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If AirBnB gave me the option to filter actual lived-in apartments, as opposed to professional operations, I would definitely prioritize those. I miss the origin

by andr 9y ago

If AirBnB gave me the option to filter actual lived-in apartments, as opposed to professional operations, I would definitely prioritize those. I miss the original feeling of booking someone's actual apartment, sharing their history, books, way of life, even weird knock-knacks. IKEA catalog living rooms get old quickly.

tedmiston 9y ago
I really like this aspect too. Even just flipping through the host's collection of books to learn a little more about their perspective on the world. I've even had some hosts say help yourself to what's in the fridge. I usually don't, as that still feels a little weird to me, but generally it's really interesting to get to see how someone else that you don't really know lives.
jordonwii 9y ago
This would be great. I just stayed in about 10 or so Airbnbs on an extended trip. A number of them were run by someone who didn't live there, but would, for example, leave a lock box outside the door with the key, and tell us to put the key back when we left. The best stays by far were in the places where I was staying with someone who lived there. It added a lot to the experience staying there. I doubt this will ever show up as a real filter, though. Maybe a "this is this host's only listing" badge or something could happen.
TomMarius 9y ago
They actually offer this: you can switch to "private room" or "shared room" listings instead of looking at "entire homes".
return0 9y ago
Learning the knick-knacks of strangers you dont know in the slightest FOR A PRICE is a weird feeling i have with airbnb. It feels intrusive, and it's creepy, but we don't admit it because it's convenient. This is the wrong way to satisfy our need for intimacy.
- robocat 9y ago
  > It feels intrusive, and it's creepy To you. AirBnB hosts tend to be open and gregarious in my experience. The hosts who are not (e.g. just need the money) you just change your behaviour to suit (or avoid due to signals in their listing). As a guest, if I don't want to interact with the host, I get a hotel instead.

by andr 9y ago

tedmiston 9y ago

I really like this aspect too. Even just flipping through the host's collection of books to learn a little more about their perspective on the world. I've even had some hosts say help yourself to what's in the fridge. I usually don't, as that still feels a little weird to me, but generally it's really interesting to get to see how someone else that you don't really know lives.

jordonwii 9y ago

This would be great. I just stayed in about 10 or so Airbnbs on an extended trip. A number of them were run by someone who didn't live there, but would, for example, leave a lock box outside the door with the key, and tell us to put the key back when we left. The best stays by far were in the places where I was staying with someone who lived there. It added a lot to the experience staying there. I doubt this will ever show up as a real filter, though. Maybe a "this is this host's only listing" badge or something could happen.

TomMarius 9y ago

They actually offer this: you can switch to "private room" or "shared room" listings instead of looking at "entire homes".

return0 9y ago

Learning the knick-knacks of strangers you dont know in the slightest FOR A PRICE is a weird feeling i have with airbnb. It feels intrusive, and it's creepy, but we don't admit it because it's convenient. This is the wrong way to satisfy our need for intimacy.

robocat 9y ago
> It feels intrusive, and it's creepy To you. AirBnB hosts tend to be open and gregarious in my experience. The hosts who are not (e.g. just need the money) you just change your behaviour to suit (or avoid due to signals in their listing). As a guest, if I don't want to interact with the host, I get a hotel instead.