Discover BETTER Alternatives To Airbnb And Say Goodbye For Good!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Browse housesits for FREE here: trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/c/3563316/1555723/18144.

[@sweetsimpleslowlife2709]

Hello Brian and Carrie! Thank you for sharing your experiences and giving suggestions and tips for alternatives. I also had a similar situation in Athens when the host tried to get more money out of me by filling dubious claim using my pictures that I took during my stay of all the issues I encountered. What a nightmare! I declined, of course, and she didn't get anything. But that was extremely stressful and it went on for months. It left a bad taste in my mouth and I stopped trusting Airbnb. As a guest I try to be respectful and when I don't have a good stay, I don't leave a review at all instead of trying to make my negative review sound positive.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We actually contemplated filing a claim against the host. We lost a few hundred dollars in finding new accommodations and staying extra nights in hotels. We were even going to include our time and energy dealing with everything, not to mention mental anguish. We decided that it would be a waste of time and moved on. Exactly what they hope you will do. Thank you for adding to the conversation! ❤️

[@sweetsimpleslowlife2709]

@@BrianandCarrie I hope things turn out for the best for you. ❤️

[@TwistsNTravels]

Also, just in case you don’t know, when you go on TrustedHousesitters in the search area, you can just hit the filters for a month or longer without even putting in a location. And then you can use the map feature to see if anything at all is anywhere near where you’re wanting to be. I always thought that was a super cool feature. Also, I am hearing more and more negative things about Airbnb myself. Not sure if you watch grounded finance, but they have some alternatives that they use with hotels and reward programs and coming with the free lounge/food options. I had no idea that you could actually end up eating anything more than breakfast and a hotel. I just got an IHG credit card for this particular reason. The point redemptions on hotels really kind of stink in the US but when you’re looking at other places in the country, you can definitely get some nice cheap point stays in hotels. We actually just went to go visit our son in Atlanta and stayed at a Hyatt place by the hotel the night before and it was absolutely gorgeous and it was only 5000 points! We were not there long enough to eat breakfast or anything, but it was an option for free breakfast at least. I’m right with you in the fact that I like a kitchen because I don’t like to eat out three times a day. There are a lot of these hotels that have at least a microwave and fridge and there are several that actually have kitchens.

[@skqq3250]

This content is spot on!!!!! Our personalities with travel seem to match. You have said so many things that should have been said 7 years ago. My AMeX problem with the bad Airbnb with John in MD ended in court.

[@johnnypunish]

I am a 7 YEAR Super Host. 5.0 star immpecable record. I also travel. In January 2024 Paris, rented a lovely flat. In March. The host said I broke blinds in bedroom and wanted $ 1000. (I never touched that window or blinds) i pushed back hard and after 2 months of me NOT letting this go, AirBNB finally reversed the claim. As a 60 plus year old with immpecvable record, I was surprised by this especially since that host was on AirBnB for just 3 months with a few reviews after me calling them liars. This is alarming. Whatever is going at AirBnB, they need to address frivoulous hosts and scammers

[@BrianandCarrie]

The frustrating part about the whole thing is there are really great hosts that work hard to make sure their place is perfect. The bad hosts and Airbnb's business model have made it difficult to have trust. Thank you for watching and commenting!! 😊

[@bernadettesandoval3990]

This happened to me. Rented a home and of course bought damage insurance. Never used the closets because the doors didn't work. After we left, the hosts made a claim against the insurance to "repair" the closet doors. I realized immediately that the hosts were upgrading their property using the insurance coverage that their customers buy.

[@SISI-q1l]

You are lucky that airbnb actually intervened on your behalf.

[@johnnypunish]

@@SISI-q1l Luck? Hum? I knew this would be a he-said-she-said thing. So I intentionally used the maximum HARD-EARNED leverage I could muster when communicating with AirBnB to get them to see that I was, in fact, telling them the truth and coming from a place of integrity. I knew the host was only online for 3 months and already had a complaint. With over 7 years of positive super host history and no complaints, I leaned in to use that earned leverage. To be more clear, I was quite angry at being used like this by that unscrupulous host. And if AirBnB did NOT see fit to extend us the respect we have earned over 7 years, I was prepared to walk away 100% and not use AirBnB ever again! So yeah, I was upset but stayed calm throughout the 2-month process. In the end, it worked out and we are still Super Hosts on AirBnB and I will use AirBnb for our personal stays in the future. But this time, I will be more careful and take VIDEOS of everything with timestamps and, upon exiting, I will do a full video showing everything intact and will keep it on file for at least 6 months just in case we run into this situation again! I REFUSED to be used by terrible ugly people who game the system. Come visit us at Hacienda Eco-Domes in Mexico anytime. www.haciendaecodomes.com

[@lancepeacock880]

We own two airB&B’s and we expect small damages that we don’t charge the renters, we also have renters who take a video when they leave to protect them

[@rubbertoad3681]

Maybe Airbnb should post some stats for each host like how many times they have made claims on guests and how many reviews they have had removed. It would give us guests more information on whether we roll the dice on particular stays.

[@Larry_Kabberga]

agreed, but then they would have to inform how many claims were successful, how many were voided, average amount per claims, average claims per year, reason for deleting the comments, etc etc etc we will need a PhD in data analysis and statistics to do the bookings....

[@BrianandCarrie]

Love this idea!!

[@rubbertoad3681]

@@Larry_Kabberga Not really. You just need a quick way of marking a place off the list because you don't want to chance it. If a host has several claims then they have every right to put a notation in their listing and explaining why. But it is information I should have as a person looking to book.

[@Laura-kb5sr]

@@rubbertoad3681 Yeah, absolutely--for doctors, you can look up the number of malpractice claims and the status.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, Airbnb can remove the review for any reason, and they do all the time. It is good to see that you are reading the comments and still commenting. Thank you!!

[@loribonzelaar9193]

We just stayed in 5 different Airbnb’s on our trip to Italy. What I noticed was the ones that had “hosts” vs the ones run by a hosting company made all the difference. I think the latter is becoming more of the norm. The single host were much more personal and helpful.

[@katherinechrist-janer5636]

As a single unit host trying to hang on to our little summer boathouse in Maine I concur! My guests, who arrived this evening pulled up to the wrong house and tried to use my lockbox code in someone elses lockbox and because it is always just me on the other end of the phone i was able to walk and talk them through it and they got into my place just fine. We all had a laugh about it and i hope they have a blast this week and they've already made their first funny little memory before the week even begins. I do love being a host. ❤

[@BudgetRetirementOptions]

I agree with you.

[@kvom01]

I had mostly given up on Airbnb, but during my 2021 trip to Italy I booked a 2-night stay in Bologna at an apartment with a washer and dryer, since I needed to do laundry after almost 3 weeks without. The host and apartment were great to deal with. In pre-Covid times I frequently used Airbnb, and always with hosted stays. I had only a single bad rental, and that because the listing neglected to mention a freight train passing every two hours of the night 100m away. I might well try non-hotel stays in the future, but I have a lot of Wyndham points and would look at Vacasa over Airbnb.

[@CalifaJohn1]

You are wrong on so many things. A host's rankings DO go down if they cancel on guests. I have never cancelled a guest in five years of operation. There have always been fees to the guest AND the host. The fees were not "passed on to the guests." A big part of why the prices have increased is general inflation on all costs of operation. Restaurant prices have increased dramatically as well. Just because you got rentals for $1200 in the past, why would you expect the same price now when everything else has gone up? Why would you no longer be able to trust the reviews? Only verified guests can write reviews. What do you mean the negative reviews may not exist? Negative reviews cannot be taken down. I have been an Airbnb guest for 12 years and no one has ever charged me any kind of damage. I have been a superhost for 5 years and I have never charged a guest for any damage, even though I have replaced water heaters, damaged screen doors, stained linens, broken dishes, etc. The host CANNOT make a damage claim 60 days after departure. The claim must be initiated WITHIN 24 HOURS and before a subsequent guest arrives. Hotels range in quality just like Airbnbs can range in quality. The difference is that hotels have means of getting fake reviews posted while Airbnb does not allow it. Anyway, I am not worried about my place because it is busy, well priced, and I have repeat guests. But I object to this much false information.

[@llrmiller]

Canceling on a guest carries huge repercussions for the host. I canceled once years ago. And guests had plenty of time to find another place. Never again.

[@rmckee3940]

You are so spot on. As a 70 year old disabled lady, I do the best I can in life. One host published a long negative review about me, so embarrassing. Air B and B corporate was no help.

