Why We QUIT Staying at Airbnb! | Is There A Better Way To Stay?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Check out our follow up video! ➡➡kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4utipemp6ZgfMUsi=e30Dc88nz9KNIsxF⬅⬅ John & Bev

[@enriquesanchez2001]

I booked TWO AirBnBs in Paris recently and had to cancel both because of these complications! So much is just not disclosed properly and masked with lots of "pretty" jargon! Hotels are my go-to from now on!

[@richardcarte]

By bashing Airbnb, you were bashing one of the things that is giving the average person a chance to be their own boss and compete with big hotel chains. How is that a bad thing ? Why would you bash something like that ?

[@richardcarte]

@@enriquesanchez2001 so give your money to the big corporate hotel chains over some thing that allows the every person to be there on boss ? It’s just like hotels, some have better management than others.

[@enriquesanchez2001]

@@richardcarte No, I'm not the fool you make me out to be.

[@richardcarte]

@@enriquesanchez2001 I didn’t intend to make you look like a fool. But dude seriously you bash something that allows the every man a chance at fairly competing with the big companies which is true uncorrupted capitalism. Why would you do such a thing? I don’t think you’re a fool, but I think you are missing the whole point of Airbnb.

[@maha77]

I only stay in hotels now, Airbnb has made me appreciate hotels so much

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for your perspective. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@wendyamsterdam8482]

I don't like hotels because of noise from other customers (almost everybody is on vacation so coming back very late and very drunk) and I can't cook or make my own breakfast

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

Thanks for organizing your thoughts. I used to stay at AirBnB frequently. It was great value. Twice the room, kitchen, at a quarter the price of a hotel. Then I noticed the rates were going up, the fees were going up, the cleaning fee went through the ceiling, and I was required to sort trash, recyclables, laundry etc. I switched to hotels and never looked back.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! Same with us. Hotels going forward and no looking back Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ching-hsienhsu8320]

We were given a wrong entry code to get into the apartment building in Taipei after a long flight from Texas. We tried to call the host, it went directly to voice mail. For over 2 hours, we can't get hold of the host and can't get into the apartment unit. We had to drag our luggage late at night to find a hotel. After contacting Airbnb we got the refund but Airbnb removed our review. We no longer trust Airbnb anymore!!

[@briansavage1408]

I have noticed a few people saying that AirBnB remove bad reviews. If this is true. It is a disgusting practice.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@leslieannehill6880]

Bad check-ins happened to us In London only we were outside with our bags for 6+ hours and unable to contact the rental company at all because the credit card I used had expired, so I couldn't get through to a person. This was not Airbnb, but another time, in Nice, Airbnb refused to talk to me because my husband had made the booking. They left us outside for 5 hours! Total drag! No apologies!

[@morty412]

Exact same thing happened to me in Berlin! They removed the negative review!!

[@Mikesadventures-m2q]

That's why I always stay at a hotel. Nothing worse than not being able to check in after a long day of travel.

[@channingsltd]

I no longer use Airbnb. I have cancelled my Airbnb account. You are 100% correct. Airbnb sucks! You gotta spread the truth to more viewers.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jennykimball4457]

100% agree with you. I just wrapped a year of full-time travel and have vowed to never use Airbnb again. I've decided that if I can't afford to stay in a hotel on vacation, I don't need to go on that trip.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've had nothing but great stays since we left Airbnb. Glad it is working out for you as well. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@prophetseven728]

Funny, we do the same but we love Short-Terms way better than hotels. We can afford both. Just Hotels suck compared to Airbnbs. Great in a pitch though.

[@manp1039]

I have had trouble at hotels too.. I think the risks don't disappear if a person stays at a hotel or motel. I think maybe if a person stays at a hotel with a well-regarded international brand name, like a Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham, or Hyatt, etc can offer more protection to a guest staying at or making a reservation at a hotel. I think Airbnb (along with regular hotels) was negatively impacted by the pandemic. And I think the large hotel chains can sometimes try to fan the flames of little problems that a consumer might experience. And just like how Lyft and Uber were attacked by taxi cab companies when they lost so much business to Uber and Lyft. But Uber and Lyft also were negatively impacted by the pandemic, I think Airbnb and hotels were also negatively impacted by the pandemic. But things are getting better on all fronts as the pandemic becomes more and more of a distant memory and the world and society continue to recover from that very difficult time in society and business etc.

[@deanpapadopoulos3314]

You said it well.

[@lucashung-os6vx]

I hate Airbnb. I have vowed to never use Airbnb again! I don’t think it’s safe

[@heatherthomson4346]

We were strong Airbnb fans ten years ago, finding authentic experiences and gracious hosts when traveling abroad, however, we have had so many poor experiences, especially when staying within North America, that we've moved away from them. Cleaning fees of hundreds of dollars for a single night's stay, underwhelming interiors that don't match the picture or distorted photos that make that "closet" in Paris look more like a one bedroom, and difficulty gauging the safety of the local neighbourhoods have left us disenchanted. We've had hosts stiff us for cancellations brokered a full six months before the occupation date, even when the listing stated they had full refund status. The final straw was a country cabin booked on a farm property that also catered to weddings using their on-site barn. Upon arrival they presented us with a long list of restrictions which included a curfew and an alcohol prohibition. We are a mature couple in our late 50's, not wild youngin's at a stag party, and we found this a step too far, especially as none of these restrictions were disclosed to us at the point of booking. Airbnb seems to have become too big for their own britches, and we've moved on to other vacation rentals and home stays.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Sorry to hear about your bad experiences. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@OP-mz3hr]

Can you share what other vacation rental platform we can try instead of Airbnb? People are looking for better alternatives.

[@alexperkins8433]

@@OP-mz3hr trtipadvisor for hotels, full stop. nothing better imo.

[@susie9893]

@@alexperkins8433 I used to swear by tripadvisor but I started to notice a lot of spitefulness (you hear stories about other hotels leaving bad reviews to lower the rating of the competition but what I actually saw were disgruntled clients leaving unwarranted reviews - evidenced by owner responses like "we remember you, you were thrown out due to ..... and charges have been laid" etc - but they have no power to delete the rating). I'm finding the Google community a bit better option these days - ppl seem more objective and most reviews are directed towards genuinely trying to help other travelers (although that may change as Google becomes a more popular platform in this arena)

[@amyniemann9564]

We’ve used Airbnb for many years because we like 2 bedrooms and travel with our small dog. We have had good stays and not good ones too. Id like to see improvements also. The added fees are way too high! Cleaning fee when we are very tidy. We too maybe switching back to hotels. Safe travels.

[@cliffm6566]

Agree with you guys completely. I’ve been doing Airbnb for a few years and after my last one in FL I closed my Airbnb account. All the issues you discussed are true. The worst is dealing with the owners who regard you as a profitable but unwanted visitor in their house. No, Airbnb is a business and your house is a rental property. Also Airbnb is more expensive than many hotels and the hotel chains now realize this and are competing better on value. Airbnb is in trouble.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts. We have been much more pleased with hotels this year. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@pearbear319]

I travel infrequently and save to stay in at least 4 stars hotels and be pampered.

[@Roxcare]

For one person is a lot cheaper stay in Airbnb

[@Dain75]

I’m glad they’re in trouble. So many people are buying houses as Airbnb income properties and as others have pointed out, it is making it impossible for people to buy or rent a house, because the price has skyrocketed. People in “destination” cities can’t afford housing even with a decent job. Living in vans has become hugely popular, but there are a lot of problems created by it unless you’re traveling. There are few places to park them, especially where they can get water and electricity. I’ve seen videos of people hooking up to nearby houses, stealing utilities. People without toilet facilities dump their waste in the street or garage cans, and that can cause contamination problems. I’ve watched a lot of videos of people living off grid and a toilet is frequently the last thing they buy, or it’s something they plan to save for, when it should be the first thing on the list. Using soap or detergent in a lake or stream is almost as bad. There are grey and black water tanks on RVs and places to empty them for a reason. Cities need to build a huge amount of low income housing instead of large single family homes. Everyone should have a place to live that is safe, that has a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and a living area. I really like the tiny or small home communities that are popping up. They could be a solution for seniors who need assisted living.

[@jerrylansbury9558]

@@Dain75 Save your money.....buy a home that works for you. Problem solved !

[@alisiawilliams7390]

I heard about horror stories with Airbnb from friends and relatives. I'm team hotel all day! This is informative to those who do not know. Happy travels.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! We are done with Airbnb and loving our hotel stays. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@thevagabondonwheels4918]

That 1/2 mile radius isn't just for "security", it is often because the owners are violating local lodging laws, violating the terms of their own buildings, or are dodging local lodging taxes and don't want their exact location to show up on a map so that local authorities or their own building management cannot pinpoint their exact location. Another issue that I personally have with AirBNBs are the highly variable quality of the bedding, especially the mattress. When you stay with major brand hotels (Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, etc.) you almost always know pretty much exactly what you are going to get bedding wise, or at least within a predictable range. That isn't the case at all with AirBNBs. That quaint little apartment in the heart of the city loses its charm when you are in pain all day because of the horrible mattress you are sleeping on each night.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing some great perspectives. Hadn't thought of the mapping radius in that light before. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@johnnyalfa2173]

I had on Airbnb stay in Brazil where I book an Airbnb in a town but it was actually a 30 min drive outside the town so clearly a lot longer than 0.5 miles even though the map location was in the town.

[@charlesbartlett2569]

AirBnB doesn’t give an exact address because they don’t want travelers contacting the hosts directly. AirBnB also restricts the use of phone numbers, addresses and websites in messages for the same reason. Many AirBnB hosts would like travelers to book directly to avoid fees.

[@tomdemeo2708]

Absolutely false it has NOTHING to do with local anti ownership rights

[@grannygoes7882]

There is NO way a host can dodge local taxes. Those are automatic and the host has nothing to do with it. It's a big reason fees have jumped. So many areas have added an automatic "lodging tax" to gain revenue from people renting out rooms in their houses. I guess what is good for the goose is good for the gander but our local county has gotten really greedy and jacked up the lodging tax while at the same time clamping down on homeowners. If your home isn't zoned a certain way, you can't host. It's ridiculous where I live in rural Wyoming, and homeowners should have a say in how their home is used.

[@vickicooper7424]

As an Airbnb Super Host, (Rustic Ridge,in Maine) this is sad to hear. I keep my prices so low, and cleaning fee low. I do all the cleaning, since we live on site. I hope Airbnb CEO will address these issues. Thank you for sharing.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We know there are many amazing hosts like you and appreciate all you do to help guests have great stays. Thanks so much. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@joc4912]

​@@sullysully685 99

[@noellechampagne]

I highly recommend you toggle the superhost button to avoid a lot of these issues. It's not easy to keep your superhost status. The requirements are stringent. Also, you need to read the listing and reviews really well. Too many people are trying to make a quick buck doing Airbnb. It's a shame they are ruining the market for the rest of us who are dedicated property managers who care about their guest and consistently deliver a quality product. Correction: they are not requiring that hosts not make unreasonable check out requests. They are requiring them to disclose them up front (before booking).

