Anyone here ever used Airbnb? Love it, or hate it? Why?

[Barbella]

For the last three weeks, hubby and I had to travel. Rather than stay in a hotel, we decided to give Airbnb a try.

I have to say, I loved it. We stayed at 3 different places, 5 nights each.

Pros: Clean. Cleaner than any hotel I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in some nice ones. The sheets and blankets were CLEAN, and to me, that's #1 in importance. Private bathroom - check. Kitchen access - check. Loads of clean towels, shampoo, all basics you'd need.

1st place had a glassed-in porch (with a TV that we never used, LOL), solely for our use. 2 dogs who were an absolute delight, charming hosts, access to washer and dryer, kitchen access, coffee was ready in the morning, which, to me, is a big deal!

2nd: No washer and dryer, no dogs, but a delightful bedroom/bathroom, superior bed/linens/blankets, access to everything else including the kitchen. Sweet young people hosting.

3rd: An absolute delight. Jamaican family, one 11-year-old daughter, beautiful, huge home. Downstairs living room, dining room, and kitchen were 'common areas'. Upstairs was ours. Large bedroom, beautifully decorated, excellent bed, big closet, settee, big TV (which we also never turned on :-D). Nice bathroom, vanity completely empty for our stuff, fluffy towels and washcloths, shampoo, soap, body butter, mouthwash, cups, razor blades and everything else you might need. Also... a huge loft with a beautiful sectional sofa, a huge flatscreen TV LOL, a desk for our laptops with 2 comfortable leather chairs, and... get this... a basket with goodies in it. Flavored bottled seltzer water (which I'm going to hunt down because it was the best water I ever drank), cheese, crackers, chocolates, nuts, and a few other things. I couldn't believe it. I loved this family, they were the most excellent hosts and I know we will stay in touch with them! Oh, and not to forget... last but not least... a welcome note on our pillows, written and painstakingly colored in by the little girl.

Anyway... the reason I'm writing this is: Why would anyone who has experienced this kind of welcoming family style accommodation want to ever stay in an impersonal, may-or-may-not have changed their linens from the last guest (many hotels don't, look it up), if they can take advantage of this wonderful kind of hosting, where you not only have the opportunity to cook your own meals (rather than eat at restaurants several times a day)?

That brings me to: Hotels obviously hate Airbnb. They're losing business like crazy. How long before the hotel industry convinces the government to "DO SOMETHING!!!"???

Just a thought....

 

[ObamacareForever]

For the last three weeks, hubby and
Anyway... the reason I'm writing this is: Why would anyone who has experienced this kind of welcoming family style accommodation want to ever stay in an impersonal, may-or-may-not have changed their linens from the last guest (many hotels don't, look it up), if they can take advantage of this wonderful kind of hosting, where you not only have the opportunity to cook your own meals (rather than eat at restaurants several times a day)?

I suppose its just about personal preference. I like having airbnb as an option, sometimes I just find a hotel more conveniently located, Or the amenities at the hotel are just too swanky to pass up. But I have stayed at nice Airbnbs and I have stayed at one where the cops spent all night outside the neighbors house, it all just depends what am I looking for in a particular situation.

 

[Dawg]

never used it, but, will check it out closer now

 

[Barbella]

I suppose its just about personal preference. I like having airbnb as an option, sometimes I just find a hotel more conveniently located, Or the amenities at the hotel are just too swanky to pass up. But I have stayed at nice Airbnbs and I have stayed at one where the cops spent all night outside the neighbors house, it all just depends what am I looking for in a particular situation.

You may have a point there... I suppose we were lucky with our accommodations at Airbnbs so far... all the neighborhoods were quiet and peaceful, so no problems there. Then again, they were all in low-crime, residential neighborhoods or somewhat rural...

So far, so good. Of course there will be times when a hotel will be more conveniently located to wherever one needs to be. Still, I think Airbnb's are great, especially when it's for more than a night or two.

 

[marvin martian]

For the last three weeks, hubby and I had to travel. Rather than stay in a hotel, we decided to give Airbnb a try.

I have to say, I loved it. We stayed at 3 different places, 5 nights each.