[@ivanajackson3616]

You guys are a class act. Honest, fair, thorough, smart, thoughtful…I have travelled far and wide and continue to find your videos informative and feel that I always learn something new. I stopped using Airbnb mainly because of huge increase in cost over the last little while and the fact that I don’t want to commit upfront to paying hundreds of $s when I can find beautiful accommodation on booking and Expedia and pay on arrival.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We agree, there are other ways you just need to look for them. Airbnb has made it easy for travelers to find accommodations, so we just gravitate in that direction. Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@markgonzalez5437]

Don't even get me started on reviews. I had a traveler give me a bad review over a bear in the smoky mountains knocking over a trashcan. The same travelers trashed my three bedroom cabin with beer cans and food scattered all over the home and hot tub with bathing towels in the trash covered with Motor oil. After looking at the security cameras to see what happened to the trashcan we realized they had 12 people in the unit and it was only for a six person stay to top it all off they brought in two dogs that were not mentioned in the booking. All this is part of the business and you deal with the good and bad apples. When it comes down to it we do our best to provide a quality vacation so you just have to take the good with the bad and keep moving forward.

[@distractedbylife3165]

YES, people don't talk enough about the AirBnB renters and the Host experience.

[@kimberlyfamoly5863]

Not every owner try to do good by the customer, it has lost it personal touch.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sorry you had that experience, how frustrating. Yes, taking the good with the bad has worked till now for us, but not anymore. As the renter we fortunately can move on to other options. Hope you have great renters from here forward 😊

[@markgonzalez5437]

@@BrianandCarrie Yes, my wife and I stay traveling as well. We do visit our own STR's in order to keep them up to the highest standards to offer the best vacations possible. We two are looking to get off of Airbnb to avoid renters who ask for discounts and then treat our properties like a jungle gym. So far we've used our "Guestbook" to lock down 85% of our dates booked with returning guests who loved their stay and it's working beautifully. Safe travels =)

[@markgonzalez5437]

@@kimberlyfamoly5863 I've raised our minimum age to rent our STR's to 25 years old due to the lack of respect the overwhelmingly amount of young travelers are displaying.

[@FrenchFifi65]

My daughter and I spent 10 days in London and did not want to use VRBO/ABB because of a previous (really) bad experience, nor did we want a standard hotel because of the price and we also like to eat at home. We found Aparthotels where they are more like studios or apartments that work like a hotel, I would say they are definitely less than a hotel but they are a little outside of the city center. This was a great option for us and we were able to make our own breakfast, coffee, wine and beer, appetizers, etc. basically buy groceries. Our studio also included laundry which was really important. If given this option anywhere else, we would consider it again:)

[@BrianandCarrie]

We love the aparthotels❤️.... They are the best option when available.

[@Laura-kb5sr]

Absolutely! I have often thought that the hotel industry's mismatch with traveler needs has contributed to the rise in AirBnB (in our case, the desire for laundry machines, for a front desk, and for three beds in one living space). Aparthotels seem ideal--though I wonder if that's also taking away from local housing stock too (but it might not more than a hotel would).

[@marysjourney2]

We are planning a trip to London. Which one did you stay at and would you do it again?

[@FrenchFifi65]

@@marysjourney2 Hi, we stayed at Wilde Aparthotel, however if given the chance we would try to get just a little bit closer to the Marylebone area next time. We spent a lot of time there near Regents Garden, the Wallace Collection, the fabulous high street with all of the boutiques, restaurants and pubs, and the easy transportation options. I would not hesitate to recommend this place to anyone needing the facilities, it is not “fancy” but it was clean and fairly convenient:) Enjoy your stay, we love visiting London for all of the free sights after you have seen all of the top sights so to speak. I highly recommend Regent’s Park because of the amenities like lawn chairs in the shade, snack bar with food, beverages, beer and wine, the gorgeous gardens and the people watching. Enjoy!

[@skqq3250]

I got stuck in a situation where my amex gas been sent to court!!!!!!! Over a nasty Airbnb condo!!!!

[@BoninBrighton]

When we use Airbnb I engage in a chatty conversation prior to booking- I can immediately tell if it’s a private family run Airbnb or a commercial investment Airbnb which we avoid like the plague.

[@d.y.e3803]

I agree and all of my Airbnb stays have been with individual hosts (families) who own the properties and not investment companies. My Milan host went above and beyond when the airline lost all of my luggage and he tracked it down, delivered it to my door himself, and even ordered a taxi for me upon check out to make sure that I got back to the airport. Plus, the apartment next door was his law office. So, he was on the premises. Greetings from Los Angeles

[@BoninBrighton]

@@susanaescriba977if it’s a family they’re already part of the community and maybe makes a really difference to the local economy.

[@zoemurillo6838]

@@susanaescriba977 I see it that it's allowing the family economically. Not every host has hundreds of bookings each year either and for some it just gives them a little economical boost

[@webwhisper2701]

@@susanaescriba977the investment companies don’t care about the community - they are like parasites - collecting fees without heart for the residence or its neighbors.

[@carolcrutchfield8904]

I am an Airbnb Superhost for only 1 yr now, but have used them for several years.. I have seen both good & bad, but I do still choose Airbnb over hotels, or anything else! I have had guests stay with me that were awful....but they are the exception. Most every guest that stays is so lovely & from all over the world! It is a choice. I can't say enough about the personal friendships and kindness that I have found in Airbnb. If you LOVE to travel...then everything is an experience. So sorry for your bad experience...we all have them & yes Airbnb DOES have too many hidden charges!

[@markolmstead4709]

Airbnb pricing has gotten ridiculous. We don't even consider it anymore when traveling.

[@carolcrutchfield8904]

@@markolmstead4709 Mark, I am so sorry to hear that. The hotels are 3x what most airbnbs are. So again, don't give up, look and then choose. It is different every where you go.

[@pashalu]

I agree with you.

[@nikkid7838]

We had an Airbnb… I worked hard to keep my SuperHost status. We didn't have time anymore, so we only have long-term guests for two months or longer. We get referrals from real estate agents or home builders.

[@ediruzza]

They cancel at the last minute because they rented to another tenant at a higher price on another site - like VRBO.

[@msbeecee1]

Omg that's horrible and probably true 😮

[@GardnerI]

I had a cancellation 2 hours before check in time in Sienna,Italy. Airbnb did not help at all. No apologies from the host and airbnb. Told us that there was another booking for that day. I felt so helpless that day, scrambling to find another accommodation on a last minute booking.

[@msbeecee1]

@GardnerI I've heard horror stories of being unable to enter at midnight in a foreign country etc.... makes me think hotel is far safer option. These stories can be traumatic!

[@amyp.1269]

This has happened to me before. Just terrible.

[@twocds4751]

File a complaint to airbnb when the host cancels last minute like that. Most times, they find you another place even better and no price difference. Show a trail of facts and it's pretty simple bit annoying nonetheless.

[@ohiolongs]

Sorry to hear about the claims that have been lodged against you. My wife and I traveled in Europe for 4 months this year and stayed in 5 different Airbnbs. 2 were fabulous, 1 above average, 1 poor and 1 awful. We researched them all and "you never know what you are gonna get" We left honest feedback onall of them to help anyone following us.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much! This is unexpected and very much appreciated!! ❤️We will continue to do our very best!! 😁

[@nickbaskett3537]

very useful information. I recently had a bad experience with a place in Brussels that had a great review. I left a pretty balanced review, but not 5 star. I just went and checked and my review isn't showing... now I don't trust Airbnb. Thanks for pointing this out.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That's so frustrating and makes it very hard to trust their listings.

[@gigi9301]

I don't like that the host can review You so many people fear leaving a bad review; subsequent guests might not get a true review of the place What hotel can review a guest? What hotel charges a cleaning fee and has you do chores like take out the trash and strip the bedding and put it in the washer before you leave....on and on when you're paying a cleaning fee. Lots of rules at this strange place in Vail last summer; they said no shoes in the place at all you must wear a pair of our croc shoes and no food or drink in your. room not even water.... No Thanks bye bye air bnb

[@TheNolanday]

Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much! We very much appreciate the support. ❤️

[@wunderwriter1]

We did one Airbnb, at the request of a family member we were traveling with who wanted the benefit of a full kitchen. The property was not as advertised in a multitude of ways, including a dangerous empty concrete basin (old hot tub or pool or something), a filthy bbq, a “bed” that was an air mattress on a cot, no cribs or playpens as advertised, broken dishwasher that couldn’t be used for seven people, a door lock that didn’t work, no extra bedding, etc., etc., etc. We had stayed in a nice hotel until the relatives arrived, and we immediately regretted agreeing to split the cost of the Airbnb for those four days rather than staying at the hotel. No pool, no spa, no restaurant, no room service, no coffee…and over double the price plus a $300 cleaning fee and the place wasn’t even clean! I cleaned it before we left because I couldn’t stand to leave it that way, and we didn’t get back a dime. Total waste of over $1000 (just our half); I will never, ever do that again.

