Air BNB - thoughts and advice, please

We’ve used several, sometimes an en-suite room, sometimes a separate annex with cooking facilities. Just like you would book a cottage or B&B, there is usually a big choice from a Shepherds Hut or Camp Site up to a house for 10 to sleep.

Yes, Grannyrebel, I had a similar experience with a lady who kindly invited us to eat and have a drink with them. She was lovely but it wasn’t what I was looking for. It put me off going back although I gave her a good review.

*whole property lets - not let's
🙄

We have found the offer is not as good as it once was (and add-on fees a lot) - but have had mostly quite good bookings.
We only stay in "whole property " let's but do be choosy as there are scams about.

My daughter uses airbnb for lots of trips all over the place and stays in people's homes in the "spare" room.
She has met some lovely folks that way.

The pressure on rental flats in many towns is massive. Young people and families, key workers, etc, can't afford to rent but worse than ever, can't find anywhere to rent. Why? Because landlords have decided to rent for much much higher returns on RbnB- and do not follow the rules, do not respect neighbours, and do not pay proper tax either, which represents huge unfair competition on Hôtels and other holiday rentals.

As Aveline has said, many Councils are looking into tightening regulations, registration and get those to pay proper taxes.

So on the one hand- there is suitability for travellers, and on the other ... well the other side of the coin.

Back to the topic though.

I am very very grateful for this advice. It seems the view is it’s fine, do the research and ask questions...

Grannyrebel7 - that reminds me of an episode of ‘Meet the wife’ with Thora Hird and Freddy Frinton! (Anyone remember it?)

She puts the house up for sale so she can get visitors to show round and talk to, but has no intention of selling so gets Fred to grow fungi on the wall of the cupboard under the stairs, and makes sure they see it!

We've been a few times in this country and abroad and always found them excellent. We usually go for self contained apartments, but once we had a room in someone's house and the hosts wanted to chat to us all the time, have tea with them and have a drink with them etc. Whilst they were lovely people they were strangers and I didn't want that level of intimacy. Never again!

We have done lots of Air BNB and the majority have been great. Most of the time it is an empty flat or house that someone lets out but we have stayed at a couple of laces where we have had a room in an occupied house. These were fine as well so I would say go for it.

We have a small cottage we let via an agency for holidays. They advertise with loads of other companies including AirBnB. We have just been awarded Customers Choice Award 2023 for consistently getting reviews of 9.5 and above for the last year. Only 20% of properties receive these awards so we are very pleased.

I’m a regular user of Airbnbs. I’ve booked whole houses for family events. Small cottages for seaside stays and single rooms if travelling alone. It works well in the years I’ve used it never once had any issues. I’ve always asked the host lots of questions ie nearest town, beach etc parking etc but to be honest most of the hosts give good description anyway.

We were Superhosts and had a few regulars.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.....

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

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 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.

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.

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.

Thank you.

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.