Airbnb

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Airbnb Reviews Summary

Positive Highlights

  • Airbnb provides access to a wide variety of unique accommodations worldwide.
  • The platform offers a large selection of properties in many destinations.
  • Some guests appreciate the convenience of booking through a single platform.

Negative Highlights

  • Guests frequently report unsafe or misrepresented properties that Airbnb fails to address.
  • Customer support is often unhelpful and slow to resolve serious issues.
  • Billing disputes and refund denials leave guests with significant financial losses.
This summary is generated by AI, based on customer reviews from the past year

Most commonly discussed topics

The most helpful reviews behind these summaries

Sep 7, 2025

Airbnb processed multiple unauthorized charges on my credit card for reservations I did not make. Despite reporting the fraudulent charges, Airbnb refused to provide assistance unless compelled by subpoena. During this process, they falsely accused me of sharing my card information, which is untrue. Their refusal to cooperate caused significant stress, inconvenience, and wasted time. I urge Airbnb to: 1. Acknowledge that the charges were unauthorized. 2. Refund the full amount. 3. Implement policies to ensure consumers are not forced to obtain subpoenas to access basic transaction details. 4. Issue a public acknowledgment or apology for falsely accusing customers.

Dec 6, 2025

I am absolutely shocked by the way Airbnb treats its users. Without any warning, they simply deleted my account even though I've been a long-time loyal customer. Their justification? A completely baseless accusation about a supposedly "suspicious payment." This is entirely false. Every payment method used on my account belongs to me, whether it's my bank cards or gift cards, and I am fully able to provide any proof needed: bank statements, purchase invoices, etc. Despite this, Airbnb didn't even bother to verify anything or ask me for a single document. Even worse: my balance is still trapped on their platform! Airbnb takes the money but then closes accounts arbitrarily, without a valid explanation and while refusing any real discussion. It's complete disrespect toward customers. Airbnb is no longer the reliable platform it claims to be. No transparency, no accountability, no fairness. I strongly advise anyone to be extremely careful — today it happened to me, tomorrow it may happen to you.

Mar 18, 2026

I want to share a serious and dangerous experience I had with Airbnb so that others don't go through the same. I booked an Airbnb apartment, and because I used the kettle and washing machine at the same time, the power went out. The host forced me, in the dark, to turn the fuse box on and off while holding my 7-month-old baby, but it didn't help. When I got frustrated, she started shouting "get out of my flat" and forced me to leave at night, leaving my baby's clothes and belongings locked in the washing machine, which the host refuses to return. Airbnb support did not help at the time, and three days later told me that it was my fault and they will not refund my money, claiming I allegedly violated the host's rules, rules that were never mentioned at booking. Such rules restricting the use of basic appliances should never be allowed. This is completely unreasonable, unsafe, and unacceptable. I want as many people as possible to know about this, so no one else ends up in such a dangerous situation.

Feb 9, 2026

I had a very disappointing experience with an Airbnb stay that exposed serious issues with how guest complaints are handled. When I entered the apartment, I found yellow liquid in the toilet. The host claimed it was cleaning gel, but its appearance suggested otherwise. More importantly, the apartment had no potable water — a critical fact that was NOT disclosed in the listing. Internet was unreliable, and the heating system is centralized and shuts off at night, leaving the apartment cold after 11 PM. Because of these problems, I asked the host to cancel the booking without penalty. The host refused until I was forced to escalate the issue with Airbnb. Only after several days was I refunded for the unused nights. Despite confirming safety concerns, Airbnb declined to remove the host's retaliatory public comments and did not take meaningful action regarding the listing. I remained respectful throughout the process, and the apartment was generally clean, but essential living conditions were not met. This experience left me with the impression that Airbnb's procedures prioritize internal policy over real guest protection. An accommodation lacking potable water should not be listed without clear disclosure. I am sharing this so future guests understand the risks when serious issues arise.

