I’m not in the mood to type out all the reasons why I hate Airbnb, but if the draw is to cook your own meals, book a Residence Inn

OP, let us know if you are able to leave a bad review. There have been many reports of guests trying to leave bad reviews that never appear on the web site.

Still boggles my mind that people are actually surprised when this happens when staying at an AirBnB. It isn’t a hotel, it is a random’s home.

I recently stayed in four plus stars hotels and there were hair on the floor as well, fortunately. One had no top sheet in between the blanket and they were charging $800 per night. I don't mind staying home as much now 😆

Airbnb Superhost here.

Your experience was unacceptable, OP. Write an honest review and pursue Airbnb for a return on your cleaning fee at least.

When we travel, we only book Airbnbs with Superhosts and at least 20 positive reviews. I read ALL reviews less than 5 stars, because if even one mentions cleaning issues or bugs, I move on.

To answer PP's question about reviews: Guests and hosts have 14 days after checkout to write a review. I don't see the guests' review and they don't see mine until both are made public. If there is something negative in a review, I can only respond to it publicly -- I cannot have the review removed.

Anonymous wrote:Some of you need to do better at choosing your Airbnb’s. Read reviews carefully. I’ve stayed in tons and never, ever had an issue.

I just stayed in a terrible property and every single review was glowing. It was my first time staying in one - a friend booked it for a NYE trip - so I'm not sure how it works. Is it like on Uber where you rate the host and then the host rates you? Are these past guests lying in their reviews to maintain their high guest ratings? If not, why not post accurate reviews?

One shower had black mold between the shower tiles and two other showers each had filthy, moldy shower liners. The host claimed it was because the property had been sat empty for a few weeks and the seasonal dampness caused it. They sent a cleaner the next day which is the soonest the host said one could be there.

This property also claimed to have a fully stocked kitchen with cutlery and plating for 8. I mean, it did, if you counted the mismatched reusable plastic spoons and forks that my toddler uses for easy gripping. That wasn't such a huge deal as we just tossed paper plates and plasticware in the cart while grocery shopping nearby.

But seriously, the only negative I saw in any of the reviews was that the host didn't send the unlock code to that guest until 15 minutes before check-in.

This house clearly hadn't seen a fresh coat of paint in years. There were marks on the walls where decore had been changed out and spackle was used to fill the nail holes but never painted over. We paid $975 (that included the cleaning fee) split between 4 for the long weekend and that was the off-season rate. You mean to tell me that with all that season rate money that this host made that they couldn't afford a new coat of paint? Lazy and greedy, IMO.

It's like everything - Buyer Beware.

I have had disappointing experiences but NEVER in years of travel and hundreds of AirBnbs have I had a place that was completely a disaster or filthy. You do need to choose something that's not dirt cheap or looks like it's a mess though I mean, you still need to choose wisely, it's not like every place is going to be awesome. With 2 kids, usually it's no go on hotels with 2 rooms. But it really does depend and I always look for the traditional B&B where DS/DH and DD and me combine for 2 pp/room on a King bed. It depends - a lot of big cities offer deals on rooms where you know that there is some service provided even if just a front desk to help you if you're new in town. For example, I am staying in a mix of hotels and Airbnbs based on location/amenities in Venice/Rome/Ischia because sometimes location wise, hotel is more practical.

To just be done with AirBnBs for one bad experience I think is a bit silly and drastic.

Anonymous wrote:With two little kids, I gotta favor Air B&Bs. All of us in one hotel room is fine for a night or two, such when we're taking a road trip.

But having separate bedrooms, often 2+ bathrooms, a kitchen, and living area makes for a MUCH nicer experience. We can afford it in a home rental, but not in a hotel

Except in rare cases, I only book spots with 20+ glowing reviews. I've had a few only good experiences, and the vast majority have been really solid.

+1

Super hosts with good reviews only. More affordable (though not necessarily cheap) than getting two hotel rooms. And, with younger kids the option not to have to eat out for every meal is really invaluable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol another hate thread. Do you know how much it costs to clean a house? 130 isn't it, it's about 3-400, so that amount should be a red flag. Also look at reviews, it suddenly just doesn't happen

The “cleaning fee” should be baked into the cost. It’s not even cheaper to stay at these places anymore and the expectations are a mile long.

