I'm an airbnb host with 5 apartments as a hobby business. As a traveller, I've stayed in hundreds since they started. There were no good old days and it's not h

I'm an airbnb host with 5 apartments as a hobby business. As a traveller, I've stayed in hundreds since they started. There were no good old days and it's not horrible now. Like neighbourhood restaurants, there's massive variance in quality and it will be up to you to differentiate between the folks who care about their guests and those that rent apartments without windows. I had a host in 2012 in SF -a sweet alcoholic of an old man- who flashed me full frontal nudity before check-out. I had an apartment in Shenzhen in 2014 literally covered in roaches. I lasted one night. This year I stayed in an apartment in Andermatt with beautiful cherry wood floors, a phenomenal kitchen, sauna, a huge outdoor space and full view of the mountains for half the price of the nearest hotel room. Worse now than before? Bullshit. None of my guests have ever paid for a sheet. I comp extra nights if they're unbooked. I offer every towel under the sun, a warm body to check you in at any time and some wine and snacks if you arrive very late free of charge. I'm still nowhere close to being the most welcoming host in the city. There are great experiences to be had out there. If you want personality, to relate with the owners and get a good deal at the expense of total predictability, airbnb is for you. Ignore any listing that doesn't match the vibe. If you're looking for the travel equivalent of eating at Subway, a chain hotel will be a better option.