Air BNB - thoughts and advice, please

We always use one marked Superhost . They rely on good feedback and do not want bad reviews . No problems so far and we are off to one in Wales on Friday.

Mumi

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 think it’s about time this industry was properly regulated, it shouldn’t be hit and miss, particularly with health and safety concerns.

Never fancied staying in a room in someone's house unless I knew them. I am a very private person and like my own space. I prefer the anonymity of a hotel where you can come and go without any reference to anyone else.

The problem with being a solo traveller (if you use a package) is that you get rupped off for single supplements so you are subsididing other travellers. I have always travelled independently to non tourist destinations and just booked the first night at a hotel (via internet) so I have somewhere to sleep. After arrival I then bargain for a better room/rate and invariably get one. If the hotel has empty rooms they do not want you trolling next door. They want to keep your custom.

I have stayed in several, in the UK and abroad, with DH and on my own, and never had a bad experience. Never stayed in someone's spare room - they have been apartments (Luxembourg City, Marseille, Naples and an upcoming one on Lake Garda) or separate dwellings (a converted summerhouse in the Cotswolds and a tiny house in Bath) and all immaculately clean, exactly as described and photographed with really friendly helpful owners or contacts. Beware of the review system however - 5 stars generally just means good - if you need to comment on anything negatively do so in the private feedback to the owner, otherwise it may get de-listed (unless it deserves to of course).

I have stayed in several, either solo or with DH, but always a self- catering separate unit. Breakfast items supplied in one place, in others, just tea and coffee, biscuits, crisps, sometimes wine, juice.
I have not stayed in a room in someone’s house, they have all been units attached or adjacent to the owner’s home. Code to let yourself in is the norm, though the owners have sometimes been around to greet us or to have a chat on the first evening.

My daughter runs two holiday lets. Both are advertised on airbnb and elsewhere. I believe the service charge is imposed by the company. Cleaning may be included or a separate charge but it is clear before you book. On airbnb the details are very clear before you book, and the reviews and photos reveal more information. Go with a Superhost and you can’t go wrong.

Completely with you on that. Questioned the double standards and unfair cost advantage that AirBnB therefore has and was told it’s because the accommodation is usually in someone’s home (or place where the owners stay) so if it’s good enough for them…. I would like to see regulation too.

Our daughter now lives in USA and when we went to visit her for the first time we nervously booked an air Bnb. It proved to be perfect, just like renting a holiday cottage/flat etc. The host could not have been more helpful and it is now are “go to” site for self catering holidays. Like anything I am sure there are good and bad examples but our experience has been good

I have stayed only two night no problems. Where I have stayed bedding towels and toiletries have always been provided

PS I have never paid a cleaning fee price all in

We’ve used Airbnbs at home and abroad, all linen and towels have been included, one left us a welcome pack at no extra charge. All have been as described, but we took the precaution of checking that the property actually existed and had reviews online from other travellers.
We only had one problem, we could hear strange noises coming from the large adjoined garage, we called the owner who told us that his mother had moved out of the house and was living in the converted garage, whilst we were there.
It wasn’t that much of a problem, but we have asked more questions from the owners of potential holiday lets ever since.
Such as ‘ do we have sole use of the property, garage and gardens’.
We enjoy buying food from local markets and eating out so we rarely go to Hotels abroad.

We've done a couple of 'whole property' AirB&Bs which were good - we took supplies from home to do breakfast etc. I also did a small loft conversion stay in a house in Ireland with a lovely lady - I had a small sitting room and bedroom with en suite in their house and it worked well

As I lone female traveller, I've used them a number of times in the UK. There was only 1 sub standard booking but I was fully refunded for that (and it wasn't dreadful either). Personally, I would always be looking for self contained accommodation and I really like the amount of information you get on Air BnB and how it all works.

Marydoll

Fleurpepper

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

Why is it unfair Fleurpepper? For some of us with health issues, a self contained venue is much more suitable.
It certainly is for me.

It is unfair on normal B and B's as Air B and B's are not regulated and do not pay business rates.

I think quite a few councils are pushing for Air B and B's to be regulated.

Thank you.

PinkCosmos

Marydoll

Fleurpepper

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

Why is it unfair Fleurpepper? For some of us with health issues, a self contained venue is much more suitable.
It certainly is for me.

It is unfair on normal B and B's as Air B and B's are not regulated and do not pay business rates.

I think quite a few councils are pushing for Air B and B's to be regulated.

And they tend to employ unregulated labour at pittance rates for cleaning, laundry, etc.

The main trade group for French hotels has sued the home-sharing giant Airbnb, accusing it of unfair competition by "knowingly violating" rules imposed as part of a crackdown in one of the US giant's biggest markets.

