Should We Use Airbnb? 8 Troubling Problems You Didn’t Know
What are the troubling, lesser-known problems with Airbnb and similar platforms? Here on my blog I always say, “As Invisible Tourists, we want to support locals of the places we visit, not make their lives more difficult.”
In recent years, the use of home-stay accommodation has exploded internationally. Sitting on the sidelines with one watchful eye monitoring this trend, as usual I decided to be a bit of a skeptic before jumping on the bandwagon and investigate the little-known facts about using a service like Airbnb for myself.
Despite its growing popularity there are some pretty troubling issues with Airbnb and their similar counterparts, leading many to ask if there are any ethical alternatives to Airbnb? Here I’ll reveal what it’s like to lift the lid on the hidden Pandora’s box of this craze – the results may surprise you, as they did me!
Yes, loads of people use Airbnb all the time without issues and that’s fine. Different people prioritise different things because there are different types of travellers. Many of my fellow travel bloggers could get you discounts on your first Airbnb booking and that’s fine, too.
In saying that, there is a time and a place for these services so I’d rather speak about the unpopular truths buried under the discount codes that are worth considering before booking a stay with a homestyle accommodation service like Airbnb.
NOTE: I first published this article in March 2018 and have updated it since to reflect more recent events. It was regarded as an unpopular opinion at the time. Be sure to read my concluding comments for my overall thoughts on short-term homestay services.
Airbnb problems: Important reasons to reconsider using these services
I can totally hear people questioning my logic… They’re thinking, “But, aren’t you all about travelling like a local and helping people learn how to not look like a tourist? Then what’s wrong with renting a local’s place on Airbnb? It’s harmless and it’s cheaper than hotels, right?”
Ermm, not exactly.
There’s a saying, “Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it” so truth be told, I have stayed in an Airbnb before. I was with a group for a girls’ getaway and my friend had booked the accommodation on our group’s behalf.
The place was fine (although I prefer to have my own bed rather than share with a friend!) However due to the facts I discuss below, it just wasn’t for me and may not be for others as well.
Let’s start with a few questions:
- Do you value your precious travel time, hate inconveniences and prefer to play it safe with accommodation rather than put yourself in a position that could have been avoided when you travel?
- Do you also prefer to enjoying everything a city has to offer without feeling like you’re getting in the way of locals going about their daily lives?
If you answered yes to these questions, you’re likely to prefer hotels and other forms of traditional accommodation. If you answered no, the below facts may give you reason to reconsider using homestay accommodation services like Airbnb for your next trip.
While Airbnb’s slogan is “travel like a local,” there are some dark truths that actually make life more difficult for the locals they claim to support.
Let’s get into it!
1. Airbnb could be illegal in the city you’re visiting
This is a pretty surprising and very important point. Just because there are listings for a destination doesn’t mean the host and Airbnb are abiding by the local laws. For instance, here are some facts that might make us think twice about using Airbnb and similar services in the below major cities.
These are just a few examples and definitely not the only places where Airbnb is problematic. I highly advise doing some research into the destination if considering using Airbnb for accommodation:
Airbnb problems in New York City, United States
Did you know in 2014 that 72% of reservations made in New York City were illegal?
The New York state attorney general’s office released a report on Airbnb listings that revealed this unfortunate fact. Local laws in New York make it illegal to rent an entire apartment on Airbnb for less than 30 days, as this helps to keep the long-term supply of property available to locals. Despite this, New York City is one of Airbnb’s biggest markets where listings under 30 days are available to tourists.
“Airbnb consistently undermines the City’s efforts to preserve affordable housing, and regularly attempts to thwart regulations put in place to protect New York City residents.” ~ statement from NYC Council members Helen Rosenthal and Jumaane Williams.
Airbnb problems in Barcelona, Spain
What are the Airbnb in Spain problems? Almost half of holiday rentals in the country’s second-largest city of Barcelona are unlicensed according to the council, which makes them illegal.
In 2016 Barcelona fined Airbnb €600,000 for refusing to adhere to local laws by continuing to advertise unlicensed properties. As a result, Catalonia’s capital has a team of inspectors who wander the streets sniffing out illegal rentals using designated apps that cross-reference licences with advertised properties. This helps to identify illegal properties and gives authorities the power close down the premises, boot out occupants and fine the owner €60,000.
“Barcelona exists for its people. The priority is it’s a place to live.” ~ Janet Sanz, Barcelona Housing Councillor.
TIP: Read my crucial Barcelona travel tips to not look like a tourist when visiting.
Airbnb problems in Paris, France
In 2015, 44% of advertised properties on Airbnb were permanently available for rental, despite laws in France’s capital stating that holiday rentals are capped at only being available for 120 days of the year.
