4 ms·

I've stayed in my fair share of Airbnbs, and the forced interaction can be annoying at times. Another thing I hate. I was in about 5 Airbnbs this month, and al

I've stayed in my fair share of Airbnbs, and the forced interaction can be annoying at times. Another thing I hate. I was in about 5 Airbnbs this month, and almost every time I'm told not to let property management know I'm from Airbnb. I'm paying a few hundred dollars a night, and I'm given strict instructions to tell the concierge I work for their company and I'm staying in their apartment for business. Or, they need to meet me on the street, so they can escort me into the building and introduce me to management as their good friend from out of town that is visiting for the week. Airbnb needs to get more strict on hosts. I'm paying money for a service. I shouldn't arrive at my accommodation and be given a script filled with lies to follow, otherwise risk being evicted.

cameldrv 7y ago
Yes. Lying on the host's behalf should not be part of the deal unless it is specifically called out in the ad. Most people do not want to lie or be involved in illegal activity just to have a place to stay on a trip.
himlion 7y ago
This happens way too often and ruins my trip by making me feel anxiety over something I have little control over. Unfortunately doing anything about this isn't in Airbnb's interest until it starts costing them customers.
- dorchadas 7y ago
  Which it sadly won't. It'll just cost the cities and the actual inhabitants of the places.
postsantum 7y ago
I've seen threatening posters in Bangkok condos a few times. You are going up in the elevator and see a paper before you eyes saying that "staying at airbnbs here is a crime punishable by jail/fines". Of course, this is bluffing but kills the mood a little bit
madaxe_again 7y ago
This is exactly why on both of my properties on Airbnb I offer self checkin/out as default - if people want my housekeeper to greet them, she will - but out of 135 guests over the last year, not one has wanted this. When I travel, and I arrive somewhere, I want to kick off my shoes, take a leak, have a drink, and then think about what to do - not have a 30 minute lecture on the city. As to the whole “don’t tell the super” thing, it blows my mind that so many people try to do it under the radar. I told my neighbours and the council what I was doing, ensured neighbours had my details in the case of any problems. The council, in both cases (different councils) happily switched me over to a business premises and gave me a 100% rate exemption. I have to pay for private waste collection but it’s £20 a month so whatever - beats council tax. As for the neighbours, I’ve had one call since starting, and it wasn’t to complain, rather to let me know a guest had left but forgotten to shut the front door, and they’d done it for me. Being upfront and straightforward in all matters is the surest path to success. My neighbours are my allies, rather than a distrusted potential problem. The councils are fully aware of what I’m doing, and support it. My guests appreciate the no-bullshit approach - and then we do little things that cost us little but really help a guest have a good stay - fresh pint of milk in the fridge, tea, coffee, cookies, chocolates, bottle of champagne. We don’t advertise that we do any of that - the idea being to exceed expectations by setting them at a high but readily attainable level, and then go beyond. I’ve had people stay for two nights, and come back later for a month. On the two occasions stuff has gone wrong (sudden boiler leak in midwinter last, and this summer sewers backed up) I gave both guests a full refund and alternate accommodation. It’s more than they could reasonably expect in the circumstances, and even those guests happily left 5* reviews. I see it as a cost of doing good business. I’ve had one bum review from a guest who it seemed was determined to have a bad time, but you can’t win them all. I learned all this by operating a SaaS business and web agency for a decade. It’s totally transferable - and this is much easier!

cameldrv 7y ago

Yes. Lying on the host's behalf should not be part of the deal unless it is specifically called out in the ad. Most people do not want to lie or be involved in illegal activity just to have a place to stay on a trip.

himlion 7y ago

This happens way too often and ruins my trip by making me feel anxiety over something I have little control over. Unfortunately doing anything about this isn't in Airbnb's interest until it starts costing them customers.

dorchadas 7y ago
Which it sadly won't. It'll just cost the cities and the actual inhabitants of the places.

postsantum 7y ago

I've seen threatening posters in Bangkok condos a few times. You are going up in the elevator and see a paper before you eyes saying that "staying at airbnbs here is a crime punishable by jail/fines". Of course, this is bluffing but kills the mood a little bit

madaxe_again 7y ago

This is exactly why on both of my properties on Airbnb I offer self checkin/out as default - if people want my housekeeper to greet them, she will - but out of 135 guests over the last year, not one has wanted this. When I travel, and I arrive somewhere, I want to kick off my shoes, take a leak, have a drink, and then think about what to do - not have a 30 minute lecture on the city. As to the whole “don’t tell the super” thing, it blows my mind that so many people try to do it under the radar. I told my neighbours and the council what I was doing, ensured neighbours had my details in the case of any problems. The council, in both cases (different councils) happily switched me over to a business premises and gave me a 100% rate exemption. I have to pay for private waste collection but it’s £20 a month so whatever - beats council tax. As for the neighbours, I’ve had one call since starting, and it wasn’t to complain, rather to let me know a guest had left but forgotten to shut the front door, and they’d done it for me. Being upfront and straightforward in all matters is the surest path to success. My neighbours are my allies, rather than a distrusted potential problem. The councils are fully aware of what I’m doing, and support it. My guests appreciate the no-bullshit approach - and then we do little things that cost us little but really help a guest have a good stay - fresh pint of milk in the fridge, tea, coffee, cookies, chocolates, bottle of champagne. We don’t advertise that we do any of that - the idea being to exceed expectations by setting them at a high but readily attainable level, and then go beyond. I’ve had people stay for two nights, and come back later for a month. On the two occasions stuff has gone wrong (sudden boiler leak in midwinter last, and this summer sewers backed up) I gave both guests a full refund and alternate accommodation. It’s more than they could reasonably expect in the circumstances, and even those guests happily left 5* reviews. I see it as a cost of doing good business. I’ve had one bum review from a guest who it seemed was determined to have a bad time, but you can’t win them all. I learned all this by operating a SaaS business and web agency for a decade. It’s totally transferable - and this is much easier!