Feb 9, 2026

My recent experience with this platform was, unfortunately, extremely negative. Just eight days before departure—during one of the busiest school holiday weeks—the company cancelled our ski accommodation without providing any clear or valid reason. This caused a great deal of stress and uncertainty, especially given the timing. Since no comparable alternative accommodation was offered, we were forced to book a much more expensive stay in order to even qualify for an already insufficient rebooking compensation. As a result, we were left with a significant financial loss. Customer Support was equally disappointing. In my experience, they repeatedly fell back on standard policies, showing no consideration for the exceptional nature of the situation or its impact. I received no acknowledgment of what I believe to be my rights in such a case. Finally, the explanation given for the cancellation was highly problematic: vague, incomplete, and inconsistent, creating the strong impression that they were not being transparent with us. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this platform. I sincerely hope others will be spared this kind of situation, and that the company takes steps toward a more honest, transparent, and customer‑focused approach.

Dec 22, 2025

I had a disappointing experience with Airbnb's Resolution Team regarding a damage claim. I was charged $800 for an old window with a crack originating from the bottom of the frame, with no visible signs of impact on the window or frame. I know for certain that we did not cause this damage, yet the resolution process did not adequately consider causation or the condition of the property. The experience felt unfair and lacking transparency, and I hope Airbnb improves its approach to assessing claims and supporting guests.

Oct 1, 2025

I had no choice but to leave my Airbnb early after just 2 nights because the apartment triggered health issues (itchy eyes, cough, damp bed). I immediately booked another stay at my own expense of over $700, where my symptoms disappeared within hours. Despite providing Airbnb with photos, a video of the AC showing an error, electricity meter proof, and explaining my health problems, they refused to honor their AirCover guarantee. Instead, they sided with the host, who only "touched the bed" and claimed everything was fine. At one point I was offered a $200 voucher, but the case was later closed abruptly without even giving me the chance to accept it. I specifically asked for a refund under AirCover, but Airbnb said it was "host discretion" — which makes AirCover meaningless. The host will never agree to refund, so the guest is left unprotected. This experience has shown me that health, safety, and guest wellbeing are not protected as promised under Airbnb's AirCover policy. I will not use Airbnb again in the future, and I strongly suggest travelers think twice before relying on their so-called guarantees.

Aug 25, 2025

We booked an apartment in Cannes (Residence Cannes Beach La Bocca) in late August 2025, and it was a total nightmare! The residence was filthy, run-down, full of cockroaches (we found out a pest control was planned the week after!), and the atmosphere was absolutely unsafe. My girlfriend was even verbally harassed right after arrival, and local police on site told us it was a dangerous area and strongly advised us not to stay there. The apartment itself wasn't properly cleaned either. We contacted the host right away, but he brushed off all the issues. We then reached out to Airbnb support, sending plenty of photos (we also have videos) and even some recent articles from the local newspapers that certified the rundown state of the residence, but after 12 hours they simply told us we weren't entitled to any refund. So we left immediately, didn't spend a single night there, and still got zero assistance. Airbnb completely ignored basic safety and hygiene standards. We are already taking legal action accordingly, but - for sure - after this experience, we'll never book with Airbnb again, and we will advise all our friends and people we know against doing so!

