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How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

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Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#171

Post by snarf21 »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #108
risyachka wrote: post #104

Airbnb is not evil. Tourists that don't care or follow the rules are. Without Airbnb, they will bring the same problems just to other people in other places. Many hotels do charge unjustified amounts of money, so I am personally happy there is an option to pay reasonable money for good service. Also, it's not like hotels don't have their share of problems. Many hotels in many countries offer you pure garbage when you…

Now for the counterargument: Airbnb is evil, because it facilitates and profits from rule and lawbreaking, up to and including turning whole apartment buildings into pirate hotels, while spinning the tale that it's all about individuals occasionally renting out their primary place of residence for a couple of days. It's evil because while occasional random temporary sublets aren't a problem, they become a problem whe…

There is also the consequence of removing rental inventory from residents of that city because renting to tourists is more profitable if you don't have to meet any of the other conditions of running a legal hotel.

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#172

Post by mensetmanusman »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #108
risyachka wrote: post #104

Airbnb is not evil. Tourists that don't care or follow the rules are. Without Airbnb, they will bring the same problems just to other people in other places. Many hotels do charge unjustified amounts of money, so I am personally happy there is an option to pay reasonable money for good service. Also, it's not like hotels don't have their share of problems. Many hotels in many countries offer you pure garbage when you…

Now for the counterargument: Airbnb is evil, because it facilitates and profits from rule and lawbreaking, up to and including turning whole apartment buildings into pirate hotels, while spinning the tale that it's all about individuals occasionally renting out their primary place of residence for a couple of days. It's evil because while occasional random temporary sublets aren't a problem, they become a problem whe…

Entire apartment buildings being profitable by converting to AirBnB is a symptom of corrupt real-estate though...

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#173

Post by blaser-waffle »

gwbas1c wrote: post #157
JacKTrocinskI wrote: post #6

Or just go to a hotel! I have a condo in a building where most of the units are listed on Airbnb or Booking.com, quality of life for residents like me has been drastically reduced by noisy tourists that come for a weekend trip and have no regard for keeping it quiet or keeping the shared spaces clean. I hope more cities begin to ban Airbnb. Tourists belong in hotels not in buildings where families try to live their d…

The post points out that hotels also hide cameras, and when they do, they're usually harder to find

I heard somewhere the going rate was like 300/bucks per 10 minutes of solid voyeur film when uploaded to certain websites. Plenty of incentive for the small=time airBnB host to set up sketchy cams.

Sure, cameras happen in hotels too, but there is a gigantic liability machine -- the hotel company -- which has its ass on the line if there is a camera found; plus it makes their brand look like shit and is a hashtag away from trouble. It also means there is an org to go after with grievances if you find something in a hotel.

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#174

Post by noxToken »

terryf wrote: post #53
JacKTrocinskI wrote: post #6

Or just go to a hotel! I have a condo in a building where most of the units are listed on Airbnb or Booking.com, quality of life for residents like me has been drastically reduced by noisy tourists that come for a weekend trip and have no regard for keeping it quiet or keeping the shared spaces clean. I hope more cities begin to ban Airbnb. Tourists belong in hotels not in buildings where families try to live their d…

This is one of the reasons I don't stay in airbnbs - the system breaks the social contract. The reason hotels are more expensive is because they have to follow a bunch of rules that makes everyone's life a bit better by having insurance for risks and zoning and so on. However you have to pay a bit more. So, if you ever find yourself complaining "I wish people did something in a not the absolute cheapest and effortles…

>This is one of the reasons I don't stay in airbnbs - the system breaks the social contract.

But it doesn't. People are breaking the social contract by not respecting the area. If I invite friends from out of town over for the weekend, is that breaking the social contract? If I'm going away for 2 weeks, and I have friends house sit for the duration, is that breaking the social contract? Tourists and visitors existing in a space (unless it's too many) isn't inherently violating the social contract. Their selfish behavior is the issue.

I understand what you mean. I have neighbors down the road who throw a massive family gathering once per year that I'm certain breaks noise, traffic and safety ordinances[0] due to the sound system still going at 10PM and parked cars littering both sides of the streets. That's not due to Airbnb or any other hospitality broker.

If you have an issue with visitors, talk to them. It's possible that they don't even know they're being a nuisance. I have had cops called on me for a noise complaint. It would have been a better use of everyone's time to knock and let us know.

[0]: As far as I know, no one reports the reunion/gathering. I like to think that since we're all very respectful of each other's property and space, breaking the rules for a special event once in a while is no big deal.

