S/O anyone else given up on short-term rentals?

[Anonymous]

Particularly since 2020, my Airbnb experiences have been consistently sub-par. A nightmare-ish summer Airbnb rental - including a broken dishwasher, flooding sink, and my husband being electrocuted by the hot tub, along with the owners lying to Airbnb about our experience - really confirmed for me that this service is no longer worth it.

Anyone else give up on these services? I am team hotel now. If I do rent short-term again (like a beach house or cabin in the woods) I will work with locally-operated property management companies.

[Anonymous]

Same. I found the great reviews aren’t always accurate. Also had hosts cancel last minute (eg day of arrival) a few times for BS reasons. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

I stayed in over 20 Airbnbs from 2020-2025. After several bad experiences, I now mostly just go back to the ones where I know the owners aren't crazy. The problem is, there are some very crazy or inept people running these things. And they aren't that cheap. I think in the early years of airbnb, you were trading in the lack of professionalism for a cheaper rate and more space. But now that's not the case always.

Hotels aren't all that these days, either. The service is not that great necessarily. But most of the time there are enough checks in the system that while you might encounter people who are rude or incompetent, they're not totally crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stayed in over 20 Airbnbs from 2020-2025. After several bad experiences, I now mostly just go back to the ones where I know the owners aren't crazy. The problem is, there are some very crazy or inept people running these things. And they aren't that cheap. I think in the early years of airbnb, you were trading in the lack of professionalism for a cheaper rate and more space. But now that's not the case always.

Hotels aren't all that these days, either. The service is not that great necessarily. But most of the time there are enough checks in the system that while you might encounter people who are rude or incompetent, they're not totally crazy.

I agree that service delivery in hotels is uneven (and, I’ve found, correlates strongly with cost). However, they operate under an ethos of hospitality and wanting to provide a nice environment for their guests. Airbnbs now frequently seem like a low-effort money grab - shabby places with cheap/fast “upgrades” and basic, bare low-quality furnishings - with the expectation that people pay about the same as a hotel, with none of the service.

[Anonymous]

I try very hard to be team hotel because I think AirBnB and similar short term rental services have completely destroyed communities and I'm trying hard to not be a part of the problem.

That said, I have a dog, so sometimes the appeal of a house with a yard wins over my morality.

[Anonymous]

I will only stay in hotels. We have several Airbnb places in the small Shenandoah River community where we have had a house for many years and they have ripped the community apart.

[Anonymous]

Yes a long time ago. I want the service of a resort/hotel and the option of them finding me another place. AirBNB doesn't have that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stayed in over 20 Airbnbs from 2020-2025. After several bad experiences, I now mostly just go back to the ones where I know the owners aren't crazy. The problem is, there are some very crazy or inept people running these things. And they aren't that cheap. I think in the early years of airbnb, you were trading in the lack of professionalism for a cheaper rate and more space. But now that's not the case always.

Hotels aren't all that these days, either. The service is not that great necessarily. But most of the time there are enough checks in the system that while you might encounter people who are rude or incompetent, they're not totally crazy.

I agree that service delivery in hotels is uneven (and, I’ve found, correlates strongly with cost). However, they operate under an ethos of hospitality and wanting to provide a nice environment for their guests. Airbnbs now frequently seem like a low-effort money grab - shabby places with cheap/fast “upgrades” and basic, bare low-quality furnishings - with the expectation that people pay about the same as a hotel, with none of the service.

Disagree about service level in hotels correlating with cost. I’ve stayed in some very expensive hotels and they have seriously lacked amenities. Everything is pay to play in the 5 star hotels, no daily room service, no free WiFi, no breakfast. Sure you can get a person to bring you ice, but they’ll wait for a tip. Whereas I just spent a week at a Best Western Plus (small town with no hotel options) and was blown away by how nice it was. The breakfast was huge, free coffee, daily room cleaning, pool, WiFi. I personally don’t eat breakfast but my kids and dh need it. Dh travels for work and always aims for the 3 stars because they’re clean but also have amenities.

