Air BNB - thoughts and advice, please

I have stayed in Airbnb a few times. I always opt for self contained places as I don't want to share with people. I have stayed in some really nice places. They are always clean and have enough bedding and towels for your use. Some will supply coffee and tea, but you need to take anything else you think you will need.

I have found them cheaper than hotels and you have much more room to move around than just a hotel room.

I rented an Airbnb a few months ago but it was a whole house.
Just like renting a cottage really. No one living there, no food provided (except they did leave us a nice loaf and some teabags and coffee). It was perfect.

We have rented a few AirBnB, mainly overseas and they have been lovely. We always go for completely self contained, I would hate to be in someone else's kitchen or bathroom, for this reason I avoid B & B accommodation. I like to be able to make myself a coffee when I feel like it, have a bottle of wine in the fridge. We don't usually cook though, just get breakfast stuff for the fridge, eat out most of the time, or go back to the apartment with a take away or something from M&S food hall

Fleurpepper

Such unfair competition for Hôtels and traditional B&Bs, however, that are already suffering after Covid and due to staff shortages.

I agree with you, Fleurpepper, as hotels and normal B&Bs also have to have various licences, and that costs them money. Some of the flats used in places like Edinburgh have had guests who are noisy and disruptive to the rest of the tenement, and I don't know what you can do about that if the owner of the flat is not around, as a hotel manager would be.

Wheniwasyourage

Fleurpepper

Such unfair competition for Hôtels and traditional B&Bs, however, that are already suffering after Covid and due to staff shortages.

I agree with you, Fleurpepper, as hotels and normal B&Bs also have to have various licences, and that costs them money. Some of the flats used in places like Edinburgh have had guests who are noisy and disruptive to the rest of the tenement, and I don't know what you can do about that if the owner of the flat is not around, as a hotel manager would be.

Scotland is introducing licensing for all accommodation this summer. It is too strict and expensive so lots of hosts are giving up.

Wheniwasyourage

Fleurpepper

Such unfair competition for Hôtels and traditional B&Bs, however, that are already suffering after Covid and due to staff shortages.

I agree with you, Fleurpepper, as hotels and normal B&Bs also have to have various licences, and that costs them money. Some of the flats used in places like Edinburgh have had guests who are noisy and disruptive to the rest of the tenement, and I don't know what you can do about that if the owner of the flat is not around, as a hotel manager would be.

In many towns, RbnB's are illegal sublets, not declared, not taxed. Many have a code to enter, and no staff or anyone present, and no checks or surveillance as to number of people arriving, parties, noise, etc.

Hosts are giving up because their profits will be down if they have to pay fair taxes, and proves that they are not illegally subletting, which is often the case. And with no staff around to deal with any issues, be it for the rentor, or neighbours. Stag dos with twice or more the number of people allowed, etc. and not declared and no taxes paid.

I've used airbnb at home and abroad. Its ideal when travelling with my son. We have our own bedroom and bathroom but can relax and chat in the lounge, share a take away if we want. We usually just buy breakfast items and drinks and eat out the rest if the time. Much more sociable than having our own hotel rooms.

henetha

I rented an Airbnb a few months ago but it was a whole house.
Just like renting a cottage really. No one living there, no food provided (except they did leave us a nice loaf and some teabags and coffee). It was perfect.

Agreed.

A rented home. Place to privately spread out, cook, eat, enjoy.

I haven’t used AirBNB because I want the security that when I’ve booked the host won’t cancel, especially when travelling abroad. I also think the cleaning charges seem to be very high and negate any costs saved on the booking. I would also hate a room in someone’s house.
I’m willing to be proved wrong. My family use them all the time.

Airbnb is very unpopular here. It's consumed the available homes for people who need to live and work in Edinburgh. People unlucky enough to have Airbnb flats in their block are at their wits end by antisocial behaviour by the people renting them. Unscrupulous landlords buy many flats and let them out to tourists. This wasn't the original aim of Airbnb which was to rent out rooms in people's homes. Now they are businesses and quite rightly should be subject to scrutiny and taxation like all the other hospitality providers.

Yes Norah it was a home from home. We loved it.
But I do feel concerned about the effect on local housing, as Aveline says. Perhaps tighter controls are needed.

I’ve used Airbnb a few times always with great results. I’d never book just a room tho and have had lovely cottages and even a houseboat on the Thames.
Airbnb also do experiences which are worth a look. I’ve just done a three hour walking tour in Prague with them for about £25.

Many are now self contained cottages or conversions and are extremely well equipped and entirely private. We have had some wonderful places and if you like self catering, they are ideal. We have 3 booked this year all in UK. Have also found them much cheaper than hotels, even chain hotels and you usually get large living/kitchen area, bedroom, bathroom outside seating area.

We had a couple of OK stays in one in Brussels but it was to say the least quirky! Had 2 disappointing stays in Los Angeles and Venice Beach due to them being illegal subletting. Lots of issues getting into the properties not clean and difficult in getting in touch with the hosts to resolve the issues. This put me off them.

