My First Airbnb Experience
I’ve read on many travel blogs how wonderful Airbnb is and the concept is fantastic. However my first Airbnb experience has a lot to be desired.
I was on my way to Hawaii and in Minneapolis, in fact, when I reached out and requested to book a bed in this room. I still had many hours to go before I even got to Hawaii so I figured no big deal, this girl will approve it and I’ll have a cheap place to stay.
The first thing I did as soon as the wheels touched the ground in Honolulu some ten hours later was check Airbnb. The girl had not responded to my request, which left an exhausted me scrambling to find a bed for the night, with Mom’s help (Thanks Mom for being my fantastic travel agent!)
I will try Airbnb again, because I do realize there are a few bad apples in every group. However, I will not book it the day of, I will do it in advance or at least be in contact with the host prior to the day of.
So where did I end up staying?
My room was fantastic! Aside from the fact that I got two beds for just one person, but whatever. I had a corner room and a fantastic balcony on that wrapped around the corner allowing the wonderful Hawaii breeze to blow through my room.
And the toilet… it was weird. The seat was all high tech with buttons and it was… different.
Everything in the hotel was in both English and Japanese. It certainly made things interesting, but I can’t read Japanese (yet), so.
All in all, I’d say the whole not staying with Airbnb this time around worked out fantastically. They even gave a 15% coupon to use for my next stay. How nice of them!
You were lucky… I just had my first Airbnb experience last week. After booking and paying 8 months ago for a family vacation, 2 hours before check in … the host cancelled and never answered messages or calls after that. Airbnb failed to relocate me and sent me to a location miles from where I wanted to stay. They promised to reimburse but as of today… they made me pay for the house I stayed in.
I canยดt blame Airbnb for crappy hosts, but they should own the experience and make up for those rotten apples. Finally dont get me started on the possible racial reason for the cancellation… so no, not too happy !
Oh my! I’m so sorry that happened to you! Hopefully, the host has been barred from renting to other guests!