[@BrianandCarrie]

What a horrible experience 😞

[@12567NoYouCannot]

You know what, Just take An electrical Burner in your luggage and Some Bread, Pasta, and Ramen with You, and use it at a hotel Room.

[@candid9100]

When I’m on vacation, the last thing I want to deal with is worrying about whether something is broken or leaving it spotless - that throws the R&R right out the window!

[@neleig]

I totally agree with you on all of these issues. Greed ruins everything! We’ve gone back to hotels.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!!

[@JRspeaking]

Yeah, because big hotel chains aren't in it for the money. Oh, please.

[@eileenwatt8283]

​@@JRspeaking you don't have to do house keeping. They aren't grading their clients. They have room services. They serve breakfast.

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

​@JRspeaking hotels offer rewards and outstanding service. And no worries for a charge for damages later that you did not create. Also they have pools and breakfast and matinance staff 😊 another perk points for a new cc for several free nights.

[@rbnhd1144]

Air Bnb have zero risk, I see them and uber as one of the same, its a modern day slavery as I see it. The people who run these apps are laughing.

[@Lateawake1000]

Thanks for this! You made some really valid points. I will say that I cleaned an Airbnb for seven years and couldn’t believe how discussing people could be. Sometimes the cleaning fee wasn’t enough.

[@sbkpilot1]

the biggest negative about Airbnb is that they don't require the host do a walkthrough at checkout and file any issues right there in your Prescence. That would alleviate a lot of the issues. After you have left, it's simply your word against theirs and 60 days is a ridiculous timeframe to allow a host to file anything, it should've been more like 24 hours. It almost seems like Airbnb is anti customer and all about taking care of the host and it is exactly the opposite of how it should be.

[@msjannd4]

Exactly!

[@LauraSmith-rs8yq]

Seems like AirBNB would do a check in and a check out walk through.... even if it is an online format for when you get there. A checklist for the renter to go through with the ability to take photos and paste. Make it a requirement within a specified timeframe. Have the exit checklist also be within a specified amount of time before checkout time.

[@anna_m59]

Airbn has no costumer service.. they are representative reading a manuscript over and over without actually listen to the caller..

[@robertmcfarlane4151]

@@LauraSmith-rs8yq Makes sense to treat it like a rental car. A thorough pre-use inspection with pics taken of the entire vehicle. Then also do the same upon return. Note that European rental car agencies can charge exhorbitant costs for their perceived issues (like damage to tires)

[@kenctravels]

@@robertmcfarlane4151this is what I always do with rental cars. I will now start doing it with my occasional AirBnB stays.

[@pdxbeaver]

Stayed in an airbnb, and the placed was broken into while I was away. It was an absolute nightmare dealing with the host (who blamed me) and poor airbnb service. I try to avoid airbnb as much as possible. As you said, zero trust with them

[@BrianandCarrie]

So frustrating, and what a way to ruin your time.

[@kimberlymartin6486]

Same thing happened to my daughter. Her Airbnb was broken into and everything was stolen. The host and Airbnb could have cared less.

[@mauimixer6040]

Are you sure it wasn't the owner, and with a hidden camera or alert system, knowing all your movement? I've been hearing more about hidden tiny cameras !

[@johnfisher3929]

Thanks!

[@johnfisher3929]

This was a brave video for you to have made. I agree with everything you said. Thank you.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, John! We appreciate the support!! 😀 Cheers!!

[@dorothymoller566]

I’m so impressed by you guys mentioning the negative impact of short term rentals. It’s a huge problem that doesn’t get discussed enough and has a massive impact on the cost of living in many communities - like the one I’m in right now. Kudos to you for highlighting it. 👏

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! It's a real issue and something we've heard from locals about. Thankfully more countries are putting restrictions on short term rentals

[@catkin-z8g]

Do you have any sort of scientific paper or evidence or are you just repeating something you heard? I don't see why short term renters should have lesser right to accommodation options. Local people also need short term rentals on occasion like perhaps they are getting divorced after an abusive relationship or there is no water in their existing home or they are new to a town etc. Short term rentals are very important to have available for everyone's benefit. Nobody would suggest students should stay in hotels or universities should be shut down because they are taking housing away from locals.

[@BrianandCarrie]

First, there is no science involved here; second, you are missing the point entirely. Apartments meant for living are being turned into short-term vacation rentals, thus, leaving less housing for locals. Countries like Turkiye are starting to ban rentals under 100 days.

[@catkin-z8g]

@@BrianandCarrie What I am trying to convey is whether there has been a detailed analysis into the pros and cons. Whether other factors are being looked at or whether short term rental are unfairly being blamed for a whole variety of other factors. There are politicians who have been known to say similar things about migrants taking away jobs. However if there is more people there will be more jobs to do so the argument is not really valid. There might be other issues they do not want to go into. There may be ulterior motives and a desire for a simple political statement. I am not defending Airbnb. Indeed I think it is strange they have done little to counter these arguments like maybe they are willing pawns. Is there for example any evidence of improved availability in affordable housing where short term rentals have been withdrawn or have the prices continued to increase regardless? If it were a valid argument we could expect a dramatic drop in prices. Local people will themselves be restricted from travel if these arguments are used elsewhere to restrict their mobility.

[@steven_dekok]

We refuse to use AirBnb. If it's a new place we've never been to, we either stay in a known hotel or we ask around for local recommendations. As a real estate broker, my network is very large so I typically reach out to a local agent, both national and international, and have ask them for a recommendation. For example, we are headed to Belize early next year so I reached out to a local agent for recommendations for a place to stay. In return, we usually take them out for dinner one of the nights when we are there. Every agent/broker loves to talk local real estate!

[@DestinationRetirement]

RE: Pay on arrival. I totally get it. For repeat guests direct booking I offer that. Air bnb does not allow me to do that. I do have the least restrictive the option for cancelations, which has bit me in the butt occasionally. Mérida Mexico is very seasonal. December is an important month for me and last December a guest canceled last minute. She got a refund and I was not able to book that week. I'd still rather be a generous host but sometimes it hurts a bit. A lot of my business is moving to direct booking for repeat guests and because we trust each other, they pay at the start of their trip. (Some pay ahead because they want to, but for the trusted repeats, it is up to them).

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sounds like you have great place! Having return guests speaks volumes on your place as well as you as a host ❤️

[@markeaston7353]

Awesome stuff thanks guys. After years of using Air B&B we blew them away a couple of years back after the pricing became uncompetitive and it was turning out to be too much of a headache.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@shannonmann5501]

We had a similar situation in Praia da Luz Portugal. He lied repeatedly to Airbnb but thankfully we had pictures. The stress was off the charts for me. I know what you are talking about Carrie!

[@sbkpilot1]

I think taking pictures of any and all damage upon entering the property, then sending them as attachments via platform messaging is the best way to protect yourself. Send them to the host and tell them that you observed the following damage and want to bring it to their attention, that way Airbnb has a record as well. This will probably prevent most misunderstandings later and also discourage the host from trying to pull off any scams.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sorry you had a bad experience as well. The stress and anxiety aren't worth it for me.

[@rosemaryfreitas7656]

I lived in Portugal for 6 years. I found the Portuguese to be a bit dishonest in general.

[@lily_m3538]

name the place.

[@shannonmann5501]

@@rosemaryfreitas7656 He wasn't Portuguese, he is German

[@patticulver]

I can tell this is a terribly emotional issue, and I don’t blame you! You were treated abysmally, and now I’m positive I no longer want to use Airbnb. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Blessings!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Patti. ❤️

[@SouthernSon4221]

Bravo for having the courage to produce such an honest and helpful video. Aussie couple here, retired early 3 years ago to travel the world. In the post-Covid era, travel has certainly become a lot more expensive and difficult. Your poor experiences with Air BnB are reflective of this, and we appreciate you sharing them. In our experience, there are no accomodation alternatives without their own sets of issues, but please don't give up on your travel dreams yet. We are big fans of what you do, and particularly appreciate your considered, balanced and honest reviews. Most travel reviews these days are so gushingly positive and unbalanced to the point that they are misleading. From individual Air BnB reviews to destination travel videos, negative reviews are a rarity these days. There is so much spin, puffery and lies by omission. You guys are a beacon of light in an ocean of misinformation. So keep up the great work, ignore the haters, and keep on keeping it real!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for the kind words and support! We have no plans of ending our travels anytime soon, we promise you that. We've always aimed to be balanced and fair in our opinions, even though it sometimes opens us up to ridicule. We're no different from you and the rest of our community-we believe we're all in this together. We'll never recommend a product or destination that we didn't truly enjoy ourselves. Cheers to keeping it real!!! 😁🍻

[@lakelvp]

I've stopped looking at all positive reviews. I think the era of relentless positivity has made reviews largely useless. Millions of people bought short term rentals they cannot afford or manage sustainably based on marketing during the free money years and will be selling them soon because they cannot charge sky high rates now that there is so much competition.

