Fees, poor quality, unprofessionalism- why Airbnb experiences are becoming less popular

During the World Bug, I mostly stayed in Airbnbs, gathering much experience in searches and stays. Nowadays, I only use Airbnb for long-term stays when there are no other options. I'm currently writing this from my apart-hotel, which I was lucky enough to check in at 11 am, after fleeing a moldy, buggy Airbnb. So my Airbnb use is on a downward slide. Here are just some reasons why the Airbnb experience is becoming less popular.

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The housing issue

Airbnb started as a side job, like Uber. People who had a room or vacation house they weren't using, could make up some mortgage money from renting it out. It was a low-cost option, especially for large families and long stays. It was a great way to experience life in a different part of the world.

Since then, corporations and wealthy individuals started to buy as much real estate as they could. Foreign tourist prices, low effort, and extra fees? Sounds like getting rich quickly.

Now, Airbnb hosts offer as little as possible, while charging as much as possible. The Airbnb company is public, so the numbers are the main concern for them. Meanwhile, the customer experience is plummeting. Guests are paying luxury prices for barely basic living conditions.

The housing prices are being driven up, with Airbnb adding to the problem. Because they're affordable to some, the over-priced rentals are kept in business. And with a high level of visitors, low standards are accepted just because it's cheaper than their own country.

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The welcome

Great hosts welcome you with bottled water and a snack basket. Others welcome you with a novel of house rules and chores. The worst ones sell you a stay in a cockroach hostel or threaten your safety.

I've encountered a bug here and there, but that happened in hotels, too. But at least hotels send someone to deal with the issue.

You usually know what you get with hotels, but if it's not a brand you're familiar with, you never know. At least the receptionist is there to help you if you have a poor experience. With Airbnbs, you're basically on your own. Hosts try to fix some things, but can also avoid responding or taking action.

The first impression matters. When you finally arrive at your accommodation, after a long trip, you want to relax. A dirty rental with raggedy bedsheets is the last thing you want to see. And pay attention to listings that have stretched photos, I don't know why they're trying to trick guests like that.

Defensive hosts will make you feel bad that you complain about cleanliness or a functioning stove. It's like you're hard to please and demanding when you complain about bugs or a smelly apartment.

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The bedding

I've seen the thinnest mattresses in Europe. And the thinnest pillows. If the place is artistically photographed through a plant's leaves, it's probably not worth it. There's a weird trend of close-ups of Ikea decorations and other irrelevant items in the Airbnb. These are usually property managers, who set up a whimsical rental and never check on it ever again.

The bed is a huge part of your vacation. Some travelers don't care much about the venue, as it's just a place to sleep. Even then, you still want a nice, comfortable space. The hosts who have no consideration for the guests throw in the cheapest stuff and lie back, expecting to get rich. And they're not even maintained with protective covers, or ever deep cleaned.

If you see a thin mattress, nothing else in the posting matters. You might save some money, which later will be spent on fixing your back.

I have no idea if the hosts also sleep with one flat pillow, I'm actually curious. Some of us need to breathe while sleeping. And a reminder, pillows can be cleaned in the washer.

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Amenities

Fancy hotels have a pillow menu. Or at least bring you up extras. Or maybe a blanket if you need it.

With an Airbnb experience, what you see on arrival is what you get. The dryer is actually a hair dryer, not for clothes? Common in Europe. No shower gel or dishwashing liquid? Oh well. And my favorite- the representative roll of toilet paper, likely left by the previous guest. If you dare complain in the comments at the end, you will find out that the toilet paper is an exceptional perk for your arrival, the hosts never take on the responsibility of leaving a proper amount for your stay. Once I got to an Airbnb that had not even a square of toilet paper, that was an experience I don't want to repeat.

A bottle of water AND a pack of toilet paper? How are they supposed to make a profit when you only pay 97 euros per npoight?

It's true some are seasonal. But they do make enough for the whole year, rest assured.

I understand guests can be destructive, which is a risk in any business. Buying the cheapest furniture and poor quality items will deter guests, or make their experience poor. Which will then show in the comments.

One host was trying to make us pay 8 euros after we left, saying we broke a glass. Then sent a receipt for 8 euros, with a photo of two coffee cups. We hadn't broken a glass. What's weird is that they could've factored that in, seeing how we paid a ton of money for our long stay.