[@wawhite6019]

I think this video highlights a lot of what many of us Airbnb customers have experienced. Airbnb’s problem is quality control. It doesn’t really have any. All it takes is one bad experience for someone with a massive KZbin following to make a video like this and all the good hosts are gonna be SOL. If I were an Airbnb host, I would be lobbying intensely for the company to make some uniform rules for the type of properties they add to the website and start intensively investigating the properties that are being advertised online before a property owner can be a host. And there needs to be some sort of penalty for owners who cancel to keep people from doing this so often. I’ve had pretty much the same experience as everyone else- great stays mixed with horror stories. Property owners need to do everything they can to maximize great stays because good hotels in most cities are better than most of the Airbnb’s in that town.

[@kbc1883]

@@supertuscans9512Interesting! I was wondering about the actual profit side. I know many Airbnb hosts prefer the airbnb model to long term renting because it gives them the flexibility to have family and friends come stay in their property as a guest house, so it isn’t the money side as much as the convenience and flexibility that keeps them doing the short term option. It has made it impossible to find any small, reasonably priced place to rent in my area of NC. Now I either have to pay $1800-2500 for a one bedroom place in a high rise apartment building or get creative. I bought a yurt and live off grid on shared property. But for those who can’t do that physically or financially, the rental market is non-existent.

[@cathydechambeau1813]

I have stopped staying in Airbnb because they have taken the housing stock out of cities. Finding housing for locals has become a huge problem and I didn’t want to contribute to this. Like you, I have been happy to stay in hotels or hostels .

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the additional insight. We didn't realize the impact on housing. Safe travels and many blessings. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@siouxrose7766]

When I lived in Savannah, Georgia, the house across the street became an Airbnb without the owners anywhere near it. One time they rented to one or two people who turned that little house into a party with at least 30 cars parked nearby and countless people in the street, a huge party that went till way after 2 a.m. I did call the cops. They did little to fix the situation.

[@berniecelee5062]

Cathy : right on point !! I won’t stay in Airbnb in cities. It’s housing for people who work in the cities and the shortages and rent prices are out of control. Airbnb compound the housing problems for people who need a place to live where they work. If anyone needs a short stay for work , the employer picks up the bill. So hotels are there for you. If you’re self employed, build that cost into your business . Some countries have banned Airbnb in cities ….Good move !! If you can’t afford the hotel then that’s not the vacation spot for you. Hostels are options . I sent this video off to the young ones who want to travel , have booked Airbnb with too quickly clicking the mouse and were extremely disappointed and it ruin the vacation. Cleaning fee …don’t get me started with the rip off …. Hotel prices are very comparable so why put up with the unknown and the potential risk ?

[@steveburke7675]

Agree with this...this is why cities like Barcelona and Venice are trying to regulate the industry.

[@bonne_vie]

I like the staying in a room option versus having the entire place to yourself because you're not taking housing away from the host and it is very affordable. But other than that I am becoming very disenchanted with the system.

[@grannygoes7882]

I'm been an airbnb host since the beginning and have seen it totally change. It's gone from the concept of "home sharing" and "community building" to all about money. Airbnb pushes the cleaning fee but it's totally optional. I don't charge one and am glad I watched this vid because I see I'm doing a lot of things right lol! I don't even have any "rules" I live on the property and have had no problems with guests. I also understand where you live/host makes a big difference on your experience. I'm outside Yellowstone park and the people who visit the park are different from people looking for a place to stay in the inner city. If I have time when I'm traveling to compare airbnb to hotels, I'll do that, but if I'm pressed for time I choose a hotel for all the reasons stated in this video.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@sueedwards9334]

I would not like to stay in a place with the host next door doing surveillance.

[@grannygoes7882]

@@sueedwards9334 Well I certainly don't do surveilance. I just got a 3 star review because I didn't visit with the guests. I was barely home but they were offended because I didn't greet them or welcome them. These people had called me 3X before they arrived and asked a million questions that would have been answered if they had just read the listing. Everyone is different but yeah, I wouldn't want to be surveilled. A lot of my guests I never see. They arrive late and leave early.

[@ladytrader688]

I might want your ABNB contact if I visit Yellowstone

[@kayalcorn9569]

I appreciate you not charging a cleaning fee. I actually think it's rude to expect a guest to pay to clean the room that's offered. I think many hosts see it as extra income. I loved Airbnb in Mexico & Indonesia. Either the cleaning fees were nominal or they didn't charge one. They could employ local cleaners & make a profit.

[@JamieElgie]

You are so right. AirBnB has a legitimate problem. No one wants to give hosts bad reviews for fear of getting blacklisted. But the hosts often need a bad review. Nobody wins as a result.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great point. We've been hesitant to give negative reviews. If we've had an issue, we send a private message to the host. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@joystclaire]

I had a horrible experience in an Airbnb. I left a bad review and it did not show up on the site. What most people don't realize is Airbnb does not allow bad reviews to show up. Hasn't anybody wondered how odd it is that there are only good reviews?

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@joystclaire Wow, this is not good! Thanks for sharing. John and Bev

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@joystclaire Wow, this is not good! Thanks for sharing. John and Bev

[@lynnleipold2617]

Bev, you’e a very attractive woman, but I’m seriously worried about your skin. It looks like you have serious sun damage. Please start using a high spf sunscreen. I think you’re a wonderful couple and I do so enjoy your videos. From a redhead that has definitely had some skin cancer issues. I am living vicariously through your travels!

[@MrsKervang]

My husband and I rented an airbnb in Dallas, and when we got there to check in, the concierge wouldn't allow us to check in and threatened to call the police on us. Our host and the concierge had issues over the rental. We had scrambled the last minute to find a hotel nearby. Then trying to get in touch of someone at airbnb is ridiculous too! We spent the whole week on our vacation trying to get our refund back. By the time we returned home, we finally got a response from airbnb and got our refund! Since this experience, my husband said NO to airbnb. We are sticking to hotels only now

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear about your misfortune. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@elvzwoods]

We stayed in a huge house in Mesa, AZ, it had 5 star reviews, but it was dirty. Dirty, sketchy pool; leftovers in the fridge, used toiletries in the bathroom, neglected landscaping...I'm not sure who left the 5 star reviews...maybe they had a lot of friends.

[@anniekingsbury6842]

Airbnb is a huge contributor to our housing crisis. Particularly in coastal towns that seem to be completely owned by absentee landlords. Also a big problem in European tourist destinations where places like Venice have hardly any locals because the city has been taken over by Airbnb. The last Airbnb I stayed in was in Florence. The dishwasher didn't work and we had to ring the owner in Singapore. Time for some proper regulations on Airbnb.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We’ve heard this from a number of people. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@Steven2090]

People bought and owned the property, should be able to do AirBNB. Problem really is tourist and visitors pay more and take better care of the property than long term renters.

[@beebkapeepka]

The dishwasher… is it so horrible to do your own washing up or just leave the dishes😅

[@paulamacdonald7070]

I would agree that it helps contribute to housing crisis in many communities.

[@yumyumkitty2104]

There's someone here on YT that said a lot of rich ppl from the mainland are buying up homes in Hawaii, fixing them up, then making $ off of them as Air B&B's. So, this is probably happening worldwide in touristy places.

[@rhondamckenna7635]

I've been using Airbnb since the beginning, and I have never had a problem. I am obsessed with reading reviews and looking at pictures. I never stay in one without a really high rating and a ton of reviews. I really don't like eating in restaurants all the time when traveling and have always enjoyed having a kitchen. The fees ARE out of control now. I miss the old days of Airbnb. We met so many nice people and stayed in their homes.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@AthenaLorenz-nx7gk]

Residence Inn by Marriott and Extended Stay Hotels have full kitchens with daily housekeeping and no hidden cameras

[@Jkaye13]

I agree and that's why we have chosen to stay in them for the last 12 years traveling.. l cook and want a kitchen, and travel with a small poodle.. but the fees have definitely increased, and l don't think it's right that I'm paying up to $250 for a cleaning fee and then having to do a bunch of the cleaning! If I'm doing all the laundry and the dishes, I'm paying a lot of money for someone to vacuum and dust. I won't be doing any cleaning in a hotel.. so yea, I think the Air BnBs have effectively outpriced their value.. and that's not to even mention the cancellation fees you may get stuck with..

[@rhondamckenna7635]

@@Jkaye13 The high cleaning fees and then wanting me to clean before I leave drives me nuts! I have started commenting in my review if that happens and I read reviews to see if other have commented about that.

[@AthenaLorenz-nx7gk]

@@Jkaye13 Greed always destroys and you have great points

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

We agree with all your points. We too have stopped staying at Airbnbs due to the high cost and no loyalty program. Excellent video!! ~Cara 😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We have had more enjoyable stays the past 4 months staying in hotels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Bingewatchingmediacontent]

Plus I don’t want to live like a local doing laundry and cleaning up and grocery shopping. I’m on vacation!

[@bigdogsmama2748]

We paid about $8K (5 days) for a house in Northern California. When we arrive at 7pm only to find out that the host/management company refused to let us in unless we paid extra late fee (that was not disclosed). With two kids in the car, we had nowhere to go. Airbnb help line and policy was a complete nightmare. We never got our money back and vowed never to return. Stay away from Airbnb, VRBO operates more fair and honestly for regular consumers in comparison.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Ouch. Sorry to hear about that disaster. And Airbnb pocketed over $1000 with their 14% service charge. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@wild_taco_gonecrazycorona9112]

yes i had multiple experience lik that in miami black lady and husband faked out wall scraches and cameras in bathroom it was bad and airbnb customer service useless don' t have patience to call but even calling them is useless stay away from airbnb period its scam artist

[@wild_taco_gonecrazycorona9112]

Air bnb

[@sparkeye67]

@@KactusKM No, VRBO is owned by the Expedia Group, NOT Air B&B

[@o2bnov0307]

I have enjoy my few VBRO stays; USA and Panama. Excellent experiences!!

[@marih3286]

I'm using Airbnb next week, possibly for the last time. My last trip said I was staying in someones home, but in reality, it was an apartment where the host leases half of the units to run his Airbnb business. No wonder people can't find apartments to rent in their local area!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your experience. Hotels for us. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Dropthesoapto]

For me Hotels! I arrive, i have people awaiting me, I’ve the room cleaned when I come back, breakfast served, check-out fast, services like shuttle to the airport, hotels are always near transports or have their own solutions and they are physically more accessible if something isn’t going as planned. My son stayed in US in a spectacular Airbnb that ended being a slum with a slum landlord. He has learned the lesson. For holidays, hotels. For higher amounts of time, contact a real estate, go see the properties in person and then decide.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Well stated. We much prefer hotels for the reasons you suggest. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Bingewatchingmediacontent]

Yeah and you don’t have to read 12 pages of checkout cleanup instructions to leave, and spend hours cleaning and doing laundry on the last day.

