Yeah, Airbnb has slowly become a turnoff. I quickly learned the pictures on the website can look way better than real life. And in Atlanta, hosts were renting all the bedrooms to different people! Like, isn't there some county code against that? I'm glad you've moved into your own place. Congratulations!
So interesting to read this Emma! I had a horrible experience with Airbnb hosts in Switzerland last summer - my first experience if Airbnb, We treated our grownup children and their children to a week in a beautiful Swiss farmhouse… remote… idyllic …everything we needed for a perfect retreat to make memories in Switzerland after the last our relatives there passed away. It was everything I’d hoped for and I fell in love with house and the location, waking up to cow bells on the mountain … perfect. Even though it rained on some days we did jigsaw puzzles played games. It justified the fact that I’d paid more for this holiday that I ever had in my life. I remember after everyone had left I went around the house again, in the quiet, re folding the quilts, checking every room, their leaving instructions in my hand. They were surprisingly specific, and I appreciated that, wanting to get everything right. I remember my husband saying , I bet they won’t believe anyone has stayed here, you’ve left it so beautifully! And I know I did, as I would anyway but this was an old house I’d fallen in love with. I was sad to leave.
My jaw hit the floor when I read their review- I thought it was a joke? I contacted them and had several emails back and forth..they wouldn’t back down. They said we’d left the house in a poor state that required extra cleaning. When pushed to explain they said there were water splashes in the sink ( they sent a photo of a sink that was empty but not dry?) the fridge was filthy ( it had food in it for a week that had all been removed- to my mind a fridge that’s filthy would mean dirt or mould or something? ) There was candle wax on the tiled kitchen floor . They just kept repeating themselves and making insulting comments like “ in Switzerland perhaps it’s different from England but we respect other people’s property”
Perhaps I’m over sensitive but it ruined the holiday for me. Thinking back now I still shudder and wonder what they got from all those mean emails? And ironically I had left them a glowing review which I couldn’t change! I don’t feel able to go back to Airbnb - every aspect was over priced and pedantic ( the cleaning we’d paid for was exorbitant too ) almost a year later it leaves a sad feeling about that holiday.
Carole, I cannot thank you enough for your comment. I just read it aloud to my husband! We are both absolutely FURIOUS on your behalf. I’m not at all surprised that the memory has ruined the holiday for you—and that you feel sad thinking back on it now.
Your experience echoes all my experience, too! I find that there are two types of dodgy hosts:
1: People who have lovingly restored a place as their extra income, and therefore have unrealistic expectations of guests. Yes, obviously, people shouldn’t cause damage, but a rental property that is being used over and over is going to incur wear and tear. It’s just part of the deal!
2: People who know exactly what they’re doing and try to take you for a ride, fining you for everything.
It sounds like your hosts were both! And it makes me so angry because we literally pay a cleaning fee already? What are they using this fee for if not to spray down the inside of the fridge and mop the floors?
Like you, I don’t think I can ever stay in an Airbnb again. No matter how great a time I have, the experience always ends with a ridiculous disagreement that sours the whole thing. And Airbnb always sides with the host! 😡
Let me say this to you right now in case you need to hear it: you are a wonderful guest, you took care of that beautiful house, and this isn’t about you at all. They’re crooks!
Thank you Emma, so reassuring hear of your experience too. There’s so much wrong with Airbnb it seems - from the unreliable cancellation policy to the extra charges added when you go to book , cleaning costs that can be whatever they like. In fact I remember now that my daughter booked one for my birthday which we had to cancel due to COVID. She got a refund but they deducted £200 for cleaning a house we hadn’t stayed in? Crooks indeed 😡
That's so terrible! I would be livid, and probably in the middle of dialing a lawyer before remembering that it wasn't worth it.
My worst AirBnB story was in Chicago. I was renting a room from a woman while at a conference, and had planned my trip to stay an extra day to enjoy the city. In the middle of the night before my big presentation, my host had a long and explosive argument with her boyfriend right outside my room. Then the last day of the conference, I woke up to find her arm wrapped in bandages, looking extremely worse for wear. She told me she'd been at a party and *fallen into a bonfire*. WHAT. She informed me that her father would be coming to take care of her, and so I would have to go. She would not be refunding me. AirBnB refused to refund me. There was no place for me to stay within my budget that wasn't a literal campsite in someone's backyard. Thankfully, my airline let me change my ticket and I jetted my way home. By the time I'd landed, she'd already messaged me asking me for a good review! I am in awe of her chaos.
OMG Chloe! That is WAY worse than my experience. I’m absolutely infuriated on your behalf. And it really mirrors my experience of Airbnb just letting hosts do whatever they want without consequences? It boils my blood!
We are with you Emma! We stayed in an AirBnB as a short term and when knocking on the kitchen door of the owners property to ask a question, the wife of the duo opened the door and said, "This AirBnB is a right pain in the ar5e, what do you want? I told my husband this was a bad idea". Property owners some maybe, basic hospitality skilled some are not! 😆
Yeah, Airbnb has slowly become a turnoff. I quickly learned the pictures on the website can look way better than real life. And in Atlanta, hosts were renting all the bedrooms to different people! Like, isn't there some county code against that? I'm glad you've moved into your own place. Congratulations!
Such a turnoff, you’re right, Teronda! Thanks so much for circling back to read this one! I appreciate you 🧡
🤗
Love this, Emma! ☺️
Ah, thanks, Isabella!
