QUITTING Airbnb? TOP SEARCH Strategies - Find the BEST Stay & What if Things Go Wrong.

[@donaldkinsey5245]

Here’s a step I do that I don’t think you mentioned. I go on “KZbin” and look at specific destination travel vlogs and best places to stay. Before I booked my Airbnb for Kuala Lumpur, I knew the neighborhood of “Bukit Bitang,” was where I wanted to stay. So I knew any place I picked in that area was going to work.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great suggestion! We do that as well as read blogs.

[@NewCastleIndiana]

All Airbnb, hotel, rooms, and even real estate listings like in Zillow should be mandated to show an accurate floor plan in my opinion

[@BrianandCarrie]

That would be SO incredibly helpful.. Great idea! I love when I see a listing that shows the floor plan, take the work out of me having to try to put pictures together into so kind of puzzle. Cheers 🍻

[@asianadventures960]

​@@BrianandCarrie😮😮😮😮 8:12

[@RobPittman]

Agoda does list the SF or SM info. That helps a lot!

[@PaulVega-y9v]

​@BrianandCarrie also what I do. Communication by whatsapp with a renter you previously used... you can sometimes get a substantial discount.

[@therealmountainmanmike]

Had a nightmare of a time with Airbnb last summer in Ireland. When we got to the place, it smelled strongly of mold. We opened some windows to try and air it out for an hour or so. It didn't help. We started feeling very sick. When we inspected closer to find out where the smell was coming from, we found black mold all over the place. It was filthy with trash as well. After finding all of that, we searched far and wide for another place. By that time, it was getting late. There was only one other room in the village available...for triple the price of the Airbnb. Being that we didn't have transportation to get to another village, we were desperate and had to book the super expensive place. We let the mold place host know that we had left and were looking for a refund due to health and safety concerns. She refused and made up lies about us saying we created the trash and filthiness. We appealed to Airbnb and won. Upon winning, the host within minutes filed a claim against us saying that we destroyed her property including tearing up the linoleum. She literally tore up her own linoleum and tried to make Airbnb force us to pay for replacement. Thankfully, we took pictures and video when we arrived and right before we left to document why we were leaving. With that, we were able to catch her in her lies. It took two weeks after getting home going back and forth with Airbnb building our case. It was a full-time job. We eventually won arbitration but it took years off my life...and we were still out the hundreds of dollars for the place we had to move to which completely blew our budget. With all of that, I'm not sure we'll ever use Airbnb again.

[@BrianandCarrie]

So sorry to hear about your horrible experience. That's one great note, be sure to take pictures of any issues on arrival. Happy to hear in the end you end up winning the battle, but what a mess to have to deal with. Not to mention that last min apartment for 3 times the price 😳.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

This scenario or something similar gives me pause about relying solely on Airbnb for budget travel. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm really sorry this happened to you. Had you used Airbnb a lot before this particular trip?

[@therealmountainmanmike]

@@jackbaldwin3649 We hadn't used Airbnb before the trip. We used it one other time on our trip and had a much better experience. Sadly, that first experience left a really bad taste in our mouths that followed us home to deal with for weeks afterwards. We used other methods of booking for the rest of our trip that worked out much better for the most part and would probably use those over Airbnb the next time we travel.

[@martinhuang1750]

Mind sharing the host and the location of it?

[@Mr.DJones]

@@martinhuang1750 They shouldn't share that info. For one thing, you are getting only one side of the story. When they said, "...we inspected closer to find out where...". Did they tear up some flooring? I've seen plenty of reviews where a little thing was wrong and the customer totally blew up the problem. 40 years of customer service.

[@m.devereaux9945]

One more comment which is hopefully helpful. We believe, as you guys pointed out, in the power of reviews. We rely heavily on reviews and are always looking for RECENT ones. In one Airbnb we stayed in we experienced several issues including food at the breakfast that was actually inedible (and we're adventurous eaters). We wrote a very objective review, included several positive comments and mentioned, with specifics, what guests would probably want to know about. The host wrote an extremely rude note to us directly. We did not respond, but asked Airbnb to prevent this person from being able to contact us again, and they did. We were pleased that Airbnb has that protective feature. We know some people are afraid to write honest reviews, but we encourage everyone to do so because we all rely on them. You can be objective, pointing out the positives but also mentioning any issues which other travelers might want to know about in a non-attacking way.

[@azwileetoyote]

After I narrow down the options, I always want to know EXACTLY where each place is so I can't tell you how much time I've spent looking at pictures of the outside of the building or if none, the building opposite the place as shown through a window and google street view until I find the place. I know that's excessive but I probably have a 95% success rate and YOU KNOW half these places are trying to hide the downsides of their places. Done this throughout my searches/travels in Japan, Spain Argentina, Portugal, etc.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, I love when we have exact location and I can get on Google maps and walk the street around. The outside of a building and streets around can tell you a lot. Cheers!!

[@SrTango007]

Hello Brian & Carrie. Not 1 but 10 thumbs up for this excellent video. We just came home from a 2 month stay in Spain & used Airbnb for the 1st time in 3 different cities. From the USA, we communicated to each host thru Airbnb app. When we arrived each host asked us to communicate thru WhatsApp. Did this happen to you?? So Airbnb has no record of communication with the host. We had electrical issues in 1 place & were told upon arrival not to use AC unit along with anything else because circuit breaker would flip which actually happened to us & we lost power. Every host in each place that we stayed didn't live anywhere near our Airbnb. Some told us they were on vacation in the Canary Islands. They were listed as a superhost. In reality, & I even put this in my review, they are a SUPERGHOST. Never saw them. We read wonderful reviews about the places we stayed, however, we wonder if people ever take showers because, the bathroom accommodations were gross & dangerous. We put that in our review. The host reviews thier guests privately, & when we privately wrote them, said with all due respect, "you have major issues that need to be addressed". Airbnb wants us to review the host. Well, we are not renting the Host. We are renting the unit. Our reviews have been TOTALLY honest so future guests are forewarned.😊😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Jose! Sounds like you've had some tough experiences as well 😔. We have used Whatsapp to communicate with hosts, but never concerning any concerns or issues we have - I always do that through the website so there is a record. The Superhost listing is an odd one. We used to jump on those thinking they would be great and we would eliminate so many concerns. One of the places we left a week early was a super host. At that point I really started to question what needs to happen to be listed as a super host, obviously providing a great place to stay wasn't totally part of it. Thanks so much for watching, we really appreciate your support. Cheers 🍻

[@carsmusicfan]

We had two bad stays in Bavaria recently. They told us to be quiet in the building and not talk to the neighbors. Red flag.

[@SrTango007]

OMG.😅

[@SrTango007]

You know, unfortunately, it's about supply& demand. One SUPERHOST ( not really) LOL, told us upon arrival, the apartment needs work but he just hasn't been able to get to it cuz his guests are begging him to postpone it. Really! This is the place I referenced in my previous comment where the electricity has problems. His bathtub was a danger& we had to use 1 hand to hold the shower wand& the other hand to wash. The shower wand was not able to be adjusted.

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

I travel almost exclusively with Airbnb and I found some tips and tricks to avoid bad experiences. I only go with super hosts and I read every review like you said. Super hosts usually only have good reviews. I also don’t mind living in a part of someone’s house As long as there’s privacy and a private bathroom. I’ve met some Great people and had some wonderful experiences that way not to mention saving a lot of money and expensive areas. Aloha

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi, Marilyn. We stayed in a place where we had our own space but with the host next door and downstairs and they were incredibly kind. Great way to meet people. Thank you for watching! ❤

[@debbieg8951]

As an experienced Airbnb user, I basically agree 100% with everything the two of you said. I recently watched a video by another traveling couple in which they complained extensively about Airbnb and said they were giving up on it. But they were making all the mistakes that the two of you have warned against in your video. I’ve made all of these same mistakes as well, and now that I know what to watch out for, I have a wonderful experience most of the time. The rare negative experience is just part of traveling on a budget (and it’s true that you do get what you pay for - for example, I was not surprised when the the $18/night room I rented for 2 nights in Valencia had a cockroach in the closet - ewww). So for now, Airbnb is still my preferred method for finding accommodations.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We absolutely agree! Through trial and error we have learned so much, making our experiences so much better. Unfortunately, we can can't guarantee we won't have another bad experience but we still feel Airbnb is the best choice for us, especially for long stays. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@gacmasterful]

I watched the video where the couple said they are giving up on Airbnb. They tend to stay in one place for a week or less, and the cleaning and service fees Airbnb charges can raise the total cost higher than a typical hotel. It is a valid concern. Airbnb is best for longer term stays where you can get a discounted price.