[@BrianandDenise]

So true!@@Bingewatchingmediacontent

[@eyesuckle]

And really, all of these problems were tolerable when Airbnb started. The bargain you made was somewhat reduced convenience and luxury in exchange for paying a third of what a hotel would cost. No longer. Greed on the part of homeowners has now shifted that bargain to the point where it isn't a bargain at all.

[@gazzafloss]

Like many good ideas, Airbnb started out a reasonable alternative to established fancy hotel accommodations but it seems that today the original concept has gone off track big time in a few areas. Weve had a couple of "nasty" experiences mostly in the cleanliness and facility areas, dirty bed sheets, dilspidated dirty bathrooms, excessively noisy property. No longer a cheaper alternative maybe best to avoid Airbnb's in future. I agree with your assessment of the situation.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Good thoughts. Thanks for sharing. We were very surprised that we had booked 8 months in advance (during Covid) and local hotels were still cheaper and nicer. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@s99614]

It was never a good idea.

[@singsongcindy8865]

We gave Airbnb MULTIPLE tries over a two year period. It is a dishonest, untrustworthy, unreliable system. We did not have a single property match up to the ratings, photos, reviews. Our own honest reviews (for which we took photos and videos that Airbnb will NOT let you post because it would be the end of their entire business if people saw REAL photos and videos of the places they were renting). Airbnb WILL remove your negative reviews and won’t even look at photographic evidence. Zero integrity of the system and many owners. I also know people who got tagged with bogus owner repair charges for damage that was there when they arrived. Fortunately they took my advice and took video on arrival of every single room (what a pain, but it is your best insurance), making close up shots of damage. This includes opening cupboards and closets so you don’t get accused of stealing property. Unfortunately you need to do the same on exiting. When the owner made the damage claim my friend had her video as proof that the damage was there on arrival. We switched to VRBO and have hd Ad much better luck with these properties. We are using booking.com and local rental agencies for our upcoming southern Europe getaway. We very much want the space, comfort, kitchen and laundry that come with an apartment type rental since we are packing just a weeks worth of clothes. We do not want to eat out at every meal. That is the only reason we don’t want to hotel full time. We are alternating hotel stays with apartments. Thanks to everyone who shares their experiences!

[@tomdemeo2708]

I disagree it is a great alternative to hotels especially with groups of 4 or more. I never skimp on a cheap Airbnb, you get what you pay for

[@ABC-uh7vn]

Airbnb is a nightmare. I used to travel a lot with them, but after a lot of bad experiences i quit it. For example they delate your reviews when the host didn't like it. No go!!! I don't trust Airbnb anymore and i can't recomend Airbnb to anyone 👎👎👎

[@sarahchang2835]

We travel extensively and stopped using AirBnb because of their cancellation policy, the host's rules and the not so clean places we encountered. We now stay in Hotel's or bed and breakfasts, and the experience is so much better.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We actually switched 4 months ago and haven't had any issues staying in hotels, B & B's, while using booking.com John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mariadavis3797]

I gave up on Airbnb’s about a year ago. I stayed in a basement suite in Calgary,Canada and the place had no sink in the kitchen so had to do dishes in the bathroom sink. All furniture seemed to have been recuperated from a garage sale. A month after I had left and complained to Airbnb, the suite owners came up with a series of unexplained stains I would have left on the carpet. None of it was true but they were upset I had complained to Airbnb. Never again to an Airbnb; hotels ever since.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Hope you have safe travels and many blessings going forward. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@birdsinparadise3113]

Reminds me of the studio Airbnb I rented in manta Ecuador, and it had been recommended too. But you couldn't plug the microwave in, wouldn't reach the plug unless you moved stuff around. Dishes in bathroom sink. AC worked good and the price was right but it was not a long term stay set up. Only microwave to cook anything

[@ourvlife1]

Attention all ABNB Hosts!!!! If your not watching this with a note pad and pen, please get out of the business. This is possibly the best tool to becoming one of the best hosts out there. Thanks again guys for your thorough walk through of your ABNB experiences. I wish the KZbin reach was greater but this is a great start. You guys rock.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words and hope this helps people have better travel experiences. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@gtbigdog3507]

One of the problems with Airbnb is the people who own them don’t treat it as a business. Most of the people are not business owners, or never had a business and they don’t understand that you have to put money into a business to make it work. they think that all they have to do is collect rentand run to the bank. I’m sick of going to Airbnb when you get there they have two rules of toilet paper. I don’t have to outfit the entire house every time I go to stay somewhere for four days.

[@Bingewatchingmediacontent]

Some things are unavoidable due to the nature of renting out a single space to strangers. Friends and I rented a cabin in Lake Tahoe, and there were laminated instructions, warnings, and threats on every appliance. There was a binder with elaborate instructions for everything. Yet the hot tub still never worked. We were so glad that the entire time we were on vacation wasn’t able to be booked at that cabin, because we spent the rest of our vacation at the Harris Lake Tahoe hotel, and it was so much better. Clean rooms, no threats, and no elaborate clean up ritual on the last day. No more airbnb for me.

[@AthenaLorenz-nx7gk]

There is a couple in North Port Florida named James and Jess that offer an Airbnb. The entire unit is cockroach infested and the heating and electric capacity is poor. Better to use the hotels.

[@danchin3091]

@@gtbigdog3507 When I read your note, I thought to myself you said exactly what I was thinking from just our experience currently in Colmar, France. The guy has no inkling of what it takes for customer satisfaction but like you say, watching his pennies only....and then run to the bank from his earnings. We found the kitchen utensils a mish-mesh of silverware. Since we prefer eating a healthy breakfast at home from some grocery shopping earlier, was looking for a larger knive to be able to cut the cantaloupe and apples but only found a serrated butter knife that is not quite adequate. There was only one regular size dinner spoon available so had to use a teaspoon to eat our cereal. We had also requested a fan since it was almost 83 degrees fahrenheit the night before. He did not provide any response on the knife or spoon but stated that what's stated in the advertisement should be adequate (ad is not that explicit). Then, his response to the fan would cost him two nights of lodging fees.. I checked google and found free standing fans around $40 which is way less than a night where we are staying. If things keep going this way and no quality standard at AirBnB, they may not be around too long especially with all these comments I have read. Even though I have had good stays in the past (host having a good sense of business), is the bad ones that will spoil it for everyone.

[@lindamonahan1704]

Another thing to consider is what are you gonna do with your luggage if your Airbnb is not available. If you arrive at a hotel, they will let you leave your luggage and will hold onto it till you check in. They will also let you leave it there after you check out until you need to leave for your plane flight. With an Airbnb you need to find a place to store your luggage like at the train station or something. We ended up booking an extra night of our Airbnb so we wouldn’t have to worry about the luggage issue. Probably cheaper to stay at a hotel in this case.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great point. Yet another advantage of hotel stays. Thanks so much for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@lagringa7518]

And if you're not too far from the airport, many hotels have a free shuttle.

[@zinro]

Agreed. Kills me when they have a before 10am checkout time.

[@networth00]

Cities like nashville have a service that holds your luggage. I'm a host and always let guests drop off luggage while the unit is being cleaned.

[@lindadorman2869]

I traveled to 40 countries since 1990 and noticed a big difference in Airbnb's by region. In Asia, the units are better equipped with more condo-type amenities but very basic furnishings. In Europe, they tend to be charming but not well maintained with more problems (bugs, water leaks). I haven't stayed in any in the US because the few times I've booked, the hosts have all cancelled on me without notice. Now I find local rental agencies and book monthly stays directly to avoid using Airbnb. For short stays, I use extended stay apart-hotels with weekly discounts.

[@claudiaross239]

I LOVE apart-hotels: the best of having staff to assist you and a larger more private accommodation.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Some good advice. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@susie9893]

Good to know

[@rudyrudelaemmerhirt]

You probably haven’t stayed in any in the USA because a great deal of them listed in the USA are just scams, they don’t even check the listings really exist or properly background check the accounts creating them

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

I should know, but what are apart hotels please ? And are they just in United States or in other countries?

[@MaryJohnson-q6i]

We have also found the daily cost to be comparable or less than airbnb when staying in a hotel. And I appreciate knowing that I can cancel a hotel reservation without being charged or losing a ton of money!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. It took us awhile, but we came to the same conclusion. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tammyrussell-rice5508]

The difference is that a hotel operator usually has 100 or more rooms vs one home to rent. A cancellation on an STR can be devastating to a Host. In contrast, the Hotelier may still have 99 rooms booked. So, your cancellation is just a drop in the bucket.

[@limitedtime5471]

Yes, ive gone back to hotels. Daily room cleaning! I miss having a full kitchen but i can live without it

[@williamjacobs]

@@tammyrussell-rice5508 Then one needs to have a cancellation policy that makes the cancellation sufficiently non-critical, doesn't one? Some AirBnB hosts are "passive income" FIRE types who didn't realize renting property was an actual job.

[@NotSpockToo]

Instead of the hassle and fees with AirBNB we stay at Aparthotels where ever possible. These combine the best of an apartment and a hotel with personnel on site. Breakfast is always included. We've had good luck with these throughout Europe. They have kitchens with all necessary utensils. There is none of this having to pay an outrageous cleaning fee, or having to take out the trash. Just like a regular hotel, cleaning is included. Most of the ones we've stayed at have a guest laundry room onsite, some have a small gym. We try to find one in near tram/metro/bus stops or close walking distance to the places we want to see.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great idea and thanks for sharing. We weren't familiar with this. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@singsongcindy8865]

Could you share exactly what and where you search for these aparthotels? Never heard this term, but it sounds like what many of us are looking for

[@havechopstickswilltravel2990]

Oh my gosh. I’m not alone on this. The fees are crazy when you compare to checking into a hotel and able to leave with a tip for the cleaning people. Great video guys. Thank you sharing your experiences.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tomdemeo2708]

Yes traveling alone or two can be more competitive in a hotel but larger groups or family Airbnb is hands down cheaper

[@fpeachm]

You guys are alot more good-spirited about it than I am. AirBnB is not customer-friendly. I will spare you MY stories. Hotels are the way to go. And congratulations: this is an excellent video.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed the video. Sorry to hear about your negative experiences. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@RedroomStudios]

Air bnb's are the way to go! much cheaper, full kitchens so you can cook meals and you have the entire place to yourself.

[@RedroomStudios]

@mellocello187 my reply was to the original comment in this thread, not to the video.