[@catkin-v4q]

@@lakelvp i think there is some secret network like they get discounts or maybe help out a friend by putting all these good reviews up.

[@12567NoYouCannot]

@@BrianandCarrie; Always Take an Electrical Burner in your luggage and an Electricity Converter for the different countries You Visit; and make yourselves a Nice Spaghetti Meal or Easy meals inside the hotel Rooms when you have to Stay in One. The Other Options Are Buying FOOD at the local Supermarkets and making Sandwiches and Juice & Beers inside the Hotel Rooms.

[@jessicadarsey7956]

We had two nightmare Airbnb stays and haven’t used it since. We had used it for years but finding out how Airbnb doesn’t help and you feel totally at risk is just too scary. We had a very similar experience to you guys and so I know just how awful it can be dealing with it. Excited to watch the video because for now we are just using hotels that way if something breaks, it’s dirty and is reliable then they are right there to address it. Bummer that Airbnb doesn’t seem to care about guests any longer.

[@jeffrey7830]

We did AirBnB a few years ago on a trip to London. NEVER again! I don't even bother looking at options when traveling. We are now dedicated IHG, Marriott, or Hilton stayers. We have Diamond status on IHG and Hilton which, overseas, almost guarantees suite upgrades and numerous other perks...breakfast, maid service, gym, you name it. Then there's the free stays we get using points. We traveled back to the UK and stayed free for a month with the exception of one location with none of the major brands. Our upcoming trip to SE Asia for a month is also all free thanks to points!

[@njoynature123]

Do you use the Hilton, Marriott Credit Card? We use Chase and have Chase Points, but the hotels say we can't get Marriot points as well. How did you get so many points?

[@jeffrey7830]

@@njoynature123 we use the hotel cards. Our primary card is chase IHG. We find you get more value with IHG. We easily spend over $40k a year and get automatic diamond status. We use the Hilton and Marriott cards only when booking at those hotels.

[@michelepatterson51]

This is so scary to hear. My husband, of 34 years and myself are renting 2 air b & b’s for the entire Winter in Southern Florida for the small price of $8,000 a month, for a double wide trailer on stilts, with a dock (no pool). We had a 40’ diesel pusher RV, my husband was diagnosed with incurable cancer in May 2022 and the RV was getting to be too much. Safe travels.

[@ernielascelles2831]

Thank you for this informative video. It reflects our experience with Airbnb and our decision to no longer use them. They clearly do not vet their locations or hosts and the reviews are often unreliable.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@shelleypaulsonphotography]

I admit I had a terrible experience in January and was afraid to leave a bad review because the host was very aggressive toward me during the whole ordeal. I didn't want them to retaliate, and I was just so over the situation. My recent experiences, plus your story and others I've heard recently, have made me decide Airbnb is not for me anymore. It is sad because it used to be a great option for a frequent traveler.

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is sad, it has been our go to. But there should never be a fear of leaving a truthful review.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Why would you not leave an honest review to warn other guests? I would also engage Airbnb support. No host should act aggressively toward you and especially if you're being respectful toward them.

[@lily_m3538]

You should name the place. Other guests could be at risk.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Ours was in Chania, Greece. For potential legal reason we won't disclose the exact location or the host.

[@shelleypaulsonphotography]

@@jackbaldwin3649 I ended up in the hospital near the end of my stay (out of town) and just decided the extra stress of dealing with Airbnb and possible host retaliation wasn't worth it.

[@amvandenbosch4843]

Thank you for this information! I am a woman alone and I never stayed with airbnb and I never will after this information.

[@reginaobrien8983]

Agreed! I have thought about it, but now will never do it. As a solo traveler I would not be able to take all this stress.

[@micheleparadis2808]

@@reginaobrien8983 Same

[@ParisianThinker]

Thank you Carrie for relating your experiences. I won't be staying in airbnb either.

[@lbunnygordon1133]

I looked at solo prices and stayed in hostel dorm rooms after reading some scary stories

[@tomdemeo2708]

I have stayed in over 39 and never had a problem. It’s a fantastic option over hotels. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water

[@itsthewinetalkin]

This is a great video. My wife and I have been following your lead and slow traveling in Europe now for two months now and have airbnb's booked out for the next 9 months or so. Do you know by any chance if there are any insurance companies that are offering policies to cover you for disputes like you have encountered? Like when you buy car insurance from a rental car company? I'm surprised insurance carriers aren't all over this, honestly.

[@BrianandCarrie]

I'm not aware of any insurance companies that cover this, but would imagine an umbrella policy may be a good option possibly. Happy continued travels 😊

[@papadougpapadougsadventures]

Over the last 5 years I have used AirBnB for most of my stays. I average 1-3 months a year. I have had great experiences in all cases. This has been in SE Asia, Belize, New Orleans, Maui etc. I’m sure there are the issues you’ve stated with unscrupulous owners but my experience to date has been overwhelmingly positive. I did notice, on a recent trip to Dumaguete in the Philippines, that the airbnb price that was $74 a night for a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo on the beach could have been had for less on another platform.

[@Mr.DJones]

IMO, it is a regional problem. In some regions of the world, more people are dishonest and only think about money.

[@catthecruisebrat3499]

Fortunately I have had the same experiences as you and have established ongoing relationships with hosts in many states and countries.

[@AventuraAnne]

Thank you this is such an informative video. I'm definitely contemplating the use of AirBnb now. However, I've been on Trusted Housesitters for a year. My first experience was a disaster. I knew the area, the home was an $800k home, but when I arrived no one had cleaned for months (years?), the interior of the house was not represented in the pics, and it went downhill from there. Please be sure to read the reviews before applying for sits (there wasn't a negative one for this home).

[@BrianandCarrie]

That's so sad. Reviews are key, but just like many sites I question trusting them now. Seems to be a risk with everything anymore.

[@Julie-ys2tk]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve heard similar experiences from others, and this video tipped the scale and I will no longer use short-term rentals. FWIW, I was an Airbnb just prior to COVID, and stopped due to all the damage caused by renters…and there was A LOT. I see both perspectives, and suspect this is a business best left to hotels, etc.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, negatives for both sides for sure. I'm sure there are plenty of bad renters out there as well 😞.

[@2tzus]

We've been trying to figure out how reviews are removed from airbnb after being skeptical of only 5-star reviews or only 5-star reviews but one from a year ago, the next one 2 years ago, etc. None of that makes sense. I asked a friend who's new to being an airbnb host and she said she isn't aware of the host being able to remove (bad) reviews. On one of our last stays, I left a 4-star review (because we trust reviews to make our choices) and the host texted me privately and asked why I didn't give her 5 stars?! Our other main issue with airbnb is as you said, you trust the pictures, then when you arrive it's not nearly as nice. We now know pictures can be very well done and very flattering for a less than positive reality. So disappointing.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Ours was removed because Airbnb said that it was retaliatory. Retaliatory to what? 🤔

[@ross-smithfamily6317]

We made reservations through AirBnB for my husband and I to attend (just us 2) our daughter's graduation at her university in May 2023. Then, less than a week prior to graduation ceremonies, AirBnB allowed not just the first host but the second host to cancel our reservations for that weekend. We were literally left with one decent option after scrambling to re-book. It was a family hosted AirBnB suite that turned out to be lovely, but NO THANKS to AirBnB or their policy that allows hosts to cancel reservations without a good reason.

