AirBnB Owners - How's Business?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Airbnb host here -- our bookings have basically dried up.

I think people aren't making travel plans right now. Many of them probably travelled over the summer (we were booked solid) so they got it out of their post-COVID system. Now inflation is real, the weather is changing, and they can wait to decide where they want to go next.

If it doesn't pick up after the holidays, I'll be concerned. For now, we're shutting our Airbnb down for the next month and traveling ourselves.

Sorry to say, I’m travelling 3 times in November and have booked hotels for all of them. Even stepping out from Hilton/Marriott and giving Graduate Hotels a chance over doing an Airbnb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Airbnb host here -- our bookings have basically dried up.

I think people aren't making travel plans right now. Many of them probably travelled over the summer (we were booked solid) so they got it out of their post-COVID system. Now inflation is real, the weather is changing, and they can wait to decide where they want to go next.

If it doesn't pick up after the holidays, I'll be concerned. For now, we're shutting our Airbnb down for the next month and traveling ourselves.

I think there is something to this- it definitely describes our family. We made a winter break trip at the end of 2021 to see family we hadn't been able to see because of covid. We did a spring break 2022 trip, and a pretty big summer trip. We do have a summer 2023 trip in the plans, but likely nothing until then except for a weekend trip here or there.

We are traveling a ton right now. Zero interest in AirBnB.

[Anonymous]

Check hotel rates near your rentals. If they’re close or lower, then there’s your answer. Personally, I would never deal with the demands and weirdness of Airbnb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Airbnb host here -- our bookings have basically dried up.

I think people aren't making travel plans right now. Many of them probably travelled over the summer (we were booked solid) so they got it out of their post-COVID system. Now inflation is real, the weather is changing, and they can wait to decide where they want to go next.

If it doesn't pick up after the holidays, I'll be concerned. For now, we're shutting our Airbnb down for the next month and traveling ourselves.

I think there is something to this- it definitely describes our family. We made a winter break trip at the end of 2021 to see family we hadn't been able to see because of covid. We did a spring break 2022 trip, and a pretty big summer trip. We do have a summer 2023 trip in the plans, but likely nothing until then except for a weekend trip here or there.

We are traveling a ton right now. Zero interest in AirBnB.

I used to use VRBO at least three or four times a year. I’ve taken at least 10 trips this year (lost count) and not one was via VRBO/AirBnB.

[Anonymous]

I used to use Airbnb a lot but more recently I’ve been using hotels. Airbnb cleaning and service fees are insane now and most Airbnb properties now cost more than a hotel. As others have mentioned, hotels are preferred as the service is more consistent and amenities tend to be better.

OP mentioned they charge a 100$ cleaning fee - absolutely absurd, especially if anyone is staying less than a week, on top of having to take the trash out/strip the beds.

[Anonymous]

If a hotel has a suite that can accommodate my family of 5 we take that option first. We only resort to AirBNB’s if a hotel isn’t able to accommodate my needs. I do however hate the rules/fees.

[Anonymous]

We took an overseas trip this summer and stayed in 5-6 AirBnb rentals. They were expensive, but the main draws were staying in non-touristy areas, having a kitchen, and having multiple bedrooms. We didn’t have any bad experiences, luckily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will not use airbnb. the fees are outrageous, and you have no recourse if the host cancels at the last minute.

AirBnB at least seems to recognize this is a problem - they now penalize owners if they cancel a reservation, charging them the cost of the trip.

Well, that's zero help to the renter who has arrived at their destination and has nowhere to stay.

I agree. After being cancelled on once, this is the sole reason why I’ll never use airbnb again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a hotel has a suite that can accommodate my family of 5 we take that option first. We only resort to AirBNB’s if a hotel isn’t able to accommodate my needs. I do however hate the rules/fees.

Same. It feels too hit or miss. The rules, the cleaning, the fees, and the having to think about ratings at all. There is a benefit to a more anonymous experience, if are the least bit anxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a hotel has a suite that can accommodate my family of 5 we take that option first. We only resort to AirBNB’s if a hotel isn’t able to accommodate my needs. I do however hate the rules/fees.