The survey that revealed this disturbing fact triggered raids across Paris and fines of up to €25,000 for hosts. However, the authorities are now looking to increase this fine to €100,000 like Berlin (see below). It is now necessary for hosts to obtain a registration number from the Town Hall so authorities can monitor the 120 day cap is not exceeded and so hosts cannot avoid paying taxes.
Airbnb problems in Mexico City, Mexico
Due to Mexico’s lax travel regulations during the pandemic, Mexico City saw an influx of remote workers (known as “digital nomads”) in addition to tourists.
This surge in visitor numbers in need of accommodation caused a 40% increase in rent prices in popular neighbourhoods, pushing out long-term locals and small businesses in favour of more profitable short-term Airbnb rentals.
It also caused a change in the social fabric of some communities, where trendy coffee shops popped up to cater to their new American or European guests.
Additionally, the local local government has recently signed an initiative with Airbnb to continue to boost remote worker numbers in the city, which in turn will add to the housing crisis.
Airbnb problems in Japan
The recent explosion of visitors to Japan looking to travel on the cheap meant Airbnb’s started popping up in unzoned areas to capitalise on the new demand.
Being an ultra-conservative country, locals filed an overwhelming number of “tourist pollution” complaints: unruly tourists coming and going at all hours, hosting noisy parties in otherwise quiet neighbourhoods and disrespecting local customs.
In June 2018 the Japanese government resorted to tackling illegal Airbnb and similar homestay accommodations across the country (known as “minpaku”) by requiring hosts in legally zoned areas to obtain a minpaku license, placing 180-day quotas on when properties can be available to rent and shutting down those who did not comply. This crackdown is said to have cost Airbnb $10 million.
READ MORE:
Crucial Paris Travel tips to Not look Like a Tourist
4 Days in Paris Itinerary: Complete Guide for First-Timers
Issues with Airbnb in Berlin, Germany
Germany’s capital got so tired of Airbnb creating a rental property shortage for locals they created a law entitled “Zweckentfremdungsverbot”…
A bit of a tongue-twister, right? Roughly translating to “Anti-Airbnb” this law bans short-term leasing of properties to tourists without a city permit. Hosts in Berlin can be fined up to €100,000 for disobeying this law and you could be left without accommodation if your host is busted.
Airbnb issues throughout Europe
In 2019, ten European cities banded together and sent a joint letter to the European Commission highlighting the flaws of services like Airbnb. Cities who suffered from “explosive growth” of short-term Airbnb listings – Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bordeaux, Brussels, Krakow, Munich, Paris, Valencia and Vienna – demanded the Commission address this issue during their next agenda.
Many Other Destinations: Illegal Subletting
Another disturbing trend with unregulated accommodation is illegal subletting. Did you know recent statistics in Australia revealed that 35% of Airbnb listings are by people who don’t even own the property, and do so without the knowledge of their landlord?
“Think of what you’d say to a neighbour if they were to ask who you are and why you’re staying there… Awkward.” ~ Alyse.
While tenants may not see an issue with secretly renting out their spare room on Airbnb for extra cash, there are risks involved for both the tenant and property owner. What the tenant fails realise is they could actually be in breach of their leasing agreement by having additional people reside in the property.
This leads to exceeding the number of people residing on the premises, handing out security keys without authorisation, no applicable insurance for issues related to subleasing, more issues regarding illegal subletting here. A tenant subletting without the permission of the property owner can result in eviction.
2. Airbnb can have negative impacts on locals’ quality of life
This is one of the lesser-known Airbnb problems. Tourists hiring a place on Airbnb to enjoy a “cheaper” holiday actually pushes rent prices up for locals who need to live in the city. Tourists are visitors competing with locals for accommodation. The only difference is locals need it long-term, but hosts can charge tourists more for short-term stays so this is way more appealing to some.
For instance in 2018 on the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca, tourist lets sharply increased by 50% due to demand, which in turn lead to residential rents rising by 40%. This made housing unaffordable for most local residents and pushed them out. As a result the island voted to ban Airbnb listings to make housing affordable for residents who needed to live and work.
Making the conscious decision to save a few bucks on a trip should not come at the expense of an actual local’s way of life. As invisible tourists we want to support locals of the places we visit, not make their lives more difficult!
Residents are also concerned raised Airbnb complaints about the constant stream of different tourists bumping their luggage up and down stairs in apartment blocks as well as coming and going at all hours. For long-term residents it’s easy to empathise that all the thumping and noise is bound to get annoying.
As someone who lives in a city where over 200,000 properties sit vacant due to landlords not renting them to locals (or anyone at all), I’ve seen first-hand how this has negatively impacted the rental market by causing prices to skyrocket as long-term rentals for locals become scarce. It isn’t really fair (or arguably ethical) on the local population trying to get by.