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is amazing to me the number of hosts that have commentated on this video that say cancelations rarely happen. It undaughterly happens more than you may think!! Sorry for your unfortunate experience. 😔

[@hatalatesting6476]

I LOVE meeting the host! In my experience, those are the best places because they're committed to one or a few rentals, and want to give you information about the place, the town, etc. I used aparthotels for years before Airbnb for the same reason - I want to make my own food in my own kitchen and wash my clothes at "home." My issue with them is that they're sterile and all the same. All the people who live in them are fellow short-term stays and know little to nothing about the town. I've also had issues with Airbnb, but they're usually unique to each place. In my summer travels, I usually rotate among a number of cities, but when I KNOW I like a city, I rotate between Airbnbs. For example, since you're in Budapest, I will get a place by Margarite Island, then one by the Opera house, then a place in Pest by the park for two weeks each. You can live anywhere for that time, and you learn who to trust, what you like, etc. So when you return, you stay with those hosts in those neighborhoods. I've found that the hosts like that too, because they know you're not going to wreck their place, and they're happy to have the repeat/return business. As a repeat customer, I get invited to stuff all the time too - "We're going to the country to pick cherries!" "Come to our concert!" - it's a wonderful way to meet people. One last shout out to Brian for wearing a Lacoste shirt - the international logo of quiet wealth - the service improves wherever you wear it, and you don't stand out as an American.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great post!! We are staying between the Opera House and the park in Pest. Amazing city!! Thank you for noticing my new shirt!!! 😁 Cheers!!🍻

[@densnow4816]

My family spent 1 night in North Carolina hotel during family road-trip, arriving late and departing early. Month later had $900 charge on credit card; hotel claimed we “broke the tv” we never used or even noticed. Took months of fighting with hotel and credit card before charge was dropped. That can happen anywhere.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. That's so frustrating to hear.

[@brianne1547]

they should do a walk thru to see any damage

[@dashazimcneal9543]

Thank you very much for sharing!

[@mariasfeir-iy5jw]

Dear Brian and Carrie, we really appreciate you comments on this isue, we had a similar experience a month ago in Montreal, after paying a lot of money for a month and a half rent on an apartment, and finding out the place was extremely filthy. The dishwasher had a horrible smell, the washing machine was full of mold and hair and it was blocked so we had to spend a few hours cleaning before we ecould use it, hairs and dust under the mattresses, there was no shovel in sight after haavy snow so we had problems reaching our car in the parking lot which was never cleared during the whole time we stayed there. When we called the owner she claimed that the place had been closed for a year thus the bad smell and other things,on top of every thing we had to change the batteries of the fire alarms in all the house because they were Making noises all the time and at the end we decided to hire someone to clean twice during our stay. Thank you for suggesting we should not complain to Airbnb for it will not solve anything and our complaint will go anunswered.

[@helenhall3705]

It’s easier to get to be a superhost than you might think. One of the criteria is the # of bookings in a certain period. It’s easy to get friends to make a booking, pay & leave a review then refund the $. How do I know? I have a relative who is an ABnB superhost.

[@DeboraVMiranda]

Not true: for me very hard work.

[@molee727]

I don't think that's true, and the host would still be losing money as they'd have to refund the AirBnB fee that the renters pay, plus they have a pay a fee to AirBnB out of the money they get, too.

[@DestinationRetirement]

Love your content! I own two airbnb's in Mérida Mexico and I have just started a direct booking website for the benefit of the guest. Once I really understood the extra costs to the guests I decided to offer direct booking. It is unfortunate how many people jumped on the bandwagon of short term rentals that are basically slum lords. Like you said there are so many great hosts (like me:) out there. I love hosting and drilling down on my guests desires out of their experience. For me it is such a pleasure. Let me know if Mérida is on your list. My houses are in the historic centro.

[@LauraSmith-rs8yq]

And unfortunately, the bad hosts are going to greatly affect the good/great hosts. I am so sorry. What type of platform do you use for your direct booking service?

[@flutingaround]

Love Merida! Can I get your contact info?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We will absolutely be heading that way late 2025 😊

[@DestinationRetirement]

@@LauraSmith-rs8yq Hi Laura, I was going to use one of the big direct booking sites but those are really built for people with tons of properties. I am a small operation so I decided to start my own website called amyscasa . The ability to direct book will be up and running in August. it is still a work in progress. I am super happy with the site. Creating my own site was spendy but I'd rater support my IT friend than pay the big boys. :)

[@DestinationRetirement]

@@susanaescriba977 I am a US citizen born and raised in Oregon. I spent 3 years in Mexico in the early 90's and it was life changing for me. I developed a deep love of the country. I speak Spanish and I will be immigrating to MX very soon!!!

[@HelenFaber7]

I feel for you guys. Hang in there. My husband & I were early adopters of AirBnB. We have booked stays in numerous countries around the world. All the issues you shared, we have also experienced (except having a claim filed against us). The standards have dropped over time (IMO). We are also looking for alternatives for our long term travels.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Helen! ❤️

[@mariagillinson8527]

Week before I booked an apartment is Istanbul and my brother was my guess the host got mad said he wasn’t comfortable and cancelled. Again scampered to find another place. Airbnb did help find another place. But they said would give me 20% on the next one but then I asked Airbnb for it and they said no …

[@LilyandMe.]

As both an Airbnb host and guest, I e always had great experiences as a guest and bad experiences as a host. Guests leave a place in a disgusting state, break things, violate rules, then make false claims to get a refund. I've had people check in and leave after one hour because they wanted a quickie (underwear under the coffee table is a bit of a giveaway) or to use all the showers and towels and fill up trash cans with bags of dirty diapers and days of personal garbage...just to clean up and leave it all at my home and get back on the road with a refund request. The charges people see that have increased are entirely airbnbs fault, as hosts get a much smaller percentage than you think of the total. I've always charged exactly what the cleaning fee costs me, but even the cleaners ask exorbitant prices. The only way to protect yourself on either side is take lots of photos. Those who are scamming (guests or hosts) rarely have pictures to back up their claims. Another aspect is rental arbitrage and corporate ownership hosting dozens or even hundreds of properties...making a bad name for actual home owners who provide good service.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are certain that it goes both ways, Lily. We can assure you that we are not those guests. There are amazing owners and hosts but there are others who ruin the platform for the rest of you. This host in Chania, Greece had several rentals he managed but didn't own any of them. Thank you for watching and adding your perspective. You sound like one of the many good ones. ❤️

[@ks5924]

I concur with this! I experience this allllll the time. People forget they are staying in someone’s home. So things might not be absolutely perfect. And then they complain about it to try to get a free stay. Or they trash the house and when you call them on it you get a one star review and a chargeback. So frustrating. And forget the cleaners. They all want $50 an hour to clean. It’s wild.

[@somchai9033]

Thanks for doing this. This needed to be said. I dropped ABNB 3 years ago after too many bad experiences.

[@thedavidguy01]

I guess we’ve been lucky because my wife and I have been using AirBnb for many trips over the past 8 years with no bad experiences at all. In fact, we’ve had a lot of great experiences. The only downside has been the significant increase in prices during the last couple years, but hotel prices have also increased dramatically. However, your experience is giving me pause. I’m going to have to think about our next trip.

[@SprinkleTwinkle007]

Great video. Sorry about the negative AirBnB experience. I've been doing Trusted Housesitters for the past year and can't say enough good things about it. It's a win-win situation for the sitter and pet owner. Best of luck with it!

[@LauraSmith-rs8yq]

DO you have much success getting international sits? Several years ago, my husband and I tried to get international sits with ZERO luck. We had one sit within the USA and it was a great experience, but we got total crickets trying to get a sit internationally.

[@BoninBrighton]

@@LauraSmith-rs8yqyou need to build a string of 5* reviews from doing local sits before applying for international sits. You also need a top notch profile to compete with other sitters.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much. We've had great experience as well. We look forward to looking for more sits around the world.

[@laurencurnutte1078]

My husband I used to have Airbnb’s and also utilize them. We found the fees to be really excessive and I entirely agree with you on the review systems. We stopped using Airbnb’s two years ago and stopped renting at the same time. We rented a place in Oregon that had 3 pages of required steps for the clean up before leaving and we paid a $250 cleaning fee! The claim process of Airbnb is just a joke!

[@BrianandCarrie]

So, you go on vacation and still have to worry about cleaning something that you paid to have cleaned. We get that the cleaning service needs to come in and clean, but shouldn't that come from the owner? And why $250? If a cleaning service comes in and cleans up after you already have how long could it take?

[@kerrikirshner]

I wouldn't stay at a place where I have to clean, and pay a cleaning fee.....especially on vacation!

[@RoxanaBowgen]

Wow, this is one of the most valuable videos I've seen! It's like you knew exactly what we were going through. We've been in some of those situations you described, and now we know what to avoid. Coincidentally, just yesterday I was planning our next trip (before even seeing your video) and came to the same conclusion - apartment-hotels or housesitting might be the best option for us, for all the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for your transparency! It's clear you have no hidden agenda and just want to help people. This video was fantastic, and I'll definitely be checking out more of your content.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you again, Roxana for the comments. We feel that we are very transparent and that we are all in this together!! 😊

[@tracyross7191]

I would just like to say first that I LOVE chocolate covered cherries!😊 But in all seriousness, you two are the third KZbin travel couple that I watch religiously that have left ABB due to problems with just these issues. After watching the first two couples leave I started doubting whether or not I ever wanted to book with ABB and looked into different options. I have used real estate agents for my past two long term stays and have loved the experience. Both agents took me on a virtual tour of the potential properties, listed the pros and cons, gave me street views of the properties and one even went so far as to take me virtual grocery shopping with her so that I could see what was available there. Now that you two have left, and with good reason, I will never book through ABB. I hope ABB realizes the power, for lack of a better word, that influencers such as yourselves have and do something to rectify a very broken system. Great video and thank you for such a candid open and honest review! Cheers!

