From the opinion piece: > I can’t remember when we were actually in somebody’s home. It’s always somebody’s side hustle. They own 10 of them and live six hours away and they don’t give a dead rodent about you. The decor is always Early Target. You got a complaint? Send an email and we’ll get back to you. Maybe by Thanksgiving. Perhaps “staying in someone’s home” doesn’t scale? For example, there’s a point at which bu…
Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
71–80 of 82 posts
Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#72The problem is owners rent out their space and try to do all the work from afar. Cleaners are rented and just do what their told. No one really inspects the place between guests. No one maintains anything. It's just maximal profit extraction which turns everything into crap. I would never rent out my home or extra dwelling without greeting the guests in person, being available for assistance, and maybe even showing u…
It is cleaned and inspected very thoroughly between guests. We wouldn't do it if we couldn't offer great service.
Certainly would never want to show up at check-in/check-out though, and it'd probably freak me out if someone did that at one we stayed at. It's not a hotel and it doesn't need to be treated as one.
Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#73Earlier quoted context omitted.
the main reason of etre of airbnb is to let him and others skip the law and not get a proper license to run a faux-hotel at their second homes. then people can't afford nor rent nor buying homes in their homeplaces, due to these twats buying it all up to -profit-
this is one of those urban legends that seem to make sense but doesn't add up when you check the actual numbers.
Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#74It took 17 years for Airbnb to address the hidden cameras. Obviously doesn’t fix the problem, but still crazy it took them that long to even make a policy about it.
Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#75So many bad takes, I'll put that on ignorance: > I’m writing to you from a home rental in France where we had to rent our sheets and towels. Yes, that's a French thing, always has been - sorry if that's the first time the author went to France and rented a private flat there ... > It was on the fifth floor of an apartment building and promised 180-degree views of the city below Well, did that apartment had any review…
This sounded wrong, so I asked my French expatriate friends and they're convinced you're smoking something strong. It's not normal to have to bring your own sheets and towels for a short-term stay in France, though it is normal for a longer-term stay.
Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#76Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#77Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#78So many bad takes, I'll put that on ignorance: > I’m writing to you from a home rental in France where we had to rent our sheets and towels. Yes, that's a French thing, always has been - sorry if that's the first time the author went to France and rented a private flat there ... > It was on the fifth floor of an apartment building and promised 180-degree views of the city below Well, did that apartment had any review…
Yes, that's a French thing, always has been - sorry if that's the first time the author went to France and rented a private flat there .. This sounded wrong, so I asked my French expatriate friends and they're convinced you're smoking something strong. It's not normal to have to bring your own sheets and towels for a short-term stay in France, though it is normal for a longer-term stay.
I went another time to France some years ago and there wasn't anything either.
In both situations though, I asked the owner beforehand and made it clear that providing the linens was conditional for renting the apartment - it's not usual in France to provide linens, as weird as it seems.
But most hosts, especially the ones who care about reviews, will be accommodating.
Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#79Re: Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide
#80Where Airbnb and Vrbo still works: 1. Large groups and families 2. Places where having a kitchen would be a great thing (either due to cost or because there’s not as many restaurants around) 3. If you wanted to stay in a specific location Why they don’t work for all other cases: 1. They are more expensive than hotels, but without the conveniences of a hotel 2. Cleaning fee scam 3. Enshitification of offerings by larg…
Hotels are often cramped places with minimal to no amenities or appliances. Airbnb often gets you a bit of space, couch, kitchen area and a bedroom. I'm not sure what conveniences hotels offer over apartments that are worth it.