[@RobPittman]

100% Agree. Great video! I did have an unfortunate wifi/internet issue recently with a nice high-rise in Nha Trang Vietnam. The owner was in Germany and (at first) was not very responsive. Reported it to Airbnb and they were all over it.., almost to a point of being too extreme. The thing I found is they hand things off from one shift to another, which is mostly understandable.....but I did have to explain the problem multiple times. We ultimately were able to resolve the problem and I got a refund for the days I was impacted.

[@PaulVega-y9v]

​​@@BrianandCarrie you guys are on a budget and then still need a gym? Pretty limiting, I would think. Most hotels don't even have gyms. They only requirements I need are a microwave and a coffee maker. 😊

[@PaulVega-y9v]

Def read reviews. One more issue.....2 or 3 times it took me 1/2 hrs. Or so just to figure out how to lock or unlock a front door.

[@suzannesinclair3306]

Great tips and advice. One of my make or break points are the pics of the bathroom. If they do not show any pics then I move on. If it looks clean, then it is a contender! I also hate when they have numerous shots of the city, or 3 different angles of the kitchen sink! Santé!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We agree, we don't need to see what the beach looks like that's 2 miles away!! 😆 Cheers!!🍻

[@carsmusicfan]

So funny and true! Realtors seem to have adopted the "doorknob" pics and now it's spread to vacation rentals.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Have you ever asked for add'l pictures of the property? Did the host respond? Thanks!

[@superbanya]

I’m going to travel in South Asia for 5 months. I will stay in one country for at least one month. Before departing from home, I would book room in one country for a couple of days only, even though I would stay much longer. Because booking rooms at home, we have to pay US taxes on top of the taxes for the room charged by that country, which means we’ll be charged double taxes. Also, the room rate is much lower if you book when you are there.

[@comesatime123]

Great video! We stopped using Airbnb after some bad experiences but it is good to hear Aircover is helping make it a better experience. For families and month stays, Airbnb can make sense, but for a couple < 1 month, hotels/bnb’s with 24/7 service offer a better value for us. One thing I would recommend on your “contact” tip, do it on the weekend. We have gotten responses on weekdays from hosts but silence on the weekends. Lastly, the Airbnb price filter should be “all-in” pricing, especially in the States, the surcharges are out of hand and often make it more expensive than a hotel.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great idea on weekend contact and we love the tips!! Thank you so much for watching. Cheers!!🍻

[@kleerogers]

Another comment I forgot to make, when you have an issue like we did in Chiang Mai 3 1/2 years ago, we tried to get a hold of Airbnb for assistance, they didn’t even respond, absolutely nothing, we were totally on our own, that really shocked us because we thought Airbnb would help us because we were renting through them, that was a real eye-opener, the place we were renting, had a toilet that was continually clogging up, the owner came and fixed it once, and said it was our fault, it happened three more times, we finally had to get another place, we did not get a refund, we fought like hell with Airbnb, it wasted so much time, and in the end we got nowhere, Airbnb was not on our side at all, there was no air-cover that we knew of 3 1/2 years ago

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is so unfortunate. With the new protection they have in place AirCover I would hope that would have played out much differently for you. In the past year, I've had to contact Airbnb a few times and received a call back within 15 min and then many follow-up emails to make sure everything went okay. Much of this may be trying to make up for a bad track record they had and losing clients.

[@hatalatesting6476]

Great content as always. I don't really trust reviews anymore, except if they're over 4.9 because Airbnb is systematically finding reasons to NOT post negative reviews - their business is the HOST, not the guest. Based on experience, I always travel with a pan and a spatula, towels, Kleenex, and salt & pepper. There are odd expectations in different countries - sorting garbage, no towels, etc.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Assuming that you watched our video last week about our worst Airbnb experience. We would agree, our very honest, professional review was removed! 🙄

[@hatalatesting6476]

@@BrianandCarrie Unbelievable, but I believe it. I had one taken down last week which was positive about the place, but negative about the host (not "self-check in," says they speak English but speak it the same way I speak Urdu - through a translation app). I hope you're enjoying Budapest! I usually stay either by Margaret Island or by the Opera house - both Airbnbs that I've used before so I know they, and the hosts, are good. I find it's best to just stay at the same places in different cities over and over again, and have become friends with some of the hosts that way. Apologies, I missed last week, but am working my way through your videos. Thank you for commenting and this level of interaction - so grateful I found your channel!

[@davidbaillieul7601]

Fantastic video. In my working days, I was a Marriott guy 50-100 nights a year. Retired, I grudgingly made the switch to AirBnb due to the longer term discounts. I 100% agree with all your tips. My experience is that most hosts have 10-50 properties or units they manage. When I have problems, they were 100% resolved directly thru the host without aircover. Again, great video!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching David! Cheers 🍻

[@SrTango007]

My host has multiple properties also, however, when we needed some items that were in the listing, the host, who never met us upon arrival, stated that they were on vacation in the Canary Islands. We told her well....this is our vacation too. The only backup she could provide to help us was the cleaning lady.

[@jeffgreenwaldJLG]

I like it when KZbinrs like you link the places they stayed in. If it was a good fit for me I save it in AirBnB and then when I go to that place I have a good reference place and also a good idea what attractions or amenities are around if I select a place nearby.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Jeff! That is a great idea as well, even if you don't use that listing you know what it is near for reference. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers 🍻

[@urs_on_earth]

+1 really appreciate the links to your airbnbs! I've been bookmarking the places that @BrianandCarrie link to in their apt reviews for future travels

[@JTK52]

I just discovered Brian and Carrie's Vlog today and I have learned a ton of info. One of the best travel vlogs, in my opinion. Tremendously helpful advice on Airbnb. I would add a few more: when searching through reviews watch out for seemingly innocuous but very important comments. Many reviewers are reluctant to go full firestorm even when problems border on hideous. For example, I have found some raving about an apartment and location because local bars (including the one downstairs) stay open until 2am, including live music. Some use euphemisms, e.g., "glitches" or "difficulties" with neighbors when they actually mean spirited marital arguments in the middle of the night. Some will assure readers that the host was able to address "most" problems (note plural) but not reveal details or explain that it took multiple calls over 3 or 4 days. Finally, be aware that the washer-dryer combination machines found in many European lodgings can be very confusing if not problematic. I travel quite a bit in Western Europe and have yet to see an instruction manual, in any language. The machines use a very different technology that most of us in the US are accustomed to and can take up to four hours to complete a wash/dry cycle. One memorably malfunctioned for me, lights flashing, door locked. I could not retrieve my underwear for 24 hours. I was not happy. Airbnb partially compensated me for that. Important reminder: report any problem instantly (notify host and Airbnb) and take a LOT of photos documenting the problem. DO NOT respond to messages from the host outside of the Airbnb message format.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great points, John. We had a couple of problems in Romania after the second time the host asked us to deal directly with her and not contact Airbnb. 🙄 One of those problems was the combo washer/dryer!! Thank you for adding this to the channel and for the kind words!! Cheers!!🍻

[@zzyzxy1]

I only stay in hotels You have breakfast You have maid Pool Reception Sometimes for the same price or very little more - especially in off season - Enjoying your videos You are right on point 🥂🥂

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much!! We will stay in hotels with breakfast and maid service for short stays. For our month-long rentals, we need a little more room and like to have a kitchen. Thank you again for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@robertmcfarlane4151]

If you ONLY stay in hotels you are missing out on some really cool places. Like an apartment on a beach in Algarve right on the beach. Or a loft in Porto within walking distance to the river. Or an apartment in Paris right near Metro. All cheaper than hotels.

[@marklicc]

1 thing that I always do is; I'll message the host and clarify that they have Fast & Reliable internet + I'll clarify anything I don't see in the photos that I want. It may have changed with Aircover, but the rule has been that if you find something wrong in the first 24 hours of check-in you'll get your refund if the host can't fix it. The Host will usually go out of their way to fix it because they get penalized. So of course the first thing I check is the internet after checking in. And I have gotten this fixed or upgraded more than once.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great tip, Mark! Wi-Fi is very important to us as well. Thank you for adding this to the channel!! Cheers!!🍻

Reading all reviews is important. And also leaving a factual detailed review to help other guests. I don’t like when people say: it was great but don’t say why. I like to know about: location, noise, bed, hot water, wifi, kitchen functionality, cleanness and overall comfort. Great video!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@n.n.5724]

Have you heard that some of the reviewers are not talking/pointing the issues they had, because they also being graded by the hosts? I was surprised to learn that from another bloggers. So far we had 100% of the issues solved by the hosts in the timely matter. Last year we stayed in the condo in Alicante, where the bathroom was so small, that by the end of the month we couldn’t wait to get out of there. Unfortunately, this is something the host could not change and we just tried to make it work(barely), but definitely mentioned it in the review.

