Cancellation due to flooding

[Tushar30]

I planned my trip to yellowstone from June 14th to 21st. I booked airbnb in Island Park, ID. Before the trip I got to know that there is flooding in yellowstone and Island Park, so I cancelled my trip. I tried to file claim against Extenuating Circumstances  policy but to my surprise AirBnb as well as Host did not agree with that.

The area was actually flooded during the dates of my stay and Yellowstone Park was closed for all the days. I could not have risked stuck in the flood anyways with my family being with me.

Here are some of the links that I shared which shows flooding alert, actual flooding links in Island Park where the property is as well as Yellowstone where we were headed. 

https://weather.com/weather/alerts/localalerts/l/deecb824ac8d96381c752ab52245ee8758fd01e7b8621b6b82f...

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2022/06/island-park-cleaning-up-after-rain-causes-massive-flooding/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y6_q0ZpA_k

https://flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/albums/72157668680150793

I got suggestion to raise complaint With Idaho Attorney General, BBB and small claims court. Does anyone have experience in any of them or any recommendation about which one is more effective?  

[Kate867]

@Tushar30   Unless you booked the accommodation and access to Yellowstone Park as a ‘package deal’ then access to either is mutually exclusive.  So, if the Park was closed due to flooding and you had prepaid for entry then you would be entitled (subject to terms and conditions) to get your money back.  If the accommodation was closed due to flooding and they were unable to host you then they should have cancelled and you would have got a full refund.  I can only assume that on this occasion the accommodation was still usable and available for your use which is why you will not have been refunded.  However, looking at the links you provided I can fully understand that there may well have been hazardous conditions to negotiate in order to get there.  Strictly speaking, the Host is entitled to deny a cancellation or refund if they are available and can host but personally I think it is morally wrong under the circumstances.  Not because the Park was closed, but because of the potential danger in travelling to the accommodation.  In your position I would reach out to Airbnb customer support again and escalate your claim asking them to take your supplied evidence into account.   To take legal action could be costly with no guarantee of getting your money back.

[Gwen386]

I agree with @Kate867  response. 

@Tushar30 , did you ask the host if you could change your dates. I, as a host, would have at least offered that to you. 

[Lorna170]

@Tushar30   Unless the accommodation was within the area that was closed or unreachable due to flooding, or the municipality that it is located in was closed to tourism, it is at the discretion of the host as to you receiving a refund.  I.e., if you were coming to my home to attend a music festival or concert, and the festival/concert is cancelled, it does not affect your ability to stay in my home, so a refund would only be available per the cancellation terms in effect when you booked.

[Helen3]

Was there a government warning against travel in the area @Tushar30 ??? if not and the host told you it was safe to travel, then there is no reason for you to have given a refund as the accommodation was available and you were able to travel to get there.