It’s also becoming known that some Airbnb hosts are treating their rentals as businesses. Padlocks or combination touchpads on doors rather than keys, instructions stuck around the property and “No Smoking” signs are dead giveaways that the Airbnb is being treated as a permanent holiday rental, which I mentioned previously under point #1 is probably an illegal listing. What happened to just renting out a spare room?
3. Privacy is never guaranteed
So, your host has also allowed friends to crash at their place during a stay and failed to mention it at any point. This may put a damper on the romantic weekend away planned with a partner, as the intimate moments they were hoping for may not be so intimate after all!
Recently, some stories have emerged about Airbnb hosts using sneaky hidden cameras in the bedrooms of their rentals. If that oddly-placed object or random smoke alarm appears to have a little webcam lens on closer inspection, that thing could be hooked up to the internet and the host is watching guests’ every move.
This became such a huge problem for guests, in March 2024 it led Airbnb to announce the ban of indoor security cameras for properties listed on their platform. Airbnb hosts found violating this policy would be permanently removed.
Alternatively, in a hotel we aren’t going to be left surprised with an unexpected stranger when returning to our room after a long day of sight-seeing. The likelihood of being spied on in a hotel room is much less of a risk. A hotel doesn’t need to spy on guests because they have insurance cover. It’s never ok to film someone without their consent.
4. You’re at the complete mercy of the host
One of the common Airbnb host problems? Even if a room is showing available, the host has the right to change their mind and cancel a booking at a moment’s notice. Personally, I prefer to be prepared and organised, and being left in limbo a few days before a trip – with all other accommodation in the area being sold out – literally sounds like my idea of a nightmare.
In another example, imagine arriving at an Airbnb only to find two people already there hanging curtains, a TV left face-down on the lounge and a strong dog odour throughout. Animal fur, hair and dust were all over the house, it clearly hadn’t been cleaned in very long time, mouse droppings were in the kitchen and other accommodation options nearby were all sold out. Here’s how Airbnb treated these guests in this actual situation.
Airbnb have thousands of complaints about how they can’t really do anything to assist guests who are left stranded. In contrast, hotels have a lot to lose from this and will find guests a room or compensate somehow if they’ve taken their money.
Let’s not forget the potential issue of a host running late to meet a guest to exchange keys. This unaccounted-for delay could seriously affect the guest’s travel plans and may lead to missing a crucial flight or train to their next destination. With a hotel, checking in and out times are made clear. During that period there is always someone at the front desk when we need to leave, so it’s simple to plan our journeys.
There isn’t always time to wait around for someone to race from one side of the city to the other to collect keys!
With many Airbnbs, hosts require guests to do the washing up, take out the rubbish and may leave them with other obligations they need to fulfil before checking out. We do all that at home, sometimes it’s nice to forget about that during a holiday.
READ MORE:
How to NOT Look Like a Tourist in New York City
7 Completely Annoying Reasons Why Mykonos is Overrated
Tourist vs Traveller: Why Invisible Tourist (Not Invisible Traveller?)
5. Lack of safety and security regulations
Consistent standards and regulations are lacking across Airbnb rentals as they are basically private properties. Due to this hosts don’t have to follow the same strict regulations that hotels do like fire, security and safety. What fire and other types of hazards are there in a rental? Can we tell from the photos?
As mentioned earlier, illegal subletting sees a tenant distribute unauthorised copied keys to short-term visitors, resulting in unknown people in a residential block having access to building amenities. This can be a major security concern for other residents in the building who are there legally.
People who list on Airbnb also don’t have to pay for the same insurances that hotels do, therefore if anything were to happen Airbnb may not cover guests at all. This also includes theft of cash/valuables from the property, whether it was from the host, other guests or as a result of a break-in. Is there even a safe or secure place to store our valuables during your stay?
Additionally, some of the properties may not be very child friendly which is sometimes only possible to be discovered on arrival.
6. Bait and switch
This is one of the most annoying Airbnb problems. If you’re not familiar with this sneaky tactic, bait and switch refers to the generally illegal act of “baiting” a guest into paying for a rental that is substituted for an inferior one later down the track. The intent is never to provide the rental in the great location with amazing photos the guest paid for.
If a host is being a bit shady, they may contact the guest close to their arrival date to inform them of the change. As it’s so late-minute, the guest may be left with no other option but to accept the sub-standard accommodation they offer instead, sometimes even for more money! Know your rights if this happens to you.
You’re not obligated to accept their new offer. If your host is asking you to switch without officially changing the reservation on Airbnb, you’ll need to ask the host to cancel your reservation so you can get a full refund. If you have further issues, you’ll need to immediately call Airbnb so they can resolve the problem for you or find another place to stay, which may prove difficult if all other accommodation in the area is sold out at the time.
