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Home > I DO NOT Recommend Airbnb!

I DO NOT Recommend Airbnb!

July 16th, 2015 at 01:58 am

So today as I was heading to lunch I took a look at my phone and saw I had a couple text messages from my Airbnb host. I got a bad feeling ...

Then I read the entirety of the messages.

Apparently this person has a friend who needs to stay in the room, and is coming over to check it out. She'll need it for a month. Which of course falls into my reservation.

J says"I just want to give you a heads up so you can make a backup plan."

I was livid.

I didn't respond right then because I wanted to cool down and also get the opinons of a few others - so I posted a question on FB asking how others would react.

Cancel reservation and contact admin were the two main responses.

So when I got back from the gym tonight (another way to cool myself down more before responding) I got on Airbnb and started looking for a way to contact admin. I'd been planning on just contacting them first to ask their opinion.

IMPOSSIBLE! They make it nearly impossible to contact them with all these "choice" trees - none of which have an option for "other."

So I left a message for J telling her that I was cancelling and why. I was very polite, but very clear.

Then I canceled and found out I won't get my $7 in fees back!!!

I finally figured out how to actually send them an email (chose a choice that didn't really work - but it got me to where I could send an email.) Now I'll wait to see what happens.

In the meantime, I'm going to be looking for a hotel room!!

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I got a message today that I have a meeting with my boss and her other supervisee about contracts. I don't know for sure what it is about, but I do know that the current union contract ends sometime in August. So I'm guessing it's to go over the revised one and have us sign it or something. If that's so, then I'll also get to see what my new payrate will be (probably not starting til September.)

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NE is going to change out our cars tonight after work (he has a key to my place, so won't have to wake me up.) He'll be taking his Honda to get the air fixed on Thursday afternoon. Then he'll decide what to do with the Subaru.

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CCF - (or others who know Des Moines) - please give me suggestions as to what hotels/streets/areas to avoid. And if possible, which ones might be good deals & decent? All I care about is cleanliness, working plumbing and a bed (and that there isn't a big chance of my car getting broken into overnight ...) Hotels.com

The cheapest hotel they have is $60/night - Extend a Stay - 5220 Northeast 14th Street. It has a very poor rating. The next one is $70/night.

Whatever happened to the $30 and $40 rooms??

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No spend day #12

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ETA - Hmm... I just got a response from my email. Basicaly saying the CS person was going to pass my message to the "right" people. Let's see what happens.

9 Responses to “I DO NOT Recommend Airbnb!”

  1. My English Castle Says:
    1437024475

    That's unacceptable. I think places like airbnb and vrbo are quite variable, but they're only as good as their weakest link. I've had excellent luck with vrbo, but I know people who have had lots of problems. Keep on them for your money (ala my dental insurance experience!)

  2. VS_ozgirl Says:
    1437047283

    Sorry to hear about this!!! Ugh. Do airbnb have an option to put a review on their website for this property? I would write about my experience so future travellers are warned. People need to learn that this is unacceptable behaviour.

  3. creditcardfree Says:
    1437048463

    Not sure about the area, Laura. I'll look more later. I did look at hotels around and thought they seemed super inflated for mid August...until I remembered that is State Fair time, thus prices are higher due to demand. Frown

  4. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1437049215

    Thanks all.

    MEC - I'll definitely be pursuing my full refund! Smile
    VS - Yes, they do have a place for reviews, although I'm not sure if I can write one since I didn't actually stay there.

    CCF - Yes, I'm afraid the State Fair might be part of the issue with prices. It was the only weekend I could get time off in August without it interfering with school open houses, etc. that I have to be at.

  5. creditcardfree Says:
    1437052796

    I'll look more later today for you, what are your dates again?

  6. snafu Says:
    1437057566

    Airbnb became popular quickly when the hospitality industry significantly bumped prices. Those affordable $ 50. - $ 60. rooms jumped to $ 100. plus the three taxes. In our city Airbnb got kudos when they stepped up and covered the owner's cost when their $ 1.5 million house was totally trashed by a renter's family who stayed a month while owner was working on a project overseas. I realize your host really let you down and I'd sure let Airbnb know how disappointed you feel. Since the State Fair places a higher demand on accommodation, I guess you weigh cost against trust. Are there a lot of private hosts offering short term room rental on the DM Facebook site?

  7. Frugaltexan75 Says:
    1437064097

    CCF - Aug 14-15 are the night I need a place to stay.

    Snafu- I haven't looked. Good idea.

  8. creditcardfree Says:
    1437068588

    I wouldn't stay at the NE 14 hotel. The reviews are really bad...and it isn't the best part of town.

    I think your best bets for those dates are Motel 6 in West Des Moines (I've stayed here) or Super 8 in Winterset(which is 12 miles west of Des Moines) or maybe Motel 6 by the airport, but I know those are above what you were looking to pay. I wish I still lived there and you could stay with me! Smile

    My only other suggestion is to go in the fall...to find cheaper hotels, at least take a look at the price difference and see if that would be better.

  9. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1437172492

    Thanks CCF - I think I may be going somewhere else for my little getaway. My vacation budget just doesn't have much room in it for lodging. I will still get to Des Moines, but probably not this current year (September mom/ryan coming here, and November going to CA.) I'll just make sure I don't plan my time there around the state fair!!

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