[@TerezTravels]

Kitchenettes are often an important part of my stays which can be harder to find with hotels😕 (especially for people with food restrictions)

[@manp1039]

@@RedroomStudios when i read negative comments about AirBnb, I sometimes wonder are they an employees (or perhaps even a bot) deployed or working for a marketing or public relations company for the hotel industry. I think hotel chains have felt the pinch to their business, just like taxi cab owners/companies have felt the pinch when Uber and Lyft started taking away their business. I presume Airbnb has a very large economic/branding moat.. and as long as they continue to innovate and solve problems that come up, as described by some commenters speak about in this comments section, such as one person saying they were given the wrong door entry code to get into their Airbnb and unable to reach the host to get it sorted, they will continue to be the go-to place for people seeking out short term home rentals/lodging.

[@helenlevens6278]

Airbnb's whole cleaning thing is ridiculous. Having to pay a largish fee is bad enough, but as you said, J and B, the cleaning things you have to do yourself (strip bed, put out rubbish etc) is too much, when you already pay a fee. And often places aren't so clean anyway! Accidentally moved a sofa in one and don't think it had ever been moved, ever! Another, I had to do a clean before I moved in 😕. But they can be convenient 😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Ladran_Sancho]

Hosts killed AirBnB. They're not cheap any more, they are hit and miss, all the problems listed here are prevalent, but, to me, the worst is the ability of the owner to cancel even at the last minute. They ruined a trip of ours this way. I don't remember ever having that problem with a hotel.

[@gtbigdog3507]

I agree the cleaning fees are ridiculous. Why should I have to do chores when I’m on vacation?

[@susanpage8315]

For several years I used Airbnbs and had good experiences. It actually used to be more affordable than hotels. But the costs have gone way up and guests are expected to do the cleaning!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We found the same thing. Hotels for us. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@spicybrown75]

Yes as soon as they went public on the stock exchange, fees went up, quality went down!

[@birdsinparadise3113]

As soon as a place can hold more than two people, the rates escalate. I'm in a beach tourist destination with a ton of basically empty apartments with owners where it's the holiday family home. They don't mind saying it holds ten people. And charge 2000 a week. Crazy

[@birdsinparadise3113]

​@@RetirementTravelers for solo traveling, hotels are just safer too. Central location, someone in the lobby, etc. tho some countries have guardians as doormen and general cleaning of course, not all Airbnb might have that.

[@susanpage8315]

@@birdsinparadise3113 that is crazy!

[@jackybraun2705]

I once looked into Airbnb for a stay in Bonn. I needed to be in a specific area of the city and put this in the search, but the places offered were right over the other side of the city. The prices were no different from hotel prices. So I decided that if I was paying the same I would prefer to be somewhere where I don't have to spend time preparing my own food and doing my own washing up. I can do that at home! I'm travelling to another place to see the world. Not to see the inside of another kitchen.

[@catt138]

Traveled with my family and friends for 3 weeks in June, we did airbnb and vrbo for 2 or 3x, only when it was cheaper (in total, cleaning fees and booking fees) than booking 3 rooms for the 8 of us (including kids)... Previously used airbnb in Japan before covid, cleaning fees was much less then... A friend and family bgt a place in Johor for airbnb, she mentioned that the platform takes less commission than other platforms like agoda etc...

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great points. We agree completely. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@nickmusttravel]

If everyone boycotted Airbnb based on the information you mentioned, they would change their polices very quickly. I think I will start booking with hotels more. Great video and happy travels!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We think some changes are long overdue. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@katemaier7047]

Your vote is your feet!

[@BeFabWithGab]

Thank you for this video. I’ve locally used Airbnb more than a handful of times. My first 2 stays were amazing and I thought what a great concept. Well after a last minute cancellation by a host because her daughter decided to come for the weekend, so I was left somewhat stranded, another time there were multiple rooms with what seemed like long term residents not reflective of the posting, and the last one was the best, I was to share common area with a male with a substance abuse issue. I was assured I wouldn’t be bothered as he’s passed out most of the time. I took my stuff and left and filed a complaint. As a solo female traveller and regardless, we need to feel safe. I will no longer book with Airbnb as the quality assurance is not standard, and my trust has now been broken with the last 3 experiences. I’ll pay the extra and stay in a hotel. And I agree Airbnb renters need to understand they are running a business for business and vacation travellers. Again thanks great video 👍

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@carleenc4968]

Officially ditched them in 2018🥳🍾🥂 YOUR VIDEO IS BALM TO OUR Airbnb FIASCOS.THANK YOU. After second-guessing our expectations, not only from the Host(s)but from the Company - both Failed to deliver.....on numerous occasions...

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your issues. Hopefully you have had better results since leaving. We have. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@marsingle777]

Totally agree. The good deals on Airbnb are few and far between. We refuse to pay the ridiculous service and cleaning fees. We have a membership with a hotel chain and even get an occasional free night. We still look at Airbnb when we travel but rarely find a deal that's better than the hotel.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We absolutely started our journey thinking that Airbnb was the way to go and booked our entire first year on Airbnb. But it was just one bad experience after another and the realization the the prices were no better and sometimes much worse that made us switch. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@barb987]

What hotel chain?

[@networth00]

Airbnb is only good for a large group. I've never understood why 2 people want an entire unit when it costs more than a hotel with a swimming pool, free breakfast, etc.

[@X3Jane]

In agreement. And altho I used to read the reviews religiously, I would be stunned at how different the reviews were from what we saw in person. After being ripped off in Paris by a total Airbnb scam we decided we’d never book thru that company again.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Good point. Reviews are not always fool proof. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jackbaldwin3649]

@@RetirementTravelers For hotels either. More and more I find Tripadvisor to be useless when it comes to judging a property. 😞

[@sylviamortgat2384]

I had horrible experience with Air Bnb. I now only use hotels. Thank you for validating that Abnb needs improvements. I thought it was my bad luck. Many issues you mentioned were my painful lessons.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@DanDougherty-t1k]

We took a 6 month tour of Europe, and stayed mostly in Airbnb. Our month in a farmhouse in Ireland was the highlight of our trip. We had no bad stays, and several incredible ones. We find having a kitchen saves us money, and lets us taste the local produce of farmers' markets. We didn't know about the rule about Airbnb keeping the service fee if you cancel three times. We understand now why when the host cancels, they want you to cancel. Thanks for your video. It gives us something to consider in the future

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you had a great experience in Ireland. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ranarosatravels]

Often you can find hotels or hostels with a little kitchenette, or access to a kitchen.

[@DanDougherty-t1k]

@@ranarosatravelsHow would we find those?

[@erinlikesacornishpasty4703]

The thing is, when I traveled in Ireland back in the 90s, house and apartment swapping was a thing. Sure we stayed in Bed and Breakfasts because that's a wonderful way to enjoy Ireland, but house swapping is INCREDIBLE. You get to know your swap families neighborhood and neighbors. They have a fully equipped home, because they live there, it's not just a rental. And you leave detailed instructions about how to run the home. It's far superior to AirBnB. But maybe it feels too risky for people 🤷‍♀️.

[@mattball2700]

+1 to kitchen - the main reason we use Airbnbs. Some hotels and the like have a kitchenette, but not many, in our experience.

[@vjn2390]

Great video! I’ve only stayed at Airbnb’s a few times but I never left feeling I wanted to return. There are hotels that make me feel like royalty 🤩

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've had great success with hotels the past 4 months in SE Asia. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@stjules66]

Thanks for sharing the cancellation rule. I never knew that. I have always been very vigorous with checking reviews and photos and reach out to hosts if I’m not sure, especially for longer stays. I’m happy to leave a place as I’ve found it but draw the line at washing sheets. They have to do something for the cleaning fee.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. Hope it was helpful. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@williamdfr1715]

The real reason not to use AirBnB is that it has skewed the accommodation rental market for people who actually rent to live, not just for holidaymaking. NYC, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris ... so many cities have suffered from owners preferring to make big bucks over the summer rather than letting their apartments to people who live and work in the city

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your perspectives. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@powaqqatsi8]

Definitely. If people would just step outside their bubble and think of the impact AirBnB and other short term rentals have on the local residents. 🙄

[@FrancisSiuChock]

These are phenomenal points and tips! I have often looked at using Airbnb, but ultimately always end up booking hotels. My main reasons are accountability and just the end cost! The fees (cleaning etc.) just end up making the cost uncompetitive. Also, the big reason is definitely the rewards factor for hotels. I don't travel a lot, but enough to give our family at least one reward (free) weekend trip a year so that alone is worth it. Thanks for the video!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We think the lack of a “loyalty” program speaks volumes about how Airbnb cares about their customers!!! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@charlesbartlett2569]

As an AirBnB host and a frequent traveler, I agree with many of your points. We frequently use hotels for shorter stays. AirBnB becomes a better bargain for longer stays or family rentals especially if it has a kitchen. The bottom line is you have to do your research. We have had excellent experiences with AirBnB overall.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience and agree that longer stays probably make more sense. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@SD-co9xe]

I agree- I still like Airbnb even though it isn’t perfect. Hotels do not give you separate bedrooms and a kitchen.

[@ravenmoon1165]

@Charles That may be true for some, but as a travel nurse, the rates have skyrocketed. It seems these hosts base their fees on what they THINK you make. What they fail to realize is that we still are paying for another residence and travel.

[@charlesbartlett2569]

@@ravenmoon1165 Yes, all the fees and taxes add up. As an Airbnb host our payout is 48% of the total amount payed by the guest.

[@MomentumEmpowered]

Thank you!!!! This is so valuable to know

[@michelleorourke6606]

The ease of booking is also a consideration. I just booked 4 air bnbs in ireland and spent many hours reviewing the photos and reviews, as well as trying to determine if the location was good.. It would have been alot easier to book hotels. Thanks for your videos!

[@RetirementTravelers]

That is another factor for us, given that we travel full-time. We can't spend 30 minutes reviewing every lodging opportunity. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@soggymoggytravels]

Yeah, you sometimes have to spend a whole day reading reviews and picking up subtle hints that there's an underlying problem with the property because guests are afraid to post bad comments in case they get a bad review from the host.