DP. It is cheaper if you need two hotel rooms. (With two teens in tow.) And it prevents you from having to eat every single meal at a restaurant, which saves money. I love Airbnbs!

Why not get a hotel credit card where you can earn points?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always disliked Airbnb’s. I never seemed comfortable with them and always extra cautious to the point of not relaxing and having a good time. I prefer hotels. I like the room service aspect though

That's not a thing anymore.

You're right a lot of hotels don't have room service anymore - instead we can have room service from any restaurant we want via Doordash! And it is usually, faster, better and cheaper!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently staying in one that’s filthy. Dust caked on photos and decorations, floors are filthy with hairs and crumbs, 2 towel racks are broken & immediately fell upon hanging towels up, the decorative pillows that are everywhere are brown with dirt instead of cream, tv remotes without batteries, lights without lightbulbs, and my favorite - 2 forks & 1 knife plus a peeling nonstick pan is their well-stocked kitchen.

I contacted the host & her excuse is that no one had stayed here since Thanksgiving so it hadn’t been cleaned in a bit. Lady, this place looks like it hasn’t had a proper $130 cleaning fee cleaning in ages! Airbnb said nothing in the photos I provided violates their “minimum clean standard.”

I’m also pissed at those who stayed before who didn’t tell the truth in their reviews. I’m telling the truth, better believe that. Ridiculous.

The state of the house also left me worried about the bedding so I immediately washed mine upon arriving. It also worried me because the checkout instructions specifically say do not strip the beds, simply make them up. That’s sus to me right there. All I’ve ever stayed in want the beds stripped and the linens put in the laundry or laundry room.

If I see colored bed sheets in the pictures, I’m suspicious. Isn’t everyone concerned about bedbugs? There should ALWAYS be white bedding, and ONLY white. No colored pillows or anything else.

What? This is weird. Why?

How much do you know about bedbugs? The issue is fairly common and so easy to spread, and nearly impossible to eradicate and costs many thousands of dollars. Please educate yourself.

Anonymous wrote:We have a very clean dog friendly rental thru vrbo. In 3 years of owning and renting it out we’ve had one complaint. It clearly states it’s dog friendly. Someone rented it then on the first day sent a complaint that the broom had dog hair in it and so did the vacuum, he felt that made it unclean and one of his kids was allergic to pet hair. When he checked out he left his kids sticky fingerprints on everything and dried food all over the floors.

I think it is great that you make it clear in your listing that pets are allowed. We have a pet allergy and I always check carefully to make sure pets are not allowed. I know VRBO has a function where you can search for places that allow pets--I wish they had one for those who do not allow pets. It would make life so much easier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always disliked Airbnb’s. I never seemed comfortable with them and always extra cautious to the point of not relaxing and having a good time. I prefer hotels. I like the room service aspect though

That's not a thing anymore.

Of course it is. Even during covid when in person dining was hit or miss, room service was ramped up

Here you go with 13 pages of recent discussion. Everything under the sun.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1090068.page

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently staying in one that’s filthy. Dust caked on photos and decorations, floors are filthy with hairs and crumbs, 2 towel racks are broken & immediately fell upon hanging towels up, the decorative pillows that are everywhere are brown with dirt instead of cream, tv remotes without batteries, lights without lightbulbs, and my favorite - 2 forks & 1 knife plus a peeling nonstick pan is their well-stocked kitchen.

I contacted the host & her excuse is that no one had stayed here since Thanksgiving so it hadn’t been cleaned in a bit. Lady, this place looks like it hasn’t had a proper $130 cleaning fee cleaning in ages! Airbnb said nothing in the photos I provided violates their “minimum clean standard.”

I’m also pissed at those who stayed before who didn’t tell the truth in their reviews. I’m telling the truth, better believe that. Ridiculous.

The state of the house also left me worried about the bedding so I immediately washed mine upon arriving. It also worried me because the checkout instructions specifically say do not strip the beds, simply make them up. That’s sus to me right there. All I’ve ever stayed in want the beds stripped and the linens put in the laundry or laundry room.

If I see colored bed sheets in the pictures, I’m suspicious. Isn’t everyone concerned about bedbugs? There should ALWAYS be white bedding, and ONLY white. No colored pillows or anything else.

What? This is weird. Why?