Mar 2, 2026

This company and the people it employs are beyond despicable. My colleague and I rented an apartment. The host (a particularly odious individual called Hady) failed to declare that he has a toxic ongoing dispute with his immediate neighbour who resents Airbnb rental guests. My colleague and I were made ill through sleep deprivation because of the neighbours extreme nocturnal anti social behaviour that went on every night all night without abatement. We gave the host two opportunities to resolve the situation. Sadly he resorted to gaslighting, guilt tripping and emotional blackmail saying I would ruin his business, reputation and wedding if I cancelled the booking or contacted AirBnB. There was always a coercive undertone to his behaviour. After 7 nights of sleep deprivation we contacted Airbnb. We asked to cancel the booking and be refunded the unused nights post cancellation, as per the host's own published cancellation policy, so we could book alternative accommodation. We provided numerous recordings and videos of the neighbour's anti social behaviour to Airbnb. Shortly afterwards I received an angry phone call from Hady getting nasty because I wanted to cancel and had contacted Airbnb. During that call he threatened me, including to 'ruin' me so I would never get another Airbnb. An incompetent from Airbnb called us to inform us that she had spoken to the host and he was refusing o refund the unused nights thereby breaching his own cancellation policy. The incompetent then said she had not even looked at the evidence we presented, thereby showing a complete lack of impartiality and an unwillingness to apply Airbnb's own policies. It took another 7 days before a senior person at Airbnb found in our favour and not only refunded us the unused nights but gave additional refunds due to the appalling experience. By then we had been made even more ill by sleep deprivation to the point of accidents and personal injury, and we had gone into debt to book alternative accommodation. Th alternative accommodation was fantastic. The host was angry and bitter at us for cancelling and made it clear he would seek retaliation. I have since discovered he has put a defamatory review on Airbnb accusing me of committing criminal offences and having some 'finding' against me for those offences. The review is wholly untrue and defamatory. Airbnb and have repeatedly refused to remove the defamatory review even though they have been made aware that the review lost me an offer of employment. I have now instituted proceedings against Airbnb for libel. Airbnb are fine until something goes wrong, then you are fully treated like something they stepped in. Their inappropriately named 'customer services' routinely refuse to follow their own policies, instead siding with abusive hosts. You will be promised call backs that do not materialise, kept on long hold before being cut off, and subjected to an avalanche of insensitive inane messages that trivialise and mock you, including moronic e mails telling you that so and so is going off duty. Then they close the message without resolution. They are incompetents who cannot even work to their own company policies and certainly provide no degree of customer service whatsoever. With some of them it feels like they 'get off' on playing these abusive games with the customer. Terrible company who actively enable, encourage and openly condone the harassment of women by abusive men through their online platform. Anyone who believes in the principles of honesty and fairness should avoid this disgusting company and seek other platforms. They are proper nasty. Nobody should be subjected to harassment, defamation and victimisation for simply engaging with Airbnb's policies, and any company with decent morals and standards would never allow such. One can therefore only surmise that Airbnb are m orally and ethically bankrupt!

Aug 22, 2025

I had a recent experience with Airbnb that makes me question the integrity of its review system and its commitment to protecting guests. We stayed with a Superhost who claimed to have hosted over 400 guests in 8+ years. Yet, when I checked, she had only 95 reviews, almost all suspiciously glowing. When we left an honest review describing our negative experience, I noticed that Airbnb did not display it at the top (even though it was the most recent) but buried it far below older reviews. This makes the review system misleading and unreliable for future users. Worse, the host responded to our review with defamatory statements, discriminatory remarks, and even disclosed our private information. We reported this to Airbnb support. Shockingly, they told us the only way to remove the host's malicious response was if we deleted our own honest review. In other words: the host's harmful, rule-violating content is allowed to stay, but only at the cost of silencing the guest. This shows Airbnb is not committed to transparency or guest safety. Instead, it seems more interested in protecting Superhosts and maximizing bookings rather than maintaining a trustworthy review system. Guests rely on honest reviews to make safe decisions, but Airbnb's practices deprive them of that right. Airbnb is failing at its core responsibility: providing a fair, safe, and transparent platform. If they cannot protect guests or uphold their own review policies, how can travelers trust this product at all?