This fraudulent trend is becoming more and more common with Airbnb. Sure it’s also possible this can happen with smaller hotels as well, but is less likely as hotels have much more to lose by participating in this dirty practice.
You can read some Airbnb bait and switch stories here and here to give you an idea of what could happen.
7. There’s no reception, housekeeping or room service
While this may not be a deal-breaker for some, there are unseen benefits. Hotels employ dozens of locals to take care of things like housekeeping, reception, concierge services, kitchenhands and the like to keep the place running smoothly. To me, providing locals with jobs is quite important and staying in a hotel supports this cause.
Additionally, the lack of a reception area with an Airbnb means checking in and out with a host may not be flexible enough to suit a guest’s travel plans. I was unbelievably annoyed when arriving at what was listed as a hotel in Onomichi Japan with rooms only to discover it was an Airbnb…
There was nowhere to leave luggage, no one to help in an emergency (the phone number provided had no English speakers — which is fine, if I was expecting it), a combination lock on the door that other people could know…
This was several years after I had first written this article and I reserved it through booking.com. The listing was so deceptive it even fooled me, it never mentioned any of these things. I would never have booked it otherwise.
8. Do tourists really need an entire kitchen (and house)?
A lot of the time tourists don’t really need an entire house or apartment with a kitchen when they’re travelling short-term. Isn’t visiting a new place all about getting out there and experiencing local, authentic food? In turn this helps to support local jobs and businesses.
If not supporting locals in other ways through cultural experiences and spending, cooking some noodles in an Airbnb in an effort to save money doesn’t really help anyone. Hotels, aparthotels and other traditional forms of accommodation can also provide the basic amenities needed for a stay.
Additionally, booking an entire apartment or house on Airbnb means tourists could be inadvertently taking away long-term accommodation from a local. If the rental is being run as a business by a company who has multiple property listings, it’s usually wise to steer away from it as it goes against the original idea that Airbnb was founded on — a property owner renting out a spare room.
What a lack of tourism does to neighbourhoods overrun with Airbnb listings
Now for the hidden Airbnb controversy. As we all know, in 2020 tourism completely ground to a halt due to a global event that shall not be named. This helped to starkly amplify the issues caused by short-term rentals for even the most stubborn of deniers.
When it comes to the often unseen disadvantages of Airbnb, let’s examine the knock-on effects caused by the absence of tourism in destinations that had high percentages of unregulated accommodation listings.
Airbnb issues in Lisbon, Portugal
In the early months of 2020, there were 22,000 Airbnb listings in Lisbon. A sudden lack of tourists meant the majority of these sat empty for months.
Urban geographer Luís Mendes from Living in Lisbon stated, “[2020] has helped expose the negative aspects of Portugal’s recovery from the financial crisis, which was driven by real estate and tourism rather than a focus on the basic needs of local people.”
This excellent article about overtourism in Lisbon, Portugal highlights the need and urgency for sustainable cultural tourism if you’re interested in learning more about the topic. Unfortunately, this issue is not unique to Lisbon and is further proof of why being an invisible tourist whilst travelling is win-win for everyone.
Airbnb issues in Barcelona, Spain
Local authorities are seeking to repossess empty short-terms rentals. If vacant properties don’t re-enter the long-term rental market for local residents, new legislation allows authorities to purchase them outright at 50% of the market value.
The plan for seized properties is to be rented by the city as public and subsidised housing, while potentially fining the owners from €90,000- €900,000 for properties left vacant for 2 years.
Airbnb issues in Athens, Greece
According to local residents in Kaisariani, Athens, their neighbourhood actually became a “tourist hotbed” full of Airbnbs rather than a residential area.
Airbnb issues in Paris, France
As one of Airbnb’s top destinations globally, tourism to Paris took a huge hit. According to the Deputy Mayor of Paris, the city “needs to use the pandemic to address affordable housing and supply.
In the four central arrondissements of Paris, a quarter of all properties are now no longer homes but purely short-term rentals for tourists. As a result the city is planning to hold a referendum on the future of Airbnb listings.
Airbnb issues in Dublin, Ireland
One of my Ireland travel tips for tourists is to avoid unregulated accommodation such as Airbnb. Due to increased demand in short-term listings from tourists and limited supply, Dublin saw rents for local residents skyrocket and more than double from 2011 – 2019.
The sudden lack of tourists in 2020 meant 64% of short-term Airbnb listings in Dublin rushed to enter the long-term rental market instead. Great news for locals, at least!
Concluding why we should reconsider services like Airbnb
Sure, there certainly are benefits of using Airbnb if it’s done in an ethical and legal manner.