Pros: Clean. Cleaner than any hotel I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in some nice ones. The sheets and blankets were CLEAN, and to me, that's #1 in importance. Private bathroom - check. Kitchen access - check. Loads of clean towels, shampoo, all basics you'd need.

1st place had a glassed-in porch (with a TV that we never used, LOL), solely for our use. 2 dogs who were an absolute delight, charming hosts, access to washer and dryer, kitchen access, coffee was ready in the morning, which, to me, is a big deal!

2nd: No washer and dryer, no dogs, but a delightful bedroom/bathroom, superior bed/linens/blankets, access to everything else including the kitchen. Sweet young people hosting.

3rd: An absolute delight. Jamaican family, one 11-year-old daughter, beautiful, huge home. Downstairs living room, dining room, and kitchen were 'common areas'. Upstairs was ours. Large bedroom, beautifully decorated, excellent bed, big closet, settee, big TV (which we also never turned on :-D). Nice bathroom, vanity completely empty for our stuff, fluffy towels and washcloths, shampoo, soap, body butter, mouthwash, cups, razor blades and everything else you might need. Also... a huge loft with a beautiful sectional sofa, a huge flatscreen TV LOL, a desk for our laptops with 2 comfortable leather chairs, and... get this... a basket with goodies in it. Flavored bottled seltzer water (which I'm going to hunt down because it was the best water I ever drank), cheese, crackers, chocolates, nuts, and a few other things. I couldn't believe it. I loved this family, they were the most excellent hosts and I know we will stay in touch with them! Oh, and not to forget... last but not least... a welcome note on our pillows, written and painstakingly colored in by the little girl.

Anyway... the reason I'm writing this is: Why would anyone who has experienced this kind of welcoming family style accommodation want to ever stay in an impersonal, may-or-may-not have changed their linens from the last guest (many hotels don't, look it up), if they can take advantage of this wonderful kind of hosting, where you not only have the opportunity to cook your own meals (rather than eat at restaurants several times a day)?

That brings me to: Hotels obviously hate Airbnb. They're losing business like crazy. How long before the hotel industry convinces the government to "DO SOMETHING!!!"???

Just a thought....

We often use it when we go to Manhattan or other cities where hotel prices are extortionate. I like that you can get places with more than one bedroom, since when we travel with the kids it's always nice to have two bedrooms. I also like the fact that we can get a full kitchen in a lot of Airbnb places.

 

[Barbella]

We often use it when we go to Manhattan or other cities where hotel prices are extortionate. I like that you can get places with more than one bedroom, since when we travel with the kids it's always nice to have two bedrooms. I also like the fact that we can get a full kitchen in a lot of Airbnb places.

Exactly the way I look at it. As I said above, maybe we've just been lucky... but the 3 places we stayed at were absolutely delightful and a thousand times better than any hotel room. I always have a problem with "Ick factor" when I stay in a hotel.. no matter how fancy and expensive. Not so in the Airbnbs we stayed in... they were all sparkling clean.

 

[connieb]

For the last three weeks, hubby and I had to travel. Rather than stay in a hotel, we decided to give Airbnb a try.

I have to say, I loved it. We stayed at 3 different places, 5 nights each.

Pros: Clean. Cleaner than any hotel I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in some nice ones. The sheets and blankets were CLEAN, and to me, that's #1 in importance. Private bathroom - check. Kitchen access - check. Loads of clean towels, shampoo, all basics you'd need.

1st place had a glassed-in porch (with a TV that we never used, LOL), solely for our use. 2 dogs who were an absolute delight, charming hosts, access to washer and dryer, kitchen access, coffee was ready in the morning, which, to me, is a big deal!

2nd: No washer and dryer, no dogs, but a delightful bedroom/bathroom, superior bed/linens/blankets, access to everything else including the kitchen. Sweet young people hosting.

3rd: An absolute delight. Jamaican family, one 11-year-old daughter, beautiful, huge home. Downstairs living room, dining room, and kitchen were 'common areas'. Upstairs was ours. Large bedroom, beautifully decorated, excellent bed, big closet, settee, big TV (which we also never turned on :-D). Nice bathroom, vanity completely empty for our stuff, fluffy towels and washcloths, shampoo, soap, body butter, mouthwash, cups, razor blades and everything else you might need. Also... a huge loft with a beautiful sectional sofa, a huge flatscreen TV LOL, a desk for our laptops with 2 comfortable leather chairs, and... get this... a basket with goodies in it. Flavored bottled seltzer water (which I'm going to hunt down because it was the best water I ever drank), cheese, crackers, chocolates, nuts, and a few other things. I couldn't believe it. I loved this family, they were the most excellent hosts and I know we will stay in touch with them! Oh, and not to forget... last but not least... a welcome note on our pillows, written and painstakingly colored in by the little girl.

