Italy, hosts demanding extra payment

[Kathryn407]

Hi--we are using airbnb in Sicily and I'm running into something I have not encountered before. We book places with two to three bedrooms and two baths if we can find them, specifying that we are two people and paying for two people. We like to spread out and are willing to pay extra to do so. Twice now on arrival we were told that if wanted to use the additional bedrooms, we would have to pay extra. I am going to contest these charges with airbnb, but what the heck? Why would we book a three-bedroom place and only use one bedroom or a two-bath place and only use one bath? We are also told we can only have one key meaning we have to be joined at the hip if we both want entry to our place. Again, what is the assumption here? Some of these places have an upper limit of six guests...do they expect six guests to share one key? Appreciate any insight into this as there is no point in booking these larger places if we cannot use them. Going forward I will ask hosts before booking if we will have access to the entire unit and to extra keys, but it just seems so obvious to me. (And I have been a host myself and also own rental property so I do have some experience with this.) 

--Kathryn 

[Denis-Mark0]

Hi @Kathryn407 

I don't know what those host might be concerned about or what's the thought behind handing out just one key.

I only have a small apartment with one bed and I always let my guests at check-in two keys if the were two people.

Did you ask for the motivation to do so?

[Kathryn407]

They said they only had two sets and need one for themselves. 

[Susan17]

@Kathryn407 

Could you post the links to the listings with the extra charges, please? We'll be better able to offer insight if we can see the listing descriptions. 

[Kathryn407]

I don't want to out them until we are checked out. But I assure you we rented the entire place as it says on the reservation "entire home." If we only wanted 1/3 of it we would have rented a smaller place. 

[Cormac0]

@Kathryn407 

It is simple, they don't believe you are only two guests and suspect there's some skulduggery afoot.

There is ample evidence in these blogs of guest booking large accommodation with minimum numbers paid for and then stuffing the available accommodation with unpaying guests. 

[Kathryn407]

That is sad and wrong. I'm sorry. We had no such intention, of course. We are just older and like our space and privacy. That's why we use airbnb and get apartments instead of staying in hotels where even the suites are usually not large. 

[Gordon0]

Two guests in a three bedroom apartment can well be expected to use two bedrooms (no more). However, if said guests decide they might want to use all three rooms, this is likely to attract an additional charge (the same as if you'd put three guests in the 'how many' box). This, to me at least, is fair. Do you disagree, @Kathryn407?

Likewise, you should probably ask in advance ref keys, but yes, for an apartment with numerous rooms, it should come with more than one. 

[Kathryn407]

I think if you rent the whole place you should be able to use the whole place unless the host says otherwise (one place I asked about because the host said in the listing that if the guests were a couple they could only use one bedroom, fair enough!). But anyhow in the future, I will make it clear before we book a place. 

[Gordon0]

So, if you are two people, you think it's OK to use four bedrooms? The wastage in this - financial and ecological - isn't cool in my book. Is this about a different bed every night? Not sure how you can condone this, but we're all different, @Kathryn407. 

[Kathryn407]

So no, I never said this and, in fact, we have never done this and I would see no need to, but yes, if it is listed as a four-bedroom place and no limitations are mentioned, why not? Maybe the beds in one room are not comfortable or whatever. On the other hand, I think it is fine to block off some of the rooms if you don't want people using them,  just make that clear in the listing. 

Okay, I'm signing off on this now as it is clear that hosts and guests have different priorities. I am glad to have been warned of this problem and will not book again without asking the host specifically whether the entire space is available or only a portion of it. 

[Lisa723]

@Kathryn407 I’ve struggled with this as a host... would like to be able to offer a lower rate to people not using all the beds. But since Airbnb is set up to charge per person not per bed this is hard to do. After enough incidents with couples using both bedrooms etc. I gave up and now my base price is for four people, no discount for fewer. I would never have asked for extra payment on arrival though and generally this is against Airbnb’s rules.

[Susan1028]

@Katherine407My place only has one bedroom...but i know other hosts who lock their extra rooms so there’s no access if there are fewer guests than bedrooms, and others who don’t.

I also know cleaning costs have to be budgeted for the entire space if guests have access to all areas so the whole place is spotless and ready for the next guests.

I read a review in which a guest stated they found a dirty sock in what appeared to be a freshly made bed for a 5-star super host.  After reading the post further it was discovered a previous single guest tested out all 3 beds (I’m unlocked rooms) during a week long stay and remade 2 of the 3 beds so they appeared untouched to avoid getting charged for using the extra beds, (which do generate additional linen/cleaning cost). They looked perfect so no one changed them.  The host has changed their protocol based on this “learning experience.”

Each booking is different.  If I were you, I’d be very clear in my prebooking communication about what’s included (if it’s not clearly stated in the listing) so you can choose the best option for your preferences.

Happy travels!

[Yadira22]

Hi @Kathryn407 

hope you are well. 

We have a four bedroom with two bathrooms- and have similarly hosted a group of two who wanted separate bathrooms only and we were competitively priced for then. 

I will be honest, when I initially received the inquiry I was concerned as 2 bedrooms will not be in used and also for the potential of parties and events.  Even if you do not do this, there are plenty of stories of this forum saying this can happen and it has happened. As a host we need to go by face value a lot and locking these extra rooms is sometimes a guarantee or at least a means to limit these potential risks. 

As the whole house was rented out I kept to this and leave keys sets  for every room with house keys (*4 total), free of extra charge.  But every host is completely different, however, I hope this gives you some insight on the why and how! 

enjoy your stay and if it bothers you that much just speak with your host- kindness and consideration goes a long way! 

Yadira 🙂

[Kathryn407]

Thanks, Yadira. Of course, we did speak with the host and were told we would have to pay the charge. We don't want to dispute it while in the unit for obvious reasons. Hosts should disclose any possibly negative info in the listing to avoid these kinds of issues. It is false advertising to state that someone is renting the whole listing and then to charge more on arrival for using the listing as advertised.