Thousands of travellers use the platform without ever having an issue. I’m not here to dispute that and I’m certainly not saying ALL hosts are bad – it’s neither fair nor accurate to paint everyone with the same brush. Besides, this opinion piece is not about that. It’s about questioning whether a service like this should be allowed to continue unregulated.
There is a time and a place for homestay accommodation. For instance, in rural areas where accommodation choices are slim services like Airbnb can actually help locals. In major cities where there already is plenty of regulated accommodation, whole property rentals by hosts listing multiple properties should be avoided in order to help preserve local life and their culture.
If short-term rentals have taught us anything, it’s now very clear that they create the likes of a horizontal hotel that spans the breadth of a city, pushing out local residents.
I do think that initially the idea of Airbnb was fantastic a few years ago, where hosts would share a room of their home with a visitor who wished to experience the city like a local. Unfortunately, there are always people looking to make a quick buck, exploit the system and ruin the experience for everyone.
On an interesting (and maybe ironic) note, in the summer of 2023 Airbnb launched a new “Airbnb Rooms” initiative. Deciding to get back to their founding roots, this service allows travellers to rent out spare rooms rather than whole properties to save money. Do you agree with their reasoning?
As someone who values time more than anything else when travelling, the explosion of illegal listings, risks and ethical issues associated with Airbnb and the like do not outweigh the benefits of staying in a hotel for me personally. Considering that a pair of YouTubers also pranked Airbnb by listing a dollhouse and made $3,000 worth of bookings, it really begs the question of how much listings are actually checked.
By ignoring local laws, causing negative impacts on locals’ quality of life and lack of consistent standards, I believe unregulated homestay accommodation is unethical and I’m sorry to say for these reasons cannot support it.
What are your thoughts on these Airbnb problems? Do you feel the same? Let me know in the comments below! If you found this article helpful or you learnt something new, please share it or take a look at my popular travel guides and itineraries and my book for more ways to help you NOT look like a tourist on your next trip.
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Until next time,
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Paris pin image credit: Chris Karidis
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Thank you for letting us all know this. I had no idea. Booked for an Airbnb for March to New York, but now going to cancel it and get a hotel. Don’t want to be part of forcing people out of their homes.
Also, instead of going to popular museums, going to try focus of other parts of city, e.g. Stonewall Inn, African Burial Ground National Monument, Keith Haring’s Bathroom Mural, National Museum of the American Indian, famous graffiti art and jazz clubs in Harlem (my partner loves jazz). If have any recommendations, please feel free to let me know! 🙂
This issue is definitely one that flies under the radar for most.
I love all those ideas for museums and completely agree, Judith! Thanks for your comment 😊
You have not mentioned the worst thing about Airbnb: Their Customer Support service (often they don’t even assist you at all)
Thankfully I have never had to connect with their customer service (because I don’t use the platform). But to my understanding it can be very frustrating for some people!
My wife and I are currently staying in an Airbnb after having stayed in a hotel for over a month, and sometimes you don’t know how good you have it until it’s gone. While our hotel room wasn’t spacious, we were still situated at the end of the top floor overlooking a quiet pasture. After having moved into our airbnb, we were beguiled into the charm of the place. Now we have to contend with an old building, inconsiderate neighbors above us, and less than ideal accommodations. Be aware that if you negotiate with a hotel for an extended rate, that’ll equate to roughly the same price as any airbnb and you’ll gain the benefit of having hotel services at your disposal anytime you wish. We’ll never use an airbnb again.
I think I would feel the same if I did use Airbnb, Brett. Sometimes it is handy to have the extra services of a hotel, as you mention. Thanks for your comment!
Alyse,
First I read your article and a lot of the comments. I do feel you have strong negative feelings towards short term rentals.
What you don’t understand is not everyone wants to do short term rentals. I tried to rent my home long term. The first tenant ripped me off for 5k and I was only able to evict them after taking them to court. The second tenant did the same thing plus 30k damage to my home.
So short term rental is a better option for myself no on is there long enough to get that comfortable.
You also have to understand not everyone wants to stay in a hotel.
Thanks for reading, Paul!
I understand not everyone wants or needs to do short term rentals, that’s not the issue. The article aims to highlight the impacts tourists using unregulated accommodation for short-term stays has had on local communities. As mentioned in the article, for longer-term stays aparthotels can be great options, and I’ve also made some suggestions for more types of accommodation that don’t cause these issues in my guide to alternatives to Airbnb. Thanks for your comment!
