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The Points Guy’s Experience with AirBnB

klpca

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I read that yesterday. It only takes one bad experience to spoil your relationship with a company. We showed up to a vrbo rental in 2001 and found not only a dirty house, but used syringes on the *floor*. I will still use vrbo occasionally but the timeshare model is so much better for everyone, imo.
 

jme

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Regarding "Airbnb" (and other sites) the key is only searching the people who have a stellar record, as reflected in the status
designated as "Superhost" on the site. And absolutely read ALL the reviews for ANY potential host.
Usually the price is still in line with those "others" whose record is ambiguous.

Superhosts may not be perfect, but 98% of the time it appears they are close, which imho, maximizes your
confidence and minimizes any potential shortfalls. Searching by price alone can be quite iffy.
 
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Goofyhobbie

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My first encounter with Airbnb happened a year after I first signed up as a possible member of that community.

When I could not find timeshare availability through my usual RCI searches; I was forced to look elsewhere to put together a six to eight week trip as a "Snowbird" in Florida.

I had been use to noting when RCI would receive corporate deposits of inventory and reacting when those deposits were made (usually in late July or early August.) Once the deposits were noted and observed I watched them closely and usually would pounce on them when they went on sale.

That method took care of my needs for at least six years and did not noticeably change until 2017 and 2018. My guess is the economy had turned around dramatically by then and inventory became more in demand or business factors favoring RCI and it's corporate partners got involved and inventory was simply used elsewhere.

By October of 2018; I had little choice but to use a service such as Airbnb and specifically chose that service because they appeared to be successful as a business model and very careful about how they carried out business. After all they are probably worth Billions of Dollars and apparently have encountered issues with government bodies throughout the World; but they continue to prosper.

Naturally, like any Newbie; I did my best to do my homework and protect myself; but "stuff happens" particularly when one is looking for good properties and at a fair value.

In mid October, I ran across a listing for a major property in Orlando (Gold Star RCI Resort) where an owner (HOST) had available a unit for at least several weeks. If memory serves me correctly the offering would cover most if not all of a month without us having to move from Resort to Resort while in Florida and I had already researched the particular resort over the years.

To make a long story short, the reservation was booked and I believe the booking cost was well over $2,000; but was slightly less in cost than my trade fees and maintenance fees would have involved had I been able to go through RCI.

While I thought all was well, it only took about a week to ten days before Airbnb abruptly and unilaterly cancelled the reservation with no explanation. The good news is my full payment was returned; but the bad news is I had to start all over again with my search while time was lost and demand had increased.

Although I do not know why the reservation was cancelled; I do know that it was an Airbnb decision that had something to do with the Host. My best guess is that somehow the Host had not complied with Airbnb requirements in some way or another.

By the end of October, I was finally able to find another reservation in what appeared to be a very nice home in a gated community near Walt Disney World and decided to rent that space for 30 days primarily because the home had four bedrooms, two baths, an outdoor pool that was screened and literally part of the home; a garage; great reviews and the Host provided Breakfast for each day of the stay.

That complete house cost more than the original reservation; but the overall description, pictures, reviews; and price were fair.

Soon, I will update all in more detail; but first I have to figure out how to diplomatically tell the story; and upload pictures.

Please check back for more detail; because you will find what happened interesting to you especially if you use Airbnb and want to know more about my personal experience using that website.

May take a day or two; but follow-up should be available soon. I am currently still in "Snowbird" mode and will be through at least March 10th if not slightly longer.
 

Tank

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Articles that have always disturbed me are about finding camera's / video systems.

At ones own house they sure could get crafty vs hotels/ timeshares.


Just don't think this is a way I ever want to travel
 

Makai Guy

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Goofyhobbie

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To Makai Guy, Thanks for your assist.

Now more about that initial Airbnb experience.

The reservation was for a house that the pictures indicated would be perfect for a 30 day vacation.

It was within a very secure neighborhood with security fence and a security gate.

My guess is the house was probably worth well over $300,000 and may have cost a lot more than that; but I am not up to speed on home values in Claremont; FL.

It had 4 BR; 2 baths; an outside heated pool; obvious game room in a Garage that was pictured as empty and as we learned upon arrival a lot of money tied up in HD televisions. But the provider only offered basic channels and a lot of QVC type channels.

The original Airbnb advertisement had pictures that appealed and amenities that appealed including Breakfast each morning of the 30 day rental.

After about a 12 hour drive from my home in Virginia to the rented house in Clermont, FL; we arrived after dark and I had to call the Host to get clarification on which buttons to push on the locking system.

He answered the phone almost immediately because he was expecting my call. THAT was great! After some talking and with literally several bags in my hand as I was trying to open the door; the Host asked "How do you like the House?"

