Do Hosts make better guests?

[Jenny]

Hello everyone!

Today I’ve been thinking about all the kinds of guests that Hosts will come across during their Hosting journey!

You’ll have hosted people from different countries, of different religions, from different kinds of communities… it’s a big old world out there, full of all kinds of people!

What I’m wondering though… is do Hosts make better guests?  Knowing the trials and tribulations of Hosting, have you found your fellow Hosts to be extra respectful? Or have they taken the opportunity to be a bit more relaxed?  Have any of you hosted someone who is a Host that posts here on the CC?  Why don’t you tell us all about your experiences?

I’m looking forward to hearing all about your thoughts on this subject.

Take care!

Jenny

[Alvina46]

Hi Jenny the best way to make clients happy and relaxed is to offer them the best of your services during their stay at your place..... 

Thank you cheers 

[Till-and-Jutta0]

When I get a booking from a guest who is also host, I have higher expectations, in terms of understanding the Airbnb rules and reading our listing carefully.

And often enough they didn’t meet our expectations. 😒

[Jenny]

Oh that's a shame @Till-and-Jutta0!

What kind of experiences have you come across?  How did you handle them?

[Till-and-Jutta0]

@Jenny I don’t want to start a host-guest bashing here, as some host-guests are really great. But others are just like “regular guests”: not reading the house rules, no good communication, not booking all persons.

[Laurelle3]

@Jenny yes we have experienced 2 different hosts as guests. For me my alerts go up, in that what am I doing that they might not like or see a fault.

I shouldn't have worried as No 1. host/guest was from Manchester UK and found that we provided a lot more than they offered for the price. The host was an interior decorator, so my questions were how was my choice and style for feed back as well and was impressed with my coastal style suitable forfamilies.

No2 host/guest was last weekend and their verbal comments were positive on our cleanliness and again with the hamper basket I supply to get them started. Still waiting for their review.

What I have enjoyed is the personal communication both asking question on Airbnb, bookings, type of guests staying, mishaps or broken items, the garden and sustainability and recycling.

We have only stayed at 2 places since being a host. No 1 was a commercial motel with several units on Airbnb along with Booking.com, Stays. I have to say not impressed did not receive information to enter unit, mixed crockery, not enough cutlery. Only enough supplies for 2 cups of tea or coffee, very minimalist only supplying the very basic. I felt that offer a more superior service and value for money, maybe I am not charging enough. 

The second place we choose because host was to live onsite like we do. But host was away at a concert.  So, we missed the communication that I was looking foreward too. I did leave a note on bench that I had found only 1 used dishcloth that had previously been used underthe sink to wipe down benches  and do the dishes. This was not to my standard for health and hygiene as I leave clean cloths in bathroom and 2 for kitchen used.

However, we will try and stay with hosts for future holidays. What it does point out as a guest there is different standards with Airbnb and most hotel and motels do offer the same and similar standards.

Yes, you could say that it is difficult to rate and reveiw as a guest because all accommodation is different, supplies are basic, none or generous. 

[Jenny]

I'm glad to hear that you've had good experiences with the Hosts that you've hosted, @Laurelle3!

It's a shame that the places you've booked to stay weren't up to the standard you'd expect, but I hope that next time you have a five star experience!

[Pamela1265]

I don't think I've hosted a host yet, but I know as a host myself, I will always take good care of someone else's property. I think I'm more aware of what a good guest should do. That being said, I have stayed in AirBnbs for many years off and on and have always been extra careful of taking care of it like it was my own or better! I never wanted to break anything or be charged extra for anything, so I was always on top of it! (so much in fact that it drives my husband crazy because I'm constantly cleaning instead of relaxing and enjoying myself!)

[Alvina46]

Definitely! Us as host makes us great guest. Simply because of your hospitality and accommodation that we provides for our guest! I want my Guest to feel at home relaxed and happy.... and since I am the host i am prevelaged to host guest from different parts of the world...   Cheers and thank you...

[Tracey574]

Absolutely hosts make better guests because they know what it takes to create an airbnb destination including the time, money, attention to detail and effort. I would love to have hosts be my guests!

[Leia57]

100% we do! I usually leave my Airbnb house cleaner than when I arrived! I have also hosted hosts and they are always very respectful and leave very constructive feedback which I appreciate and take to heart. 

[Suzanne302]

Nope. If you've spent any time on these threads you'll hear stories of hosts who loathe to host other hosts. For me it always puts me on alert, not knowing if this will be a kind host or a picky host.

Some are fantastic! Some are downright awful. Some are more forgiving because they know what goes into hosting. And some are super picky because they have this sense of entitlement thinking they know it all because they are hosts.

So, while all of us hosts want to believe we are great guests because we know how we act as guests, that is not necessarily universally true. There are some really awful hosts out there, and those are not the type of people who would come to the CC to further their knowledge or inspire a sense of community.

[Lorna170]

@Jenny   Hosts do not always make good guests.  I grin and bear it when I have a host as a guest, as they are often critical of the age of my cabin and its rusticity.  Some host guests have been helpful in suggesting that I add an amenity (wall outlets with USB ports in the bedrooms) while others have asked for impossible items -- cutting down my neighbor's trees for a better view or asking that the wild animals not make noise at night (we are in the NC woods - sigh).  And it is a toss up as to whether or not the host guest will be tidy -- I have been horrified by the condition of my property after certain host guests have left -- I would NOT stay in their properties.

When I am the guest, I review the accommodation after re-reading the description as I do not want to criticize the property for something that the host did not promise to offer.  If I do have constructive criticism, I will message the host privately -- for example, the host who had only 4 place settings for dining in a property that slept 8 persons.  Lots of paper plates used during that stay!  I will also try to leave the property better than I found it -- I want to think that I am the type of guest that the cleaning person wonders about -- i.e., did I even stay? 

[Marina481]

What a great question, @Jenny

I've not had the opportunity to host-a-host yet myself. Though reading @Lorna170 's and @Suzanne302's comments do make me a bit nervous about the possibility of that now!

When I'm a guest I always try to be the guest I hope to have myself. I feel as a fellow host I can more easily understand and sympathize with the challenges of hosting. Successfully hosting on Airbnb is an important part of my life and what I do, and so I assume that is the case as well for anyone I stay with and try to support their journey as they support mine. 🙂

[Andrea6384]

Having hosted a host and visa versa, I found we both let the other know issues with the property personally. My motivation in doing so was so the guests after me didn't meet the several lights that were not working and various other minor maintenace issues.

It's good being a guest also as it's an insight into how another host operates, with the opportunity to learn and improve ones own guest experience. 

[Mar125]

@Jenny 

I really prefer Airbnb to develop a guest profile that allows them to hide their host activities. 

I personally have experiences that i receive less quality service from host once host sees i’m an experienced host. 

I think a host profile will make your host less accommodating… 

As for the guest part, I don’t think a host experience would guarantee a better guest, but it would guarantee a “not bad” guest.