I live in a beautiful Mountain town in BC, Canada. For the last 6 years we have had %0.01 housing availability rate and insanely high rents. In a low income, rural area. Although local bylaws state that only 80 short-term rental home are allowed, a quick google search for housing in the area shows well over 200. I quite doubt I will personally be able to live in this town for another 5 years at this rate. I have been evicted twice to have my home turned into an Air BNB. The whole tone of the town is different than when I moved here, and there’s no real sense of community anymore. Air BNB is cancer to small towns.
I’m so sorry to hear that, Rachael. There’s nothing worse than losing that sense of community that made the neighbourhood so lovely to live in previously 😔 Thanks for sharing your insight and I hope things will improve for you!
Thanks Alyse
Very important analysis and I think you are being too kind. Like a good number of the digital extractive industries the platform has played booster to capital finance, nominally been a bump for landlords after service fees have been excised, decimated municipal tax base, in this case eroded affordable housing stock while making home ownership ever less likely for fewer as we approach rentier status for a greater majority and has soured me on most of them for similar reasons.
When I traveled Europe 40 years ago there were fantastic homestays in Edinburgh, Chichester, Savern, Ulm and Stockholm fostered by visitor center listings with gracious hosts and no administrative parasites. Maybe those days are gone. Caveat emptor.
In Portland where I live the nefarious Uber/Lyft cabal inserted themselves with little to no city council oversight over dinner with the mayor and ilk as the city blinked. That’s a digression but a rhyming history that sickens me. The local cabs lost what percentage of business – look at New York – and I have service industry friends taking ‘ride share’ to and from work as public transit has been eroded. Tax base disappears as capital flight rears its ugly head.
Props to Barcelona and all the cities across the pond that have pushed back. This will get more grim as it proves all a platform needs is an arsenal of attorneys to lawyer up and write their own rules. The States are proving less capable of defense and it shows. Everyone seems to think it’s the cat’s meow, like going to Disneyland without talking to Abigail and peeking behind the veil.
Nelson is my favorite ski town in B.C. I’m not sure where Rachel lives and I guess she could live there like I wish I could but can’t. For all the reasons herein and more.
Peace out,
Paul
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Paul! It’s a complex situation globally, isn’t it? I’m not sure why some tourists tend to shy away from traditional B&B accommodation these days, hosts always showcase the best of their country’s hospitality! It’s a shame they are overlooked for unregulated accommodation options.
I agree, it’s important to really question what goes on behind the scenes as a lot of bad coverage is kept out of the media. Hopefully as more people become aware of the issues, things may begin to shift back to how they once were 😊
This was a super interesting read. I’ve been renting various properties out for YEARS on Airbnb and we are in the process of shifting away from the platform. The added fees that get added to our guests kill us. Although it’s scary moving away from the advertisement that comes with hosting through a platform like Airbnb, it feels empowering and in integrity to leave and do our own thing. Thanks for sharing this perspective Alyse!
I’m glad you found this interesting, Danielle! I think the added fees are a definitely turn-off for some people. Good on you for doing what is best for you and your property, all the best for going out on your own – you’ve got this! 😊
Further reading for anyone interested, I’ve noticed on social media guests have been recently perplexed by the high cleaning fees added onto bookings, when they are expected to do much of the cleaning before they check out. The comments at the conclusion of this article provide insight into guests’ expectations:
https://www.traveller.com.au/airbnb-cleaning-fees-should-you-have-to-clean-your-rental-before-you-leave-h1w1lq
Danielle,
More AirBB hosts need to cut the cord!!! I have been a property owner and booker with them and I totally hate the way AirBnB controls EVERYTHING with EVERYBODY. I do whatever I can to go around them and book properties to avoid these criminal fees they charge and put in their pockets. Power to all of your property owners. Get a website and take your own bookings!!!
My latest grip: So it is no longer a “booking” or “rental” but an “Experience” now??? Oh PLEASE!!!
Then today (which inspired me to find this link) AirBnB texts me after I attempted to book a place and they kept blocking me and writes “You’re invited to book your stay…” This word manipulation is total CONTROL. Like the constant line “For your safety and security…” communicate only through our website.” TOTAL CONROL.
If only the steeple will wake up and see how they are being used. Good luck to all of us.
As much as I dislike AirBnB, I would like to add that this article seemed extremely pro-hotel, like, did the industry contract Alyse to write these comments? There are SO many other negative AIR BnB issues to write about besides pointing out the amenities and services of motels/hotels. How do they get away with charging these EXORBITANT “security fees” on each booking??? Property owners can’t control that, and renters can not either. It’s either their extortion fees or the highway. It is also AirBnB’s website that I find unbearable. They want to know way too much personal information about guests (which hotels do not ask), they CENSOR any kind of information from communications they can not control or benefit from, and just today, because I asked a host about paying, their website blocked me from making a reservation because they/the robots thought I was trying to sabotage them. Such an innocent dialogue and they kicked me to the curb. When the website has been too controlling of my inquiry to a host earlier this year, I just bailed and booked a motel. Which was in a town that had really crummy places to stay and I have to admit, I wish I had a more homey environment to stay in than a creepy motel.
