AirBnB is now available in Cuba • Hacker News Board

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#21

Post by matt4077 » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 1:48 PM UTC

nodesocket wrote: post #3

After watching Conan's visit to Cuba, it looks like an awesome destination. http://teamcoco.com/cuba

It's a fantastic place to visit. Until know, the embargo was an added benefit. Not just because the country was preserved as a sort of open-air 60ies museum – it was also an great place to meet Americans: because of legal restrictions, all Americans on Cuba were self-selected awesome people.

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#22

Post by untog » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 1:55 PM UTC

ianpurton wrote: post #10

I have mixed success with AirBnB as a traveller. I would say 80% of my requests to stay in a place are either ignored or rejected. I'm mainly talking about hosts from the UK. In the end I just stay in Hotels, it's less hassle, often cheaper. As for Cuba, very surprised if they have 1000 properties available. Getting internet access in Cuba is pretty much impossible.

Have you linked your Facebook profile, or similar? I've had great success in London using AirBnB, and know friends that have used it in plenty of rural settings.

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#23

Post by _delirium » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 2:08 PM UTC

ianpurton wrote: post #10

I have mixed success with AirBnB as a traveller. I would say 80% of my requests to stay in a place are either ignored or rejected. I'm mainly talking about hosts from the UK. In the end I just stay in Hotels, it's less hassle, often cheaper. As for Cuba, very surprised if they have 1000 properties available. Getting internet access in Cuba is pretty much impossible.

I've had better luck with AirBnB booking way in advance. If you want something a month from now it's usually no problem, and even a week in advance is often ok. But if you want a room tomorrow, acceptance rates are very low, and hotels end up much easier.

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#24

Post by KFW504 » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 2:08 PM UTC

When you think about it, this is fascinating from a geopolitical perspective more than anything...wish this had been discussed more in the article

http://www.newsweek.com/normalizing-relations-cuba-unfinishe...

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#25

Post by Splendor » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 2:09 PM UTC

This title seems to be missing the '(YC 2009)' indicator.

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#26

Post by CountHackulus » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 2:11 PM UTC

The article claims that this is only open to US customers? Those of us in other countries, like say Canada, have been going to Cuba for years, and having AirBnB would be great. Was this just a mis-type?

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#27

Post by lmnm » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 2:34 PM UTC

ianpurton wrote: post #15

steveridout wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, that's surprising, I've been an AirBnB guest about 10 times and generally had a very good experience. I've had 100% response rate and only once had a problem - which was that the host had a problem with the utilities in the flat and had to cancel my booking a few days before. Annoying, but understandable and well communicated. Perhaps it's worth looking at your photo and description to see if they can be improve…

Not sure if a hosts reputation is affected by them ignoring requests. Problem is, if I need a room I need to know quick if it's available or not.

Does this mean you typically request same or next day bookings? From my experience, most AirBnB hosts are wary of doing anything last second as they typically need to plan ahead to accommodate a guest.

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#28

Post by tnorthcutt » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 2:49 PM UTC

ianpurton wrote: post #10

I have mixed success with AirBnB as a traveller. I would say 80% of my requests to stay in a place are either ignored or rejected. I'm mainly talking about hosts from the UK. In the end I just stay in Hotels, it's less hassle, often cheaper. As for Cuba, very surprised if they have 1000 properties available. Getting internet access in Cuba is pretty much impossible.

I've had very good success with AirBnB as a traveler, both for advance-notice and short-notice bookings. We traveled around Italy for two weeks and mostly booked places a day or two in advance, with hardly any trouble.

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#29

Post by tnorthcutt » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 2:50 PM UTC

lmnm wrote: post #27

ianpurton wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure if a hosts reputation is affected by them ignoring requests. Problem is, if I need a room I need to know quick if it's available or not.

Does this mean you typically request same or next day bookings? From my experience, most AirBnB hosts are wary of doing anything last second as they typically need to plan ahead to accommodate a guest.

I had great success in Italy with very short notice bookings (a day or two ahead of time). Most of the places we stayed were set up to be full time rentals, which may make that more feasible.

Re: AirBnB is now available in Cuba

#30

Post by rdeboo » Thu, Apr 02, 2015, 3:15 PM UTC

buster wrote: post #5

Funny thing is that Cuba already has its own "airbnb" called "casa particulares", it's definitely a great way to travel! :)

Exactly. In every village there are tons of casas available, which can easily be found because there is a logo on the door. You just knock on the door and ask foor a room. I did not book any hotels during my visit in Cuba this year.

The problem I see in the short term: mobile internet for travellers in Cuba is rare / nonexistent and internet access for locals seems not ubiquitous. Probably both will change soon now that embargoes are lifted.