[@radhikanarain5861]

My husband & I have been watching your videos, so thank you. We have been members of Trusted Housesitters for 3 years and have done sits in the US and Portugal (Algarves) and have had people sit for us. We had a bad experience with housesitting in Portugal despite the fact we had done Zoom calls. Having said that, we have had great experiences and we enjoy animals. We are not full-time travelers, so we are also able to use Home Exchange as another option because THS is not present in South America. We have not done AirBNB for a long time, but we found this video useful as we plan future trips where THS or Home Exchange is not available.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are sure that whatever platform we use there will be issues. There is no perfect solution, but we do know that Airbnb isn't what it used to be. Thank you for watching and commenting!! We appreciate the support and safe travels! 😊

[@steve-lq2nx]

I am a full time international traveler for four years. I swore off AirBnb about a year ago for many of the same things you are talking about. The trouble is, other platforms, like Agoda, are using the Air model and I've started seeing some of the same things because they are the same owners. Fees, terrible properties, and a completely useless review system make this my last choice when I am staying. Huge opening for someone that wants to operate a similar concept but do it right,

[@molee727]

Just a note on reviews, it's also a problem for hosts when guests will demand refunds (over bogus/untrue claims) and threaten bad reviews. You can be removed off the platform if your rental drops below a certain rating, and sometimes this is due to guests being vindictive because they didn't get a refund they demand. Guests will bring in dead bugs and make up lies, too. It goes both ways. It's a difficult issue to solve, but I hope someone comes up with a solution to protect both the hosts (who have their properties that they've put a lot of money into) and the guests (who are paying a lot of a good holiday) from the lying and scammers out there. It's frustrating, 100%.

[@catkin-v4q]

i did hear there was these roof tents you could put on top of a car. not for me since i don't drive but if it increases capacity it is good for everyone.

[@pcabraham2580]

Singapore, where I stay, has essentially banned AirBnb. There is a minimum rental period of three months which effectively acts like a ban. I primarily use hotels and guest-houses when I travel. I have used AirBnb as well, but not often.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, many areas are starting to go to this. Turkiye just started this as well.

[@markreid7]

I guess the biggest question on house sitting is how long can you leave house and pets to go sight seeing, etc

[@BrianandCarrie]

Each place is different and most list that in their expectations. We find it is plenty of time to site see during.

[@simplylive2466]

It depends on the pet. Some people just want you home in the evenings. Cats are often easy. Dogs can need you to walk them up to 4times per day; and also check none have health issues you have to be there to care for them, and/or are comfortable giving strange dogs tablets etc

[@Anna-4001]

Agree. I would hate having such a heavy responsibility.

[@sf3413]

We have heard your complaints from several travelers. We had our own bad experience that ended our use of ABB. If you are up for longer stays in one place, you can start at a hotel, then talk with a realtor to find a flat for a 2-3 month stay. That may be too long for what you're looking for though. I love the house sitting idea!

[@anitamendez116]

I am so sorry you had a really bad Airbnb experience. Thank you for the information. I have been using Airbnb for about 8 years and never experienced what the two of you experienced. In the 8 years, I only had 2 experiences where there was a problem, 1 was with construction next door, but the buildings were connected so the construction was 2 feet from my ears and another was bed bugs. Both situations were resolved by the Host acknowledging the problem with concern and Airbnb refunding my money. Like I mentioned in your last video about your Airbnb problem, I had a nightmare rental problem (that is still not resolved) with a referral from a “Friend”. So I understand the “Bad Taste” that is left behind.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you ❤️. Hope your situation gets resolved soon.

[@anitamendez116]

@@BrianandCarrie Thank you, but when you’re dealing with selfish, dishonest and uncaring people, I don’t think it will be resolved monetarily, however, I do believe it will be resolved spiritually. God don’t like Ugly!

[@SuzanneBailey-i3z]

Stopped using air BnB about 2 years ago due to how the handle a host cancelling booking two weeks before we arrived in Copenhagen. Accom was peak season and the response of oh well find you another place - but the only places available at that price was miles away from where we originally booked. Terrible service from air BnB so never again. I use private accom now through booking or Expedia or any of those sites and not experienced same issue

[@wandadabrowski8745]

Thanks for the advice and sharing with us. After some unpleasant experiences, I’ve leaned back to hotels, in particular family-run or boutique where there is more evidence of caring.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is a great idea! Something we will be doing more of in the future. Thank you for watching!! 😊

[@shmokler]

תודה!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for the support!! We appreciate you!! ❤

[@1965stockport]

Would love to see Air bnb introducing a "pay the difference " when a host cancels. They need to be transparent also, with hosts trying to charge guests for items.

[@elizabethbarrett5303]

I’m looking forward to watching your video on house sitting. What I would have done to get good, responsible, people to take care of my pets years ago would have been wonderful. I had some bad experiences with people who partied and house sat for me. My sister travels all the time for work and she currently has a great girl who house sits for her 3 dogs and 2 cats, but finding trustworthy people is hard. What type of things do you provide as a housesitter? Cleaning, pet care, yard maintenance? Your videos are so helpful!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We use Trustedhousesitter and they have a process for both the owner and the guest to qualify. House sits usually just require pet care. The site that we use also has insurance for both parties.

[@Wado1776]

Thanks for honest feedback on your Airbnb experience. We have been FT traveling for 5 years and I can say that all travel costs have been increasing rapidly in the past year. Maybe you have already planned your Mexico trip but here are the stops during our 6 month stay... Merida San Cristobal Puebla Guanajuato San miguel de allende Mexico City We started in December in Merida and then worked our way to Mexico City traveling from city to city by bus. Don't be afraid of the first class buses, they are great and affordable. I highly recommend visiting San Cristobal - take the local tours to beautiful scenery and culture. We also were surprised by how much we enjoyed Mexico City. If you want any further assistance, feel free to let me know. Safe travels!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! We will be in Oaxaca, Mexico City, Guanajuato, and San Miguel for sure but will be filling a gap or two along the way. Thanks again!!!

[@Jorge-e4c2l]

Thank you for your recommendations. I've just finished my second visit into Mexico. First visit was to Tampico and Veracruz last November-December. And to Merida this past May-June to experience the heat in Merida, Yucatan. 🥵😂

[@Wado1776]

Luckily we did Merida in December. We spent two months in Merida and loved exploring the Yucatan especially all the ruins and cenotes.

[@hbruno8128]

Thanks so much for this information. I was looking to book an Airbnb for a Europe trip and something was telling me not to trust the reviews as well as the fees. Ill stick to hotels.

[@jamesleonard4713]

Every reason you brought up, is the reason I have avoided Airbnb for the last 10 years. I personally put my effort into maximizing my hotel reward points, in both collecting and using those points. I realize I might be able to save some money, but it only takes one bad stay to wipeout all that savings.

[@lisac9519]

Same for me. With all the fees, paying up front with risk of cancellation not worth it . I like a hotel with points where I know what I’m getting and able to pay upon checkout.

[@travelingthediaspora7996]

Can’t cook in a hotel unless you have a suite. Eating every meal out is expensive and unhealthy.

[@jamesleonard4713]

@@travelingthediaspora7996 They touched on it late in the video, but I do look for hotels that have a free breakfast or other meals /snacks. There are also certain chains that have suites with kitchens, that we try to take advantage of, along with just making a sandwich for some meals here and there. So, we have a budget we try to stick to and I agree, if you eat out every meal it can get expensive. If we are traveling for an extended time, we definitely don't eat out every meal and we take advantage of what the hotel is offering and our decision on where we stay, is based on the extended costs as well as the cost of the hotel.

[@Deborah986]

Hotels- don’t have hidden fees- it’s transparent - AirbnB is a huge rip-off

[@mukeedcoforstuff]

Extended stay hotels are perfect for long term stays. Got a place to cook, too

[@ERRNCJ]

We travel for months with our grown kids and have never had a big issue with airbnb. I am very picky about beds and cleanliness too. Thank you for yr honesty, you definitely bring up some good points. We haven't traveled in a year, sounds like things have gone downhill. Dissapointing!