AIRBnB has so much taken over the industry that I wonder if people know how things were before it came about. I have had lodging properties for decades and watched this powerhouse evolve beyond belief in a very, very short time frame. I watched them get INCREDIBLE MEDIA COVERAGE that VRBO and HOME AWAY never got! Why was that? They took over the industry so fast and made other platforms (like VRBO) change to be like them to survive. Even the hotel industry got hurt and had to make big changes. These are all issue that I would like Alyse to write about.
I am rambling on, but there are so many issues with this company that need to be challenged!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kathryna.
As mentioned in the article, am pro-regulated accommodation – meaning hotels, hostels, traditional B&Bs with a host and serviced apartments.
I always find it amusing that people jump to the conclusion a $570 billion industry contacted little old me to write this article for them 😆
If they did, for reader transparency and by law I would need to disclose it.
My accompanying article about ethical alternatives to Airbnb describes why it’s important we look into how things were before the sharing economy took off.
Hi Alyse,
My point was you took on only one aspect against AIR BnB–why hotels are better.
There are SO MANY reasons to stay away from this company that do not have anything to do with hotels/motels and I wish you had addressed more issues like lack of customer service and outrageous fees they tack on to reservations.. Those are hot topics out there.
But perhaps you can focus on them in another post. I certainly appreciate you and anyone busting this company on what they do and how they run their business.
Thank you Kathryna, I am in the same position. I hate airbnb. I used to have a website that would appear on page one of a search. athe bog corporates have pushed me down the list and I now have to charge an uplift of 27% to cover their fees. One of my listings I was a gold star host. Within 6 months it was delisted due to a couple of bad reviews (guest complained tea and coffee was not available) Airbnb encourage you to differentiate by including these little things. But airbnb don’t pay for it, I do, or lift prices further?
My solution is to leave a “compare the market” pamphlet for every guest. It shows what the total price is from several websites. It shows my direct website is always 15+% cheaper. The owner makes the same whether airbnb or my direct website.
The industry has somehow added several new intermediaries into the booking cycle. All at the cost of the holidaying guest. Go figure
Wil Cuperus
I’m an airbnb host. If you provide a bad experience, you get a bad rating. You can “bait and switch” once, maybe, but your listing will be downgraded and our rating will show it.
There should be laws regulating airbnb…like there is here in Chicago. We have a license to host. We live in the house that has the guest rooms, so we are the hotel staff and help our guests if they need anything.
I use it when I travel, but it’s not for everyone.
You make some fair points, Brad!
I agree about the bait and switch issue, you’re right it would damage the reputation of the host. Although I wonder what’s stopping that host from setting up multiple accounts to do it again?
Thanks for reading 😊
Hi Alyse,
I have an AirBnB full basement apartment. Light and with it’s own heat pump for air conditioning or warmth. It has been set up as a home away from home with full kitchen if that’s what a guest requires. Towels and extra sets and bedding and extra sets of sheets all available. Keurig but also option of French press or drip coffee. Cream, milk, tea bags and sugar provided. I bake scones the morning I expect guests to arrive. Leave printed information on where to find delicious food in our area and also places to see. Though my AirBnB is in the forest, I’m within seven minutes of 5 beautiful sandy beaches. I have parking for guest vehicles and an additional queen-size bed can be set up for $20.00. There’s a ten dollar cleaning fee.
I also have a breakfast option that doesn’t even cover costs, but I enjoy the guests who choose to have that meal. Five choices and their choice made the day before. I have beach towels for guest use and a barbecue outside and trails through the forest for their use. Guests wake up to lush green and songbirds welcoming the day. I am across the road from our Rails to Trails system and often bicyclists come and spend a night on their way somewhere else, then drop in again on their way back. Many guests are here for functions such as weddings. I offer to drive and pick them up if they’re drinking and I don’t charge for that.
I love what I do. And I enjoy my guests. I’m not good asking for payment so appreciate that AirBnB handles that. I also like that they screen not only the AirBnBs but the people who travel and stay in them. I have found people very trustworthy, and happy to stay here. Over the two years on either side of 2020 I have only had a facecloth and hand towel taken. Once a mug that disappeared showed up when that guest returned a few weeks later for a second stay. The rating system insures great behavior and to be able to read other hosts’ feedback is reassuring.
I try to offer more than what travellers expect when they arrive. For people who run AirBnBs outside their home, it’s a different story, but I imagine most hosts who offer guests an area in their home, their offering would be similar.
