Location on map not accurate

[Marco27]

I understand why Airbnb doesn't show accurate location for listings before the client books, but this creates some problems.

In my case, my listing is 150 meters from the beach and is always showing up around 250 meters from the beach. There are other listings, with similar princing, that are actually further away in reality but that are shown on the map as if they were just next to the sea.

As you can imagine, most clients will choose a listing closest to the beach if it has the same price and similar specifications.

Is there any way to get at least a bit more accurate?

(Needless to say that, of course, I've accurately set the position on the listing editing)

[Clare0]

 @Marco27 Perhaps you could say "150m from the beach" in the title of your listing so it grabs the attention of guests looking to be near the beach.  

[Marco27]

Hi Clare,

I've done that.

Anyway, the post was more a "wake up call" on this issue.

Thanks!

[Michelle378]

I write postcode and highlight that the map is wrong, yet still I get complaints and bad reviews because the map is wrong

[Mike216]

Hi Michelle, 

                      It can sometimes be REALLY hard to contact AIRBNB but I hope the following will help you.

http://all-about-airbnb.com/post/142351825041/how-to-contact-airbnb-customer-support-via-email

Bye

Mike

[Eric21]

I have the issue that my house number is not listed properly on the map through airbnb. It is listed as no 5 while it should be no 9 Beach Road. I have had several guests who used the map as there means of finding my property and they all ended up at the neighbours two doors up. That is of course not really good enough for the guest and myself and the neighbours. So far the neighbours ahve been home but what happens if they are not? This makes it a fairly urgent issue! Anybody an idea how to edit the number on the map. ( of course my address is properly listed as no 9 Beach Road in my profile on the Airbnb site. Many Thanks Eric

[Marco27]

You are lucky that the "error" is by 4 door numbers... my apartment is located on the map two roads above. Being a property near the beach this is important, because it makes it almost twice as far as it is in reality.

I've got "competition" that is 500 or 600mt from the beach and they're listed right on the promenade. And that's just not fair.

AirBnB does not list properties on the correct place by design. It's a feature, not a bug. Not a very nice one, but it's the way they want it.

[David125]

As a prospective renter I *really* hate this "feature" of AIRBRB. Not only do I want to know exactly where I am staying (often in a foreign country) I want to know what is around me, how far to certain things such as a beach, train, etc. I specifically don't believe a distance quoted by the host says since a) they have an incentive to underestimate the distance and b) they probably don't know how many meters the distance really is. The website needs to get out of the way and allow the host the option to be accurate. Just imagine a vistor's dismay if renting in Paris they assume a place is on a nice quiet side street and instead a block over and on a busy noisy street. I've had that happen to me!

[Marco27]

You are absolutely right!

This is not good for either hosts or guests.

[Clare0]

@David125 and @Marco27  I can certainly understand your point of view, but let me give you a host's perspective.  I rent an entire home and I don't live where I can see the property.  Since my calendar is available for the world to see, I don't want the house number published prior to a confirmed reservation because anyone could tell when it's vacant.  It would be like putting up a sign to the world saying "No one's home".  Plus, no host would want strangers coming to the door asking to rent without going through Airbnb if for no other reason than going through the ID verification process.  (There was a host story on this very topic earlier today.)

What I would suggest you do is contact the host and inquire what street their listing is on and what the cross streets are. Certainly you could get a better idea of the location that way without having the exact address.  Also, if the host is on top of things, they will have a guidebook where they have listed restaurants, metros, grocery stores, etc.  This is powered by Google and the distances are not subject to a host's making things look better than they are. 

Since most Airbnb hosts rent their private property, I appreciate the safeguards they offer.  

[David125]

I absolute appreciate the need for privacy. But as I mentioned, I believe the Host should have the option (should they want) to list the exact location. I am finding many places on AIRBNB actually be for rent elsewhere such as tripadvisor. It is hardly a "single home" travel site. As such, in those cases, why couldn't they share exactly where their place is? That is where AIRBNB should get out of the way.

[Marco27]

@Clare0 I fully understand the security concerns. AirBnB should make this an option for the host:

- Show exact location

or

- Show nearby location (for security reasons)

"no host would want strangers coming to the door asking to rent without going through Airbnb"

Yes, that's true for most hosts but actually this is mainly a AirBnB business concern.

AirBnB is the only bookings website where the exact location is not shown. I know the filosophy is not the same as Booking, HomeAway or TripAdvisor Rentals, and there is a lot of people here sharing only rooms on their own house. But there's also a lot of people renting full holidays apartments, and for those the exact location might be important.

Look at my example: my listing is showing at 250 meters from the beach (on a dodgy street), when it's actually at 150 meters, while there are other listings (at the same price range) that are 500 meters from the beach (on the real world) and closest than my listing on AirBnB, and this is major decision factor for someone renting a house near the beach, make no mistakes.

[Carrie1]

You CAN move your listing on the map. I've done it several times (seems like sometimes Airbnb "updates" things and the thing goes out of wack.) Go into the map and you can adjust.

[Marco27]

Yes, you can adjust but it will NEVER be placed on the exact place.

Please read the previous posts.

[Carrie1]

I adjusted mine to the exact place. And I'd read the entire thread before I posted.