In the lawsuit seen by AFP on Tuesday, the UMIH hotel industry body accuses Airbnb of keeping listings online even when they lack the required registration numbers, a rule recently introduced in Paris and other French cities to crack down on people who rent out their property as a full-time business.

Airbnb knows that some owners rent their rooms or apartments for more than the 120-day yearly limit, or that renters are illegally using the site, the lawsuit also claims.

An initial court hearing has been set for February 14, 2019.

"Assuming that one percent of the listings offered by Airbnb are illicit, the total loss for the (hotel) industry would reach tens of millions of euros each year," the UMIH said.

Same in every town and country.

I have stayed in a couple which were both like traditional B&Bs. A room in someone's home with a big breakfast. Spotlessly clean and friendly.
It didn't feel at all like a greedy landlord putting others out of business.
Admittedly both were in country areas far from hotels.

Never used a room in someone's home on AirBnB akways had a house or flat. Bedding is usually provided along with towels for number of persons visiting. No food, tea, coffee etc. Usually there is washing up liquid, a surface cleaner and cloth. Exoectation is that you will leave the place tidy with all rubbish binned as appropriate. There will of course be many with specific instructions. Used a cottage ie farmhouse only 2 weeks ago for our family of 9. Was wonderful accommodation and half the cost had I organised hotel rooms with breakfast.

I've stayed in several over the years. As a single traveller I've only stayed in rooms in someone's house, a bit like a lodger really. The listing tells you what's provided. Only one I'd been to had breakfast included and actually I wasn't expecting that. It was a nice surprise. For me I like to be able to cook some tea, not from scratch cooking, easy stuff, and stuff that met my dietary requirements with no fuss, to be able to have crockery and cutlery for breakfast, and fridge space. If I got a take away a table and plate to eat it off. I have done budget hotels and rather resent paying the amount they charge for breakfast, I don't eat enough breakfast to justify it and on a special diet it's even harder
None of the places have affected availability of places for local residents, they have been people trying to cover their mortgage and have a spare room, or they are self employed and it is another string to their income bow. They have mostly been women, but not all, and that hasn't been a problem, I've been left alone. I've also spent time with the hosts where it seemed OK, and occasionally babysat a cat or dog while watching TV which was rather nice. I like to think I'm not too demanding, and don't come in late at night singing and having problems climbing the stairs, so hope I'm a good guest. Not had one I wouldn't go back to so far. You also meet some very interesting people, and see inside some interesting houses, and how other people decorste/furnish their homes. Your host can help you find out about buses, and things going on locally too.
I had a very u fortunate experience at a Travelodge last time I stayed, although I was paid up. Fully they had given my room to someone else, they had found me another room, quite a distance away, in a place I didn't want to be, having chosen original. Travelodge because it was near where I was going to an event, it's quite put me off going to one again

We use Air bnb a lot and have only had positive experiences. We tend to go for those with a "Superhost" and we prefer a studio or apartment to just a room in someone's house. We stayed in a superb, very contemporary conversion in Somerset, it was ridiculously cheap and the kitchen put ours to shame. However, we are doing a Scottish road trip this summer & I found that it is going to be quite a bit cheaper to book traditional b and bs on this occasion - not sure why that should be.....

Mine were both in Scotland too GrammaH , both traditional but booked through Airbnb.
One in Galloway. One in St Abbs. You'd need a car for both.

An American cousin uses Airbnb all the time when she visits Scotland. She takes an apartment thought.

I have used Air B and B extensively for many years, both in the U.K. and abroad. I have never had a bad experience, indeed mostly I have been delighted with the standard of accommodation. I have never stayed in anyones place, I like an entire house or flat to myself or for my family. You can choose when you search. Sometimes you meet the owners, but in recent years its more common to be given a keypad number to access the property. Usually they provide a few basics like loo roll and maybe some milk and if its abroad often a bottle of wine and bread or snacks. Sometimes the properties are actually owned by a company, but careful reading of the description means you can usually work out if its a private or commercial rental. Basically entire places to yourself are simply another way of renting self-catering accommodation.

Big fan of Airb&b we have booked lodges or cottages. Not tried a room in someone’s house. Like self catering.

I use AirBnB quite often now. There are different options but if you do your research there are some fabulous places. I have only had one bad experience that was not to the standard of the photos on the website. Everything else has been excellent. I will continue to use the site regularly.

My advice is to read the listing carefully.
We let our spare room out for a few years and were very clear in the description what was available and what wasn’t.
It became obvious very quickly which ones hadn’t read it.