Make sure you check the amenity list carefully, at least then the customer service can help you. Like in this case, where hot water was not listed. Other cases are a true nightmare when the hosts don't bother to install a carbon monoxide detector, which seems to be common in Mexico.

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The funny business

The comments guests leave may be removed at the host's request. They get removed because of relevance, they're against the policy, for defamation, and more. When the comments mention the weather or things that are out of the host's control, they can be removed.

It's hard to trust anything online, from Google reviews to specific app and site reviews. It's great if you can read reviews from different platforms, which is impossible with Airbnb.

As the company is public, the focus is on the numbers going up. Airbnb makes it easy to list a property, hide terrible comments, relist, and pay someone to fix your rating. The company and hosts will do everything they can to keep guests booking.

I had a good experience with customer service so far, as our issues were serious. Of course, I wish there would be no issues when arriving at the place we spent a whole day picking.

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The hosts

I really don't know which is worse- a defensive host without any experience in tourism, or a property management company that couldn't care less. Both will try to get the most out of nothing.

An individual host is hit or miss. They may be passionate and create a great experience. Or they list an old house they put no effort into, and expect you to deal with it, so they can have a passive income.

A property manager is very adamant that you treat the property well, but they have not stepped in there since they brought the Ikea vases and metal table.

You'd think a place that is managed by professionals would be great, but that's not the case with Airbnb. A wealthy person buys the apartment/house and then hands it over for a cut of the profit, while they don't have to lift a finger. They're probably not even in the country. Staff are hired for cleaning and maintenance issues. The managers handle the booking and the chat, but that's about it. They don't check if everything is cleaned well, or if items are damaged, so they can blame the staff. They take on many properties and make minimal effort.

I've experienced most issues and poor hosting in managed rentals.

When I refused to have the cleaner over because of the world bug, they had me send photos of the apartment. They had mandatory cleaning for long stays hidden deep in the listing. And when I told them I forgot something and I could go pick it up, they said they'll see if the cleaner 'finds it'.

At a different place, bugs made an appearance, and the host said that 'it's weird' and 'they're not in season yet'. Somebody should've told the cockroaches that.

An individual host praised their apartment for having heated floors, and said it gets 'almost as hot as Miami'. I would say it was misleading, but maybe they were referring to Miami in January, during the Ice Age. They didn't include any space heaters or split pumps, though. This was the ground floor, in the winter, so the walls were cold and damp, and the whole place was cold.

The last Airbnb I fled welcomed us with a collection of bugs- flies, ants, and small spiders, plus mold. The ceiling of one bedroom had water damage and mold, which then extended to the hallway and living area. The hosts insisted that it was condensation, even after seeing the photos. In their defense, it probably was condensation months before. Now it was a full ecosystem, complete with smell. The ACs were also not cleaned for centuries.

As a serious business with a stock market presence, you'd think Airbnb would offer training and some kind of enforced standards.

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Wear and tear

An Airbnb listing cannot be updated with new photos, and guests cannot share any either. The place looks great in the beginning, but booking it after 5 years since the listing, it will not look the same. If the comments go back many years, the pillows will be stained and the kitchen dated.

I've been in Airbnbs where stuff piled on from various guests, from half-eaten snacks to a box of sexual stuff in a closet.

Over time, the host and cleaning staff lose interest, and normal wear and tear take a toll on the furniture and all items. The pictures you see may not be accurate anymore.

There should be a deep clean about twice a year, which is not that hard, seeing how Airbnbs are not booked year-round. It would make a difference. First, the owners would be maintaining their real estate purchases. Second, the guests get to have a clean, fresh accommodation to enjoy. Pests are less likely to stay in a maintained and sprayed apartment.

There was a lot of criticism on social media for Airbnb chores and rules. Nobody wants to do chores on their vacation, or as they're packing to leave. That's where hotels are best again- you check in, you check out, no taking out the garbage and putting the sheets in the washer. And that's on top of an extra cleaning fee. I wholly dislike having to pay a cleaning fee and walk into dusty, stained quarters.

I think the competition shook up hotels a bit, and they stepped up. And while Airbnbs are getting more regulated by governments, they're here to stay. After all the fees, dated rentals, and greedy hosts, more and more travelers move towards other options.