[@Honkiavelli]

Great video! I travelled Europe and Asia for 9 months in 2019 and used hotels only. The loyalty programs from my credit card, hotel programs and booking site programs provided me with many nights of free accommodation. The fees on Airbnb do not make it competitive, and the only extra fees with hotel stays were laundry offsite.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! Agree with everything you stated. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@claytonspann8032]

We also are moving away from AirBnb, mainly costs. As you all noted, while I could get some good deals for long term stay (30+days) for short term (less than a week) we often find hotels about the same cost. Hotels also provide daily room cleaning (if asked) and I have nothing to do when I check out. Having to complete post reviews gets old really quick.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and great feedback. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@maobfh]

I also stopped using Airbnb. Their fees are offensive, sometimes totaling as much and more than the rental. Many hosts are investing in multiple homes and changing employment to full time Airbnb hosts. While someone’s employment is none of my business, this is wreaking havoc on the housing market. Airbnb denies this and quotes numbers that I am not sure I believe. Also, they aren’t the only ones who do this as VRBO is still around and outdates Airbnb by many years. Their numbers match and sometimes exceed Airbnb. I am concerned enough about the housing market that I don’t feel comfortable contributing to the problem. Many ads are misleading, cottages sometimes turn out to be single wide mobile homes I trailer parks in questionable neighborhoods. I would not hesitate to stay in a decent mobile home but I don’t appreciate being misled. Hotels are inspected and there are enforceable codes, nothing like that exists for Airbnb. I have numerous other reasons for my decision to stop using them but these are my primary issues. It was once a good way to supplement one’s income but, like everything, it has become a racket and people will always find ways to take excessive advantage of any opportunity.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We have simply had better experiences in hotels, especially in Southeast Asia. Thanks for sharing your experience and contributing to the discussion. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@PauldeSwardt]

As a seasoned traveller (an IT professional working in half a dozen EU countries) my only experience was my last, I was meeting friends in Vienna and opted to organise the accommodation. I choose our apartment and gave my details only to be cancelled a few days later. I had no idea why I was cancelled but went ahead and booked a Hotel. My friend thought it odd and checked the property and it was again available online. I can only conclude that they checked my profile on social platforms saw my colour and cancelled?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@MeliMeli66]

This is why I don't book via Airbnb. I read all the articles about blacks, Asians etc . Decent looking people who were humiliated with last minute cancellation. I remember the beautiful Asian young lady was cancelled on and it was snowing outside. I have small kids and I refuse to have them humiliated like that. I work too hard for my money day in and day out to have my family treated like trash. So I have never booked through them and never will.

[@le13579]

Probably just triple booked to get maximum occupancy. They post again online and the next person will get cancelled, too, unless the planned no.1 occupant cancels/leaves early etc.

[@grannygoes7882]

As a long term host I don't believe there is any way to discriminate in this way. Airbnb is so woke it's beyond belief and they do all they can to make it next to impossible for hosts to cancel. I have no idea what happened in your case but it had nothing to do with your race.

[@bekind5738]

@@RetirementTravelers Wow. I am so sorry.

[@justbeachy4666]

I've heard far too many stories of travelers who booked an Airbnb well in advance of a particular event (music, sports, festivals, etc.) whose reservation was cancelled a few days prior to their stay under the excuse "I'm selling my property." The host figures out they can rent the room or property for $$$$ last minute outside of Airbnb. Then the traveler is left scrambling to try to find accomodations -- sometimes for a group or family -- and they either can't find anything or can't find anything they can afford. It ruins their vacation, and they lose thousands of dollars. Airbnb hosts will also spring the "no bed linens, wash cloths, bath towels, or hand towels unless you want to bring your own or pay $$ extra for them" surprise just before travel.

[@RetirementTravelers]

That’s awful. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@samrutster]

All of what you said and more! My main reason I don’t use them much anymore is the expect you to practically clean the place back to how it looked when you checked in! Why do I pay a cleaning fee?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching and safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Jkaye13]

Yesss!!! This! 👆👆👆

[@ceriosborne394]

Traveling and staying in AirBnB's for the past 8 years I would say that my husband and I have had 'mostly' great experiences. We do stay and book within a hotel chain (minimum nights per year to keep our status) where necessary but for long term stays they are certainly not cost effective or homey ... and, a well chosen and researched AirBnB with a washing machine and a kitchen will ultimately also save you $'s (unless of course travelling through Southeast Asia where eating out is actually cheaper). The map location does give a good idea as to where the accommodation is (zoom in, check and compare photos to street view etc). For safety reasons I can understand not wanting to give an exact address out to the general population. We have definitely learned along the way on what to look for, reading through the listing thoroughly and really scrutinizing the photos (those wide angle lenses are sure popular). Filter your selections and use 'Super Host' to help rule out some of the less desirable locations. Due diligence always pays off and reading through the reviews is absolutely necessary (also being sure to leave a fair but 100% honest review for future travellers). I do think you also get what you pay for to some extent ... 🙂. I enjoyed your video and you definitely made some excellent points that we have not thought about in the past but also some points that are not on AirBnB but the responsibility of the traveller ... research on the country (floors and how they are counted) etc. It takes a little research but fingers crossed that our future stays are all positive! Safe travels.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Hope you have wonderful and safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@cheryl9167]

Yes! I am right there with you two! Airbnb used to be our go to but no longer. It seems as though the bigger Airbnb gets, the further away from their original concept they get. Staying at a place that is more of a business vs an experience is what ruined it for us. Thank you for this video, see you in a hotel lobby!!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We have been enjoying our hotels much more, due to less hassles and better amenities. They seem to have no interest in a loyalty program or their customers. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@truckn]

*I wouldn't totally blame Airbnb for the way things are, the Hosts have a large part in turning people off because I've noticed even at a few places we stayed some guests have zero concept of customer service. Why would a Host charge a cleaning fee and then expect the guest to do the cleaning. Lastly some guests can take the blame as well, I've had things stolen, and broken with no repercussions. And although it hasn't happened at my place guests are breaking rules about extra guests and parties. Not Cool. Anyway my 2 cents from both sides of Airbnb as a Host and guest when we travel. Travel safely & Be well.*

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@truckn Those are all very valid points and we agree. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev

[@lynnrussell1641]

The AirBnB scourge has resulted in Vermont topping the list of growth in homelessness in one yr.AirBnB and VRBO have driven lack of entry level and affordable workforce housing nationwide with many units sitting empty for monthes at a time.

[@boldmover]

I agree with you. The homes are controlled by corporations.

[@lindaolhava]

Agree with you 100% Currently on a 15 wk trip in Europe and using Air BnB for 12 of those weeks. Dark Dank studios that need paint, hosts who give you the wrong code, bad wifi, bad pillows, stains on bed linen I could go on. And I did read thru all of the comments. I am committed at this point because I am nearing the end of my adventure but I will only use them in the future if I absolutely have to. The reason I use them is for cooking my own meals. No knives, no kitchen dish soap, same issues with you on the coffee, min utensils or cooking pots/pans. I was thinking of sending the hosts a list or questions, especially re the kitchen. Have you or anyone else tried that? I am guessing that they don't want to answer if I did. Some of them do act like they are doing you a favor.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We have tried to get creative to reduce costs while traveling. Our hotels usually provide an included breakfast, so we alway utilize that as late as possible. We then either have one nice meal out or go to a local grocery store and pick up a meal that doesn't need much prep. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@americanasiancouple3423]

In 2020, my daughter and I had a most terrible experience with Airbnb in Turks and Caicos. It was owned by a couple from North Carolina retired veteran and had no AC. It felt like 120° inside and was absolutely horrible. No stores in sight far away from civilization not a walking distance to any convenience. NEVER AGAIN!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@c-LAW]

As a "Host" I agree. Airbnb backload fees are absurd. Their policies are not meant to protect the host or the guest, but the policies are meant to enrich Airbnb despite the host or the guest.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your perspective as a host. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@beththomas6514]

It's nice to see that I'm not alone in some of my concerns with AirBNB. My worst experience was back in 2018 when the host of a quaint apartment in the historic district of Aarhus, Denmark abruptly canceled on me too close to my travel date for me to find anything equivalent. After scrambling, I ended up with a modern apartment in a big development at the outskirts. While that was stressful, I also find that searching for and fumbling with lock boxes can be a bit stressful when arriving after dark, particularly if it's late. Also, I've long been frustrated with the time it takes to comb through bookings due to hidden cleaning fees. Glad to hear that they now have a feature to show cleaning fees, but I probably won't be jumping back onto AirBNB anytime soon.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Lockboxes can be very tricky, you are right. We hate fiddling around after dark, too. That's one of the reasons why hotels are just more appealing. Thanks for the comment! John & Bev www.retirementtravelers.com

[@yourtanktopfriend777]

I stayed in 2 superhost airbnbs. Both weren’t as clean as hotels and felt the keypad locks/doors weren’t that secure. The stay was also very expensive and I didn’t want to take out trash and do dishes. Thank you for the info on fees and cancellations.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@shannonchance9105]

AirBnB used to retaliate against customers who posted negative comments about them. I hope they’ve changed that policy. And, I’m thankful for the insights you shared in this video.

[@susie9893]

No that's still a thing and why a lot of ppl have moved on to different companies

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We hadn't even thought about the aspect of removing negative comments. Yet another reason. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@RetirementTravelers]

Wow, we didn't realize. John and Bev

[@jillybe1873]

No this is the same.

[@shannonchance9105]

I rarely use AirBnB anymore, for several of the reasons you mentioned. Particularly the cancellation rules. Even the first three allowed can’t overlap any other reservation.

[@NHJDT]

I've been using Airbnb's for many years and as the years go on, I'm using less and less. Sometimes it's not the same units. Cleaning fees are outrageous. Amenities are not there. After watching this video I realized that for my travels I have booked more hotels in recent times. Hotels have pools, free breakfasts better cancellation fees, and loyalty programs just like the video said

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've been staying in hotels only the past 4 months in Southeast Asia and New Zealand. We've had very few issues, included breakfast, pools, gyms, etc. Much more enjoyable. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@NHJDT]

@@RetirementTravelers my family of 5 has been travelling these last 2+ years. We're finishing out the PNW / Canada this summer and will be doing our Asia trip at the end of Aug. Need to start looking at lodging myself

[@singsongcindy8865]

@@RetirementTravelers do you mind sharing what your weekly hotel budget is for perspective?

[@manuvital9071]

Reasons why I still travel using Airbnb: the use of a refrigerator/freezer for meds or a cold drink. Also, cooking light, inexpensive healthier meals in situ instead of having to travel outside the building looking for a cafe that's open. Shopping in markets helps me feel closer to the culture. I agree each country and hosts are so varied as to cleanliness, check-in or how they describe their amenities.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and you make great points on reasons to stay with Airbnb. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jstephens2758]

Many hotels offer refrigerators (although the freezers in them are not always great) and "suite" or long-term stay hotels have kitchenettes or even full kitchens with larger fridges.

[@victoriabarnes5680]

You are very picky…

[@ll5974]

I eat/cook in the airbnbs and because i car camp, too, i use the laundry. I love that they are unique.

[@soochenwoo2373]

Other booking sites offer apartment stays too.

[@mintheman7]

After traveling in South America for two months, I agree with everything you listed. The lack of quality control, inaccurate descriptions, broken amenities, loud constructions, and excessive fees made me switched to staying exclusively in hotels near end of my trip. Unfortunately the hosts who only view it as a get rich quick scheme and don’t care about their guests are ruining Air B&B.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@droneworldbrasil]

South America Airbnb's are different than American's everything in South America is different.

[@artimanya]

From my experience Sao Paulo must be the worst abnb on the planet . Very deceitful advertisement and most expensive per square meter.

[@droneworldbrasil]

@@artimanya True. It's so sad. But I went to Miami and I had the worst experience too, no water, the place was dirty.