Oct 19, 2025

Airbnb openly lies and conceals material information in order to protect its income stream and reduce liability. No effort is made to be honest or forthcoming. No integrity is shown at all. There is no effort made to respect any laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act. I am so tired of getting overpriced rentals that are located next to loud, noisy roads and highways which information is/was 100% concealed. I am so tired of getting overpriced rentals were the hosts use cameras and other devices to 100% destroy your privacy. I am so tired of getting overpriced rentals where the hosts place wicked Wiccan etc. symbols over doorways inside the rental. I am so tired of getting overpriced rentals where the neighbors engage in screaming and yelling during the middle of the night. I am so tired of getting no truth as the hosts engage in wicked advertising that excludes any information detrimental to your decision such as dangerous driveways and no access to the rental for the disabled. Airbnb allows all of this lying and deceit, and prevents any fairness or decency. Do not use Airbnb. Find another way to locate housing.

Aug 22, 2025

Here is its latest nonsensical twist: When a host lies about an alleged discrimination, leaving out details about its part in provoking the whole matter, Airbnb doesn't investigate. They don't ask for context. They don't care about truth. They just deactivate your account and move on—no dialogue, no due process, no dignity. PS: I'm still trying to figure out, exactly how does a guest discriminate against a host? I suspect that even Airbnb doesn't know, just falsely and recklessly throwing around descriptors without a proper context or meaning. I mean, did I somehow withhold something from the host, for a particular reason or favor one host over the next? I know it sounds crazy. Airbnb now strikes again given that in the recent past it demonstrated blatantly that its operation is more about policy—than it's about safety. Airbnb sends travelers into foreign environments with zero preparation for even the most basic sanitary realities. In some countries, (Philippines) guests are expected to discard used toilet paper in open trash bins rather than flush it. No warning. No guidance. Just weeks of breathing in the fumes of soiled tissue in a sealed room, because Airbnb couldn't be bothered to flag the health risks or cultural expectations. That's not just unsanitary—it's negligent! Airbnb's support channels are performative. Their policies are rigid to the point of cruelty. And their so-called "community standards" are weaponized against guests who dare to speak up. I wasn't just mistreated—I was erased. If it think I'm going to remain silent, Airbnb has got the wrong one. Travelers deserve platforms that prioritize truth, safety, and dignity. Airbnb isn't one of them. If you're a traveler who values truth, fairness, and respect, look elsewhere—Airbnb has lost the plot.

Nov 15, 2025

I have 9 properties listed on AirBnB. I am a Superhost. They have every reason to treat me well, as I follow all their rules and make them tons of money. But when I couldn't call in for support anymore they found it was due to a "Company wide" computer issue and told me they wouldn't help me. Company-wide technical glitch preventing us from getting support and they refuse to help? I took a picture of their response to fixing the issue. It says exactly this. I am attaching it.

Jan 21, 2026

We booked an aprtment unit on airbnb for December 25. We arrived just after 4pm and we observed that half of the lights and electric outlets did not work. Especially the top of the stiars and bathrooms that did not have windows. Also there were no smoke alarms or co2 detectors. The listing for the unit stated that there were smoke and co2 detectors. Tried to contact the host and airbnb with little or no help or response. We did not stay in the unit at all due to these unsafe conditions. Ended up in a hotel and the next day airbnb called and said in order to recieve a refund I had to cancel the reservation on the web site which I did. This was a trick used by airbnb to deny my refund. They said that even though I had pics of the light switches in the on position and no lights because I did not have a video of turning the switches on and off they did not consider this proof. What was really deceptive, a representative of the hosts team called my and promised a refund but begged me not to leave a bad review on airbnbs website. Now because they convinced me to cancel the reservation, I cannot leave a review at all. This is unfair and deceptive. I am soured on using airbnb ever again. Stay away!

