Hi @Sandra856,
I always try to keep all communications within the Airbnb message thread too (Indeed for evidence to Airbnb, in case it is needed later on).
And will use other communication media, such as WhatsApp only as a last resort (I.e.: When guests do not respond to my Airbnb messages).
On the other side, I’m a ‘remote host’. And our local contact persons do not have access to the message thread. So they obviously use other media.
Furthermore, there are some good points here.
Because I notice also quite often, guests only respond to the mails generated by Airbnb (rather than using the message thread in the Airbnb App itself. Especially during their stay).
So I will add this as a suggestion to our guidebook.
Although there is not much difference in using WhatsApp over to the message thread in the Airbnb App. WhatsApp tends to be faster and you can commonly also see, when the other person has at least seen your message.
Having said that though: In my early days of hosting, I once had a group of young women.
And when I started to use WhatsApp with them, they indicated to prefer the message thread in the Airbnb App. I thought about this. And I suppose they are entirely right. Most people tend to use WhatsApp with friends or people they know. And not with somebody, they’ve never met.