point. It’s too bad, but it is easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During Covid many hotels got rid of daily cleaning due to health reasons. Now, they have kept it as people got used to it and it reduces expenses for the hotel owners (less ppl needing to be staffed). Having said that, almost everywhere will clean daily if you ask.

Airbnb has gone so downhill once a bunch of people turned into str landlords.

They also don't have enough employees to do it as they are very low paying jobs. When we reduced immigration, these things became issues.

[Anonymous]

I think Airbnb has gone the way of Uber. Quality is no longer a concern so anyone and everyone can get into the game. Ubers used to be much nicer, now you qualify with a dirty, old car. Same with the Airbnbs.

[Anonymous]

I used to use AirBnBs all the time. I have just booked a three week trip and decided to do it all with hotels. haven't stayed in hotels for years!

Thee last trip I took (staying in AirBnBs this summer), I had two good experiences, one not great experience and then a hug issue with a place cancelling last minute and a mad scramble to get a refund and a new place.

Cleaning and service fees keep going up as well.

It is just less hassle - lots of hotels have airport shuttles, good breakfasts, better service, and you can get quaint little hotels that still have character.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread sponsored by the hotelliers of America trade group.

I was starting to get sucked in, but: Yeah, you're obviously right.

No way would a thread like this attract so many comments so quickly if sock puppeting weren't involved.

Lol. You are more than welcome to press the "report" button to have the site owner check it out. However it's $10 per removed post, you have to help him with the process, and he only responds after 4pm.

Sorry, the free ride is coming to an end. Blame the "community" of owners, not customers finally getting fed up and telling it like it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, the platforms are charging these fees, not the owners. Where are we supposed to advertise our place? We're kind of bound to them.
Houfy - a no fee platform - has not taken off.

This was a nice try but it is incorrect.

An Airbnb spokesperson told the Daily Dot that “while Hosts maintain the ability to choose their own cleaning fees, we do offer tips to Hosts on keeping the amount reasonable, and suggest they consider not charging cleaning fees at all.”

https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/airbnb-chore-lists-cleaning-fees-hotels/

Plenty more where that came from too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, the platforms are charging these fees, not the owners. Where are we supposed to advertise our place? We're kind of bound to them.
Houfy - a no fee platform - has not taken off.

This was a nice try but it is incorrect.

An Airbnb spokesperson told the Daily Dot that “while Hosts maintain the ability to choose their own cleaning fees, we do offer tips to Hosts on keeping the amount reasonable, and suggest they consider not charging cleaning fees at all.”

https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/airbnb-chore-lists-cleaning-fees-hotels/

Plenty more where that came from too.

nope, I'm not talking about cleaning fees, which have always been there, I'm talking about extra VRBO fees, processing fees, etc.
What used to cost us $499 now is several hundred extra dollars that are passed on to the guest in the form of a percentage that VRBO takes AND other fees. The cleaning fee is the only thing that has stayed the same. We can't even charge a deposit anymore.
Educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

I stayed at an Airbnb in the mountains nearby Columbus Day weekend. It was $900 for 2 nights, and not worth it. For that rate, I expected a good king or at least queen bed. At home we have a $5,000 tempurpedic. This place has a full bed that was too firm. They didn’t even have wash cloths or a full kitchen. I wouldn’t have booked it but DH waited until the last minute and was desperate. So I’m feeling kind of over Airbnb.

[Anonymous]

The fees, pictures that don’t represent reality, bad internet, two rolls of toilet paper, skimpy towels, the list goes on.

Just got back from Paris and the Airbnb we stayed in had no smoke detector, terrifying stairs, the shades in the bathroom didn’t cover the entire window so the neighbors ten feet across could see everyone’s crotch area while using the toilet, the baseboard covering a small step down had fallen off so you could see the layers of subfloor, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stayed at an Airbnb in the mountains nearby Columbus Day weekend. It was $900 for 2 nights, and not worth it. For that rate, I expected a good king or at least queen bed. At home we have a $5,000 tempurpedic. This place has a full bed that was too firm. They didn’t even have wash cloths or a full kitchen. I wouldn’t have booked it but DH waited until the last minute and was desperate. So I’m feeling kind of over Airbnb.