[@capriciousjenn]

I made one reservation with them about a decade ago. We had a reservation in a major metro in the US near a conference center. The host canceled on us within 48 hours of travel due to ongoing construction. After many emails, the host manager finally returned our cleaning fee but we never received our deposit back from AirB despite the other party canceling. Due to the conference a member of our party was attending, we ultimately had to pay 300% more for two rooms and had to book those rooms at two separate locations. It was a one and done for us. NEVER again

[@BrianandCarrie]

It only takes one bad experience. We have stayed in over 40 in the last three years and many have been good, some just ok. The last few have been bad and seems to be getting worse when you figure in how much we are now paying. Thank you for watching and adding to the conversation, Jenn! ❤️

[@debbiefisher8596]

I can’t believe your deposit wasn’t refunded! Awful

[@kerrikirshner]

I've been a SuperHost for the past 11 years. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that it's a bit concerning to leave a review for a bad guest, because they KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE! So, I usually end up not leaving any review on them at all. I don't want to deal with any retaliation!

[@ErikStone-z6m]

In our county, 10% of all homes are now short-term rentals. Rents have skyrocketed. And the smallest most affordable units are simply not available to purchase any more because it's a strong short-term rental model for return on investment.

[@jpshaul2636]

Had BS claim against us for a broken bathroom cabinet. Complete replacement for $400. Air BnB's response was "do you have any proof it WASN'T broken? Absent that, they charged our card for the owner's home improvement. Now I take 20 pictures upon leaving. Cleaning fees in US are a joke.

[@travelingthediaspora7996]

Did you challenge the charge with your credit card company?

[@BrianandCarrie]

How angering....sad we have to document everything to protect ourselves.

[@MamaZimmerman-m2n]

I had a claim against me saying I broke a large glass bowl that was a part of a set. We didn’t even use the kitchen! I had to pay $40. Karma lady

[@michellestevens2454]

It is usually cheaper and cleaner in the US to rent a hotel.

[@dashazimcneal9543]

Thank you for sharing, it is very good to know!

[@Vianahome]

I agree with you. We tried renting a place in Ft. Myers and the cleaning fee for 2 days was 595.00! I thought it was a mistake.. but we decided not to go.

[@BrianandCarrie]

The hosts say that they don't make money off house cleaning! Well, someone is!!! Good God!! $600!?!

[@gmg6200]

Another option is to check out local real estate agents rental listings. These can sometimes be cheaper then Airbnb because of less service fees.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great to know, thanks for the tip 😊

[@stephanypanlilio2486]

Thank you so much for the information! We had terrible experience with a 5 star host. She charged us rediculous charges such as: $25 each dinning chair that was moved from dinning room to family room about 3 feet away. She ended up charging us $100s against our deposit. She basically threatened us and said she would leave a bad review about us (even though it was nicely left). We ended up just paying it and moving on. But still very bad taste.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Once you get a bad taste and lose trust in the platform it's hard to get it back.

[@GPosner8]

I’ve rented four airbnb units on my current trip and of those only one was good. My latest one has been a huge disappointment. I’m over airbnb rentals.

[@pjhosang2977]

I used to stay in Airbnb’s a lot on travels in Europe. When they started adding on so many fees, I just didn’t think it was worth it anymore. The last couple of trips have been in hotels or bed and breakfasts. With what you are going through, I think I made the right decision.

[@BunnyTheChi]

We were new to Airbnb and had travelled from Canada to London UK. The condo we rented was misrepresented. There was black mold in the washroom and to make matters worse we got a message from the host on the first day asking us to tell the concierge downstairs (that we had to pass by to get in or out) that we were his "friends" because he wasn't allowed via condo rules to run an Airbnb. The ad stated we would have the entire "unit" which we didn't because it wasn't a one bedroom, it was a two bedroom. All of their toiletries were in the bathroom and food in the refrigerator. We were afraid to contact Airbnb because we were overseas. We left, cleaned the unit, and the host left us a good review. We tried to get a portion of the Airbnb refunded. Airbnb told me initially "he's a Super Host"! They weren't helpful at all. It was our first Airbnb and it will be our last. Very unhelpful.

[@terrybogart589]

Youmshould.have told.the concierge on the way out. They're cheating on taxes, let alone whst their neighborsnpit up with.

[@AA-vs3ne]

Like others have said, concentrating on one hotel brand's loyalty program can really pay off - valuable room upgrades, free breakfast, lounge, happy hour, dinner, really adds up...certain places in Europe its like being at an all inclusive resort!

[@anderlmuc]

I live in Brasil for more than 15 years and I rent my apartments via Airbnb and booking to tourists. I never canceled a reservation because I respect my guests. But if I would cancel a reservation I would have to pay a fine to Airbnb and I would also become red flaged risking to be kicked out from the rental sistem. So, it is not true that there are no consequences canceling a reservation, on the contrary, the consequences are pretty harsh!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

If you read the many comments below you will find that cancelations happen all the time. Apparently, the consequences are not harsh enough.

[@telepathtee50]

Love the video ❤I had a similar experience with the induction stove 😢

[@LauraSmith-rs8yq]

I haven't seen this mentioned, but I'd like to offer up Hostels as an option. Many people cringe about the idea of staying in a hostel, but my husband and I (now in our 50s) continue to look for hostel options when we're traveling. You typically have access to a kitchen and supplies... and sometimes the hostels offer great amenities like access to cheap or free tours or other activities going on around the area. They can often arrange transportation for you. I also learned that making a little extra food and feeding the kid at the front desk a home made meal would often go a long way as well! When we were younger (in our 30-40s) we often stayed in dorm rooms and found that most places have pretty nice options for securing your luggage and valuables (lockers etc). As we've gotten older, we now most often look to book a private room in a hostel. We're still open to dorms now and ten, especially for just a night or two here and there, but we have also found private rooms in a hostel to be very good options. Plus, you get to meet other travelers and sometimes make great connections and friendships. We still keep in touch with people we met years ago in hostels and have net up with hostel friends at different points in our travels when we see that we're all going to be someplace at the same time. Or we stop and visit hostel friends when they are sitting still and we're passing through. An added bonus to getting a little older and still staying in hostels, and this has happened to us more than a couple of times. We book a couple of beds in a smaller dorm, show up, they look at us.... and they don't put anyone else in the room with us. That happened in Macedonia, Ecuador... and I'm certain at least a couple of other places. It made us feel weird at first but then we just accepted it as a kind of respectful thing being done for us. We typically do a combination of hostels, and 1 - 2 star hotels and more recently AirbNb. Depending on where you are traveling, one may be more available or more affordable. For instance, back many years ago, we found little 1 star hotels in France to be a better option, cost-wise, and stayed in various towns and cities that way. The downside was not having a kitchen. However, in Paris... we actually asked the patron if we could use the kitchen a couple of times and they were gracious and let us do minor things like heating things up or boiling water. We've also been known to travel with backpacking stove and pot set. This saved us so much money in places like Switzerland. It let us stay in accomodations without kitchens and still cook for ourselves. We carried a small set up when walking El Camino in Spain as well because oddly enough, not all of the kitchens in the Albergues (Pilgrim hostels) had pots, pans & utensils. The down side to this approach is that anytime you get on a plane, you have to ditch the fuel... and if you're going to a country with a different fuel type, you may have to get a different stove set up. There are some backpacking stoves that are multi-fuel. Although we now prefer the simplistic canister set up. Anyway, we are definitely shoestring budget travelers so our style may not be for everyone.... but I would encourage consider adding hostels to your options, especially for shorter term stays. One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE perks of staying in a hostel is that you often get access to the FREE WALKING TOURS that many cities host (a tip-based pay system). If there is a free walking tour when we get somewhere, we try to go on that the 1st day or two that we are there. The guides are usually very knowledgable about the history and culture and it often lets us know the things we want to go back and see more of on our own. I'm sad about your AirBnB experience. Maybe you and others starting to speak up with make some change for the better. We've had some great stays but I can also see the potential for it being a horrible experience as well.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks for sharing the great tip... That is another option for sure. Cheers!!

[@Mr.DJones]

Many hostels have individual rooms you can rent. You don't have to stay with others. I've stayed at some good hostels, and I've stayed at some pretty dingy ones so it could be a crap shoot, just like Airbnb.

[@julieramsay8460]

Yes! Hostels can be a very affordable option over short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc). We recently spent a month travelling around Europe with our teenage daughter (we are in our 50’s), and found some great hostels with family rooms, so we had the room to ourselves and our own bathroom. They offered breakfast too, and some had a bar onsite - a nice option if hubby and I wanted some time to ourselves and enjoy a drink without having to leave the premises. We have also started pet sitting with THS, and our experience as hosts as well as sitters has been very good, so we look forward to doing more of this type of travel. Homes are well equipped and comfortable, and you get that personal touch from the host, sharing all the special things about their location, especially when they are expats living abroad. Great video Brian and Carrie, thank you for raising this important topic!