Same. It feels too hit or miss. The rules, the cleaning, the fees, and the having to think about ratings at all. There is a benefit to a more anonymous experience, if are the least bit anxious.

We just looked for an airbnb when the family was gathering for a funeral. We ended up with several large suites. No limits on guests. No clean up. Breakfast included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We own a house that we rent through AirBnB and through the resort where the house is located. There is a cleaning fee and the only thing we ask or the HOA asks is that the trash is put out and that the beds are stripped. Is that too much cleaning? We've only owned the place a year and we were booked all summer and we have a fair amount of reservations for the fall/winter. The place is only 3 hours away so we use it a few times during the winter and a bit in the summer too.

For us it depends on the type of trip we are taking. For our ski trips, we prefer a place with a kitchen. There is no need to go out for breakfast every day. We usually do ski in/out so we even go back for lunch some days. When we travel to a city we usually prefer a hotel. When we are doing a family vacation, we do an AirBnB for the convenience with the munchkin.

So here's the thing - if you're really asking. If you're charging me a cleaning fee, presumably someone is coming in and cleaning right? So why am I taking out the trash? Why am I stripping the beds, running the dishwasher, putting towels in the washer, etc.? I mean - I'm on vacation. It got to be too much. And then I'd go in and half the time they weren't ready for me on check in time, and the "cleaning" wasn't done and now I have to go around and spot clean to feel comfortable.

Not to mention the extra fees, and the cameras. Oh the cameras! So anytime I'm in a "common" (very loosely defined) area, you have a camera watching me and recording all my conversations. It's very weird and uncomfortable for me.

I used to use them all the time - they were cheaper and nicer and I liked the kitchen option. I've since started renting hotel rooms with a kitchenette. No more exorbitant fees and cheaper.

I'm sorry but the cleaning companies set the prices and I can guarantee you our cleaners are much more thorough then any hotel one. We require you to leave used towels and beds out so they know which to replace. As for trash we never make guests take it out. Dishes we just say run the last load. We also never have issues w/ checkin/checkout since we've contracted a turnaround time. you might have gotten by bad airbnb hosts. Also the reviews really make sure that we do the best for our guests where as a hotel they don't do anything because you can't individually review them.

Um, hotels switch out everything instead of trying to guess what has been used

+1
And of course you can individually review a hotel and can do that on multiple sites.
I also appreciate that my hotel room is cleaned daily, towels & toiletries are restocked, etc. If I need anything it will be brought up to me right away. Early check in or at least store my luggage, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We own a house that we rent through AirBnB and through the resort where the house is located. There is a cleaning fee and the only thing we ask or the HOA asks is that the trash is put out and that the beds are stripped. Is that too much cleaning? We've only owned the place a year and we were booked all summer and we have a fair amount of reservations for the fall/winter. The place is only 3 hours away so we use it a few times during the winter and a bit in the summer too.

For us it depends on the type of trip we are taking. For our ski trips, we prefer a place with a kitchen. There is no need to go out for breakfast every day. We usually do ski in/out so we even go back for lunch some days. When we travel to a city we usually prefer a hotel. When we are doing a family vacation, we do an AirBnB for the convenience with the munchkin.

So here's the thing - if you're really asking. If you're charging me a cleaning fee, presumably someone is coming in and cleaning right? So why am I taking out the trash? Why am I stripping the beds, running the dishwasher, putting towels in the washer, etc.? I mean - I'm on vacation. It got to be too much. And then I'd go in and half the time they weren't ready for me on check in time, and the "cleaning" wasn't done and now I have to go around and spot clean to feel comfortable.

Not to mention the extra fees, and the cameras. Oh the cameras! So anytime I'm in a "common" (very loosely defined) area, you have a camera watching me and recording all my conversations. It's very weird and uncomfortable for me.