Anyway... the reason I'm writing this is: Why would anyone who has experienced this kind of welcoming family style accommodation want to ever stay in an impersonal, may-or-may-not have changed their linens from the last guest (many hotels don't, look it up), if they can take advantage of this wonderful kind of hosting, where you not only have the opportunity to cook your own meals (rather than eat at restaurants several times a day)?

That brings me to: Hotels obviously hate Airbnb. They're losing business like crazy. How long before the hotel industry convinces the government to "DO SOMETHING!!!"???

Just a thought....

I haven't and personally I wouldn't.

I am concerned about the safety of those places as well as privacy and voyeurism. I don't know why but I feel like its more of a risk. I also don't want to be in anyone else's personal space so I would NOT feel comfortable staying in a place that was actually someone else's home. And no WAY would I stay there under any circumstances if they were ALSO there. I don't even like to stay at the homes of friends or family. My only exception to that is my parent's beach house. I would never ever ever be able to relax though with "strangers" in the same space as me. Nope, nope, nope, absolutely nope.

But to your point, Gov'ts already ARE doing something. I think they have been outlawed in San Francisco and also NY has some heavy regulations on them now. I think also London has some strict controls.

 

[marvin martian]

Exactly the way I look at it. As I said above, maybe we've just been lucky... but the 3 places we stayed at were absolutely delightful and a thousand times better than any hotel room. I always have a problem with "Ick factor" when I stay in a hotel.. no matter how fancy and expensive. Not so in the Airbnbs we stayed in... they were all sparkling clean.

Amazingly, one of the places we stayed in NY, the owner emailed my wife the week before we stayed and asked what the kids like to eat for breakfast. When we got there, he had put a box of their favorite cereal in the cabinet and a carton of milk in the fridge, and even a bag of coffee for us! It was awesome and we just felt treated so well.

 

[resident_evil]

For the last three weeks, hubby and I had to travel. Rather than stay in a hotel, we decided to give Airbnb a try.

I have to say, I loved it. We stayed at 3 different places, 5 nights each.

Pros: Clean. Cleaner than any hotel I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in some nice ones. The sheets and blankets were CLEAN, and to me, that's #1 in importance. Private bathroom - check. Kitchen access - check. Loads of clean towels, shampoo, all basics you'd need.

1st place had a glassed-in porch (with a TV that we never used, LOL), solely for our use. 2 dogs who were an absolute delight, charming hosts, access to washer and dryer, kitchen access, coffee was ready in the morning, which, to me, is a big deal!

2nd: No washer and dryer, no dogs, but a delightful bedroom/bathroom, superior bed/linens/blankets, access to everything else including the kitchen. Sweet young people hosting.

3rd: An absolute delight. Jamaican family, one 11-year-old daughter, beautiful, huge home. Downstairs living room, dining room, and kitchen were 'common areas'. Upstairs was ours. Large bedroom, beautifully decorated, excellent bed, big closet, settee, big TV (which we also never turned on :-D). Nice bathroom, vanity completely empty for our stuff, fluffy towels and washcloths, shampoo, soap, body butter, mouthwash, cups, razor blades and everything else you might need. Also... a huge loft with a beautiful sectional sofa, a huge flatscreen TV LOL, a desk for our laptops with 2 comfortable leather chairs, and... get this... a basket with goodies in it. Flavored bottled seltzer water (which I'm going to hunt down because it was the best water I ever drank), cheese, crackers, chocolates, nuts, and a few other things. I couldn't believe it. I loved this family, they were the most excellent hosts and I know we will stay in touch with them! Oh, and not to forget... last but not least... a welcome note on our pillows, written and painstakingly colored in by the little girl.