I have used Airbnb several times with varying results. I think because I am a solo traveler I don’t feel I am treated like a couple eg I arrived at StAndrews and the owner told be as she had a couple arriving the following day and had made up the double bed, she was putting me in a single room for the night. Ok but the single bed must have been used for many years before their child left home, it was awful and I was charged the same as the double room. However, that being said, I also have a battle with hotels, being given windowless rooms or ones in the basement with a small top windows. There is no choice as all is booked up nearby.

Aveline

Airbnb is very unpopular here. It's consumed the available homes for people who need to live and work in Edinburgh. People unlucky enough to have Airbnb flats in their block are at their wits end by antisocial behaviour by the people renting them. Unscrupulous landlords buy many flats and let them out to tourists. This wasn't the original aim of Airbnb which was to rent out rooms in people's homes. Now they are businesses and quite rightly should be subject to scrutiny and taxation like all the other hospitality providers.

Same with towns all over the world.

If you’re a solo female traveller then I’d highly recommend Women Welcome Women Worldwide (5W). It’s been going for about 40 years and is a world wide reciprocal hosting organisation. Have a look at their website. I’ve hosted, and been hosted by, some really lovely people and have had ‘insider’ information on the places I’ve visited. No pressure to host if you haven’t got the space, you can always just be a day hostess and meet up with people visiting your area.

Yes, several times- just a code on the door and no-one to hand. In Austria, a code for the box to get the key, code didnt' work as was poorly reset. Phoned the owner who was in ... Albania. He sent his cleaning lady, had to wait over 1 hour on doorstep- then got got the key, but it was bent and could not open the door. Had to call the guy again... in Albania, so he could end someone with another key. Apartment was nice enough- but not on. Same in Innsbruck- no-one there- just a box on the wall with code sent the day before. No info on the town- no info about restaurants, places to eat, etc. We were marrooned at 7pm, and had to call a taxi, having arrived by taxi- to take us to town and back again. We found out about places to eat in the vicinity, the ... next day. Another place had bathroom and toilet shared with my big brother, next to our room. We had specifically asked for second toilet independent from our bedroom! Brother had to creep into our bedroom 3 times during the night!

Tried to book an Airbnb recently (first time ever) but the company wanted a lot of security information about my identity. In the end I gave up & booked the same property on another - more helpful - property website.

Mine have been all lovely experiences in various parts of England and Scotland. 5 in total. I’ve stayed in villages and country locations all with sole us of the property and and key box entry on arrival. Hosts were great with communication during booking and texted during my stay to check all was well. All had very generous welcome packs, lovely bedlinen and towels, full equipped kitchen etc. I’m hoping to book again with my 4 grandchildren in the summer.

However, a city stay in a flat doesn’t appeal to me and I do feel for any residents in a block of flats with an Airbnb in the building. My friend stays in a 3 storey high block of flats and her downstairs neighbour moved out and let out her flat. After many months of the usual stags/hens/families with excited children running around it became noticeable that it was strangely different men coming and going all day and night. One of the neighbours tipped off the police and they quickly discovered that it had been taken as a long rental and was being used as a brothel !

We've had some lovely self catering stays, I just can't get out of the habit of sweeping/mopping/stripping beds/cleaning the kitchen etc,even though the cleaning fees are included.
My son is currently staying in one now( a room in someones cottage), he was given a full (vegan) cooked breakfast this morning

We dis overed that the last couple of self catering properties we have used have also been listed on air bnb. They were just typical self catering g holiday lets- we had used a traditional agency so knew exactly what we were getting. I think the only difference being that people.cpuld just book odd nights on air bnb. I didn't compare prices as it was hard to do so as in both cases we booked late and had a decent discount via the agency (on fact without it they were above our price range)

AirBnB is not inspected or regulated so you do not get the same adherence to health and safety standards as you would with graded accommodation e.g. one property we stayed in had no carbon monoxide alarm. The host was lovely and the booking went smoothly apart from that. Towels, bed linen and some coffee pods/tea bags were supplied but I think it’s down to the individual.

I’ve had several stays in AirBnbs and had good experiences, though one had dreadfully uncomfortable beds. Most have been self-contained though I did have a room in a flat with a single male owner. However he was a policeman who was either working or at his girlfriend’s most of the time I was there so no problem. My room had its own bathroom so there was no awkwardness.

I’ve used Airbnb lots of times both in the uk and abroad and have never had any problems. I always book an entire property and have stayed in some gorgeous villas, city apartments and an eco lodge on someone’s land . I’ve found the hosts to be really helpful and have come along at checkin to meet us There’s normally basics like tea coffee, sugar . Cleaning stuff . Some leave other visitors non perishable stuff like condiments, oil, vinegar. Our hosts have also been great at giving you info about the area .
Last year in Valencia our host let us check in early and checkout later , which fitted in with our flights and a hotel wouldn’t have done without a charge .