BE WARNED!!! For those of us who host and use other websites, such as HomeAway and VRBO for bookings, here are several instances why I really only want my guests to use Airbnb. In fact, when I get a request from one of the others, I always try to tell them to use Airbnb but often the other websites will block out my text. Anyhow here are several instances you should all know about:
1. Unscheduled Reservations: We had 4 guests just show up, out of the blue, to rent our cabin. I had no notification at all from HomeAway. They put in a reservation as an inquiry but never finalized it. When I called HomeAway they said it 'happens often' and that they were opening a case on this. I have not heard one word back in days, nor do I expect to.
2. Payment: HomeAway and VRBO typically hold the money I should be paid for my rental for days after the person has left. Airbnb deposits it, typically, before the guest ever leaves.
3. Emails Sent Not From Me: HomeAway and VRBO will send the guest email(s), asking for payment, in my name. As if I am the one sending the request. I don't like this at all.
4. No Vetting of Guests: My friend just had a guest who turned out to be 19. She told my friend she was 26. While at their guest house she invited 14 other underage kids there. They trashed the place, uesd the towels for cleaning up vomit, wrote filthy and rude comments in their guest book, destroyed the refrigerator door, smoked and drank heavily in the house, etc. My friend litereally had to go over and kick them out. When they inquired on how property damage insurance works with HomeAway they told them that the guest has to admit to breaking something or they don't pay. Who is going to do that? Of course these websites have no vetting. Rather they told my friend it was up to them to do that. How are you going to know??
5. Double Bookings: I have my calendars all synced with the other websites, and yet, HomeAway allowed a booking right on top of someone else who had booked with Airbnb weeks prior. So I had to contact the guest myself and try to get them alternate lodging.
6. Excessive Fees: HomeAway, Trip Advisor and VRBO charge whopping fees for the guest when booking a reservation. I have lost more than one reservation when the guest saw the final amount due, which was huge when these sites added in their hosting fees. Air beats them all charging very little.
7. Using Other Sites On Your Phone: If I get an inquiry when I am away from home, and my phone is using an alternate tower for signal, typically the site won't let me in until it sends me a text code. I am supposed to then log in and insert this numerical code then it will allow me to continue. When this happened recently it took so long for the code to arrive that the system 'timed out' meaning they said the code was no longer valid. Long story short, I had to wait till I got home as it just would not let me enter the app fast enough. I lost that reservation because of this delay.
8. Blocked Messages: Recently I had a guest who wanted me to call her. She was inquiring through Trip Advisor. I tried to write and tell her that I can't send her my phone number until she books as the websites won't allow that. But some word I put in the message, maybe "cell phone" or "number" blocked the entire message. They would not let me send her even that! I lost that reservation as I had no way of telling her to use their website after trying various ways to respond! Good grief! Just ridiculous!
These are just things I think hosts should be made aware of when using other sites, and there are probably more I have forgotten. If I have a guest to check in using another website, we ALWAYS tell them to use Airbnb. We tell them they paid too much, with other sites, and we always endorse Air for future reservations. We have had no issues like those above with Air. One more thing...try to call HomeAway, VRBO or Trip Advisor. You will be on hold for what seems like forever. Airbnb... maybe 2 minutes!
Your Fellow Hosts, Kim and David