[@leapintothewild]

I've heard about this soft-review issue on several facebook groups, that renters are timid about leaving truthful reviews thinking the host will ding them in spite. I've not used airbnb yet so don't know how the timing of each review goes, whether other hosts would see your reviews and think you're a problem renter, etc.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Exactly what Laura said :) When I leave a review for a host, they can't see my review until they leave their own review (until after the waiting period) then it is public. This is put in place to somewhat protect you from a retaliation review. Of course, they can still respond to your review, but that isn't against you personally on your Airbnb profile. Thanks so much for watching! Cheers 🍻

[@helencousins2911]

Thank you so much for a great video on AirBNB living. I don't think I've come across any channel on KZbin where the creators are comfortable saying the issues or 'bad' experiences they have had with AirBnBs. So thank you for providing real life experiences. Have you ever thought of Hotel Apartments? I know it's more expensive in general than AirBnbs, but you can't beat the full service. We did this when we visited Lisbon. I found it was less expensive than a hotel and we avoided some of the negative comments on Airbnb apartments. Thanks again!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Helen. We have not used Hotel Apartments but are open to the idea. We do like as much room as possible for our month-long rentals so always relied on Airbnb. We will do some research! Thank you again. ❤

[@TheBlairWitch]

How did you find a Hotel Apartment, was there a particular app you used?

[@helencousins2911]

@@TheBlairWitch Hi, there isn't an app that I know of. What I usually do is a google search. For example; hotel apartments for (enter city name). I will not click on sponsored links but use links that take me to those properties that are hotel apartments. Please let me know if I can help further.

[@jennifercollier3218]

Great advice. Thanks. I can add, do a Google Street view if possible to “walk” around the neighborhood. Also check for IKEA furniture. It’ll help you to assess the comfort level in the apartment. Often there is no soft comfy seating.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Jennifer!! Cheers!!🍻

[@craigaccount6057]

Excellent explanation of the selection process with a lot of good tips. Thanks for your usual great job. One suggestion to add - although the location map in each listing is approximate, as you said, it is close enough to enable you to scope out the area using Google maps street view. If the photos offer an external view of your accommodation/building you may even be able to zero in on the exact location.

[@northerngal777]

Sometimes the reviews help narrow the location before you book. For example, we stayed in Oahu, and the review said things like "5 min walk from the beach, don't try walking to Diamond Head from here", etc. We've been to a variety of countries, and have not had any issues. This video is spot on and I use the same process as I am the "app" in my household. The only other part of process I might add is the logistics of where you are travelling. We had the spent a month in Japan (best experience ever, a location I highly recommend.) It was easier (and a little cheaper) to change from a northern base location to a southern location instead of spending all your time in transit from one end of the island to the other, than to rent one place for a month and get that discount. I also recommend using the street view on Google once you know the location and go for a virtual walk to familiarize yourself before you arrive. Glad I found your channel. Love it! Keep up the great content, and happy travels!

[@BrianandCarrie]

All very good points, Cindy! Reading the reviews and using Google Maps is a must!! Thank you for adding to the channel, we are glad that you found it as well!!! 😀 ❤

[@SD-co9xe]

The windows tip is key. We just stayed at a place where there were windows in each room, but several opened to a shared hallway.

[@spacegreycoralred]

Thanks guys for the Airbnb therapy session… we are currently in Sarande and booked a place with a wonderful view. However as you guys know, just because it looks like you are on the water in Sarande, that doesn’t mean it’s peaceful. Our apartment is on the same street as Haxhi restaurant, which is the noisiest street in Sarande. We have been here almost 2 months and it was enough after 1 week… lol but as you said sometimes you just have to suffer through… next stop Bansko. Pretty sure it will be quieter there in the off season.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Isn't that the truth - you just don't know those things from looking at pictures. Thankfully the view there is amazing. Enjoy the rest of your travels and I hope your next place is super peaceful. Cheers 🍻

[@healingnarcissism_]

how are the strays though? I heard Sarande is bad. Was it an exagerration?

[@gemmeg2]

I so enjoy your videos. I have been traveling full time since October 2019. I usually don’t stay in one place for a month and don’t need much more than one room and a bathroom, thus booking and agoda are my preferred platforms. I also never book anything non-refundable. I do book airbnbs occasionally, but in general am not happy with their fees, cancellation policy, and tendency to always side with the host if there are problems.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the comments and adding to the channel! We very much appreciate the support. Cheers 🍻

[@whatsitlike6392]

One thing that drives me nuts about AirBnB is wear and tear. The pictures look great but then when you get there you're like those pictures were from two years ago. Now the paint is all scuffed up and the Ikea furniture is broke down. Dining table legs and chair legs seem to be the biggest issue. Do you tell the host about the broke down furniture? I'm always worried they'll blame us for it.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is a great idea to notify the host of any issues upon arrival. We have not done that so thank you for the advice! Cheers!!🍻

[@grahamyoutsey7690]

As a host I love a text or email about anything that is needed. It's not always possible to see everything even if I do a monthly walk through.

[@whatsitlike6392]

@@grahamyoutsey7690 thanks, I appreciate this feedback from a host perspective. I have rentals too (long term) and a bit of OCD. I don't want the host to think I'm nitpicking I just notice everything.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you Graham! 😁 Cheers 🍻

[@m.devereaux9945]

Love y'all's content! It's been so helpful for us. We're going to Penang next week and watched your video on it as well as this one, so we're grateful for the info y'all share. We have had mostly good experiences with Airbnbs and VRBOs; however we recently had two very unpleasant experiences, and we were pleased with the way Airbnb and VRBO handled them both. One of them was only two nights, so we tolerated the unpleasantness and stayed through the scheduled checkout. The other one, a VRBO rental, was a nightmare. We considered it misrepresentation by the host; however, in the end, it was explained to us that if the issues are things that are beyond the host's control, they are not negligent if they don't put them in the description. In this case, the issue was there was no AC in the home, which the description did indicate, but the host claimed there was a "mobile air cooler" upstairs which would cool the room. It didn't work, however, and it was very hot in the house, so we had to have all the windows and all the doors open all day and all night! We could have tolerated even that except there was a massive land excavation project going on across from the villa, which had jackhammering, grinding, and banging from 8am - 6pm then each night there were outdoor karoake parties in the village which went on until 1am. We contacted the host but she was travelling so didn't reply to our messages. We contacted VRBO, and they worked with us, but the thing we want to point out here is to take videos of what's going on because they asked us to send videos to them and, fortunately, we had taken several which demonstrated the racket going on all around us which showed VRBO we weren't exaggerating. We checked out after 3 nights of this and the host, who eventually did reply, and VRBO worked with us and gave a refund for the 3 remaining nights of our original 6 night booking. They all felt badly about the situation, and the host apologized for a couple of other issues that happened, but VRBO explained to us that the excavation project was not happening ON the host's property, so she was not negligent in not representing it in the description. Sorry for the long comment! Just hoping this helps our fellow travelers.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. We have said that if you travel full time you will run into problems. We like Airbnb because we feel confident any issues will be worked out to our satisfaction. If they are not we will be sure to let our audience know!! 😀 Thanks again! Cheers!!🍻

[@KarlEFX]

Always ask about noise and construction near unit. Reviews are a gamed system and IMO only marginally useful. Must have clear pics of every room. Don't want to stay at a corporate unit managed by removed "host" with long list of properties to manage. In my experience, when we have had issues (black mold in shower, unfinished construction/open electrical outlets...) AirBnb has done the back and forth dance, taking days and our "stay" has been over before any resolutions to our problems. Feels similar to going to HR at a company and realizing their goal is their bottom line, not your protection.

[@dollimelaine]

I also have pretty much lived in airbnb's for the past several years. I always read the reviews and write to the host to gage whether they are responsive and friendly. The pictures are often deceiving and I look closely just as you said. I have had mostly good luck but the few times there was a problem I contacted airbnb via phone and immediately they took care of it. Two times they gave me a $50 voucher for my troubles. I am pretty happy with the process and have met alot of really nice hosts. Some of whom are my good friends now..