Dec 8, 2025

I'm a long-time Airbnb guest, and what happened to me on Phu Quoc (Vietnam) in 2025 showed how badly the platform can fail when something goes wrong. I had two reservations with the same host Hùng – IDs HMRNMASMBW and HMKBR5ZWJD. The listings had a clear address and 12:00 check-in. After booking, the host suddenly changed check-in in chat to "around 4 pm" and then started sending different addresses and hotel names – for example "Milan A254" and "Bella Hotel". At the official address and at every place he sent us: Staff said they had no idea about our reservation; They didn't know this host; Locals said this "hotel" simply does not exist and that this person is known as a scammer. The host kept promising that an "administrator" or a Grab car was on the way. We followed his instructions and ended up spending more than 7 hours walking around an unfamiliar city with our luggage, never getting a room. During all this, our money for both bookings was locked inside Airbnb, so we couldn't just book another hotel. By evening we were literally on the street: no room, no spare funds. Airbnb support made it even worse: They kept repeating that the host was "trying to help" and told us to go to yet another "new address"; They did not suspend the listing, even though it was obvious that the addresses didn't match and no check-in happened; The only "solution" they offered was a refund within 1–15 business days and to "partially cover" a new booking that I should prepay myself, even after I clearly said I had no money left. So instead of protecting the guest who was stranded without housing or money, Airbnb effectively sided with a clearly unreliable host and hid behind scripts and policies. This is not just a bad stay – it is a serious failure of guest safety and customer support: No emergency relocation, No direct payment to a safe hotel, No instant refund so we could secure a place to sleep, And a suspicious host still operating on the platform. I expect a full refund, compensation for extra costs and a wasted day, and a proper investigation of this host and of how support handled my case. Until Airbnb proves they can handle situations like this responsibly, I cannot recommend using their service.

Aug 26, 2025

We stayed at a property in Tournefort, France (July 12–17,2025), hosted by Dréane Wladimir. What happened to us — and how Airbnb handled it — is something travelers should know. ⸻ 🚩 Our experience with the host: 1. Unreasonable check-in – After a 12-hour drive, we requested a quick check-in. The host insisted on a 30-minute property tour, dismissing our exhaustion. 2. Sexually suggestive conduct – The host engaged in inappropriate poses, including bending over and crawling upstairs on all fours, wiggling her buttocks in front of me. She repeatedly stood too close despite my efforts to keep distance. 3. Disrespectful behavior – She shouted foul language in French as she left, then returned uninvited into our private conversation. 4. Hostility and intimidation – That evening, we overheard a 15-minute aggressive argument between the host and her partner, adding to the feeling of unease. 5. Derogatory messages – She later sent insulting messages, calling me a "weirdo," and accused me of inappropriate behavior. 6. Privacy violations – She announced she would perform daily property checks, even after we objected, later saying she would only come when our car was gone — making us feel monitored. 7. Inflexibility and pressure – Before arrival, despite warning her about possible delays, she demanded arrival by 7:30 PM, forcing us to leave Stuttgart at 5 AM. 8. Potential retaliation – She offered massage services, and after we declined, her treatment of us became colder and more hostile. We documented these issues in a formal discrimination complaint to Airbnb on August 18,2025, including explicit details of inappropriate physical proximity, suggestive conduct, aggressive language, and derogatory remarks. Airbnb dismissed the case without informing us of any outcome; the host continues to operate as normal. ⸻ 📝 My original Airbnb review (removed by Airbnb): "We feel compelled to share our concerns about our recent stay. After a 12-hour drive, we requested a brief check-in due to exhaustion, but the 30-minute rundown felt dismissive. Your suggestive behavior, including close proximity and provocative poses, made us very uncomfortable, despite our efforts to maintain distance. Your loud, insulting remarks in French as you left were upsetting. We also overheard a loud argument with your companion, which was unsettling. The daily property checks, even after we raised privacy concerns, felt intrusive, as you noted checking when our car was absent. Your inflexibility regarding our late arrival, despite prior notice due to road issues, added stress, forcing a 05:00 early departure. Lastly, your final message accusing me of acting strangely and calling me a 'weirdo' was unwarranted." Airbnb reinstated this review after my first appeal, but then removed it again two days later, stating it was "irrelevant." ⸻ 📢 Host's review of me (still public): "A very intimidating attitude, I greeted him with a smile. He had a very aggressive face, as if he was very, very angry. I think it was inappropriate in front of a woman. I tried to relax things a little by talking but there was nothing to do. Then I showed him how the facilities worked. He continued to act very strangely. It was very disturbing. I tried to communicate with him but either he turned his back on me or he went in another direction. I've never been so uncomfortable, he wasn't acting normally. In 6 years of being a Superhost on Airbnb, I've never seen this." Despite my discrimination complaint and formal requests, Airbnb has allowed this review — filled with insulting, subjective, and gender-based remarks — to remain public. ⸻ Airbnb's handling: My negative review was removed twice (first for being "retaliatory," later as "irrelevant"). The host's insulting review of me remains public. My formal discrimination complaint was dismissed, with no explanation or accountability. The host still enjoys 129 perfect 5-star reviews, which is unusual and does not reflect our experience. ⸻ 🚨 Why I am posting this publicly Because Airbnb erased my honest review but preserved the host's insulting one, I feel future guests are not being given the full picture. Guests deserve transparency. Airbnb's system, in this case, silenced the victim and protected the host. Travelers, please be cautious: the glossy 5-star reviews do not always tell the full story.