I checked with provincial guidelines and don’t have to register my AirBnB because it is in my home. Pictures show exactly what you get. Modern and completely furnished. Own entrance.
And as far as taking rental units away from locals, I have to admit I’ve been burned by the last two long-term rentals. Mental illness I was not told about meant sabotage of my septic system that took thousands of dollars to correct, and also I was fearful to rent for a long term because I could not be assured it was being taken care of. Such a mess. Another woman who said she was single and being sexually harassed by her landlord – well I let her move her things in weeks early to help her get away.
The floor has in-floor radiant heat and she was told to keep the floors as clear as she could . She moved in with a daughter, a dog, and two cats and was a hoarder. She turned on my in-floor heat in mid summer. I was afraid she’d burn my house down. So many lessons learned. I like that with AirBnB there are short stays and happy people drive off in three or four days.
It works both ways I guess.
Pat
There’s no way to leave a comment or rating for bait and switch because the host cancels precicesly when you arrive in town and then offers a different apartment at the same rate, in cash.
Happened to me, we were left stranded (me, wife + infant) and had to pay double the rate elsewhere for lack of immediate alternatives. Of course we didn’t take the shittier same price apartment in cash from these crooks.
Very judgemental, here’s one for you, typical “white” america. Get a life! Your post was the epitome of where the seed of hate stems.
Perhaps take a look at your own comment as I am not a white American 😆 Sorry you think pointing out facts with sources equates to hate, but each to their own!
frankly, I find airbnb expensive, with their hefty service fee (for which they reciprocate with a robot service if you do need their help). Because I travel with pets I find Aloft an excellent substitute. In Tulsa Aloft downtown has secure parking; very nice reception personnel; good size rooms; good bathroom; fridge (which I very much needed), micro, coffee machine and downstairs even a toaster and 24 hours coffee. I used to stay in airbnb but have now been “converted” to other forms of accommodation, including pet-friendly hotels and motels. I also had an excellent experience in Super 8 Muskogee OK where there were very few airbnb which were also extraordinarily expensive. Goodbye airbnb. Let’s start another organization ruled not by robots but by caring humans.
Hi, when I go on holiday. I mix motels, hotels and airbnb. Sometimes we get a motel room for us and air bnb’s for guests. All of my airbnb stays in europe, the middle east, new zealand, australia have been great. Had 1 hotel in my lifetime that has not been great, it was in Doha, Qatar next to where the Qatar mall was being built in 2014. The grand mercure hotel. 4.5 stars. Stars… What a joke of a rating system. Also had 1 motel that was bad in Thamel in Kathmandu, Nepal and another in Delhi, India. Word of mouth and positive reviews in aggregate is what I go by for all airbnb, hotels and motels. Use your commonsense and you won’t have a problem.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, David. As mentioned in my closing comments however, this article is not about whether you’ve had a good or bad time with Airbnb. But yes I agree, if people use their common sense many issues can be avoided.
What you seem to leave out is homeowners who rent out their homes as airbnb. Homes they normally live in and stay elsewhere while rented. It’s quite common in the US and it doesn’t make anyone else’s rents higher or take a home away from others. It also supports locals-the homeowners! These hosts often use local cleaning companies to turnover the rental and local handyman to maintain them, again supporting local jobs. There are the same issues at hotels where people go to check into their rooms and find a uncleaned room or someone already in it. And many make it easy with a coded lock box to check in or check out without waiting on someone. Most hosts respond and are nearby when someone has any issue, just like a hotel. Every airbnb I’ve stayed at was cleaner and more comfortable and at the same time cheaper than a hotel. There are two sides to everything.
I cannot believe that you could write such a scurrilous article, knowing that it would damage honest persons’ BnB businesses. You’re lumping together many countries and many situations. Is it unethical to rent from a 78-year-old-woman who has no other means to make money than rent a room in her house to strangers? I have made a few friends this way and been able to live a far more decent life than occasional pet care affords me. I use AirBnB as a guest, too, as it enables me to pay $30 a night where motels charge three times that. Why do hosts kick folks out? One reason is the incumbent guest decides to stay longer. I was kicked last year when the host thought he had come down with illness. I had a two-month reservation guest cancel the day he was supposed to arrive: do I blast AirBnB guests because of that? Let’s stop discussing apartments in Paris and get back to the thousands of persons changing sheets and making coffee because that it our business model to stay out of poverty!
Hi Millicent, judging by your comments I don’t think you may have read the concluding paragraphs of my article. Provided the stay is a hosted one where a room of the home is being rented whilst the owner is there and they are not breaking any local laws, there should be no issues. Age does not come into it. The point of this article is to bring attention to the numerous issues faced across the globe by unregulated and unhosted homestay accommodation services where residential properties have been inadvertently taken from locals.