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have been happy with the process as well. The bad experiences that we have had have been dealt with appropriately as far as we know. Most certainly this last one when we received a refund. Thank you for watching and commenting, Dolli, we appreciate the support. ❤

[@kb1916]

Great job on this video. You are extremely thorough and gave excellent examples of what to expect and how to navigate the process. We have used Airbnb a handful of times over the years and it is good to know you still believe in the process. The one thing I would have liked to known is what you think of VRBO. We have used it several times, and it seems to have less guarantees and less control of the hosts in the process and the hosts seem to want more information, like sending copies of our driver's licenses etc, which we didn't like doing due to identity theft concerns.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Thank you so much ☺ Great question about VRBO! Honestly, on occasion, I've checked for places on their platform but never find anything. They used to be my go-to while I was in the States, but outside the States, I find they just don't have the selection. Plus, they don't offer (or didn't last time I checked) a discount for longer stays, which is a plus for us. I absolutely agree with you, I would not be comfortable at all sending copies of my license, they can have that info when I arrive. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers 🍻

[@hi_wifi_guy]

Great tips! I would add that it's important to know what level the unit is on. I booked an AirBnB for my daughter in Paris - beautiful place, great location (Latin Quarter) but the unit was 4 flights of stairs with no lift and their luggage was really heavy. Luckily it wasn't a big deal but details like this are really important, especially for people with difficulty being mobile.

[@nomadjim]

Another thing to keep in mind concerning the level a unit is on is that in many other countries the first floor is what we would call the second floor in the US. So if they tell you the unit is on the third floor, keep in mind that you could need to go up four flights of stairs to get there! And many places in Europe have no lift!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great advice, Paul and thank you Jim for adding to the importance! Cheers to you both!! 🍻

[@jenniferpincus2011]

Agreed. This is probably the one question I have that the most listings aren't up front about and I have to message the host to find out. More than likely if they don't say what floor they're on it means it's an upper level with no elevator and sometimes steep and narrow stairs. On the other hand, being on the ground floor isn't a great option either if you are in a city with people walking by your windows day and night. I find the answer to this question more frequently in the reviews than in the listings.

[@Java62PR]

Airbnb needs to establish mandatory outside pictures, which many listings avoid....mandatory disclosure of construction to include roads and renovations...mandatory unit lay out with dimensions, only seen that in Rome if i remember right ( no dimensions ) 10 weeks in Greece we used Airbnb, Booking and direct bookings thru hotels for short stays...we have not have had any terrible experience yet...but in La Paz Mexico we booked a home for 6 weeks that looked perfect...got there ...no TV ! I contacted the host and he delivered one , he also offered weekly cleanings at no charge after we complained about the road construction which created a mess of traffic and dust...plus many restaurants on that side of the road were closed ! We have enjoyed your channel ! Thanks !

[@BrianandCarrie]

Full disclosure would be so great. Unfortunately, there is so much unknown until you arrive. Thanks so much for watching! Cheers

[@lRedBaronl]

This is by far the best Airbnb tips video I’ve ever watched. Thank you!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@jimhertwig2220]

We have used AirBnB numerous times in several cities in Mexico, Budapest, Prague, Amsterdam, and Havana. Our reservation was always fully refundable until 1-5 days prior to arrival. We’ve been very happy with them.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That's so great to hear. It definitely varies by where you are traveling. Thanks for watching - Cheers!!

[@abirwait5636]

Great video! We've used Airbnb for years. What would you do when you arrive to a place with a really great view and there is a scaffolding blocking that view? It happened to us in Benalmadena, Spain. (Never mind that the AC was connected after our complaints and it was place IN THE ROOM and it was our job to empty the condensate) Airbnb was not much help.

[@CapitolHillClips]

18:40 Great advice here ❤ With bad experiences, we like to keep it documented in the Airbnb app as we have had pretty good experience with Airbnb support. Thank you for sharing! This helps us fellow slow travelers so much.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching and commenting!! I see you have a channel of your own!! Good luck and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻

[@CapitolHillClips]

@@BrianandCarrie thanks! SlowTravel is different but pretty awesome with little ones. They are troopers though. We’ve been following you folks since Montenegro 🇲🇪

[@jenniferc7353]

The tip about the curtains was amazing!! I will definitely be looking out for that. Great video all your tips were really helpful to keep in mind

[@fromthethrone]

I don like Airbnb because you need to purchase your stay first before it even gives you the address of the property. How can you buy something before even knowing the exact location of it.

[@BrianandCarrie]

I agree that is a tough part. We have found they give a location and by asking the host you can usually get a better idea as well, asking for a landmark nearby is very helpful. Thanks for watching ☺

[@leapintothewild]

@@BrianandCarrie A landmark is a great idea! I'll have to be careful about location and proximity of things since my mom will be with me and has a few mobility challenges. Even an extra block to the bus stop can make a difference.

[@alexandraalbertz1442]

@@leapintothewild uber works great in most parts of the world

[@alanmartins6349]

Thanks for this one, really helps. Stay well.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Correct, Alexandra, Uber and Grab are each available most any place that you go. ❤

[@denisepealey-i8n]

Great video and tips. The curtains and new listings never thought about that. We never choose new listings because they have no reviews but I will take your tip from now on. Our next trip start in Split and we booked for one month the same Airbnb you had lol Before we choose an Airbnb I check if you went to that city and suggest an Airbnb there lol. And I really try to leave comments after our stay I know how helpful it is for others. So far we have been very lucky with our Airbnb choices.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Denise! Our place in Split was one of our favorite Airbnbs to date. Everything in the place was so nicely kept and of a bit higher standard than we can typically find in a rental. Thanks so much for watching and happy travels ☺

[@brucesnyder690]

Going to Danang for a month in November. Used Agoda Apartments to book. One bedroom, near beach, entire month, great reviews- $330. Always use Agoda, never had a problem.

[@BrianandCarrie]

So great to know - thank you so much for the suggestion, we will definitely check it out. Thanks for watching ☺

[@kathyhirsch379]

Wow that is cheep 😊

[@fragilechords5118]

That was really interesting about it being more expensive for 2 people than just 1. I was going to choose 2 people for everywhere I stay so they wouldn't think I was a solo female traveler. I would have overpaid. So glad you put this in the video.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! I can see why you would want to do that as a solo traveler, I really hadn't thought about it that way. The great thing is we have only found the price increase in certain countries - so you could easily test this by starting your search as one person and then changing it to two to see if the price adjusts prior to booking. This way if there isn't a difference you can still continue to book the way you have and feel a bit safer. Thanks so much for watching ☺

[@TheSimArchitect]

Two people cost more to the host, it's more than fair. Children and pets make messes and cause nuisance. You might only want one single person when renting out a room where you live.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Not to the tune of $700..

[@Jmcivor777]

One thing that has tripped us up on Airb&b are the variety of cancellation policies. Many of the month long are now automatically non-refundable. Some have very steep portions that are non-refundable. Its a commitment and in some cities where they are short (like Toronto!), you have to book 8-12mo out to just to get any reasonably priced ones- which is a big non-refundable commitment.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Very true. We have two places booked now that we are committed to. That is a serious drawback for sure. Thank you for commenting and watching our channel! Cheers!!🍻

[@NomadJe]

Note I was told by several hosts have told me that if you leave a review and the host thinks it will be bad, they will not leave a review for you thus Airbnb will never publicize your review until host leaves a review. This is how many hosts keep their 5 stars. Also new fees for foreign currency will negatively impact the already rip off fees added, like cleanings fees added for a closet that the host cleans.

[@SchaferBob1]

Another impressive video, Brian and Carrie! Here are a few more ideas and experiences. Some AirBnB's in Europe say that you get the "whole place" and show the photo of a house, yet we once only had the first floor of a house in Iceland while the noisy Airbnb owner's family with kids lived upstairs. We heard their dryer tumbling and kids playing for two nights until 1 am. When you see places that have zero reviews, sometimes it is not a new listing. It is a recycled listing that had so many negative reviews that they had to start over again to try to get positive reviews. Readers also might find some managed properties on Google reviews in some countries which provide additional insights. Have you also seen house rules asking you to do their cleaning chores by pulling sheets, piling dirty towels, running the washing machine, and taking out the trash on the last day? And they also charge an outrageous cleaning fee! We also once had to leave an expensive AirBnB one day early due to a major typhoon and evacuation, and the owner refused to give us even a partial refund. Airbnb gave us a tiny coupon refund and we had to unfortunately state this issue in our balanced review. We noticed that the owner had friends write fake reviews after we left to try to increase his rating and push our review lower so it is a good idea to review more than a couple of recent reviews. Cheers and keep traveling!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Bob! Thank you so much 😊. And thank you for all the other great suggestions and things to look for. It's always great to hear others experiences as well - so much to learn. Cheers 🍻

[@Mr.DJones]

@@BrianandCarrie IMO, why would you get a refund because of the weather.

