Cleaning fee and service fee??

[Ray1735]

i see the point in a cleaning fee although Ive seen some very fancy paid cleaners but a service fee on top is taking things a bit far ive seen the price of a booking increase as much as £150, i love some of the accommodation we have stayed at with Air BnB but prices are starting to get to pricey for the accommodation on offer in some cases, if prices continue to rise at the rate they have for this sort of accomodation might as well stay at a bnb or hotel

[Kate867]

@Ray1735  Service fees and cleaning fees are two separate things.  The service fee is what Airbnb charge as commission for the work that they do.  The cleaning fee is charged by the Host for their work in preparation for a guest.  Hope this helps

[Ann72]

It’s true @Ray1735 that prices have gone up for many accommodations.  Airbnb isn’t necessarily cheaper than a hotel.  It’s all about what you’re looking for.  If I just need a place to stay the night I would most likely choose a hotel over an Airbnb.  There’s less risk and it’s less time-consuming to search.  If you’re looking for a unique experience or a getaway, it’s worth looking into Airbnbs and factoring in things like meals you can prepare there rather than eating out, parking costs, privacy, space - whatever you think will need or that will be an expense during your visit.

[Sarah977]

@Ray1735  The service fee has nothing to do with the host- it is what Airbnb charges guests to use their service.

The cleaning fee is what a host charges, is based on the size of the place and how long it takes to clean, and is usually paid by the host to their cleaner.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Ray1735 The cleaning fee is used by some hosts to encourage longer stays. When amortised over a week it is more attractive than when amortised over 1 or 2 nights.

It is a bit worrying that the Service Fee is not clear in that it is going to Airbnb to run their platform and not to the host. 

At the end of the day the only thing that matters is does the total price provide a competitive offering. If it doesn't then don't book it and either book a hotel or another listing.