[@RedroomStudios]

this is such nonsense. so many high maintenance people out there.

[@raquels.]

I used to stay at AirBnB's frequently and had impeccable 5-star ratings, with wonderful comments and reviews from every host I'd ever stayed with. Then two years ago, I got an email from AirBnB informing me that my account had been removed because "Based on factors such as your location and email address, we’ve determined that your account is closely affiliated with a listing, person, property, or location that didn’t comply with our Community Standards." (I kept the email, so this is verbatim). And here is the kicker: "In keeping with our Privacy Policy, we can’t disclose any information about the listing, person, property, or location that triggered this action." When I emailed asking them for more information, they said they couldn't disclose more and they couldn't restore my account. So basically, somewhere, somehow, someone that I may or may not know or have maybe interacted with in my life may have violated the Community Standards, and because I maybe possibly perhaps knew them or interacted with them, my account was deleted. But because of their privacy policy, they couldn't tell me anything else, so I can't even know if the accusation was legitimate or not. Either way, for the last two years I've switched back to staying at hotels and my travels have been infinitely better.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Wow, what a story. Thanks for sharing. Glad you are enjoying hotels much better. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@crystalsanaei2157]

Loved this video. Confirms a lot of what we’ve been seeing with Airbnb as well. Can you guys make a video about your hotel experiences and also if you’ve decided to do a certain loyalty program with certain hotels? how that’s going so far? You could discuss the loyalty program why you chose a certain hotel chain when you decide to use a hotel chain versus other hotels, how do you pick your hotel and if there is any specific way to obtain loyalty points for example, if you had to utilize a certain credit card? Love the channel!

[@erinaustin9968]

I’m also interested in more info about the hotel stays. We loved the POV on staying at the fancy hotel in SE Asia.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Southeast Asia has been amazing. The overall quality of hotels, at reasonable prices, has been perfect. Large included breakfast, pools, spas, gyms, etc John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@DeborahViscariello]

I am interested in this as well.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

Great suggestion!! Please do an honest video about the pros and cons of staying at hotels.

[@jackbaldwin3649]

@@RetirementTravelers Yes, but would you say the same about Europe or other parts of the world?

[@walkingestonian]

Super good info. I found most annoying the 240 USD cleaning fees for 2 days stays AND we still had to clean the place before leaving up to taking out our trash from the house to the special site in town as there was no trash collection. Most of the time it is really worth it when booking for a month.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We agree that Airbnb is better suited for longer stays, unless you get some surprise issues. Then you are stuck. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@susandevine3907]

@@RetirementTravelers Like enjoying bugs for a month!

[@susannorman8549]

@@Fell214 They addressed that issue in the video.

[@networth00]

Do you really think it matters how many days you stay? If the host gets charged 240 to have the unit cleaned, should they just half clean it before you get there and charge you 120? Use common sense people.

[@catherine8332]

So useful thanks! The only way I Airbnb: - select instant book only - select super host only - whole home only - self check in only With those criteria…for just a week Airbnb is usually more expensive than a midrange hotel. But for month long stay I think Airbnb still worth it.

[@susie9893]

Hmm, I agree with you to an extent but I will look into what I can get with other accommodation companies first

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We have also been talking with some hotels, and believe there are longer term discounts available, especially during the shoulder and low seasons. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@RetirementTravelers]

We would be interested to know what you find out. Thanks. John and Bev

[@susie9893]

@@RetirementTravelers I meant hypothetically. If I were booking less than a week I usually look into hotels first (altho it does depend what the object of the stay is - sometimes you just want to get way away). I had kinda forgotten the apart-hotels option - used to do that years ago but had a couple of lack-lustre experiences and stopped

[@HH-fo9sg]

So far, I have had a great experience with Airbnbs while traveling in Europe-each has been at least as good as the photos. I do read the reviews and make my decisions accordingly. I also prefer when there is a lockbox as opposed to waiting for a person to meet at the unit. And I have come to expect the stairs! For short stays of 1-3 nights, a hotel can be more convenient, but it is nice to have an apartment for longer stays. I didn’t know about the 3-cancellation rule!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. We've had many great experiences, we just stay so much that there are also plenty of less than ideal situations. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@unavocatepice]

RE: Air conditioning - Very true! I'm sticking to 5 star hotels from now on! Great video! Keep posting! 😎

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thank you! We are enjoying hotels much more than Airbnb. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@theoliveoilworkshop4907]

I have two Airbnb apartments. This was helpful to watch. I wish everyone tried to maintain quality and Airbnb would recognize the value of customers and hosts. You guys are wonderful. Happy travels!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We have had several wonderful Airbnb hosts and sounds like you fall into that category. Thanks for making great travel memories for many people. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@NancyBaron1]

Try telling this fairytale to people who can't find a residence in their towns and are constantly having the cost of everything sky rocket due to "vacationers".

[@manp1039]

how long have you been using Airbnb for your apartment rentals?

[@ladyboomer2]

My husband is a hotelier so we do utilise brand loyalty if a hotel is available. But this strategy is generally for short term stays. Can you please do a video on alternatives to Airbnb for longer stays- a week plus- ideally incorporating kitchen and laundry facilities. 🙏🏻

[@galaxia4709]

Renting a condo

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the suggestion. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tyrone-tydavis5858]

Trying Booking.....nicer properties and better pricing (their fees are paid by the hosts). We are full time travelers for 6 years and would not touch Airbnb with a stick....definitely the bottom feeders in the short-term rental arena.

[@manp1039]

I don't think there is a company that offers something like Airbnb at the scale (international) that Airbnb does. I think there are some companies that try but i have not seen anything take hold and have the same kind of brand recognition and numbers that AirBnb does. If there are, I too would like to know which they are.

[@Rosepetalscreations]

This information is really helpful, thank you. As a single woman I have stayed at a few airbnd’s but do prefer to stay in hotels for the convenience, the human contact ect. I am finding now that the cleaning fees are getting out of control, in some cases hundreds of dollars. It’s ridiculous. You taught me a lot of good stuff here, thank you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. So glad you found it helpful. We have been staying in only hotels the past 4 months and loved it. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@grannygoes7882]

It's not smart on the hosts part to charge a cleaning fee, especially a high one, but it's totally optional. I often ask the host to waive them in exchange for a longer stay and they almost always will. Airbnb encourages cleaning fees as part of their "pay a livable wage" mindset. They want cleaners to get a decent wage. I rent out my basement and do my own cleaning so I don't charge a cleaning fee. It's never been an issue with airbnb. It's my choice.

[@v.j.3029]

At least in a hotel, you get an immediate response from the reception when you need something or when there's a problem.

[@corryjookit7818]

As soon as the Scottish Government spoke of their intentions to look at Airbnb, a whole street in a part of Edinburgh went up for sale, The owners were all Americans. This time of year is a case in point, the Edinburgh Festival the Fringe is Fabulous, and used to be fine until Airbnb began, making money out of our city. And our dwellers.

[@corryjookit7818]

You're on holday, why do need fast WiFi?

[@margiemudge6607]

I do agree with all of this. Airbnb can be a complete nightmare and very pricey after all the added fees! We have been left "homeless" abroad several times! Waisting a full day trying to find lodging. This is NOT acceptable. Once you book with Airbnb the owners should never be allowed to just cancel on you. This has happened seven times to us.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Ouch ! Sorry to hear about your bad experiences. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com

[@aquariaaustin2077]

They should need an act of G-d reason (fire, flood, etc) to cancel, and no less.

[@laurenleigh6478]

I should be in Venice soon for Carnevale but the host cancelled. No reason given. He initially tried to force me to cancel & he got pretty ugly sending me rude emails. He tried to make me accept a bad place in a section of town I did not want to be in. I remained polite and quickly let Airbnb handle it. It was too late to find any hotel rooms or apartments so I had to cancel my dream trip.

[@margiemudge6607]

I am so sorry that happened. Wrong in so many ways. @@laurenleigh6478

[@dbibbyma]

Wow, yeah. I, too, have soured on Airbnb as well for all the reasons you have mentioned. I have switched to hotels.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mikevidovich8311]

Great job - Support local business that are job creators not residential neighborhood / housing market killers ,,,,,

[@vickicooper7424]

Airbnb just took away my *super host* status because I didn't have enough bookings according to their expectations. Disregarded that I get great reviews from all my guests. I feel under appreciated from the Company . I would think it would be to their advantage to keep as many Super Host listed as possible, considering all the recent negative news. I've not canceled, I have 100 %response rate, I have guests thank me for keeping rates reasonable. I live on site, I offer kayaks for free....But I guess bottom line is I didn't make Airbnb enough money:(

[@RetirementTravelers]

So sorry to hear that story, but thanks for sharing. We are sure you are a great host. Feel free to reply and put the link to your place here in our comments. Many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@SarahjaneSmithson]

Same has happened to me! I am a live in host. Sometimes I want to spend time on my own, or with my family!

[@MarinamSun]

I used to book via ArBnB a lot in the past, but I stopped doing this. I agree with all your comments. It's not worth it anymore financially in most cases, and most importantly, can ruin your vacation. Once I got bitten by a dog when trying to find owners to check in. Another time, due to incorrect mapping, got stuck in the wood and damaged my rental car in it when the app gladly told me that "I have arrived". It was also very dark already and I was super tired and I felt very unsafe. The third time my friend and I were met by the host's son who was exceptionally rude and probably on drugs, who also met us in the wrong place and then demanded that my friend got out of the car and walk to the apartment in the unknown country and city according to his oral directions, so that I could drive him!!! Overall, it has become ridiculous. No more Airbnb for my family.

[@RetirementTravelers]

That's where we got to as well. We gave them plenty of opportunity by staying in over 50 different places all around the world, so this wasn't a hasty decision. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@OkieJammer2736]

You're both so glib and personable, excellent communicators. NEEDED information. Thank you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@catzenhouse]

Also for neighbors who suddenly find themselves next door to an AirBnB situation, it can be a very unhappy, continual experience for the neighboring homeowners as well. Strangers in and out at all hours, partying, etc. My sister and mom stayed at a residence a few years ago in an RV - looked great in the photos. When they got there lots of unwelcome surprises. Not allowed to plug in any appliances so no hair dryer, no coffee pot, etc. Also, the beds were very narrow and uncomfortable and other issues. A real nightmare.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We have heard similar stories from many people. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@joolsspav3891]

I stayed in an airbnb that had a fairly high cleaning fee and when i got there there was a big list of things i needed to do before leaving, basicly cleaning the whole place. They wanted the beds stripped, linen and towels washed and put on airers to dry. I was leaving at 530am to catch a flight. I always leave a place tidy but left them to do their own laundry on this one

[@RetirementTravelers]

You probably got a bad review for it! 🤣 Check out our follow up video! You did the right thing! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4utipemp6ZgfMUsi=e30Dc88nz9KNIsxF Thanks for watching and commenting! John & Bev

[@ColleenDerry-b4e]

I so agree with all your concerns. One issue I’ve become aware of lately is that short term rentals like AirBnB are adding to the housing shortage in some areas.