[@coolworl]

Over the years, I have tried Airbnb stay numerous time internationally. The experiences have always been subpar. I face annoying issues such as no vents in the bathroom, not enough pillows, beds too hard, floor sticky, AC not strong enough, water dripping sound coming from the bathroom all night, etc. The family and I have decided to only stay in hotels.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! I can totally understand that, so many issues can arise. We love the ease of staying in a hotel and enjoy those stays here and there. Unfortunately, full-time hotel living would be tough as we need the extra space, a kitchen, and a washing machine. This next 5 months of travel we are using hotels a bit more as we will be moving around more and it just makes more sense. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers 🍻

[@coolworl]

@@BrianandCarrie It does make more sense for long stay and it's probably much cheaper too.

[@d.y.e3803]

Really good tips for those who might not have used Airbnb. As for the size of places, I usually contact the owner and ask the approximate square meters of a place since all except one of my Airbnb's have been overseas for a decade or so. As for the gecko and salamander situation, I'm one who detests lizards/reptiles of any type. It's been a phobia since childhood and for a really good reason. But, since I've been spending over 2 decades traveling S.E. Asia solo and throw in Africa with the big lizards and snakes, I've had to deal with the phobia. But, as far as my living space, I can't live in a space with big lizards running around. Geckos can get in and especially in some countries where they are common, but they are small. On the first trip to Southeast Asia in the late 90s, I stayed in Chiangmai in Thailand. I chose a highly recommended guest house. I walked in and the first thing that I saw was a tokay lizard dangling on the flimsy bathroom screen which had broken glass louver windows with a big hole in them. There was no way that I was staying for many days in a place where a tokay had easy access to the room. I slept there one night and then moved to a hotel the next day. I have plenty of Thai friends who have had very negative/scary experiences with tokay lizards. On the same trip, while in Ubud on Bali, I had a bungalow in a complex and had arrived exhausted during the day. I checked the bungalow throughly and all seemed fine. But, In the middle of the night, I got up to go to the bathroom and there was a huge lizard on the wall.. Not a gecko, but a seriously big lizard. Nothing I could do. Then, later that night, there was one, probably the same bathroom one, crawling up the wall above my head in bed. I was not a happy camper. And since a lot of the doors in some countries have a big open space at the bottom, anything can crawl in, including snakes. The next day, I was moved to another bungalow. Same thing happened. I decided to just move to another place. The employees of the place asked if I was leaving because of it not being clean as guests had complained about that situation. I said it was due to big lizard infestation and also not being that clean. It was interesting as my bungalow was next door to the owners bungalow, but the owner, adult kids, and grandkids were away on vacation on Java. The staff at place #1 walked me across the street to another place, one they highly recommended and that had just been finished with construction. I moved over there. Night day difference. And as far as lizards, there were a few small geckos and a couple big roaches. Common. I was to stay on Bali for nearly two weeks, but after around 4-5 days, I was ready to move on and called Singapore Air and had them fly me to Chiangmai. I ended that S.E. Asian trip in Bangkok which turned out to be where my heart still is even to this day along with Singapore as that first trip was Singapore, Bali, and Thailand. At the first place in Ubud, the morning that I woke up and went outside to have breakfast, there was a woman with her husband and two teenage sons. We started chatting. She mentioned that she had also gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and found a huge lizard on the sink counter top and screamed. Her husband and sons came to her rescue and got the lizard out. She was not thrilled. When big lizards are getting in, then there are some serious openings somewhere in the structure. When my best friend was on Bali, solo, she was at a hotel and during the night, she kept hearing a scarping sound. She's been on Bali many times and lizards aren't her phobia. But, due to the scraping sound being so strong, she thought someone was trying to break in. When she would turn on the light, the scraping would stop and then start up again when she turned it off and tried to go back to sleep. When my friend woke up the next morning, she called the front desk and someone came over. The person noticed that her fruit welcome basket was nearly empty and commented that she must have been very hungry. Well, she hadn't eaten any of the fruit. The hotel employee then responded, "Oh, no, the rats must be back." So, the noise was rats and they were eating the fruit on her table while she was trying to sleep and I guess others were trying to get into the room. She was upgraded to a suite. I wonder if a suite meant suite-sized rats. I would have been in a different hotel like I was when I left the first guest house place to go to another guest house place. But, she was moving to another hotel soon so stayed at the first place until that reservation had run out. She was fine in the suite. As far as accommodations, I've been stuck in plenty of questionable hotel situations overseas over four decades, one's that I had to leave and find other places. I've been lucky with my Airbnbs and have never had a problem. The bottom line for me has always been to, be very flexible, don't believe everything in the pretty photos and descriptions of any kind of accommodation, and always have cash on me so that if I need to take a quick exit stage left, I can. Greetings from Los Angeles.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Uhg!! "The rats must be back" We would be gone immediately!! Geckos we can deal with but there would be no way we could live with rats!! Thank you for taking the time to add this, we very much enjoy hearing about your adventures, and we appreciate the continued support! Cheers!!🍻

[@d.y.e3803]

@@BrianandCarrie Yeah, I also draw the line on rats. My best friend has traveled solo for decades and also with her husband to a lot of places. But, she goes solo to the challenging places. When she was in South Africa, around 1990, it was when she had a major spider phobia which I don't have. Well, she was with three women from work who had invited her on their trip. One night, when she was getting into bed, a mega-sized spider walked across the floor. She totally froze. She then went to the nearby bungalow of one of the women in her group, but the woman commented that she doesn't do spiders. LOL! My friend then went back to her bungalow and had to deal with it. I asked why she didn't just go to another bungalow of one of the other women. Well, it was too far down the road, it was late at night, pitch black outside, and she could hear the roar of lions as they roam at night when it's cooler and they also have good night vision. So, either deal with the mega spider or possibly get attacked by a lion. She dealt with the mega spider. The same happened to another close friend while in South Africa, a male friend, traveling with a female friend of his. Got up one morning, reached into his backpack to get something out and a mega spider crawled out. He was also beyond frozen. LOL! We still laugh about it all. Greetings from Los Angeles

[@harmlessgrey]

Thank you for this video. I'm living in Airbnbs full time right now, too, during slow travel through Europe. It has been great. I like your tip about started out searching for lower price points. I had suspected that more low-priced listings would pop up that way, and your video confirms that.

[@BrianandCarrie]

So happy you found it helpful. Happy and safe continued slow travels 😊

[@888biedronka]

My daughter who’s currently in south east Asia has been able to book really good rates by renting outside of the app & going directly with the owners , she’s saved $800 in one month in one place, the only thing you gotta be careful sometimes ppl sub-rent and that can be risky, especially in Thailand if you need to do extension on your visa and need owner to sign for you. And when you rent face to face always always negotiate. She rented a beautiful big modern condo in KL with full oven, washer dryer with incredible view of Petronas towers in a very popular complex , wifi and electricity/AC for less than your unit. And like you say word of caution, electricity isn’t always included, in Thailand it cost her $300 for a month.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is amazing, Monika! We do ask hosts for discounts and try other strategies but to this point, we have been unsuccessful. We will keep trying! Thank you for adding this and for watching! Cheers!!🍻

[@TexasDoug393]

Great stuff as usual. Like the "let's talk for 30 minutes on some aspect of this adventure" mixed in periodically with the actual out on the street or on the beach videos. My stays have always been short term, and I ended up in a hotel in London where I could pretty much touch the walls on each side of the room with each hand. Looked bigger in the picture. 😀

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much, Doug! It is always so disappointing when the pictures of a place are misleading. Our last stay in Singapore was just as you described, we could almost touch one wall to the next (but thankfully we went in somewhat expecting that, as it was Singapore 😉). Thank you for watching! Cheers 🍻

[@Razialia]

Thank you for making such a comprehensive video and providing detailed examples. Learning your real life experience instead of vague comments about how such and such didn't work out is very refreshing! Can you make a video of what you would change about your approach to traveling SE Asia after your trip reflecting on locations, methods of travel, sites, etc? What would you do differently?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for the feedback, we really appreciate hearing that. That's a great idea for a video, we will look into doing that. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@donaldkinsey5245]