Something that bugs me about air bnbs is that the cleaning is not included in the price. Why?! And also that most don’t have vacuums. When I’m staying for a week we often need a vacuum in the kitchen or bathroom. I haven’t ever had a bad experience though.

[Anonymous]

Didn't have to give up on them because I refused to us them in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Particularly since 2020, my Airbnb experiences have been consistently sub-par. A nightmare-ish summer Airbnb rental - including a broken dishwasher, flooding sink, and my husband being electrocuted by the hot tub, along with the owners lying to Airbnb about our experience - really confirmed for me that this service is no longer worth it.

Anyone else give up on these services? I am team hotel now. If I do rent short-term again (like a beach house or cabin in the woods) I will work with locally-operated property management companies.

Team hotel
Why anyone uses air b & B anymore is insane. From pricing to horrible fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stayed in over 20 Airbnbs from 2020-2025. After several bad experiences, I now mostly just go back to the ones where I know the owners aren't crazy. The problem is, there are some very crazy or inept people running these things. And they aren't that cheap. I think in the early years of airbnb, you were trading in the lack of professionalism for a cheaper rate and more space. But now that's not the case always.

Hotels aren't all that these days, either. The service is not that great necessarily. But most of the time there are enough checks in the system that while you might encounter people who are rude or incompetent, they're not totally crazy.

I agree that service delivery in hotels is uneven (and, I’ve found, correlates strongly with cost). However, they operate under an ethos of hospitality and wanting to provide a nice environment for their guests. Airbnbs now frequently seem like a low-effort money grab - shabby places with cheap/fast “upgrades” and basic, bare low-quality furnishings - with the expectation that people pay about the same as a hotel, with none of the service.

Disagree about service level in hotels correlating with cost. I’ve stayed in some very expensive hotels and they have seriously lacked amenities. Everything is pay to play in the 5 star hotels, no daily room service, no free WiFi, no breakfast. Sure you can get a person to bring you ice, but they’ll wait for a tip. Whereas I just spent a week at a Best Western Plus (small town with no hotel options) and was blown away by how nice it was. The breakfast was huge, free coffee, daily room cleaning, pool, WiFi. I personally don’t eat breakfast but my kids and dh need it. Dh travels for work and always aims for the 3 stars because they’re clean but also have amenities.

Something that bugs me about air bnbs is that the cleaning is not included in the price. Why?! And also that most don’t have vacuums. When I’m staying for a week we often need a vacuum in the kitchen or bathroom. I haven’t ever had a bad experience though.

As well they should. If you are going to stay in 5 star hotels, you need to understand the social contract. It sounds like you do not, like your social skills are below par. Continue to stay at those Best Westerns, it's clearly where you belong.

[Anonymous]

Nope. When pur family of 4 travels (one boy, one girl, in their early 20s), I'd much rather get an Air BnB or VRBO with 3 bedrooms than 2 hotel rooms and make them share a room. Plus, I prefer having a kitchen to spending hundreds of dollars per week on breakfast out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. When pur family of 4 travels (one boy, one girl, in their early 20s), I'd much rather get an Air BnB or VRBO with 3 bedrooms than 2 hotel rooms and make them share a room. Plus, I prefer having a kitchen to spending hundreds of dollars per week on breakfast out.

Right. So if your are cheap, Airbnb or vrbo is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Team hotel. Plus who wants to play a rental in full months out and be urged to buy trip insurance because no refunds ever?

The few times we ever stayed in a condo it was managed by a hotel company. No problems. Park City

[Anonymous]

I prefer hotels if they are available in our destination and we're traveling as a nuclear family. Consistent if unimpressive, usually much cheaper than an AirBnB these days, and if there's free breakfast or a pool my kids are thrilled. Short term rentals are only good if you dont have hotel options, or have a very large group and need to cook together.