[@v.j.3029]

Exactly. It's creating a housing crisis for the locals in the big cities and driving the rents up due to everybody fighting to get the few available ones. People are getting poorer and homelessness is increasing. I hope they go bankrupt and tourists can go back to staying in hotels.

[@MoonFirefly13]

Its everywhere.

[@kbc1883]

Yes, I’m affected by that personally in my area of NC and had to turn to an alternative to renting (bought a yurt and have it on my sister’s property ) because, even as a single well employed middle aged person with an excellent rental history, I couldn’t find a reasonable place to rent. And all the places I would have bought have been snapped up by investors and turned into airbnb, so even buying isn’t an option. It is causing some areas to have nobody to work manual labor, farming, and service industry jobs because there isn’t any affordable housing for them. It is one reason so many people are living in cars, vans, RVs.

[@1ireneaustin]

Our final airbnb rental was this May. From ridiculous cleaning fees, outrageous demands i.e. remove shoes, wash and put away all d8shes. Basically we did the maids job and then had to pay the 250$ cleaning fee as well. We have been airbnb for 8 years and we are finished with them and VRBO. The housing crisis where there are double the number of airbnb list8ngs compared to for sale listings...all in all airbnb is destructive to the local culture and creates hardships for families who deserve an opportunity to own a home.

[@anna_m59]

Many landlords scared to rent long term because in lot of areas you can’t evict tenants if they stop paying rent

[@rumcoke9123]

Airbnb has become a joke. 200-250 cleaning charges? Huge fees. There are way better options. Totally agree.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've been happier since not using them. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Jkaye13]

Yep.. the fees are pricing them out of the market!

[@TeaWitcher]

And they STILL expect you to have it clean when you leave!! Crazy

[@karenl6086]

My husband and I rent our house through Airbnb via a management company. This enables us to travel for 6 months every year. Hosts have the option to cover the service charge themselves, which we do. Of course our profits are less but we get more bookings and we only need to make enough money to cover our travel accommodation, in cheaper countries than the U.K. The management company do charge a cleaning fee which isn’t super cheap (more reasonable the longer you stay, as it’s a set fee) but it’s a professional cleaning company who also provide hotel quality bed linen, towels etc for each set of new guests. When we use AirBNB overseas, we look for ones where there is no service fee 😊 we have mostly found great places but do find some people mislead guests with descriptions, so we ensure to include any missing / incorrect info when we review the place after our stay.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with our viewers. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ritagraybill9414]

We owned a bed and breakfast in Stillwater Minnesota. Our prices were less than air bib. We served a 4 course breakfast, bottle of wine or champagne along with homemade crackers, imported cheeses and fruit. We were always on call and always busy. Look into Bed and Breakfasts I would say.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We have stayed in some great ones. Thanks for sharing this great reminder. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@LamplighterScott]

The three cancellations in a 12 month period rule seems to have been dropped sometime by early 2022. I use AirBnB a lot and have cancelled seven times in the last 12 months for various reasons, all within the host's cancellation period. I was fully refunded for the stays and AirBnB service fees. I checked my cc's booking charges and credit amounts. They all matched for each booking and there were no additional AirBnB charges. I like AirBnB's for the space, extra bed, kitchen and in-house laundry facilities. They are also more interesting than hotels. You also get the chance to sort of live like a local. The risk is that sometimes you get less than what you expected. Reading and writing honest reviews is vital. I have been disappointed by a few hotels in this regard. The world is not perfect. I have also had some over-the-top AirBnB experiences, namely in Rome and Montreal, that pleasantly surprised me. I'm still sold on AirBnB.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Yes, we've heard that from other readers. It is about time!!! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@bigmargie]

I agree. I enjoy Airbnb for the extra space to stretch out and relax and make a light breakfast or dinner. Currently, I've had more hits than flops. Until that changes, I will stay with Airbnb.

[@jillpackard5305]

We will be in Rome in this July. Will you share the Airbnb you stayed at?

[@SD-co9xe]

I just returned from Europe and mostly used Airbnb and it was great. I really can’t imagine being on vacation and sharing a bedroom with my kids the whole time. No thanks! The Airbnb experience is way better than a bland hotel room. You just need to be careful when booking. I’ve had a few I did not like but overall it has been very positive.

[@ll5974]

Agreed.

[@jenniferwiley5025]

This was so helpful. I often feel guilty for wanting to stay in a hotel. It’s nice to know that it can make financial sense.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful and hope you can follow along on our journey. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@mattbailey9396]

Good stuff for the most part. I have owned and managed a vacation rental for years. I’m glad you are providing your thoughts to people. Biggest issue for me has been these companies shifting to a real money hungry focus. My guests didn’t use to have to pay a service charge--which I hate. Owners also are forced to jump through various hoops--all geared for making the company money. But yes…. Reviews and pictures are vital prior to booking. Appreciate you posting on this topic!! 👍

[@Alphacentauri819]

Reviews, yes...but the caveat is to read them with a discerning, analyzing, mind. Some of the "reviews" are rigged by owners having friends and family (or themselves, when it's really suspect) write reviews. I pay careful attention, just like with product reviews. Also, pictures can be very deceiving. Either pictures of a completely different house/unit are shown, or angles and editing are deceiving. So, reviews and pictures can in some cases be helpful...but also can be very false and you never know until you get there. I don't think I'll ever book with rental companies anymore. I'd rather pay extra for a hotel, the "certainty" is worth it.

[@mattbailey9396]

@@Alphacentauri819 Of course you must be discerning. Even us honest owners, with accurate pictures and only real reviewers still frame everything in the best light. We all need to read between the lines a bit. I’ve stayed in a bunch of VRBO and AirB&B’s--never been ambushed or abused. A matter of time potentially. As you say, completely false pictures, of different and better units are another issue. Those owners should be prosecuted.

[@Alphacentauri819]

@@mattbailey9396 I've only stayed in a few air BnB's, in the USA, and they all had issues. Generally minor...but the one in Oahu, had completely false pictures, had poor kitchen set up, pots and pans and things were poor quality, not enough for the whole family...cockroaches, and lizards inside. Not enough pillows, dirty shower and on and on. It was maybe (maybe) appropriate for a bunch of surfers who wanted a place to crash, without any care for quality. However, for multiple generations etc, trying to have a nice reunion? Abominable.

[@mattbailey9396]

@@Alphacentauri819 Sorry to hear that! Certainly that place sounds less than desirable! 😕

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@JAZZYinDaHaus]

Thank you for the very valuable insight. AirBnB is not what it used to be. They have become greedy and the hosts very entitled. The cleaning and surcharge are ridiculous and for this reason, I no longer use AirBnb. As you both stated, hotels for the most part are actually cheaper than AirBnb and the easy of user experience from check in to check out is a non compare with AirBnb.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've been happier with hotels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@sd-fz2lu]

Great video! My husband and I have traveled a lot in Europe and have learned from the same mistakes like not reading all the reviews, not examining the photos (and I mean EXAMINE THEM!) even so, some places were a dissapointment. That being said, we are traveling to Greece in the fall with some friends who really wanted to stay in Airbnb's so fingers crossed that all our work looking at places and asking questions to the host before hand pay off. I also like that at a hotel, the place is cleaned very day, you can cancel usually a day before with out a penalty and, like you mentioned, many hotels have reward programs. keep up the good work!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and have a wonderful trip to Greece. We were there last year and loved it. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@sakinastraveldiary4562]

We've been living in Airbnbs full-time since 2.5 years. I am extremely cautious and I have great attention to detail but it is so easy to fall into some major trap. I am surprised you didn't mention that Airbnb hosts can demand thousands of dollars from guests for their made up repairs!

[@susie9893]

Yes, I'm starting to think of it as car hire. Take a lot of photos and do a thorough inspection + report any issues at the outset. Then you have stuff in writing

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. That one hasn't actually happened to us, but doesn't surprise us. John and Bev

[@worldtravelerwendy]

I just learned about this claim process when a nightmare host used it to harass and retaliate against me for a negative but honest review, by falsely claiming we had broken the shower faucet and a $3 soap dispenser. Fortunately the claim was small ($100), Airbnb correctly found in my favor, and I had actually anticipated retaliation so I had taken a video of the apartment condition when I left. But it left me with such a bad impression that Airbnb will not only allow a host to harass you, but they facilitate it! They don't even seem to vet or screen the "damage" claim at all, just put it all on you as the paying guest. Just one more thing that would NEVER happen to you if you picked a hotel instead.

[@Hawijack]

No more Airbnb for us! We arrived late in Sicily because air Italy is terrible and never on time. We found out our third floor apartment was actually on the fifth floor and the last flight was a circular staircase and hard to carry our luggage up. The place was a dump in my opinion tiny and not what the picture showed. The free Wi-Fi didn’t work at all making it hard to find an alternative. But worse of all the place smelled like a sewer. I could have suffered through the dinginess or even the lack of Wi-Fi ,but the smell was the worst. We stayed that one night and found a hotel for the rest of our nine day visit but ended up loosing $850 because of the lack of Wi-Fi to cancel on time. Airbnb made lots on us and our 5 star rating got us nothing in the end. The hotels we switched to were cheaper per night and we ended up having a great time. Buyer beware!

[@rebecapowers]

It happened to me 😞

[@Anonymous-One1]

Great information! The cleaning fees are outrageous. $200+ for a 2 night stay. We have passed staying at several places just because of the cleaning fees. I travel a fair amount for work and always stay at Marriott. We use our Marriott points to rent vacation properties through their Homes and Villas offering. We have been really happy with Marriott's service.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We are a long time Marriott customer as well, but we stay in such a variety of places, that it just isn't possible all the time. We put everything on Chase Sapphire Reserve so that we can book stays with points. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@edtravelbug]

The effort to clean a house with bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, etc, is almost as hard for a 2-night stay as a 4-night, 6-night, etc. AirBnB is probably not a good choice for short stays. A $ 200 cleaning fee is not significant at all if you stay at a place for 10 days or a month. I just checked Marriott - Florence, Italy, and a queen bed small hotel room is $ 900 a night at the Westin which is a good central location to walk around. A really nice two-bedroom AirBnB in the same time period is $ 450 with almost 5-star reviews, a kitchen, beautiful architectural details, and a balcony view of the Duomo. Second, check Barcelona and want to stay as close to the Gothic Quarter as possible. La Meridien by Marriott is a great location, and $ 350 per night for a small regular room. 4.8 star rated AirBnb with 2 bedrooms, living room, Kitchen, and balcony with lots of architectural detail is also about $ 350 per night. Both examples are total costs with fees/cleaning and seven-night stays during the summer tourist season.