[@mukeedcoforstuff]

Yes, hostel is great for long term stay. Plus, if you book it on credit card travel portal, you can get up to 10x points multiplier per dollar spend. Perfect to rack up points for future free stays or flights

[@LauraSmith-rs8yq]

@@Mr.DJones that's where you have to research reviews. We typically use hostel world or hostel bookers. In the past this has served us well. We usually stick to the higher rated places.

[@trailslug893]

You guys hit the nail on the HEAD! I'm surprised AB&B is still in business with the ridiculousness of their charges and lack of control and false reviews.

[@mississippiapple1078]

Wow! You're the 3rd! Travel youtube channel that stopped airbnb

[@cindy-ml7vo]

NYC changed the airbnb rules that forced a decreased of legal places. Hosts are canceling last minute very often per a local area travel group.

[@JP7onEarth]

Please name the others that have stopped? Thanks

[@lilg2300]

@@JP7onEarth Retirement Travellers stopped using AirBnb 1 year ago.

[@dsr8223]

​@@JP7onEarth Retirement Travelers did a no more AirBnB video a few months ago.

[@msbeecee1]

I've seen a few anti-AirBnb videos by slow travelers, too...can't remember the channel names

[@katr5785]

Thank you for doing this video. I'm sorry for your bad experiences but appreciate your education for us. Things are so expensive now that we have to be careful. I started to make a reservation with VRBO for months later, decided within 24 hours that we changed our mind and were charged a $64 fee!! It's just too risky so we will not be booking through Airbnb or VRBO... ever.

[@mauimixer6040]

So happy you are realizing all the negative causes. There's plenty of boutique hotels and condos to rent. Yes, doing the right thing cost a little more. Being grateful for the ability just to travel at all, is to be considered.

[@lou-hj3mc]

HI Great review thank you, very clear and so helpful . Do you have to do a simultaneous house sit ? Can you house sit with out offering your own home ?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! So happy you found it helpful. We find sits for the dates we need and sometimes need to find other accommodations to fill in-between. You don't need to have a house to swap, this is simply a trade of services, you have accommodations in exchange for caring for pets and a home. Here is the site we go thru and are very happy with: trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/c/3563316/1555723/18144

[@natashayoung4807]

Thank you for this extremely valuable first-hand information! And I totally appreciate your honesty Carrie, about dealing with anxiety. That is a huge issue for alot of females. Great video

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@vullinghs2009]

Thanks for your video. You know that eg Barcelona will not allow any longer the number of apartments to be offered via eg AirBnB because housing is not available any more to local community.

[@Karen-ff4os]

You guys seem like respectful guests and this comment is not directed at you. As a permanent resident that lives in the USA next to an Airbnb...hosts need to be clear their guests respect the neighbors - keep the noise down. You don't have the right to make as much noise as you want...the police will be called. Be a respectful human when you are visiting. It just takes a couple "bad apples." This has been my experience with very badly behaved "guests" towards the neighbors disrupting an otherwise quiet neighborhood. 😮

[@BrianandCarrie]

This is becoming a big problem! Guests are a big part of this as well. I don't know how Airbnb can solve the issues but if they don't others will. Some countries have already ban short term rentals. Thank you, Karen for adding to the conversation!

[@jayclarke9546]

What makes me uncomfortable with Airbnb is the complaints about discovering inside the the space

[@Blue_Dun]

I could have written that comment. I live in the Monterey area so people come here for a bucket list golf trip to play Pebble Beach courses. A man bought a house behind us and remodeled it just to put it on VRBO. These entitled golfers, groups and families think they have the right to party until 1 or 2 in the morning. I'm a golfer so I get it, but they need to treat the situation like they were home and had good, repectful relations with their neighbors. One VRBO customer actually yelled over my neighbors fence and asked if he would stop mowing and edging his lawn! He works full time and Saturday is the only day he can do it. My word, are you serious?

[@kimberlymartin6486]

I agree. I'm pretty much over Airbnb. I've been canceled as well recently. And the service fees and cleaning fees are ridiculous.

[@davidchilton4301]

Another fine video. Up until now we haven't had a truly bad experience with AirBnB (and many good ones) but you're not the only ones sounding the alarm. We've had good luck with VRBO as well and they often require less up front than AirBnB and they are now part of the Expedia ecosystem so you earn a rebate with every stay. We have done a housesit as well and would consider it going forward. Like you, we're weighing our options.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you 😊. Yes, thankfully there are other options to weigh and find something that works better.

[@susanlombardo8444]

Without anyone saying anything to me. I Did exactly that. I took pictures along with a quick video. I would show them as well, exactly where the keys are on the kitchen table. I would even speak in the video. I just felt you never know. Doing a video makes me feel better, that I saw everything and didn’t leave anything behind!!

[@MrGearoid65]

OK,guys, I really appreciate this video. I did see the one regarding your previous issues with this host, so I appreciate your doing a follow-up. I'm very sorry you're having so much trouble when you did everything in good faith. I did a positive review of my Airbnb in Marseille in March because it was a good property but also because I realised the host wouldn't review ME until I gave him a positive review. It's a system I'm losing faith in. Hotels, while they can be expensive, are more accountable and do mostly have facilities like bars and restaurants in-house. I've never done house-sitting. I can imagine there must be a million pitfalls, especially pets and plants!!! Wishing you all the best in all your travel plans. From Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪. 😊

[@LauraSmith-rs8yq]

There should be a rebutal system available. If you give a good review and then a host blasts you for bogus things, you should be able to reply and refute falsities. :(

[@candygleason3333]

Excellent follow up and information. Thank you!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, we appreciate you watching 😊

[@katk7509]

As a host, I can't see a my guest's review until I post mine. I have recently stayed in a terrible Airbnb in Italy and the host appears to be able to remove every single bad review. The system is not working

[@JRspeaking]

The Host cannot see your review until they are both completed. So, there is ZERO possibility of them only reviewing you if yours was positive.

[@MeMyselfAndI7777]

I NEVER leave negative reviews because that will start a conversation for the world to see. There's nothing in it for me to leave a negative review, so I don't. Consequently now I know not to trust other reviews. Sad to say, but that is the reality we live in. You are so on point with all your comments. I would rather stay in a hotel now. I don't have to take out the garbage or clean it. Because I'M ON VACATION! And also, why am I paying that cleaning fee if I have to clean it?

[@rositahl]

Thank you so much for sharing. There are too many loose ends it appears. I don't want to come back home and find out later that there is a claim against me. It makes me feel uneasy just with the idea not having any type of control and being so vulnerable. I don't trust the review system either because if you leave a negative one so will they. They often ask you to let them know a different way if there was something bad which makes the review process pointless.

[@LauraSmith-rs8yq]

It really should be a "Blind" system for reviewing.... with a possible rebutal process. Getting a good review shouldn't REQUIRE you to expose your constructive criticism of your experience prior to being reviewed as a renter.

[@msbeecee1]

Yeah that's crazy that the review process isn't "blind." That's just common sense

[@zel29prentice]

This is a big eye opener. Thanks guys for the information. I deleted my air bnb app straight away after watching this videos. It’s so scary for budget travelers like me to have a surprise charges without money seating in my account to pay this surprises. I will just book a cheap hotels that have good reviews at least.

[@tammyvig8253]

On the flip side, hotels can have issues too. We recently stayed at Le Meridien (a Marriott property), and while our room, the hotel etc was fine, they were lacking staff and the staff that was there were very apathetic. Had to ask multiple times for things. Its not perfect at hotels either.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, there can always be issues unfortunately 😞

[@chasefasten4120]

Thanks for the heads up. I have a Airbnb reservation coming up and something strange was happening. I reserved and paid for a reservation that was subsequently cancelled. I ended up getting a reservation at a property marketed to me by Airbnb. The property is the same price for half the size.

[@kristinbaker5437]

Airbnb is the only 'afforable' way we can travel with our grown children because we need a bit more space and a kitchen. You are right though, the prices are definitely increasing!

[@lilg2300]

There used to be many other vacation flat-websites before Airbnb.

[@kristinbaker5437]

@@lilg2300yes!

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Don't be afraid to ask the host for a better deal! What's the worst that can happen..they say no and you move on.

[@grahamlawlor8361]

@@jackbaldwin3649 Never ask a host for a discount. It flags you as a "high maintenance" guest who is likely to complain, dispute, or give a bad review. Most hosts block anyone asking for a discount from ever renting, even at full price. I do.

[@Laura-kb5sr]

We've had the same thing (with our son and daughter, both in their early 20s)--we're trying an Aparthotel-type place.