That happened even before I could get the door open; I thanked the Host for the help; but asked if I could call him later since we were exhausted and wanted to go to bed.

Meanwhile, the question caught my attention and I wanted to make sure that I looked over the house the next day so that I could give the Host feedback.

As a side note: the Host resided in Texas and the home was in Florida; but I was confident that the Host; given all the good reviews must have employed a Housekeeper and Maintenance Service to care for the home in Florida as any reasonable person would do just that wouldn't you think?

While trying to be a good Guest, my spouse and I looked over the home the next day and provided the Host with specific details about concerns.

At first glance the Housekeeper did a good job given the time she probably had available prior to our arrival; because the Master bathroom was very clean and the room was comfortable. The rest of the House as we took the time to go through the home also looked pretty good except for some minor exceptions which by themselves were no big deal.

Examples:

A prior guest left her lace panties on the patio floor between the patio door and the pool area.

There was a fancy pick for removing things from one's teeth on the hard wood living room floor between the patio doors and the living room rug.

All four of the pots and pans including the only sauce pan were not usable simply because they had been abused with burns; and/or something had been seriously burnt inside of them and there had apparently been no real attempt to replace or thoroughly clean them.

There were only three forks available for a house that was meant to handle up to ten people.

Initially we found only three teaspoons and one of those appeared to be damaged apparently from being retrieved from a garbage disposal. (a couple of days later we found more teaspoons; but they had been stored under some large soup spoons.)

Those examples and more inconvenient issues popped up; but by themselves none of those issues would be cause to cancel as long as the Host took care of the concerns.

Late the second day; I had reason to enter the Formal Dining Room of the home because that was where the host had provided a computer and printer. After quickly looking over the equipment I decided to use my laptop and set down at the table with my back to his computer set-up. That was when I noticed the corner of the room and especially the ceiling.


Hopefully, here you will see what I saw.

Water damag Roof 2.JPG


Naturally I included the above concern with the minor concerns to my Host; who immediately stated: "No one else had complained."

Later the next day his wife sent an e-mail stating that the damage had been reported to the insurance company and that they were waiting for a reply. She included in the e-mail lots of advertisements about things to do in the area. I guess she thought that attaching information about what we could enjoy in the area would soothe us and give us something else to think about; but all it did was make me wonder "...what are these people thinking."

If you were a Host looking to share your house with Guests who had paid upfront for a 30 day stay; wouldn't you have immediately started repairs as well as notify your insurance company of the damage. After all these people were supposed to be business people who rented more than one house or apartment with Airbnb.

I am no expert; but the damage and potential for mold that I saw had to have occurred days and maybe weeks or months before our arrival.

O. K. I realized that it was the second day and we had not been there a full 24 hours; so I reached out to Airbnb and promised to send Airbnb pictures for documentation which I also sent to the Host. Airbnb asked me if I wanted to cancel; but I told them I was just putting all parties on notice; especially the Host, to give them time to respond

The following day my spouse was walking the hall between the two bedrooms designed for children and just happen to notice the ceiling. There she saw what is shown in this picture. Notice that the Grate covering the Cold Air Return has one of the four corners hanging loose and that the Grate is covered in soot, dirt or grime (take your pick) and in my humble opinion apparently had not had an Air Filter installed for a very long time.

Filter 3.JPG


By the third afternoon; my spouse was complaining of discomfort in her eyes; but as of that time I cannot remember feeling any particular discomfort and it was the weekend; so my spouse made a point to make an appointment with an eye doctor in area the next morning.

Oh! Something I forgot to mention - the advertisement pertaining to amenities clearly indicated that Breakfast would be provided; but there was no indication of any Breakfast on the morning of Day 2 or Day 3 and when I brought that to the attention of the Host he simply said he does not provide Breakfast and he had no idea why the advertisement specifically mentioned that amenity.

So, on Monday we went out for Breakfast; since all we had brought with us was dry cereal and milk that I had picked up on Day 2.

Now, get this. Airbnb; had been advised on Day 2 of predicament and I graciously asked to give the Host a chance to respond. Over course of the next couple of days I had received text from probably 4 or 5 different specialist from Airbnb; but each was apparently working only an eight hour shift because they kept getting back to me with a brief message that one of their co-workers would be touch because there personal shift was ending. That went on for at least two days and involved Airbnb employees in India; Vietnam; and who knows where else.

After my spouse went to an eye doctor the doctor prescribed some kind of drops that she would have to administer to her eyes over several days; but that prescription cost over $50 and who knows what the doctor bill will be.

Meanwhile; late Monday evening I started having issues with my throat and/or breathing and was miserable well after we eventually left the place on Wednesday the fifth day of the ordeal.