Anyway... the reason I'm writing this is: Why would anyone who has experienced this kind of welcoming family style accommodation want to ever stay in an impersonal, may-or-may-not have changed their linens from the last guest (many hotels don't, look it up), if they can take advantage of this wonderful kind of hosting, where you not only have the opportunity to cook your own meals (rather than eat at restaurants several times a day)?

That brings me to: Hotels obviously hate Airbnb. They're losing business like crazy. How long before the hotel industry convinces the government to "DO SOMETHING!!!"???

Just a thought....

The idea creeps me out. Already people have been caught surreptitiously video recording guests. Next we'll have Bates Motel stories coming out. ha ha

Sharers and their sharing economy.

 

[connieb]

The idea creeps me out. Already people have been caught surreptitiously video recording guests. Next we'll have Bates Motel stories coming out. ha ha

Sharers and their sharing economy.

Seriously! My mom told me never to take a ride home with a stranger, or pick up a hitch hiker. I can not see how this is any different.

 

[Barbella]

I haven't and personally I wouldn't.

I am concerned about the safety of those places as well as privacy and voyeurism. I don't know why but I feel like its more of a risk. I also don't want to be in anyone else's personal space so I would NOT feel comfortable staying in a place that was actually someone else's home. And no WAY would I stay there under any circumstances if they were ALSO there. I don't even like to stay at the homes of friends or family. My only exception to that is my parent's beach house. I would never ever ever be able to relax though with "strangers" in the same space as me. Nope, nope, nope, absolutely nope.

But to your point, Gov'ts already ARE doing something. I think they have been outlawed in San Francisco and also NY has some heavy regulations on them now. I think also London has some strict controls.

Some people just feel different about how they deal with others. I’m very outgoing and always happy to meet new people, make friends, hear their stories...

But I understand how not everyone is like that. My ex-son-in-law is like you... doesn’t, basically, like people. I love them. Lol

That’s why, luckily, we have choices.

 

[SouthernBoyI]

Kinda funny...

When traveling my wife loves researching to find the best deals.... so she makes the arrangements

So I just asked her what an Airbnb was...
She says...”the last two places we stayed were Airbnb ya dummy”

I said “Oh”

SB
Airbnb’s are cool

 

[Barbella]

The idea creeps me out. Already people have been caught surreptitiously video recording guests. Next we'll have Bates Motel stories coming out. ha ha

Sharers and their sharing economy.

Actually, hotels creep me out. The idea of a constantly revolving door with all kinds of strangers from all walks of life, unknown and totally anonymous, with the hotel staff doing a half-assed cleaning job because basically they don’t give a shit, the linens washed or not with the comforter that’s on the bed DEFINITELY not washed... (look it up).. is rather stay with someone who is happy to host me and provide me with a comfortable place.

To each his own...

 

[connieb]

Some people just feel different about how they deal with others. I’m very outgoing and always happy to meet new people, make friends, hear their stories...

But I understand how not everyone is like that. My ex-son-in-law is like you... doesn’t, basically, like people. I love them. Lol

That’s why, luckily, we have choices.

I like meeting new people. I like chatting with people at the bar or restaurant.

I just don't like having to sleep in the same space with them and/or share accommodations with them. I don't want to hear them burp or fart or have sex. I don't want to worry about them hearing us do any of those things, either. Actually the sex part would just never in a million years happen anyway... not in someone else's home that would feel like some kind of disrespect. And I would never get a wink of sleep contemplating how they would kill us and dispose of the bodies....

 

[connieb]

Actually, hotels creep me out. The idea of a constantly revolving door with all kinds of strangers from all walks of life, unknown and totally anonymous, with the hotel staff doing a half-assed cleaning job because basically they don’t give a shit, the linens washed or not with the comforter that’s on the bed DEFINITELY not washed... (look it up).. is rather stay with someone who is happy to host me and provide me with a comfortable place.

To each his own...

I have a "go bag" for hotels. It includes a blacklight for inspecting for bed bugs and fluids on the sheets,clean blankets from home - I won't EVER use the bedspread/comforter, clorox wipes, disposal tooth brushes - you can't ever bring home the ones you set on one of those counters even AFTER you have cloroxed it, those disposalbe little footie things that Dr. Scholls makes, hand sanitizer, diswashing soap, plastic cups/utensils from home, etc.