I recently spent 6 months in SE Asia and visited a lot the places you reviewed. I once stayed in an Airbnb in Cebu that had an awful smelling bathroom. Everything else was fine, so I just suffered through it for a month. If you book enough Airbnbs you will eventually run in to an accommodation with an unforeseen problem.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Very true, Donald. We have had to suffer a couple of times as well. Sometimes you have to make do. Thank you for watching. Cheers!!🍻

[@denisemcdonough7257]

We have experienced this too. Sewer gas coming up through the drains in most cases as they don't have stack vents on the building for the gases to escape, sooo.... I usually try to close the sink drains and place something over the shower and floor drains. (a plastic lid) It helps. plus burning incense 😂. I just saw a video where they cut the top and bottom from a balloon and stretched it over the drain plate to the shower, water could still get through but it collapses when not draining so fumes and cockroaches can't come up.😊

[@viewfromthewindowseat9261]

I am a new subscriber and wanted to say that I think you are doing an excellent job with your channel. We are very interested in your content because our future retirement dream is doing exactly what you are doing, including your monthly budget. Excellent content!!!❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much! We really appreciate the support. Hopefully you two can start your journey soon! Cheers 🍻

[@WoodyRe]

Nice. Learned a lot and helpful for traveling stay on a new home. Thank you for sharing.

[@TravelingwithValeman77]

Carrie and Brian - thanks for the great tips. Hope all is well and you are staying safe! Cheers!!

[@telluwide5553]

Some really great tips! I live mostly out of Airbnbs myself and the tips that stood out were about staying outside the main tourist areas, downtowns etc. close to a rail or bus stations are also some little known, but excellent tips. Much better deals and quality. Especially if you're staying longer than 2 weeks, a month, etc. People, especially Americans, don't realize how not only walkable most places outside the US are, but how well developed public transportation is, both of which makes having a car more an inconvenience and expense than a convenience. Also, contacting the host. I always contact the host first before I even press reserve or book because many hosts use more than one platform and may have the place already rented, or they aren't renting during a particular period and forgot to take off their listing. Then you have to go through the hassle of cancellations, refunding your money, etc. Airbnb is quick to charge your credit card or paypal. In fact, Paypal is my preferred method of paying because refunds are the fastest when you use it. Credit cards can take 14 days or more for example...The refund and cancellation policies are definitely worth a 2nd or 3rd read over...Since the manner of payment and conditions of payment as well as to reasons why a cancellation occurred has a lot to do with the outcomes. Also, if you or the host have too many cancellations, it could affect yours and their ratings etc. on the platform. That's why many Hosts are reluctant to cancel and want the guest to do so. That's another reason why I always contact the host before booking, just to confirm. In addition, reviews are tricky because they work both ways. Hosts read not only reviews about you, but reviews you've left for other hosts as well. If you get too nit picky, leave too many negative reviews it could also hurt you. So, I would only leave a negative review if I either felt totally ripped off by the listing and the host clearly misrepresented their listing, or the place was in such a condition that it made my stay totally unbearable and it was in the host's control to have either fixed it or prevented it. Or at least been up front about it. So far so good for me as far as Airbnbs. Just accepting the fact that no place is going to be perfect, doing your homework and just be understanding an flexible will solve 95% of any potential issues before they occur...Great tips! Looking forward to more! Thank you!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Thank you for all the great suggestions. Every step you can take beforehand to prevent a issue is always smart. My understanding from talking to other Airbnb hosts is they cannot see past reviews you've left for previous hosts as this would detour people from leaving honest reviews. They can see the reviews other hosts do leave for you though which makes sense. All the more reason we strive to be great renters. I agree though, we're sure to leave honest reviews about a place and location making sure to not be mean and only point out major issues other renters would need to know. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@telluwide5553]

@@BrianandCarrie I'm not sure about not being able to see reviews guests have left for other hosts. I've been able to click on other guests profiles that stayed in the same accommodations and was able to see reviews they've left for other hosts. It's also a good way to see if their negative reviews were just nit picking. Unless of course, Airbnb has changed that ability, haven't done that in a while....

[@Mr.DJones]

@@telluwide5553 Thank you. I've been wondering about this. Totally agree.

[@travelrefocused]

You may still be learning, but your advice in this video is solid. Safe travels guys.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much!!

[@bruceketcheson4877]

Not sure i should share this or not, but a tool i have used numerous times on AirBNB is to ask the host for a 'special offer'. A host once asked us to do this when traveling to Greece during the pandemic. I didn't know it was a thing, but have used it dozens of times and usually 7 out of 10 respond with a discount offer, typically cleaning costs are removed or a flat 10, 15, 20% reduction on the previous rate. It comes back as a message to you, you can share it or use it elsewhere , but if you have an area and a number of places you are considering could be a deciding factor. Sometimes on a unit you want you can ask and the response is, sorry the unit is priced competitively and thats ok, but most times its a better rate

[@BrianandCarrie]

We've asked on many stays....but typically get that same answer. I'm sure it has something to do with I'm already hunting down the ones with a good discount 😊. Cheers

[@erinneikirk2120]

THANK YOU for this video!! We are traveling in Europe staying 1 week at a time, in mostly Air BnBs for 2.5months. We had a situation just like you described...and OVERWHELMING odor and dampness in the air. I immediately got a headache and knew I couldn't sleep there, plus my husband & I are traveling with my 82 yo Dad...I did not want him sleeping in that apartment. The building was more than 100 years old, a "historic" building...The staircase was so treacherously STEEP...one wrong move for any of us, and WE would have been HISTORY! Thanks to the info you shared, we were able to confidently ask for a full refund and THANKFULLY receive it! We were able to locate another Air BnB in the same city, much better location, for only increase of $90 more than our previous choice. The current situation is SO MUCH better...God was SO merciful!! Appreciate your content!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching and sharing your story! We have had a few comments stating that it is not common to get any kind of refund from Airbnb. We are in no way affiliated but do believe that the company is your best option. If something comes along that we feel is better, we will use it! Thanks again and safe travels!! ❤

[@muravi8167]

Thanks B & C ! As an airbnb regular user will surely keep all the points & tips of information & advise for my shortly forthcoming long trip. few queries : 1. The reviews - does airbnb/Owner shadowban the bad reviews ? 2. What are your views about the cleaning & service charges ? Other travellers cum content creators of late have been raising this issue. 3. How has been your experience contacting customer care on phone and mail ?....because i had a different experience.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! As for cleaning charges I've found them to cost next to nothing outside the states, so that is always surprising. Service charges can be steaper in some areas, but if I ever come across one that's beyond the norm, we just keep looking. As far as reviews go, I've never had a issue. I leave a honest review, but always be sure to not be petty or mean. If the owner can respond to your review but that is about all they can do. They can also leave you a review, but neither the renter or the owner can see each others reviews until they have both made one or for a set amount of time. This sure helps with any retaliation reviews. I've contacted Airbnb support on 3 occasions over the last 2 years and had very quick response each time. I do think over the last year their customer service has improved even more, maybe there had been enough feedback that people weren't satisfied. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers!!

[@whirltraveller1350]

Great video as usual. We follow everything that you do. I have two comments that have been helpful to us. One, we check the square footage of the unit and compare it to our own home, so we get a real sense of the size, despite their pictures. The other suggestion is to ask for both the upload and download Wifi rates. Roger

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great tips! We have only had a couple of problems with wifi, ironically the worst we have ever had is back home in the US!! 😂

[@spendingourkidsinheritance2425]

Have to agree with you guys, this is almost exactly the same process we use, even down to Lily doing the looking and booking. The one thing that might be a little different is she wil find places and narrow the list down to a top 5 or so, then I look them over and we decide together which locations to book, 4 eyes hopefully being better than 2. One point of reference for you from someone that has been on both sides of the Airbnb (and other) platforms. Properties or rooms can be listed as a flat room rate, or a rate based on the number of ccupants, when we had our B&B, we used a per-person rate because extra guests added to the cost, you can find places where changing the number of guests does not change the rate, you just have to look for it.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great tips, thank you!! And always good to have both of you look at the options, helps catch things that could be overlooked. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers 🍻

[@fgronning1]

Thank you very much B & C. Very nice to participate in your venture via KZbin . On AirBnB. I traveled to a new location to stay a couple of weeks. I booked first a 4 day rental and then 10 day at the same time. The rental has a full refund until move in so I could cancel the second ooking if I did not like the place. Worked fine. Chekced with AirBnB and saied this was perfactly ok, just be aware that longer time bookings urusally do not have full refund until move in.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great idea! Thanks for the tip. We may implement that into our travels.