The good news is I finally hooked up with an "Angel" on Tuesday who worked for Airbnb out of Denver, CO and she agreed to keep in touch by text or phone until a final decision was made.

We had stayed as long as we could possibly stay documenting the ordeal. Taking pictures and videos for both Airbnb and the Host which was not easy because I was working with an I-phone and had need of help from Airbnb over time to figure out how to upload pictures for documentation.

By the third day, Monday; the Host had gotten back to me with a promise that a handyman would be by the house on Tuesday to check out what I believed was the biggest concern - the very dirty Grille with apparently no Air Filter where the Cold Air Return was located.

But, you guessed it. Although we stayed in the house all that day (Tuesday) no handyman showed up and we both decided to get the heck out of the house as soon as I could confirm what Airbnb would do.

By 4:30 that afternoon we were out of the house and moved to a very nice location near Sea World where the Host was extremely professional and went way beyond what one would expect from a Host. He was FANTASTIC.

Meanwhile, although the "Angel" was extremely nice; she was unable to find a complete home for the remainder of our 30 days that we could accept; but I had told her (to her Glee!) that I could accept a Resort situation that she offered and I felt would work; but that did not happen because she could get that Host to work with her.

WHY, did I not accept another HOME? I did not want to take a chance on another long term situation and with such short notice I had no time to research and protect myself.

The two night accommodation helped; but from that point on we told Airbnb that we would work something out with another (company) who I had worked with before and had had excellent service. She; by the way will be commended in a different posting probably within the Last Minute Rental Section of TUG where she usually hangs out.

You may be curious about how bad the pots and pans were; for that reason I will share this photo:

Pans 1.JPG


For what ever reason the sauce pan does not show up in the above picture; but I have one that clearly shows that the sauce pan looks like it had melted mud or something really thick and sticky (may have been pudding or whatever) that was burnt in the sauce pan.

The Host did get back with me on the third or fourth day to say he would get some new pots and pans and that they would be available; but give me a break if he had not had someone take care of that small issue by the fourth day; you too would have doubted that he was going to do anything expeditiously regarding more serious concerns.

While Airbnb did offer to find us someplace else and did provide a refund; the company's supervisor (the one that supervised the Denver Angel) was not willing to do other than provide a coupon to cover the two night stay near Sea World and another future coupon that although worth something that something did no come close to making us feel better about the whole ordeal and we effectively lost one full week of what would have been our first week of at least six weeks in Florida.

We had rented a house for 30 days and that meant we would not normally had to move from timeshare to timeshare during that time. Also, we had rented the house when the timing was right and demand had not overwhelmed supply.

Moving out with no place to go for the remainder of the 30 days was an ordeal; but we have survived primarily due to the friend at TUG who was able to find us last minute weeks at three different resorts for the following 21 days.

Airbnb has a good business plan and it should work for 95 to 98% of its guests most of the time; but be warned - in my humble opinion - you should have a back-up plan such as TUG and it's relationships to pull you out of the deep stuff you might find yourself embroiled in -

Also, do not count on Airbnb to fully understand their shortcomings because after all you are a "David" and they are a Goliath!

From this David I say have a Great Morning if you read this in the Morning; but if you read it later in the day or even later down the road. BE AWARE of Airbnb!
 
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Goofyhobbie

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By the way! For those who would like to know to whom I reached out to at TUG; it was a member that goes by the User Name of NTH and her first name is Cindy.

NTH, as you may learn is a business devoted to travel and based on my personal experience; Cindy does a great job. I found her many years ago on TUG and at that time rented a timeshare at Wyndham in Alexandria, VA.

She and her assistant (Amy) were wonderful and patient as they worked to find timeshare locations in the Walt Disney area of Orlando. To be able to get two bedroom units at two of those Resorts (timeshares which were great properties) helped immensely.

The middle timeshare was at Parkway Vacation Resorts and only a one BR unit was available; but even that worked out great because of very fine staff at Parkway Vacation Resorts which I contacted in advance of our arrival so we were able to get a "C" unit in Building 20 (same building that is now used for check-in) which is a new building with obviously new furniture.

The best part for us was the customer service at the Resort. We were allowed to stay in a Unit on the first floor just steps away from a fantastic pool and hot tub; which meant a lot to this ole fellow.

Several days before we left each resort; I contacted the next resort and we were accommodated with late check-out at each former resort and early check-in at each subsequent resort; so experiences learned at TUG over the years meant a lot.

Good Luck to all travelers who periodically check out TUG! To those who use TUG often you will learn a lot. Hope So Anyway! When you can; share your experiences so that other travelers will benefit!

One Last Shout Out to Brian the Big Guy here at TUG. Keep up the great effort that you; your staff; and all your volunteers provide your website is FANASTIC!

David
 
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