Reviews

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1.7
Reviews 2,101
5 Stars
5%
4 Stars
2%
3 Stars
2%
2 Stars
5%
1 Star
85%

Israel
1 review
2 helpful votes
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We travelled to Tel Aviv with our two young children and have been thoroughly disappointed by the whole experience.The apartment we took in Tel Aviv was nothing like the pictures represented so we found the whole experience utterly misleading. Place was listed as 'designer', fully air conditioned, quiet street etc. Paint was peeling off the walls, wires exposed, unsealed flooring etc. There was no air conditioning in the bedrooms so we all suffered at night. Host offered extra fans but they're useless as they just circulate hot air. Airbnb response - host has dealt with it. We had an infestation of cockroaches and slugs. Host offered to spray with insecticides but with what risk to us and the children? Host said it's safe and will only take a couple of hours but we didn't trust that information. Response from Airbnb - host was willing to deal with it. Major construction was going on outside but the host failed to notify us. Response from Airbnb - it's not going on inside the building so doesn't count. This was supposed to be a fab 2 week holiday but it has been utterly tainted by our accommodation. BEWARE - what you see is not necessarily what you are going to get. Will never use again.

Date of experience: August 17, 2012
New York
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
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I've only had great experiences, both domestic and overseas, with airbnb. There may have been updates to the site over the last year, because the extra fees are obviously stated before you book. Paying the extra fees is a bummer, but I have found the travel experience to be much less expensive and more fulfilling than staying at a hotel.

Date of experience: August 12, 2012
NL
2 reviews
14 helpful votes
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What a pain in the neck!
July 4, 2012

What a pain in the neck! Where to start. First let me say that my experience is that AirBnB takes NO responsibility for their errors. Then there's their claim of 24/7 customer service. It's easier to find president Obama's home number than to navigate through the BS AirBnB puts you through just so you can send them an email. Can't blame them for doing this: the site is complete crap half the time (the other half of the time I'm using different sites now) so they'd probably get tons of complaints and they probably want to avoid that.

The only solution I found was to call their emergency number, where I'm yet to speak with a rep who's fluent in English.

And the glitches with the site. O. M. G.! The pricing for my listing mysteriously lowered itself and of course AirBnB wouldn't take responsibility for that. All they had to do was waive my fee and/or the guests' fee but they couldn't even be apologetic about the situation let alone take responsibility for it. And today a guest who was going to book backed out. I thought it was strange then I saw that the site had put in a special offer to the guest of 5 TIMES my asking price per night!

And their fees. Yeah, you'd think you could get some sort of service because they take in a crapload of fees from guest AND host.

Super disappointed. Hopefully the other sites where I'm registering are less crappy.

Date of experience: July 4, 2012
Mexico
1 review
3 helpful votes
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I´ve used airbnb on 3 different occasions and will continue to use them because I´m a respectful person and fortunately I´ve had nothing but good experiences through the service. My experience has been so positive that right now I am considering listing rooms in my house on the site...

