Travel Airbnb

[raskolnikov]

I'm going to Europe for 6 weeks in April. I'm looking at using Airbnb, having never used them before. Good idea? I'm a little bit nervous to use them as I've heard some horror stories. But it seems that, especially in western Europe, it would be considerably cheaper than hotels. Anyone have any experience using them or know any stories, good or bad?

 

[Hawk Dork]

Im looking on with interest.
Ive never used them before either

Too easy to book Hotels.com for Asia and you get a free breakfast

 

[Bigjobss]

Used Airbnb in Australia twice and once in Vietnam, no issues.
Tried to book a place in Tokyo last year but they cancelled 2 weeks out due to a Japanese government crackdown. But the bonus was Airbnb gave me a credit the value of the original booking ($1,500 aud) and a $100 gift voucher, so we eventually found a cheaper place to stay and used the credit this year for a really really nice free weekend away.

 

[revo333]

I'm going to Europe for 6 weeks in April. I'm looking at using Airbnb, having never used them before. Good idea? I'm a little bit nervous to use them as I've heard some horror stories. But it seems that, especially in western Europe, it would be considerably cheaper than hotels. Anyone have any experience using them or know any stories, good or bad?

I used it 3 times in America last year, no problems but not sure i'd use it in Europe with language barriers, i'd feel nervous about it as well.

I travelled through Europe recently and found the cheap chain hotels pretty good.

 

[Fat Yak]

I have used airbnb all over east and western Europe, no problems ever but I guess if you went for el cheapo, you get what you pay for.
Your aussie uber app works over there as well, well at least it did in Croatia. Not sure in other countries.

 

[00Stinger]

I used it in Amsterdam and London about 5 years ago and had absolutely no problems.

Used it in the USA last year several times in California and Texas with awesome results.

Since I have kids now I will allows try to book airbnb first before a hotel

Sent from my SM-A505YN using Tapatalk

 

[beez]

I've used it numerous times this year and have had no issues at all. The hosts have all been great and everything has been as expected. The comments by guests and the ratings give a good indication of whether a place is worth staying at.

 

[basashi]

I have used it a few times. One bad experience - host wanted to cancel a 2 week booking only a few days out.

positives - pay via app, getting a kitchen, washing machine etc.

negative - no real protection from bad hosts, fire protection is poor compared to a hotel, if you are sick you are on your own, if you are followed by a crook to your accommodation you are screwed, most security scenarios are much worse than being in a hotel

 

[Fat Yak]

I'm the most unorganized traveler on the planet, usually book accommodation hotel/airbnb between 2 hrs to 24 hrs before arrival, never had a problem.... a few anxious moments but never had to sleep in the car.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Used it in the US for the 1st time last year. My very 1st, host cancelled 30 minutes before I was to grab the key. I hadn't checked my email, to engrossed in the college football game I was at. Didn't find out it was cancelled unitl I went to the lock box to grab the key - no key. Checked email - host had cancelled 30 minutes prior to check n. 6.30pm Saturday evening in Nashville, panic mode for a good half hour. Given an Australian number to call to get it sorted. No idea where I was going to end up, so took it upon myself to find a hotel in a decent enough location. Bit going on in Nashville that weekend, NFL game and a concert, can't quite remember who it was, fortunately got a hotel for both nights due to late cancellations, had to go to 2 different hotels, $450 plus each night. Nashville aint cheap.
No dramas in Louisville, no dramas with my return 2 nights in Nashville, different host than my first booking.
Due to the issues with the first booking, now stick to hotels.

 

[raskolnikov]

Used it in the US for the 1st time last year. My very 1st, host cancelled 30 minutes before I was to grab the key. I hadn't checked my email, to engrossed in the college football game I was at. Didn't find out it was cancelled unitl I went to the lock box to grab the key - no key. Checked email - host had cancelled 30 minutes prior to check n. 6.30pm Saturday evening in Nashville, panic mode for a good half hour. Given an Australian number to call to get it sorted. No idea where I was going to end up, so took it upon myself to find a hotel in a decent enough location. Bit going on in Nashville that weekend, NFL game and a concert, can't quite remember who it was, fortunately got a hotel for both nights due to late cancellations, had to go to 2 different hotels, $450 plus each night. Nashville aint cheap.
No dramas in Louisville, no dramas with my return 2 nights in Nashville, different host than my first booking.
Due to the issues with the first booking, now stick to hotels.