So interesting to read this Emma! I had a horrible experience with Airbnb hosts in Switzerland last summer - my first experience if Airbnb, We treated our grownup children and their children to a week in a beautiful Swiss farmhouse… remote… idyllic …everything we needed for a perfect retreat to make memories in Switzerland after the last our relatives there passed away. It was everything I’d hoped for and I fell in love with house and the location, waking up to cow bells on the mountain … perfect. Even though it rained on some days we did jigsaw puzzles played games. It justified the fact that I’d paid more for this holiday that I ever had in my life. I remember after everyone had left I went around the house again, in the quiet, re folding the quilts, checking every room, their leaving instructions in my hand. They were surprisingly specific, and I appreciated that, wanting to get everything right. I remember my husband saying , I bet they won’t believe anyone has stayed here, you’ve left it so beautifully! And I know I did, as I would anyway but this was an old house I’d fallen in love with. I was sad to leave.
My jaw hit the floor when I read their review- I thought it was a joke? I contacted them and had several emails back and forth..they wouldn’t back down. They said we’d left the house in a poor state that required extra cleaning. When pushed to explain they said there were water splashes in the sink ( they sent a photo of a sink that was empty but not dry?) the fridge was filthy ( it had food in it for a week that had all been removed- to my mind a fridge that’s filthy would mean dirt or mould or something? ) There was candle wax on the tiled kitchen floor . They just kept repeating themselves and making insulting comments like “ in Switzerland perhaps it’s different from England but we respect other people’s property”
Perhaps I’m over sensitive but it ruined the holiday for me. Thinking back now I still shudder and wonder what they got from all those mean emails? And ironically I had left them a glowing review which I couldn’t change! I don’t feel able to go back to Airbnb - every aspect was over priced and pedantic ( the cleaning we’d paid for was exorbitant too ) almost a year later it leaves a sad feeling about that holiday.
Carole, I cannot thank you enough for your comment. I just read it aloud to my husband! We are both absolutely FURIOUS on your behalf. I’m not at all surprised that the memory has ruined the holiday for you—and that you feel sad thinking back on it now.
Your experience echoes all my experience, too! I find that there are two types of dodgy hosts:
1: People who have lovingly restored a place as their extra income, and therefore have unrealistic expectations of guests. Yes, obviously, people shouldn’t cause damage, but a rental property that is being used over and over is going to incur wear and tear. It’s just part of the deal!
2: People who know exactly what they’re doing and try to take you for a ride, fining you for everything.
It sounds like your hosts were both! And it makes me so angry because we literally pay a cleaning fee already? What are they using this fee for if not to spray down the inside of the fridge and mop the floors?
Like you, I don’t think I can ever stay in an Airbnb again. No matter how great a time I have, the experience always ends with a ridiculous disagreement that sours the whole thing. And Airbnb always sides with the host! 😡
Let me say this to you right now in case you need to hear it: you are a wonderful guest, you took care of that beautiful house, and this isn’t about you at all. They’re crooks!
Thank you Emma, so reassuring hear of your experience too. There’s so much wrong with Airbnb it seems - from the unreliable cancellation policy to the extra charges added when you go to book , cleaning costs that can be whatever they like. In fact I remember now that my daughter booked one for my birthday which we had to cancel due to COVID. She got a refund but they deducted £200 for cleaning a house we hadn’t stayed in? Crooks indeed 😡
That's so terrible! I would be livid, and probably in the middle of dialing a lawyer before remembering that it wasn't worth it.
My worst AirBnB story was in Chicago. I was renting a room from a woman while at a conference, and had planned my trip to stay an extra day to enjoy the city. In the middle of the night before my big presentation, my host had a long and explosive argument with her boyfriend right outside my room. Then the last day of the conference, I woke up to find her arm wrapped in bandages, looking extremely worse for wear. She told me she'd been at a party and *fallen into a bonfire*. WHAT. She informed me that her father would be coming to take care of her, and so I would have to go. She would not be refunding me. AirBnB refused to refund me. There was no place for me to stay within my budget that wasn't a literal campsite in someone's backyard. Thankfully, my airline let me change my ticket and I jetted my way home. By the time I'd landed, she'd already messaged me asking me for a good review! I am in awe of her chaos.
OMG Chloe! That is WAY worse than my experience. I’m absolutely infuriated on your behalf. And it really mirrors my experience of Airbnb just letting hosts do whatever they want without consequences? It boils my blood!
Ooh Emma... never had you down as a towel thief... might have to reconsider being a loyal fan of your substack...
Just kidding ;)
Man, never stayed in an Airbnb and quite frankly after reading this, don't think I will!
Good luck in the new place!
Haha! My secret shame has been revealed!
Thank you so much for always reading and commenting. It means so much to me.
And yeah… I think your assessment of Airbnb is correct!
Oy - sounds awful! SO glad you’re in your own place again!!!!
Thank you, Julie!! Me too!!
We are with you Emma! We stayed in an AirBnB as a short term and when knocking on the kitchen door of the owners property to ask a question, the wife of the duo opened the door and said, "This AirBnB is a right pain in the ar5e, what do you want? I told my husband this was a bad idea". Property owners some maybe, basic hospitality skilled some are not! 😆
Ugh! That’s so infuriating! As if you forced them to become Airbnb hosts?!
Go figure hey! Life lesson learnt 😆
You’d think, but I keep booking them again?! Please let this serve as my public reminder it’s a bad idea lol