Expecting a $5k mattress at an airbnb was your first mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stayed at an Airbnb in the mountains nearby Columbus Day weekend. It was $900 for 2 nights, and not worth it. For that rate, I expected a good king or at least queen bed. At home we have a $5,000 tempurpedic. This place has a full bed that was too firm. They didn’t even have wash cloths or a full kitchen. I wouldn’t have booked it but DH waited until the last minute and was desperate. So I’m feeling kind of over Airbnb.

I mean, everyone has different preferences in a bed. No bed will satisfy everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stayed at an Airbnb in the mountains nearby Columbus Day weekend. It was $900 for 2 nights, and not worth it. For that rate, I expected a good king or at least queen bed. At home we have a $5,000 tempurpedic. This place has a full bed that was too firm. They didn’t even have wash cloths or a full kitchen. I wouldn’t have booked it but DH waited until the last minute and was desperate. So I’m feeling kind of over Airbnb.

Expecting a $5k mattress at an airbnb was your first mistake.

Very true. I've stayed at some fairly nice hotels (Park Hotels around the world) and the bathroom, mattress, and coffee at my house is much nicer. I stay for the 5-star service, which I don't expect at an airbnb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, the platforms are charging these fees, not the owners. Where are we supposed to advertise our place? We're kind of bound to them.
Houfy - a no fee platform - has not taken off.

This was a nice try but it is incorrect.

An Airbnb spokesperson told the Daily Dot that “while Hosts maintain the ability to choose their own cleaning fees, we do offer tips to Hosts on keeping the amount reasonable, and suggest they consider not charging cleaning fees at all.”

https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/airbnb-chore-lists-cleaning-fees-hotels/

Plenty more where that came from too. [/


Wrong. What happened was Airbnb increased its Host fee ( I think its 15%) and suggested to Hosts that a way to recoup the increase was by adding it to the cleaning fee. Its the trickle down effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stayed at an Airbnb in the mountains nearby Columbus Day weekend. It was $900 for 2 nights, and not worth it. For that rate, I expected a good king or at least queen bed. At home we have a $5,000 tempurpedic. This place has a full bed that was too firm. They didn’t even have wash cloths or a full kitchen. I wouldn’t have booked it but DH waited until the last minute and was desperate. So I’m feeling kind of over Airbnb.

Expecting a $5k mattress at an airbnb was your first mistake.

Very true. I've stayed at some fairly nice hotels (Park Hotels around the world) and the bathroom, mattress, and coffee at my house is much nicer. I stay for the 5-star service, which I don't expect at an airbnb.

PP here. I’ve stayed at other airbnbs that were $200/night with mattresses that were as good as the $5k bed I have at home. There is such a thing as too firm to appeal to the majority of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stayed at an Airbnb in the mountains nearby Columbus Day weekend. It was $900 for 2 nights, and not worth it. For that rate, I expected a good king or at least queen bed. At home we have a $5,000 tempurpedic. This place has a full bed that was too firm. They didn’t even have wash cloths or a full kitchen. I wouldn’t have booked it but DH waited until the last minute and was desperate. So I’m feeling kind of over Airbnb.

Expecting a $5k mattress at an airbnb was your first mistake.

Very true. I've stayed at some fairly nice hotels (Park Hotels around the world) and the bathroom, mattress, and coffee at my house is much nicer. I stay for the 5-star service, which I don't expect at an airbnb.

PP here. I’ve stayed at other airbnbs that were $200/night with mattresses that were as good as the $5k bed I have at home. There is such a thing as too firm to appeal to the majority of people.

PP. I forgot to mention that this mattress was worse than 90% of the beds I’ve slept on in hotels/airbnbs. And I typically stay in $200/night places.