That sucks. Did you at least get a refund?

 

[Shane Sheridan]

That sucks. Did you at least get a refund?

No dramas with the refund. Kicking myself, had booked a room at a hotel on bookings.com as insurance if the Airbnb was cancelled in the lead up. Able to cancel up until the Friday for nothing, which i did. 2nd night was a room in the hotel I cancelled, for about $100 more than I had booked for.

 

[Mofra]

I've used it in quite a few countries - was very good in various states in the US and in Paris, and decent enough elsewhere (London, Poland, Berlin, etc).
Are you traveling solo? Another alternative is a solo room in a hostel as you get the advantage of the social aspect but still have your own room so you can sleep whenever you want to.

 

[raskolnikov]

I've used it in quite a few countries - was very good in various states in the US and in Paris, and decent enough elsewhere (London, Poland, Berlin, etc).
Are you traveling solo? Another alternative is a solo room in a hostel as you get the advantage of the social aspect but still have your own room so you can sleep whenever you want to.

Traveling alone for parts but with someone else for other parts.

 

[Mofra]

Traveling alone for parts but with someone else for other parts.

When travelling with a partner I've preferred airbnb. Preferred the hostel/own room thing in my 30s when travelling solo. Sometimes there are tips on WikiTravel that help.

 

[Seeds]

I'm going to Europe for 6 weeks in April. I'm looking at using Airbnb, having never used them before. Good idea? I'm a little bit nervous to use them as I've heard some horror stories. But it seems that, especially in western Europe, it would be considerably cheaper than hotels. Anyone have any experience using them or know any stories, good or bad?

They are fine. Just go with the ones with star reviews if you are concerned.

 

[Minidisc MD]

They're ok.

It's not a very nice app and pretty socially destructive and even worse in poorer places. prices out locals from their own areas. some places were vibrant five years ago and all the airbnbs went up because of that. then the shops are priced out and the nice cafés and people hanging out the front of the street, thats all gone.

Most of the time it's ok but lots of people overlook dodgy stuff. some i've copped:

- get in that day, send them a message, then get a reply saying 'I'm busy at work but my friend will drop you the key at the gate'. old Tom from England knew you were picking them up at 2 but that's fair, maybe he's busy. get to said gate and a meek mild Asian girl is standing there, you try to have some small talk and she looks almost scared, gives you the key, then leaves. walk into the place – good location – and there's nine different pairs of shoes at the door in nine different sizes. was pretty happy we only stayed for a night. hotel the next few days felt way safer.

- stayed in Paris, got a knock on the door at about 8pm. few of us there, all lads. we'd used a lock box. walk to the door expecting the host possibly. random Turkish-French bloke standing there asking who we were, how this was a private residence, he'd seen us hanging out. had nfi how to operate it until he suddenly just says 'not a problem, okay' and walks off. can't even remember if we told him we knew the owners or were doing airbnb. we didn't want to say it was airbnb in case he was an angry local pissed off at people doing it. anyway, next night we're sitting there doing the same thing and the same guy comes up, knocks on the door, and says we have a tourist tax to pay. from memory you either don't pay it in France or its included. we just gave him the £25 and he didnt come back. most likely in with the owners i'd say.

- getting photos of windows that 'dont open' or margerine, milk, expensive wines going missing, broken vases etc. easy to just not reply. good idea to take photos of the place when you arrive and leave but eh, you're always too tired too.

but yeah I'd just get a hotel honestly. there's always scope for them to be hiding something (shit shower, no towels, nowhere to cook) or for something to go down.

 

[The Dice Man]

I've stayed in maybe 20 different AirBnBs in over a dozen countries and never had a problem at all. Alternatively we also own an apartment that we rent out on AirBnB and it brings us back triple on what we pay for the mortgage. We've only ever had one problem and that was using a cleaning company who didnt clean very well and left all the windows open. Never problems with guests. We also never accept someone who doesn't have a good history and previous comments.

It is socially destructive and does price locals out of rental properties, BUT it's a disruptive company challenging traditional markets, just like Uber, Amazon and a host of new companies. Things are changing about the way we do things, solutions will be found.

 

[Minidisc MD]

'solutions will be found' has been the human mentality since the 1970s. still searching for most of them...