[@Joe-su8um]

My wife and I are pretty much living the exact same life as you guys👍 We do this exact same thing....book for 4 days and then the month so if there're issues which happened maybe 20% of the time for us especially in cheaper countries we just go ahead and ask for a refund on the next 3 nights, then cancel the month stay. Sometimes even book a backup place that was also a contender using the same process but starting after the first 4 day booking..... sounds confusing but it's pretty easy just don't forget to cancel other bookings! Not very often we do the backup maneuver but in certain countries it's definitely way worse in our experience.

[@Joe-su8um]

Also if they don't do a full refund on longer bookings you can always book the month in smaller blocks to reserve it, if it's all good then cancel and rebook for the monthly price so you don't lose your desired reservation time.

[@minnesotamiki]

Great job on the video and excellent tips! We booked two AirBnBs in Europe this summer - one was good and the other one great! A few more tips to consider: In addition to max price I also set a min price, watch out for any blurring in pics (especially looking out the window), pay close attention to recent reviews (our great accommodation had “100% of recent guests have 5-star rating.” Also, too many reviews or a mgmt company may not work as hard or be as personable as someone working to build their credentials as a host or offering special touches (welcome gift or towel refresh, etc.) Happy travels!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for watching our video and adding these tips. We very much appreciate the support. Cheers!!🍻

[@reluctantlawyer517]

Thanks so much for the video. It is good to see a variety of opinions. Erin and I are starting our full time travel in September so we are very interested in the topic. We have booked several Airbnbs for the first few months. Your tips were very helpful. We already do many of them but there definitely were some new tips that we had not thought about. I expect that we will learn as we go.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have and will continue to learn as we go! 😃 We are also open to other options if available. Thank you for watching and commenting. Safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻

[@deepakpanditji6842]

Thank you for the good work that you continue to do by sharing your experiencesto help people like me who have no travel experience outside Africa. Having recently just retired the wife and I aspire to do what you guys are doing. Take the plunge to see the beautiful world out there. I think visiting places in low season, though not ideal due mostly to the weather, will be a good start to get the travel experience. Enjoy your travels and each other 🙏

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Yes, off season is a perfect way to get your feet wet and also you get so much more for your money for accomodations (as well as less tourists to work around 😉). Safe and happy travels wherever your journey takes you both ❤️

[@mariadillon860]

Great video - I learnt loads and took notes on the points you raised and also some of the comments people had added. You have a new subscriber 🎊 😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

The comments people add are so helpful!! We tend to learn a thing or two as well. 😀 Thank you, Maria, for subscribing watching our channel! ❤

[@janetstear8906]

I have used Airbnb for years and have been so happy with this option. I agree with 100% of your tips. I ALWAYS use the 100% refund f option because life happens while you’re making plans.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, Janet! ❤

[@galenmctripper7223]

Thank you so much for all that information… so great to know… In light of Airbnb info, would you recommend the place you stayed at while you were in Alicante? I noticed the price was very affordable and it looked very nice in pictures…and also, that host had another unit similar looking to the one you stayed at (but your looked better). Appreciate what you can inform me with… Again, thank you…

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Galen! The Airbnb we had in Alicante was great for a shorter stay. We were there for a month, so it got a bit cramped. But the location was perfect and the host was fantastic. Thanks so much for watching ☺

[@catbernstein8628]

Good video! Before my trip to Malaysia, I scoured every review in search of one dealbreaker word: “bugs”!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great idea!! In Kuala Lumpur we didn't have any problems with bugs being on the 43 floor!

[@fragilechords5118]

Yes! That is one of my fears as well. There's no way I could stay somewhere that had roaches. 😱

[@kathyhirsch379]

How about bedbugs 😊​@@BrianandCarrie

[@buencamino-f2j]

Great video! Very informative. It's good to know that you still go for Airbnb, we just booked 2 for Europe with more confidence! ( and reading extensively the reviews ). Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, Sonia and safe travels!!

[@mgpef02]

I’ve had problems with Airbnb. They had a beautiful authentic Greek home. Pictures matched the place but I didn’t see photos of the restroom. So I get there and it was so tiny and narrow that as soon as you opened the door you hit the shower head! Next to it was the sink and then the toilet. There was a big drain in the floor. We had to be careful so the water wouldn’t flow into the house. No reviews mentioned the restroom situation.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have learned the hard way as well, make sure you see everything! If something is missing, there is probably a reason why!! Thank you for watching and commenting, Mayra. ❤

[@ceiliasreadingtime6628]

Thank you so much for this video! I literally woke up this morning and thought “I should ask Brian and Carrie to make an AirBnB video.” And voila! Love you guys, keep up the good work!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! That is so funny, what are the odds - so happy this was the video you were looking for. Thanks so much for watching and for your support ☺

[@carsmusicfan]

Great video! We just got back from five weeks in Bavaria and had two bad stays out of eight. Turns out (pretty sure) that either during the 08 recession or the covid, foreign entities bought entire hotels and stuffed tiny kitchenettes into the rooms to list on Airbnb. These two bad ones had two electric outlets in the unit and "multiple" gang plugs feeding off ofthem The tiny kitchen in Nuremberg had the fridge, micro, hob, kettle, and toaster on one gang plug!! Oh, and no fire extinguisher! Airbnb was of no help and said that the host was a "superhost". Renter beware.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We had a "superhost" problem one time as well. We contacted Airbnb and told them that they may want to review the superhost requirements because the rental was dirty and broken down. We chose to leave a negative review and left a week early.

[@danielmcnulty1185]

Thank guys, we've watched several of your vids in the past and have now subscribed. Your presentations are always helpful and a real must have for folks like us who are just starting our travel journey.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Daniel! We really appreciate the great feedback and kind words. Thanks for subscribing 😊. Cheers!!

[@CarrieJamrogowicz]

I booked an Airbnb in a small Polish village as part of my first solo international trip a couple years ago. Booked everything six months in advance. Two weeks before my trip they canceled my entire account. They said they wouldn’t tell me why they did it and their decision was final, no way to appeal. I’d already sent a WTF email before I read the “no appeal” bit and they did reinstate my account, but they couldn’t recover my reservation. That was my one time trying Airbnb so yeah I’m gonna stick with hotels. 😂

[@BrianandCarrie]

Dang.... That's horrible. Sorry to hear that.

[@Christina-ee4kt]

Great information - I only pick Superhosts and have had zero issues. Safe travels 😊

[@oldaloneandfarfromhome]

Really great information! I especially liked the tip to check the host for other listings, if there was a new place without any reviews. Do you have a rating under which you won't consider a place, as you are taking your first look at the places available in an area? If so, is that 4.8? 4.7? Also, for the place you abandoned and the two others that were not satisfactory, were reviews still mostly positive or were there just not very many?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! I typically don't look at places that are under a 4.8 rating. This can vary a tad simply if they do have numerous other rentals with higher ratings - as all it takes is one ultra-picky person to bring someones rating down for not really legit reasons. For the other places we disliked and left, it really was a mix of not many reviews and not much to select from in the area in our price range. We continue to learn every step and find more little red flags to watch for. Thanks so much for watching!

[@lordperilous]

I know it's not for everyone, but have you stayed in hostels/zimmers, etc? They tend to be very cheap, and you can still get private rooms (even in-suite bathrooms). I usually use them for short stays, or to keep the costs down, but stay at normal accommodations in the middle or end of the trip for the luxuries. It also provides access to groups of like minded people to hang out with and get guidance on places to see off the beaten path. Most people shoot these down, but I notice most never stayed at one. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have not stayed in any hostels. We would prefer staying in a lower-end Airbnb and spending close to the same amount each. It would be fun meeting other like-minded people so it could happen in an area where we are just passing through and not staying a month. 🍻 Something that we would consider.

[@lordperilous]

@BrianandCarrie I agree if you are there for more than a week, it gets much tougher without the extra accommodations. I'm still not to the point of long stays like you two until I retire. Thanks for all the quick and honest replies!

[@colincraig5608]

The shine has really come off Air BnB. The service, cleaning and other incidental charges, especially for short stays, mean it's not the bargain it once was. Also as you say, very hard to compare it to a hotel stay which is nearly always the total price you pay. Great video guys.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much 😊.