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#175

Post by [deleted] »

snarf21 wrote: post #166
voidwtf wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would argue that ‘people’ break the social contract. These people know where they are, what time it is, and mostly what’s expected of their surroundings. I think they just don’t care. I’m guessing it’s similar to anonymity on the Internet, where people behave differently because they don’t expect to have to face those they harm.

I would disagree slightly. They treat it like any other hotel. There are always some overtly noisy people at a hotel. There are always people who will leave crap in the breakfast areas because "they are paying" and it is someone else's job. The difference is that someone's apartment isn't employing the same people a hotel is. And like the thread mentions, they are breaking a social contract of the building even if th…

[deleted]

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#176

Post by asark »

chirau wrote: post #60
PlasticTank wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, you can get pedantic about the cultural nuances of courtsey but I'd say that it generally boils down to don't be an inconsiderate a-hole. I live in a country where it's not illegal to take up-skirts I'd say it would be pretty universal to say it's common courtesy not to do that.

An example is not a definition. Like i said, what is common courtesy and where? What is an a-hole? You mention these terms as if they have a universal definition, they don't. Chewing gum in Singapore could be an a-hole move. Is it in the USA? So what gives? And thanks to all my know-better self-righteous downvoters. I didn't know questions were inappropriate.

Human interaction isn't math. The law isn't even math. Neither ever will be.

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#177

Post by [deleted] »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #74
barrkel wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hotels with self catering and a door between living area and sleeping area are scarce on the ground and often overpriced. Even something as simple as a fridge with usable space, not packed with minibar stuff, is hard to find. Hotels aren't very comfortable places to stay.

Those places you're looking for are called hostels . They're cheaper and there's likely more of them than hotels in any given place. They're also legal and don't break the social contract. EDIT: I'm sorry, I only just realized that "hostel" in Europe means something entirely different from "hostel" in the US. What I mean by "hostel", per how we use this term in Poland, is a cheaper version of a hotel, where you still…

[deleted]

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#178

Post by noer »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #74
barrkel wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hotels with self catering and a door between living area and sleeping area are scarce on the ground and often overpriced. Even something as simple as a fridge with usable space, not packed with minibar stuff, is hard to find. Hotels aren't very comfortable places to stay.

Those places you're looking for are called hostels . They're cheaper and there's likely more of them than hotels in any given place. They're also legal and don't break the social contract. EDIT: I'm sorry, I only just realized that "hostel" in Europe means something entirely different from "hostel" in the US. What I mean by "hostel", per how we use this term in Poland, is a cheaper version of a hotel, where you still…

People in the US would generally call them "Extended Stays" but they're usually as expensive as hotels but not necessarily located in places where you'd want to be. In my experience they're either in industrial suburbs or just off of a highway exit. They're targeted at people who will be away from home for more than a few days and/or where a hotel room is too small/ill equipped.

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#179

Post by barrkel »

ryanmercer wrote: post #128
ubermonkey wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The door isn't there, but many "business traveler" hotel lines are closer to what you describe. But yeah, if you want to cook, the options are slimmer. There ARE still options -- Extended Stay America, in the US, for example -- but mostly you'd be better off renting a property and not a hotel room.

>The door isn't there, but many "business traveler" hotel lines are closer to what you describe. Exactly, every business hotel I've ever seen has had a fridge, kitchen-style sink and a microwave. Then touristy locations often have condo rentals on a weekly basis which will have proper kitchens and washer & dryer, if you're travelling long enough to need a kitchen it's probably going to be a week or more. Worst case p…

Business hotels are the kind of hotels that charge extra for everything, because business travellers expense everything.

Re: How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb

#180

Post by barrkel »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #74
barrkel wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hotels with self catering and a door between living area and sleeping area are scarce on the ground and often overpriced. Even something as simple as a fridge with usable space, not packed with minibar stuff, is hard to find. Hotels aren't very comfortable places to stay.

Those places you're looking for are called hostels . They're cheaper and there's likely more of them than hotels in any given place. They're also legal and don't break the social contract. EDIT: I'm sorry, I only just realized that "hostel" in Europe means something entirely different from "hostel" in the US. What I mean by "hostel", per how we use this term in Poland, is a cheaper version of a hotel, where you still…

I think it is not a Europe / US distinction, but English / other distinction?

Hostel in Ireland and UK invariably means cheap shared accommodation for young people, with facilities in common areas.

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