The attitude of some guests!

[Sharon114]

Hi all, I was being rather nosey and wondered where a prospective guest who eventually went elsewhere, had actually stayed.  I found out easily - no problem, just interested - then I couldn't help but read the top review left to that host by their guest.  I couldn't believe what I was reading.

The guest stated that everything was fine and then went on to comment that they always look for very cheap accommodation, usually under £20 per night because, afterall, this was airbnb and was only 'someones spare room' and 'a bed for the night'.  This was not a hotel and was therefore not entitled to charge hotel prices.  He went on to say that too many places in our area charge too much but if you were charged more, then you should stay in a hotel.

I always thought that a hotel was 'a bed for the night'!  I must say that when I read the comments by this guest about it being 'only airbnb and someones spare room'  I felt insulted.

I can only speak for myself but I take great pride in presenting a clean, comfortable room and do my utmost to give our guests the best experience I can.  The opinion of this guest seems to be that airbnb is no more than a cheap doss house.  I wonder how many others out there share this view.

I think I shall continue to charge more to discourage people who think along those lines.  Sorry for rant... I just felt so angry.

[Victoria57]

In our village it's certainly not the case that Airbnb is a cheap alternative to a hotel, far from it. Those of us doing Airbnb are providing a much better service and standard of accommodation than the local hotels who mainly cater to coach parties. We're not usually cheaper, just better.

[Melissa1367]

I think you have highlighted that there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to AirBnB. 

For some listings, it will be a spare private room in a shared property which is essentially a lower-cost alternative to a hotel. For some listings, the whole point is to make economic use of a room otherwise sitting idle for a host, and for guests to grab a cheap night´s stay. 

For other listings, it´s about an experience. Perhaps a unique location with some unique touches that you just can´t get with a hotel. Many hosts put a lot of work, effort and pride into such listings to make them truly special and memorable. 

Ultimately, it´s about what guests want and what they are happy to pay for.

[Sandra126]

The reputation of Airbnb depends on where you are. I used to be in the Barossa Valley where still now most of the accommodation is listed elsewhere since Airbnb is considered a ''cheap'' option and not desired. Where I am now the expensive accommodation clamour for space, well over 300 listings in a place of 3000 inhabitants. Only a small handful of actual house shares, the rest is more high end stuff. My neighbour is about to start renting a place he is finishing building and will list with a managing agent but wants them NOT to advertise on Airbnb as it will ''cheapen'' his place. Hmm, let me think.... NO. It won't. But that's ok, I'll just have less competition.

I think of Airbnb as totally unique in that you can find absolutely everything at every budget. Cave to castle.

[Betty-B--M-0]

The beauty of Airbnb is it works for all tastes and wallets. If hosts are happy with budget folk who want no frills, their price will reflect it, while hosts who create a magical experience will likewise have the price to reflect it. Either way, someone will book. 

[JohnandLana0]

Airbnb was founded as being cheap....Started by a couple of guys renting an air mattress in their living  room. ..

[Thu5]

I have this guest for 6 days. His profile seems good, 3 reviews with 5 stars rating. He started the booking request with simply " looking forward to stay at your place" then proceed to the next one that he needed a quick response to make sure that he had secured a place for the day (A red flag). I did not think much of it and accepted his booking almost immediately. 

On the day he checked in he asked me if I am working and if I am going to stay home all day (Excuse me, I should have said) then he mentioned that I was pretty quick with my response for his booking as if it was a fault. Because I allowed him to park on my drive way, he was saying in the effect that I did not have a car (another fault) which I corrected that I have but do not drive at the moment. Then he wanted a washing machine which was not in my listing, nonetheless, I offered to wash his clother for him and hang them out because I do not have a dryer, alternatively, he can do it himself if he did not like someone else to touch his personal things. I also told him that it should be on Sunday (2 days later) because the local weather were mostly cloudy until Sunday. The next day, I did show him how I would hang the clothes on a drying clothes horse and gave him a bag to put his dirty clothes in and left it by the door for me and he said it was OK, he "understands now". On Sunday, he was up early, I could hear him moving about, at 9.30 am he knocked at the door to hand me his dirty clothes and said "if you are unhappy..." (this is his attitude he always is defensive and put me in the "wrong" basket). Anyway, I did the washing for him (yup, underwears and all), hang them out to dry then headed out to the front yard to check something. OMG, I discovered that he was in the car just leaving. He had sit home all that time making sure that I had done the washing before leaving for the day. As I walked pass he was giving me one of those psychopathic smile of "good girl, you had done as told". I think a decent person would wind down their car window to simply give me a "thankyou" or something similar. He seems either suffering severe anxiety or striving to seek more control.  I am glad that I had stood my ground not to let him invade my private space. I can deal with it so far. My question is apart from that he is a good guest (so far). How can I write a review that express my concerns of his above behaviors? It is very hard to convey but it is definitely not a nice thing to experience. I think this is similar to the feeling of many women who had to live with an abusive partner. 

[Claude-Alissa0]

a couple made a request for a house i rent on airbnb... during this covid emergency, they said they where looking for a fresh place for working at home... but they couldnt pay the full price of the house so i gave them (because of the emergency) a half price for a big house. I am in France right now and cant come back to Mexico until who knows when... so my daugther recived them. i told her to close three rooms , because of the discout.... but when the guests arrived, the fist thing they asked was to open the roooms cause they wanted to choose... she opened the rooms and explained the sheets were only matress size, but the asked for the king size bed... 

then they complained with me saying the house was dirty, but the girl prefered to clean her self... so they asked for a reduction on the price again and they said they wanted to stay all the quarantine but in Mexico all guests houses or hotels are closed . i sent them to talk to my daugther...  but she told me they were very rude to her and wanted more and more reduction saying the full price was too high and they couldn belive that in Mexico rentals were so expensive, they said to her she wanted to take advantage of their situation. i know my dauther, and she is always wanting to help everyone she can, she was buyin the guests water without charging them anything and she offert to take them to the best and clos grosseries store... so i dont belive them.  My daugther asked me to please do not extend their stay, because of the agression... they are Otilda Eva (who seemed to my daugther very kind and genttle) and her boyfriend Alexander (who seems to be the real problem).