[@denisemcdonough7257]

Sounds exactly like our experiences. I just counted. We've rented 47 Airbnb's since we became nomads in 2017. Some things you just have to learn yourselves but you did remind me about using the computer. We use to connect it to watch TV but now we use a fire stick so I don't even unpack it. A few times I have worked deals to extend rentals off of Airbnb's but I do like to establish a relationship before ever asking. Mainly in Argentina due to their blue dollar. I always defend Airbnb as I don't know what I would do without them. A fantastic service. I also try to write my reviews carefully to help others. I like 5.0 locations best of all, but value, wifi, water pressure and cleanliness are right up there. I subscribed and followed you. If we are ever in the same location I'll hit you up for happy hour. Our Schengen is up so we're headed to Bulgaria soon. Cheers, Denise and Brian

[@BrianandCarrie]

Airbnb makes traveling the way we do easy and the few problems that we have had have been taken care of. We do feel that pricing is heading upward, however. We would love to meet up someday. We just entered Schengen so will be here for a few months before heading to Turkey. Thank you for subscribing and supporting us!! Cheers!!🍻

[@Flightat50]

As always, such awesome information! We follow most of these when using Airbnb but didn’t know about that visitor tax in some areas, will be reading house rules more in depth from now on! Our next is a month long in Valencia, Spain. Used all these tips, wish us luck! Can’t wait to hear about your next area for travels.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Good luck in Valencia, Sandra, it is a beautiful city! Safe travels.

[@pg618]

Over the last five years I've used Airbnb on four continents and I can't say that the quality control is definitely going down. But I have always gotten a refund and they said there were going to give me a certificate but they never did.

[@elizaC3024]

Our first airbnb stay was horrible. Nonresponsive host, an incredibly misrepresented apartment, but in the heart of milan for 3days. We struggled through it, and learned hard lessons from that. But we now 4 years later still use airbnb, and have had great success. We are doing another trip across 5 countries in Europe by train for 5 weeks, and it's all airbnb.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We had a couple places that we struggled through in the beginning as well. We have learned a lot since then so we are fairly confident that we can find accommodations that will satisfy our needs. We still walk in each new place with a bit of wonder, however. 😀 Thank you for watching and commenting! Safe travels. Cheers!!🍻

[@mikemullen6670]

I'm in the middle of today's video and had to stop and say, "Yes, we are listening"! Thanks for the training lesson.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Mike! Thank you so much - hope you find the info helpful ☺

[@maureenkeene7566]

Hi (from NZ), Brian and Carrie - not sure if this has been asked by others - do the accommodations you stay in have enough cooking equipment and what do you do about cooking basics (like oil, salt and pepper, seasonings, coffee etc) Do you just know to include this in your first grocery shop when you are staying for a month at a time (and then throw out at the end of your time there)? Thanks for this video, its very informative.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Maureen, Great question! Everyplace we have stayed is totally different. Some are well stocked with all the basic essentials, oil, salt, pepper, laundry soap, toilet paper. Then others have nothing. So what we do is get to our Airbnb and scope out the place, what is there and what we need to buy. If we are flying to the next place, we leave most behind. If we are just going on a bus ride often we will just take a bag with us with those key items we bought (cause it can really ass up to continue to rebuy at each stop). Thanks so much for watching 😊. Cheers!!

[@jackbaldwin3649]

@@BrianandCarrie Hi Brian & Carrie, New viewer here. I have a related question/comment here. What are you favorite foods to cook as you travel around? I'm guessing you know how and what to cook to fit your budget (and so you're not wasting a lot of food). It would be great to see a video on this topic! I really appreciate your videos!!

[@jerrygarcia4390]

WOW, yet another very timely and excellent video. In London, I always stayed close to Victoria Station in the neighborhood Belgravia. From VS you can get anywhere quickly within London! Paris is the same way. The metro goes everywhere that you want.

[@BrianandCarrie]

HA!! We are currently having an Airbnb nightmare.

[@jerrygarcia4390]

@@BrianandCarrie 🤣🤣🤣 it happens! Hopefully, you can get it resolved to your satisfaction. You two make a formidable team 💪

[@stacyleggitt]

Any thoughts on the cons of leaving thoroughly honest reviews at the end of a stay so we can all have better insight into what we are booking? I admit I sometimes pull my punches for fear a future host will be less likely to agree to my booking since they can see my reviews of other places (I think???).

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Stacy! I always leave a review and I try to temper the good with the bad, but always beomg honest. I know we rely heavily on reviews so i want to be sure to give other the feedback we would look for. I also find that leaving constructive feedback is better in the area of the review that is private only for the host. As far as hosts judging by your other reviews, my understanding is a potential host can only see the ratings you have received, not reviews you've made. They don't even get to see your picture until you have booked. Thanks so much for watching ☺

[@garys2187]

@@BrianandCarrie I saw something recently that AirBnb was blocking some negative reviews. Have you noticed that?

[@mactravelandfinance]

Really helpful, thanks, have a great day!

[@dominiquetheeasyminimalist]

Thanks for pointing out where to see the house rules, I thought they were provided only after booking! Be careful with cancellations, I follow another channel (Retirement travelers) and after a few cancellations Airbnb charges fees. One trick I’ve used many times: in the listing, there’s often a name like “Casa Livia”. I Google it and get direct access to the host. I negotiate the rental cost, avoid taxes and fees, and saved thousands over the years. I do this only for highly rated listings, and never had a problem 😁

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Dominique! Thank you so much for the tips - very helpful ☺. We, fortunately, haven't needed to cancel but one time, so that is really great to know. Cheers 🍻

[@kleerogers]

Another thing we used to do when we used Airbnb was to book for only one night, then deal directly with the owner, you get a far better deal that way, all you have to do is tell the owner I really wanted to book for one month, but I wanted to see the place first, then, if you like the place, you can make a far better deal than you can on Airbnb, this worked with us in the past, many many times, one or two nights with Airbnb, then you get the contact information for the owner, then you can deal directly with the owner, the only downside is, it could be booked out after your one or two nights, that’s a chance I’m willing to take

[@515aleon]

Not in any way a full timer, but have kind of different trips and often go in small towns, and hardly ever in big cities with bus lines. These are road trips in the US. There aren't many listings and they may be further away than the say i is. Trouble I have had: the webpage is nice to look at (for out of the way places) but does not link to the app, so if you have trouble finding the place, etc. I've stayed at places off grid and in one case got to the place but the place was locked and no host was no where to be found; phone didn't work because there was no service. I had three odd experiences like this. I had one good experience. Very odd place---all handmade of stone--a wild sort of place, the guy may have flunked wood. But I liked the host. and had a good time anyway (only a few day stay). (This is in the US, btw). It's funny how no reviews indicate that some place was hard to find, that the host didn't show up, etc etc. One piece of advise for cabins-- check to see how far away the other cabins are. The lady was very nice but just an odd set up.

[@patric5076]

Thank you so much for your videos. You guys are my inspiration!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching!!

[@nicoleoshea-holohan2743]

Really useful video. Great tips! Very impressed with how well you have adjusted to traveling in Asia

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Nicole. We loved our time in SE Asia and plan on returning early 2024. 😀

[@jonathancbc]

Great insights. Staying near a transportation hub, but outside, is the way locals think, in the US, too. For example, Austin near a red line stop; or Cebu near a bus terminal. This insight from you, by itself, transforms airbnb strategy.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching and commenting!! We appreciate the support. Cheers!!🍻

[@esbiermann62]

So the reviews never mentioned the mildew? I was in same situation in Lagos. Just left could not breathe in the room. But no reviews mentioned it

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Esther! Nope, there weren't any reviews that mentioned mildew, I sure wish there would have been as we would have avoided the situation together😔. Sorry to hear you had a similar experience. Mildew is just one of those smells you can't stay around for and especially not for a month. Thanks so much for watching!

[@bstamp1354]

Another great video. I love when you provide the behind the scenes , nuts and bolts type information that's needed to do your slow travel around the world. Keep up the great work. And I'd also love to see more information on the footwork for airline travel prices. It seems like it would be such a large portion of the monthly budget. You guys are the best. Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Thanks so much 😊, we love the feedback. We are planning to do a flight booking video in the near future. With prices going up it's something I spend quite a bit of time researching and planning, so hopefully we'll have some helpful info to share Cheers 🍻

[@joefromnewjersey]

Fantastic information. Thank you for all this work you saved us!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Joe, for watching!! Cheers!!🍻

[@danielsemyck7683]

Great advice as usual! Thanks guys!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, Dan!