Listings with irregular reviews (Melbourne)

[Gordon0]

I'm heading off to Australia in the new year for a holiday. Having booked a number of places via Airbnb I take the odd (all-too-regular if the truth be known) look at the places I've booked to check a) there are no horrid reviews and b) it's still listed. 

Weirdly (or not, maybe) one of the places I've booked (in Melbourne) has only had six reviews since March this year, and it looks to cater for fairly short lets. It's in the EQ tower, CBD.  

Any reason to think this is a bit iffy?

[Lawrene0]

I know you will have looked, @Gordon0 , but just in case - are those six reviews since March just the six you are seeing because the system is showing you UK reviews at the top? 

[Sarah977]

@Gordon0  Well, you never know if the host blocked the calendar for awhile because he was going on holiday or maybe had friends or family using the unit or had to do repairs or renos. Or maybe he just got a string of guests who didn't bother to leave a review. If it was me, I'd just message him and ask and go with your gut according to the response.

[Gordon0]

Thanks both. Perhaps I'm reading a little too much into it. I'll keep a watchful eye for a month or two. 

[Rowena29]

Hi @Gordon0 

my immediate reaction is that this residence is almost certainly also listed with booking.com; hotels.com etc etc - most inner city apartments like this ARE. IF I want to stay inner city somewhere in any of the capitals, I tend to look on these sites,  not airbnb which would explain the paucity of airbnb reviews

Hope you are steeling yourself for an Australian summer.  dont' be fooled into thinking the southern states  will be cool during Jan Feb.  ( on days they COULD be, but they still get days and days of 40.  A dry heat though,  as opposed to Queensland humidity. 

I'd encourage you to venture out past the capitals and see a bit of countryside if you can - one capital is much like another... ( tho for me, nothing beats London!)

Cheers

[Gordon0]

Good point, @Rowena29, and one I hadn't thought of. This is our first trip over, and I don't want to spend the whole time flitting around, so we're thinking of it as a 'taster'. It'll be Sydney, Melbourne, the GOR and some side trips.

I haven't met an Australian who hasn't told me to go to their 'part' of the country, but with a little over two weeks there (we're on Hong King for a few nights too) there's only so much you can do.

Deffo looking forward to the food (your brunch culture is something I'm looking forward to immersing myself in) and seeing a kangaroo!

It's the small things... 

[Rowena29]

Oh @Gordon0 

I'm so glad you're doing the ocean road.

When you said your were going to Melbourne I was hoping you'd think of doing that. but restrained myself from advising it ( AND restrained myself from suggesting you visit Qld too!  Brisbane my home town is pretty ordinary actually - a great place to live,  but not a tourist mecca. People fly in and  tend to head to either the south or north coast)

Also I'd read in one of your posts you don't have a car, which made me wonder if you had a DL.

I imagine you'll stop off at Bell's Beach and the 12 apostles ( down to 11 now).  Bell's beach cant' hold a candle to Qld beaches, but it's still pretty nice.

I think you're very wise, 2 cities is more than enough for 2 weeks - especially with  driving trip added in.   Hopefully you'll spot a kangaroo - if someone hasn't' told you already, best not to drive in rural areas right on dusk - that's when they tend to leap out in front of your car.  Not fun    - for you or the kangaroo.

A bit of trivia for you - my great uncle John Job Crewe Bradfield designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which not doubt you'll spot on your Sydney travels.  I was pretty astounded to find  a write up about him on the London Bridge experience.

Hopefully you'll love it all. Much nicer than Hong Kong in my humble opinion!  I LOVE Melbourne. Not sure if you have a sweet tooth, but if you get a chance, check out Hopetoun Tearooms in the Block arcade off Collins st - even looking in the window is a treat.  Lots of cute eateries lead off the other end of the arcade.  Feeling jealous!

The new year will be here before you know it!

Cheers

[Rowena29]

as a follow up @Gordon0 

a quick search on booking.com

https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-us.html?label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggI46AdIM1gEaA-IAQGYATG4ARfIAQ...

[Kelly149]

@Gordon0  One of my abb listings is like that

1. I don’t ask for reviews and I don’t review guests first

2. Abb is my secondary platform

3. I don’t need it booked all the time

you could ask the host (and chance coming off like one of those too fussy to be a guest hosts🤣)

and/or know what your backup plan would be 

safe travels!!

[Rachel177]

@Gordon0 as @Rowena29 mentioned it looks like the listing is on booking, so may get the majority of guests through there. It's probably nothing to worry about.

If you want any tips on things to do in Melbourne & surrounds while you're here or restaurants & cafes to check out then shoot me an email & I'd be happy to give you a list of things.

[Lizzie]

Hey @Gordon0,

Great to hear you have a good trip ahead of you. London will feel quiet without you. 🙂 I once spent New Year in Sydney staying with some of my friends. It was so much fun, but a little weird to wake up to glorious sun rather than the dark winter days here in the UK and watching the fireworks was great. I had no idea that they had pre-fireworks for the kids at 9pm, these were very impressive too–so double the firework fun! 

It doesn't sound like you need many recommendations during your trip, but if you do I'm sure you would find many people here in the CC willing to point you in a good direction. 

Going back to you original post here, out of interest, have you managed to speak with the host much since you booked? 

[Gordon0]

Hi @Lizzie, as many have said, I think this particular place is listed elsewhere. It's one of 46 properties (I hadn't realised there was a scroll right bar!) the company operates. I'm going to get in touch in a few weeks in a typically British 'sorry to ask' way for more details. 

If all goes horribly wrong, Melbourne [I'm being corrected daily that it's pronounced 'Melbun', not 'Melborn') seems to be riddled with listings in glass cloud-busting glass boxes. I don't think we'll be out on the street. 

[Marc-and-MJ0]

Hi Gordon

If the listing is hosted by a property management company you should be pretty safe.  They have a reputation to protect and know what standard guests expect especially when it comes to cleanliness and amenities.

From a Melbun local in our humble opinion you are coming to the best city to experience brunch/coffee culture - it is often regarded as the coffee capital of the world. If you are going to be CBD based try The Higher Ground Café, Humble Rays (long queues), Auction Rooms, St. Ali and Proud Mary.

Enjoy our fine city and hope the weather is kind to you.

Marc & MJ

Short Stay Property Management

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