[@singsongcindy8865]

@@RetirementTravelers LOVE chase sapphire reserved!

[@Anonymous-One1]

@@edtravelbug All depends on what you want. For personal travel I stay at the less expensive Marriott hotels - Fairfield and Courtyard. You were comparing more expensive Marriott hotels with Airbnb, but Marriott has their Homes and Villas product, which I mentioned in my original comment. Homes and Villas is similar properties as Airbnb and Vrbo. In fact, I have seen the same properties on all 3 services.

[@SouthernPioneer1965]

I live in the states .. and I own my own cleaning business that does strictly AirBaB. My clients all own house on or near the beaches. We live in a very high vacation market. I can completely understand complaints about a high cleaning bill especially if you are walking into a place that is not cleaned well for the cost you are paying . But take into consideration, the same amount of cleaning is required wether you stay 2days or 5 . You are still using the entire house . Bathrooms kitchen, towels, bed, floors . I am still responsible to clean and sanitize the bathrooms , kitchen, linens, floors. Every refrigerator gets completely cleaned inside and outside. It’s not just removing food and done. It gets properly cleaned after each stay. Along with microwave countertops cabinets if there’s hand dirt prints on the outside of the cabinets ,stove even garage cans if they get dirty with food waste on them. All these issue need to be addressed before the next guests arrive. Along with the bathrooms we are cleaning showers/tubs toilets, sinks , mirrors, and floors cleaned sanitize, steam moped . Couches get cleaned and vacuumed if fabric, and have sand or food on it. If the cleaning service are of quality service then there is a lot to making sure the house is completely cleaned each time . This is why as a host the number one service that you should never skim on is the finding and hiring good property cleaning services. I work with my clients not for them, if I do my side of this business very well , it will bring more business in and both me and the host will be making money. I completely understand there are a lot of cleaning services that are not doing a good job, and that is where leaving honest reviews with the host is important. If they care about their business that will address this issue. All of my clients had service with big cleaning management companies, and was always getting complaints. They hired me a small personally run business, I have three employees that work for me , and my clients rentals have doubled. That have bookings a year in advance and repeat renters . Because they know they can trust when they walk in it is absolutely cleaned . Also keep in mind depending on the situation, I have 4 houses to have cleaned every Saturday. Check out is at 10:0 am check in at 4 pm that is to have all the house cleaned sanitize, linens completely washed, news ones placed out , the place spotless. Depending on house much the house was used , this can take up to 2 hrs per house . So those little details of putting the dirty dishes in washer and Turing it on , or towels in washer and turning it on , allows these things be in progress, and assures a complete cleaned well presented house for the next person , just like when you walked through the door. You are paying for the service you received. So please keep these things in mind when you complain about the cleaning services bill. If you are receiving and I cleaned house , then by all means complain, But if it is beautifulcleaned and we’ll maintain, remember their is alot that goes into that to make it so, and it’s probably being done by a small business owner independently run. Thank you .

[@BunnyTheChi]

My adult daughter and I stayed in London UK in an Airbnb last month. We had never used Airbnb before. It was a beautiful condo, but not as advertised. We were told the "cleaners were just leaving" when we arrived. In fact the owner and his wife were leaving. Unit was not clean. Their food was in the fridge. There were two bedrooms and theirs was of course locked. The Airbnb ad stated the entire unit would be ours. On the first day, we got a text from the owner stating that if the concierge downstairs asked who we were we should tell him we're "friends" of the owner. Meaning they should not be renting out their unit. We didn't rate the property at all after we left. We paid a cleaning fee, yet the unit wasn't clean. We will likely not stay in Airbnb again.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Wow, thanks for sharing your story. Sadly, we hear this type of thing all the time. Hotels for us! Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@snailtravelers]

I know this is an older video but still wanted to leave a comment because this video is very helpful. I think you make a terrific point about hotels having a front desk with a real person. When we stay in an Airbnb we often wonder what we would do if we were to have a medical emergency in the middle of the night or the host isn't checking their messages. No problem with a hotel, we could just call the front desk. We still use Airbnb, especially for longer stays, but not as much as we used to. Great video and great KZbin channel!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for commenting and glad you liked the video. Enjoy your travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Joflowers4]

Great video, and my husband and I can definitely relate! We recently had a negative experience at 2 Air BNBs in Rome earlier this year. Both had had decent reviews so we now suspect reviews - and that is really the only way to judge other than a handful of photos . The first Air BNB was absolutely riddled with problems, and we were thankfully able to get out of our contract and find a new apartment right away. However, the whole ordeal ruined the beginning of our trip, and required several hours on the phone with Air BNB customer service staff in Rome. Eventually, I got through to staff at the San Francisco office and things progressed properly. Issues were further complicated because the owner of the flat was not the person we dealt with. We didn’t want to leave a negative review because the lady managing the flat wasn’t to blame - so in the end we didn’t leave a review at all. I think this often happens with Air BNB reviews because nobody wants the wrong person to be blamed for issues that arise. The second Air BNB was definitely better, but there were issues with it as well (it was very cold and the kitchen wasn’t properly stocked). The lady managing it for the American owner was a very submissive immigrant who was extremely kind and receptive, but clearly scared of losing her job. We gave a good (but not great) review but would have said more had we not feared for her future employment. These two back-to-back incidents highlighted that Air BNB reviews and half a dozen photos is simply not enough to go on when searching for places. And you are right - Air BNB is not cheap! After these 2 bad experiences, I recommended to Air BNB customer service that they initiate a survey at the end of all stays asking basic yes/no or scaled 1-5 questions about location, AC and/or heating, was the kitchen functional & adequately stocked , the bed comfortable, was the flat noisy or clean, did it have good wifi and adequate & comfortable seating, plugs, lighting, etc. The survey should also ask the age group of the guests because couples in their 20s have different needs than those in their 50s and 60s. It's certainly been a learning experience for us. We hope to do a lot of travelling in France, Spain, Italy, Germany & Portugal so are on the constant look-out for decent places to stay. Happy travels!

[@boldmover]

It is easy to change rooms in a Hotel than an Airbnb. I have switched to Hotels, too. The headache is too much with Airbnbs. You cannot do enough due diligence. This is so because our decisions depend on an honest host, previous guests and Airbnb, and the company ensuring the listing is accurate. We both know that is not happening. Hearing that I'm not alone in my feelings and experiences is good. Take care and enjoy your Bold Living.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We have found it much easier to deal with booking.com vs. Airbnb. John and Bev ttps://retirementtravelers.com

[@krc5210]

We had the same initial reasons for using VRBO and AirBNB. As you said, a couple of bad stays when we didn't look more closely at the reviews and photos left us in very bad situations. Added to this the house next door to us and 3 houses down in our small lakeside town are now STRs (Short-term rentals) and that has caused problems in a few cases. We didn't want to support these businesses that were creating problems where we live and own a house. Then we began hearing too that locals in other places were unhappy with STRs in their neighborhoods so we decided to just stop contributing. Your info on the fine print has confirmed that we made the right decision. TY!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience with our viewers. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@chewhuachan9541]

3 weeks ago I was in Portugal, stayed in 5 Airbnb in different cities, overall experience was good except for Lisbon. I am always very careful to check on : 1. Whether they allow storage of luggage before check in and after check out. 2. Whether there are stairs, if yes, how many floor. This particular listing mentioned that: 1. For the convenience for guest who arrive early or depart late, storage of luggage is allow before check in and after check out. 2. No stair to climb But when we arrived, collected the keys from the mail box outside, open the door, in front of us are stairs! No lift, to get to the unit, 48 steps to climb. We are 3 middle age ladies, 2 weeks travel in Europe, so means 3 x 25kg luggage! When we depart, our train at 6:30pm, I text the host to inform that we need to leave the luggage after check out and come back to collect at 4:30pm, she told us storage of luggage only for before check in, not for after check out! In this case, I find the host is not honest!

[@RetirementTravelers]

You make many good points. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Samkeliso_Nkwanyane]

I agree fully with you especially on the first point. I recently booked different Airbnbs in Cape Town and I reaslised I should have arranged for storage before asnd after check-in. It can be quite a hassle if you do not check this and arrange.

[@DaylanTheAngrySauerkraut]

As a host, before chevk in I might not be home to look after your luggage. After checking out, I cannot be held legally responsible for your luggage and might have another guest or have be at work or away from my home. As I rent out a room in my terrace house, I cannot afford to install a lift for you, it is my HOME and private residence, not a hotel. I cannot speak for those hosts that buy entire properties to rent out, but I'm strictly a spare room Host, and not a hotel. You would not allow such liberties in your own private dwelling for guests yourself. Don't forget this. Not all of us Hosts are property tycoons.

[@stephaniefranell4441]

As a Airbnb host… thank you!! This shows us where when can definitely grow and become a better host!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind response. We met many great hosts along the way that made our stays better. We are sure you are one of those kind of hosts. Thank you. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@K-1Tube]

In the worse airbnb I ever got the host gave me a bad review... She assumed I'd post a bad review becasuse I complained about the deceitful apartament location on the map, which made go the wrong beach and ruined my vacation. As a revenge she posted a bunch of lies about my behavior and there was nothing I could do against this blatant defamation. The host hurt my vacation big time with false information about her apartament's locaton and I'm the one getting a bad review. After that I reliased how absurd it is the notion of even being reviewed as a consumer and never used airbnb again.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great point. Sorry about your bad experience. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@gsjackson34]

Yeah, I never really got right with the idea of being evaluated by someone whose product I was buying.

[@lonnierich965]

I had a host accuse me of smoking in the unit, which was completely false, and leave a review stating that I was disrespectful and should not be rented to. AirBnB refused to remove review, only allowing a response to it. Another host harassed me for payment following the stay when I had already paid to AirBnB up front, which is standard. And then host accused me of breaking a window. Hotels from now on.

[@RedroomStudios]

you need to be smarter than that and always confirm the location by finding the building on google maps. dont book anything that doesnt show photos of the exterior so you can confirm its location.

[@Nana18868]

OMG. What an informative video. Great job guys. We have stayed in an Airbnb in Florida and Montana. Both were excellent. Then we stayed in Vermont and that did it. The place was a dump. So dusty we couldn’t breathe or sleep. We left after 2 nights (we were booked for 7). The host was a hoarder and her stuff spilled out of her part of the house. Mold in the BR, unwashed sheets, dust bunnies everywhere, AC from the 80ties and not up to the task. Her huge dog kept barking at us (“he doesn’t bite”). The “beach” was not next to the house and was used as a neighborhood dump. Airbnb could not have cared less. No refund from the “hostess the mostest”. No, no, no. Hotels from now on

[@anabarboza86]

Wow. Just convinced me. I’m sticking to hotels and earning my miles over risking it. I’ve had some issues with Airbnb in the past (no heat) and they refused to refund me and i had to find a new place and the host still kept allllll my money.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Hotels have been more consistent for us. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/