Hosted for several years. Over 600+ Airbnb reviews. But across all the various platforms I list on, hosted over 2000 guests. Been super-host, lost it & got it back. Made no difference to bottom line profit.
I have had 3 of my apartments trashed . All involved the police. So I feel I really do know when I see obvious ‘red flags’.
We mostly host amazing Asian & oversees guests. We seem to have good reviews which are prominent when they book from their country. Or business people.
I know the signs of the ‘party types’
* From UK. Even worse if they are from London
* Have vague or no reviews
* book for 1 or 2 nights
* always give some bulls£it reason why they are in london.
Anyway - received instant book tonight. The profile photos is the guest sticking her tongue out in ‘rude girl’ style . She instantly demanded 5 hrs early check in and late checkout from our listed 11am until 2pm. She also called me 3 times. Another huge red flag.
I don’t want to host her... I phoned Airbnb as this guest is making me uncomfortable with her demands, and I know she’ll party and wreck my flat. She one of the snowflake generation who feels rules don’t apply to them. No thanks
But Airbnb refuse the request to cancel - all because this guest has different skin colour to me! My boyfriend is a black guy. This is nothing to do with race or discrimination! It’s to do with ‘party types,’ and my gut instinct that is telling me this guest will be trouble. She has no reviews and I have several hundred from an all huge global mix of nations!
So now my case is being ‘investigated’ and they will reach a decision tomorrow.
And yes, I could turn off IB, but out of 2000 bookings I’ve only had 3 major issues! All the lovely newbies with no reviews. They have all been great!
I’ve spent the past 2 weeks migrating my listings to other platforms, and already I’m getting bookings at higher rates. Airbnb I’m so over the monster you’ve become .