Yeah.. hotels skeeve me out, too.

We used to have a camper - because we loved to travel - but hated staying in hotels. Now we have a vacation rental that I pay extra for to be pre-cleaned and sanitized before we come ( bring all our blankets with us fresh each time) or stay at my parent's beach house. My mom is more of a germaphobe than me.. so its cool...

 

[resident_evil]

Actually, hotels creep me out. The idea of a constantly revolving door with all kinds of strangers from all walks of life, unknown and totally anonymous, with the hotel staff doing a half-assed cleaning job because basically they don’t give a shit, the linens washed or not with the comforter that’s on the bed DEFINITELY not washed... (look it up).. is rather stay with someone who is happy to host me and provide me with a comfortable place.

To each his own...

Pay over $80/night at a quality hotel and none of those things apply.

 

[resident_evil]

@connieb
@Barbella

When you travel to say Latin America you end up meeting fellow travelers trekking to Machu Picchu. These are the people that invite you to come visit them in Germany, France, or Spain. You meet kindred spirits traveling and keeping in touch makes those airbnb type of experiences real.

Get a ham radio and contact people. You may invite them to stay and vice versa. There are people on youtube channels that travel and look for places to stay. They'll probably return the favor. Screen the people if you want to travel in a more personal fashion.

 

[ObamacareForever]

I like meeting new people. I like chatting with people at the bar or restaurant.

I just don't like having to sleep in the same space with them and/or share accommodations with them. I don't want to hear them burp or fart or have sex. I don't want to worry about them hearing us do any of those things, either. Actually the sex part would just never in a million years happen anyway... not in someone else's home that would feel like some kind of disrespect. And I would never get a wink of sleep contemplating how they would kill us and dispose of the bodies....

Airbnb has the option to rent out the "entire home". where the proprietor isn't even on site. This is the only way I have stayed at a Airbnb. They just emailed me where they put the keys the day I arrived, and I emailed them back when I left. It's just renting out a house/apartment. I too have concerns about shared space arrangement, I have fears of waking up to stranger breathing heavily over me.

 

[connieb]

Airbnb has the option to rent out the "entire home". where the proprietor isn't even on site. This is the only way I have stayed at a Airbnb. They just emailed me where they put the keys the day I arrived, and I emailed them back when I left. It's just renting out a house/apartment. I too have concerns about shared space arrangement, I have fears of waking up to stranger breathing heavily over me.

I did know that but I haven't tried it. I still don't think I would be comfortable in what is actually someone else's home, though. Some of them are full time rentals. And I would possibly consider renting one of those because its not unlike any other vacation rental necessarily. However, I personally like to deal with agencies that are licensed and insured - and so I have some measure of recourse should the property not be up to my satisfaction.

We generally travel and come in late the night "before" our real vacation is supposed to start so the last thing I want to do is roll up to a place that isn't up to snuff and not have a front desk that can just move me to another unit in the building.

I call it the Adam Walsh effect. For kids who grew up in the 80's or 90's when "stranger danger" was at its height, there was nothing drilled into our heads more than - don't talk to a stranger, don't take a ride from a stranger.... poor kid went missing - and they only found his head or his body and not his head. Either way, by 8 or 9 I was completely convinced that interactions with a stranger meant certain violent death. And, I can not reconcile the lessons of my entire childhood with this new "sharing economy". I used Uber the very first time this summer - but I was with a bunch of girlfriends and we were in a tourist area - and it felt safer that way. When you spend your entire youth being told to never take a ride from a stranger, you certainly can't even imagine spending the entire night in a stranger's home. I never hooked up and went home with people from bars either. And when friends tried to do the same, I would remind them of Adam Walsh and then of course later - of Ted Bundy.... Yeah.. he seemed real nice too......

Now that I think on it, its actually been years since there was a super high profile serial killer out there, taking random kids, or pretty young women right off the street. Perhaps that has lulled us into a certain complacency.

 

[Barbella]

Pay over $80/night at a quality hotel and none of those things apply.

They don't? LOL https://www.today.com/money/hotel-maids-how-much-how-little-do-they-really-clean-1D80287464

https://www.oyster.com/articles/45095-the-truth-behind-hotel-cleaning-practices-will-scare-you/