I used to use them all the time - they were cheaper and nicer and I liked the kitchen option. I've since started renting hotel rooms with a kitchenette. No more exorbitant fees and cheaper.

I'm sorry but the cleaning companies set the prices and I can guarantee you our cleaners are much more thorough then any hotel one. We require you to leave used towels and beds out so they know which to replace. As for trash we never make guests take it out. Dishes we just say run the last load. We also never have issues w/ checkin/checkout since we've contracted a turnaround time. you might have gotten by bad airbnb hosts. Also the reviews really make sure that we do the best for our guests where as a hotel they don't do anything because you can't individually review them.

Um, hotels switch out everything instead of trying to guess what has been used

+1
And of course you can individually review a hotel and can do that on multiple sites.
I also appreciate that my hotel room is cleaned daily, towels & toiletries are restocked, etc. If I need anything it will be brought up to me right away. Early check in or at least store my luggage, etc

I have been to several hotels in the last year and not one of them still had daily cleaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We own a house that we rent through AirBnB and through the resort where the house is located. There is a cleaning fee and the only thing we ask or the HOA asks is that the trash is put out and that the beds are stripped. Is that too much cleaning? We've only owned the place a year and we were booked all summer and we have a fair amount of reservations for the fall/winter. The place is only 3 hours away so we use it a few times during the winter and a bit in the summer too.

For us it depends on the type of trip we are taking. For our ski trips, we prefer a place with a kitchen. There is no need to go out for breakfast every day. We usually do ski in/out so we even go back for lunch some days. When we travel to a city we usually prefer a hotel. When we are doing a family vacation, we do an AirBnB for the convenience with the munchkin.

So here's the thing - if you're really asking. If you're charging me a cleaning fee, presumably someone is coming in and cleaning right? So why am I taking out the trash? Why am I stripping the beds, running the dishwasher, putting towels in the washer, etc.? I mean - I'm on vacation. It got to be too much. And then I'd go in and half the time they weren't ready for me on check in time, and the "cleaning" wasn't done and now I have to go around and spot clean to feel comfortable.

Not to mention the extra fees, and the cameras. Oh the cameras! So anytime I'm in a "common" (very loosely defined) area, you have a camera watching me and recording all my conversations. It's very weird and uncomfortable for me.

I used to use them all the time - they were cheaper and nicer and I liked the kitchen option. I've since started renting hotel rooms with a kitchenette. No more exorbitant fees and cheaper.

I'm sorry but the cleaning companies set the prices and I can guarantee you our cleaners are much more thorough then any hotel one. We require you to leave used towels and beds out so they know which to replace. As for trash we never make guests take it out. Dishes we just say run the last load. We also never have issues w/ checkin/checkout since we've contracted a turnaround time. you might have gotten by bad airbnb hosts. Also the reviews really make sure that we do the best for our guests where as a hotel they don't do anything because you can't individually review them.

Um, hotels switch out everything instead of trying to guess what has been used

+1
And of course you can individually review a hotel and can do that on multiple sites.
I also appreciate that my hotel room is cleaned daily, towels & toiletries are restocked, etc. If I need anything it will be brought up to me right away. Early check in or at least store my luggage, etc

I have been to several hotels in the last year and not one of them still had daily cleaning.

All hotels offer daily cleaning - they just don't do it automatically anymore. You simply have to tell the front desk if you want someone to come in everyday. They do that for your convenience because they recognize that not everyone will want a daily unannounced visit.

[Anonymous]

Hotel has one or two people managing hundreds of rooms vs a host per house on Airbnb. Totally different , hotels treat you like a number not good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hotel has one or two people managing hundreds of rooms vs a host per house on Airbnb. Totally different , hotels treat you like a number not good

Disagree. I love being able to go to the reception desk, day or night, with a problem. I stay in higher end hotels where the staff are extremely helpful and eager to troubleshoot. Compare this to an Airbnb host, who might respond to your text when they get around to it, and there is no comparison.