Because I this experience I got into the habit of barely checking the reviews, though this eventually gave me a problem when I booked a house with sea view in Folkestone, which turned out to be dirty and cold, despite a 5-star rating. On close reading of the reviews after the event I noticed that mention was made by a small minority of reviews that the house is shabby with inadequate heating, and also of the host being a “con man.”

Once again Airbnb were cool and arranged for another property for us, and I left a truthful review, but I now have one negative review of me as a guest from this “con man,” who claims I was just being difficult and making it all up. Anyone who checks the new reviews of the house will notice that several of them mention the house being dirty and cold, verifying my review, but the house still has a 4.5 star rating, while I have a negative review as a guest that contains inaccurate information, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

As I don’t want a second negative review as a guest, it means that if I were to end up again in a flawed Airbnb property, that I won’t leave a review.

In short, Airbnb should be far more pro-active about vetting the properties and hosts, and tighten its interpretation of its “content policy.” If a host, or a guest for that matter, writes things that are verifiably untrue, this should be taken down, or at the very least the host or guest should have a right to reply.

Hi MK, currently there is no option to edit a host review.

I recently stayed in an airbnb (entire house) that was quite grubby. The kitchen and floors were all very sticky – we mopped on arrival and wiped the benchtops down with disinfectant, and felt we had to wash any utensils before using them. Yet this property had 5 stars. It even had 5 stars for the cleanliness subcategory!

I’ve seen the argument that people weight their reviews on the basis of price paid, but that just confuses things. When we book hotels and we see a 5-star hotel we expect a certain level of cleanliness and amenity and are prepared to pay for it, and if we’re unwilling to pay for it we lower our expectations and stay in a 3-star hotel and accept the consequences for paying less. I don’t see how airbnb ratings should be any different.

Hidden fees
The prices listed seem to be lower compared to some hotels, but that is misleading. Once you get to the check out you all of sudden notice that
1. They charge you booking fee for every day you book – that seems to be % of your booking so it can add up to $80-$100 extra
2. Many hosts will charge you cleaning fee $30-$35
3. Many hosts will want you to also pay for electricity and water
4. Add to that that you get no daily service
5. No free breakfast
6. No airport shuttle
7. no 24 hrs front desk service since the host lives usually quite far or in different country

All added up you pay a lot me for the booking than in the hotel

Process of booking through airbnb
This is the worst part. Their computer system is completely corrupted. It has so many glitches that both the customers and hosts have their share of adrenaline floating. For one, you have to wait for the host to approve you. You can send a request for booking with conformation after making your payement, but 24 hrs later you may get automated message that your reservation was cancelled because you did not verify your account. You go again and repeat the process with the verification only to receive another cancellation next day stating you did not upload your picture.
The host can send you a direct booking link, but if you don’t respond in 24 hrs , not 48 as the system tells you, you get a message that the host withdrew your booking and the property is no longer available. If you contact the host he/she will tell you they never sent such a message and that they got message that you cancelled the reservation. So it is absolutely ridiculous.

Making changes/cancellations
Most places allow you to make changes with 48hrs. So you go in change your dates and send a message to the host requesting the change. However be aware that the system will not log in your change of date. It will only send the message. If your host does not respond in next 24 hrs, the airbnb rep will tell you that you passed your 48hr cancellation window and you are loosing your deposit.

Take my advise and book through more reputable sites such as hotels.com, booking.com, agoda, or what ever else, but stay away from this site to save yourself the headache. I am sharing this with you as an expensive lesson I have learned. Do not make the same mistake I made.

Thanks in advance
Caitlin Summer