Date of experience: June 12, 2012
Colombia
1 review
2 helpful votes
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I have been a host in 2 different houses. One in California and the other in Colombia since I move back in forth throughout the year. It pays for my part of my moms mortgage in California and it pays for my rent in Colombia. I have only had positive experiences hosting. I have also been a guest in several houses. I only stay at a house if it has a lot of reviews. It cheaper and nicer than hotels.

Date of experience: May 23, 2012
Georgia
1 review
4 helpful votes
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They say that they will keep 50% of the entire amount you pay for a unit if cancelled within 1 week of that stay but the host refused to refund the entire amount when reservation was cancelled more than 3 weeks before arrival date.
Do not deal with this sleezy company.

Date of experience: August 30, 2011
Massachusetts
1 review
4 helpful votes
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HORROR, I would not even start as to where they rate. BASEMENT is a good start.
I have been working on deal for what they call a FLAT, we know it as a apartment. After agreeing to a price that the owner of the flat excepted. But total miss communication that could have been handled with a simple email. I invested 12 day's of my time. As well as someone flying in form a country other than mine. Now I have a plane ticket, as she and no place booked to stay. I arranged for us to stay 2 nights at another location due to the owner asked that I could have the place on the 30th of July. Low and behold. We agreed to RS1,800.00. I booked the deal and then it was rejected, because I emailed the owner and made a statement that he owed me some money, due to the conversion rate of RS1,800 is about $1,100 US. Not $1,284.00. But I was never aware that the site charges you a fee (the person that books the deal). Well I let the owner know that he owed me a refund. And he canceled my reservation over the fees that were added from the site that I had no aware of upfront. SO I lost out my reservation and I lost 12 days that I spent putting this deal together. They send me emails, and I even went on a limp to apologize to the owner and that I was not aware of the added fee's. You would think that the person using the site pay's the fee's. Then I asked him to please, rent the unit to me. He now said that his family is going to be there. But in fact he has his unit still for rent. I blame the site for not disclosing the fee's up front. I have better things than to be sitting here typing this email. Like having a place to STAY. R S

Date of experience: June 28, 2011
Texas
268 reviews
1801 helpful votes
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Edited 12/31/14: Since my original post in 2011, I've used AirBnB 5 times easily and successfully in 5 different cities both in the U.S. and abroad. I'd probably use this site before trying to find any hotel. Seems like I just knew how to look for the right places/people.

2011: AirBnB is great in theory - rent from or rent out your apartment to travelers who need a couple days to a couple weeks of housing in a city. The site also looks fantastic, especially as compared to Couchsurfing, which feels like a dirty forum. You find the place you want to book (making sure the host looks like s/he's not going to murder you, selecting the accommodations that are to your liking, etc.) and then you wait for the other person to respond to your request. Your credit card isn't charged until after the fact.

However, what you end up getting is this - the people who are more likely to respond to you are charging up the wazoo for their place. One woman wanted $3400 for the month that I was looking to stay in NYC. Then there are specifications like you have to stay a month or you can't stay longer than 5 days, so it gets tedious dealing with their little conditions. The people that you are interested in won't respond to you at all. Terribly annoying.

Date of experience: June 8, 2011
Canada
1 review
5 helpful votes
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This site is very strict with both parties ensuring a confident booking of Bed & Breakfasts. Everyone must communicate through the site and it has a pay structure that protects the buyer and the seller.

As always, pay close attention to reviews of individual renters. Having avoided badly reviewed B&Bs, I have had nothing but good experiences.

Date of experience: April 6, 2011
New York
10 reviews
35 helpful votes
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This site offers great housing all over the world, and you deal with the owners directly :) It's great!

Date of experience: July 22, 2010
Airbnb Reviews - 2,101 Customer Reviews of airbnb.com, Rated 1.7/5