@Jenny, for me when travelling I am not interested in the categories and I am only interested in place where I want to stay. Next for me is the price per night which then leads me to the thumbnail picture of accommodation that might interest me.
When scanning through the accommodation pictures there is often too many with wine glasses, coffee machines and views of the local area, they are a turn off for me. It is not the desired feeling or experience that I can have but it is what are they not telling me about the rooms or space that are not shown, what is wrong with the accommodation or missing. Or it is it clean and do they offer me the items that I may require or use for the stay. I then look at the list of items that the property offers and has available.
Next, for me is looking at the reviews and this is the last decider. Now that I have been hosting and reading host views on CC forum you can get a feeling from the guest reviews. if these reviews are are positive or negative. You have to read the star score and the words written to see if they match because some guests don't understand the star system and some people never give 5 stars. Like many hosts before me have stated "there are to many categories and where does my accommodation/property fit." The new number of categories is 55, my question is; Do I have time to look at all of these categories and how can I put words into my description to fit in as many as I can for my accommodation/property. The number is overwhelming.
I have been doing my own verbal research from guests staying. I ask them: What do they look for on the Airbnb web page when they stay. Most of our guests travel from within our NSW state or they are passing through from northern or southern states.
There answers have been; location on the map, dates available, price and how close to the shops and beach, then they check the reviews,