I’ve used air bnb a couple of times to rent ‘entire homes’. One good experience in the UK and two in the US…and one very bad one in the US! The main thing I’d like to share is that air bnb does not monitor their listings in the way you would expect of an agency listings accommodation. Usually agencies/websites hosting hotels or apartments monitor these properties for accuracy of description etc. It was only after my unsatisfactory experience that I discovered this. I rented an ‘entire home’ which was not cheap. However upon staying there discovered that the entrance was shared, the heating could not be controlled by us, and it was basically a room in this person’s house, that upon entering the main door you the entered the room via a patio door. Due to many issues including cleanliness and noise, I only stayed 2 of 4 nights. I had no recourse except to write a negative review, which I had been debating whether to do as the host could simply write a nasty view on my profile in return (I have seen that he has done this to someone else as he doesn’t take kindly to negative reviews). And it seems his strategy works as I can mostly only see positive reviews which I find very hard to believe. Also, it felt as though this host treated me as a non-paying guest in terms of how I had to leave the property. And there were way too many restrictions on what I could and couldn’t do. Doubt very much I will use Airbnb again.
Airbnb awarded the security deposit of $ 250 to the Host who had basically populated the house with used Furniture and claimed money for a scratch on a Dining table and a smudge left by my kid. Looks like the Airbnb Resolution folks are un-available over phone; In retrospect we should have not done our share of cleaning; Also we had lack of privacy as the hosts (a young couple) would be using the kitchen or have no dishes for us (they once ran the dishwasher shortly before dinner time). I have since closed my Account with AIRBNB and do not recommend it.
that sounds horrible! have you written to airbnb? they should be able to help youd think. and a shame, because im sure there are plenty of good experiences to be had.
there are certain hosts which can apply to get the approval from the company, where checks and stadards are done to ensure the property is what it says, so have a lookie again.
also im a host, and my room does what it says on the tin. It is very comfortable and all things nice, I had a good review with a little tip on a door getting jammed, which i have sorted straight away for next guest. so not all baddies!!
I had a similar bad experience in Maui where the entrance as shared and the hosts were rude.
They blamed my kids for scratching their table and smudges (which were not visible). All in all a horrible experience and AIRBNB resolution was of little help.