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Australia has a law that says you have to show the actual real price inclusive of all taxes and fees. So I use https://www.airbnb.com.au/ https://www.airbnb.com

Australia has a law that says you have to show the actual real price inclusive of all taxes and fees. So I use https://www.airbnb.com.au/ https://www.airbnb.com.au/ AirBnB's hidden fee situation has completely and utterly jumped the shark / taken the piss. It's unfathomably bad.

Maxion 3y ago
I’ve used this trick for a few years. The fact it exists show that the pricing for other countries is an intentional dark pattern.
eatbitseveryday 3y ago
Excellent, thank you. I did a quick search for something, and the AirBNB fee was slightly higher ($20) than the US website for the same listing (dates, people, etc.)
- biomcgary 3y ago
  Search on the Aussie version, buy on the US version. Too bad the US doesn't have an FTC with teeth (and one in favor of consumers).
matsemann 3y ago
Same in (most of at least) Europe. Which is nice. Avoid the weird incentives hosts have to set a low night price and then jack up all sort of fees instead.
sanderjd 3y ago
Yep, we're planning a trip right now and have completely foresworn AirBnB because of this. I suspect they're less than five years or so from the trash heap of history. Which is really a bummer because they made travel so much more fun for me a decade ago. But I guess I was just being subsidized by VCs.
4O4 3y ago
Interesting. Is it really the universal rule or does it only apply to some countries? I compared the same listing at the same dates on both .com.au and on airbnb domain for my country (in EU) and there is only a negligible difference that comes from currency conversion I believe. I did the comparison in the same browser, so I'm wondering if there might have been some fingerprinting involved and prices were artificially bumped on the AU site?
listenallyall 3y ago
That law isn't doing much good. I looked up one New York City hotel (like the OP) on the linked Australian site, and it was exactly like the US site. The resort fee was not part of the AirBNB price, only under "Show more" at the bottom of the hotel description did it state: There is a 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 $𝟒𝟎.𝟏𝟔 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 that will be charged upon arrival. This includes WIFI, local and long distance calls, fitness center access, 1 Citi bike daily pass, and a $10 Food and Beverage credit daily.

Maxion 3y ago

I’ve used this trick for a few years. The fact it exists show that the pricing for other countries is an intentional dark pattern.

eatbitseveryday 3y ago

Excellent, thank you. I did a quick search for something, and the AirBNB fee was slightly higher ($20) than the US website for the same listing (dates, people, etc.)

biomcgary 3y ago
Search on the Aussie version, buy on the US version. Too bad the US doesn't have an FTC with teeth (and one in favor of consumers).

matsemann 3y ago

Same in (most of at least) Europe. Which is nice. Avoid the weird incentives hosts have to set a low night price and then jack up all sort of fees instead.

sanderjd 3y ago

Yep, we're planning a trip right now and have completely foresworn AirBnB because of this. I suspect they're less than five years or so from the trash heap of history. Which is really a bummer because they made travel so much more fun for me a decade ago. But I guess I was just being subsidized by VCs.

4O4 3y ago

Interesting. Is it really the universal rule or does it only apply to some countries? I compared the same listing at the same dates on both .com.au and on airbnb domain for my country (in EU) and there is only a negligible difference that comes from currency conversion I believe. I did the comparison in the same browser, so I'm wondering if there might have been some fingerprinting involved and prices were artificially bumped on the AU site?

listenallyall 3y ago

That law isn't doing much good. I looked up one New York City hotel (like the OP) on the linked Australian site, and it was exactly like the US site. The resort fee was not part of the AirBNB price, only under "Show more" at the bottom of the hotel description did it state: There is a 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 $𝟒𝟎.𝟏𝟔 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 that will be charged upon arrival. This includes WIFI, local and long distance calls, fitness center access, 1 Citi bike daily pass, and a $10 Food and Beverage credit daily.