Experiences on AirBnb

[Pacolovestacos]

Hey folks, headed to California next summer. Am thinking about using AirBnb as I can find some really nice deals in desirable areas like Santa Monica, compared to hotels.

I've never used this site before so curious what your experiences have been like. Can I trust the reviews on the site?

 

[jevs]

Just make sure they're legal. I know Santa Monica have/or were bringing in some laws around short term rentals. I'm sure one of the locals will be able to point you in the right direction here.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Doesn't the issue of legality fall on the shoulders of the person who's advertising their home, not the person staying?

 

[wilkeliza]

Doesn't the issue of legality fall on the shoulders of the person who's advertising their home, not the person staying?

It depends. Do you really want to show up to Santa Monica and find your stuff stuck in a space that has an eviction notice on it or show up to nothing?

With Air BnB it is a good idea to know the law where you are going. Like here in NY you can't legally rent an apartment/home for less then 30 days so if it is a short term rental you can only rent the room not the entire house. This works for some people but others are shocked to find out the owner still has to be there.

 

[mnrose]

I am staying in an Airbnb at the moment in Northern California. It's the third one I've done. So far, it has lived up to my expectations. Places have been as advertised, etc. Of course, sometimes things are "in the eye of the beholder" type thing....and may not be exactly as you would presume them to be. In some places, they really are a person's home that they are leasing on a temporary basis. Some are places that are set up to be exclusively rentals (like the one that I am in). I prefer the latter as it feels less like I am "intruding" on someone else's space. The downside to this is that they are often more sparsely furnished than you would your own home...for example, while the place I am currently staying is lovely, and has generally nice towels and linens, there are no bath mats for the shower. An oddity. And, there is not someone immediately available (like the front desk) to get you a bath mat if you need one or more towels, etc. And, there is no housekeeping (of course),

I will do it again, however. It's always my preference to have more space and a homier atmosphere.

 

[jevs]

Doesn't the issue of legality fall on the shoulders of the person who's advertising their home, not the person staying?

Yes it does.

I've just done a little googling (is that still allowed on here?) and SM have some of the toughest regulations for airbnb. I guess the trick is to find the places that have gone through all the hoops to be legal and stay there. Hopefully a local can help out with the legit places and where to find them.

 

[Meriweather]

DH has used them several times. Works for him.
We also have a friend that uses them often. Haven't heard a complaint.
Just read what is offered very carefully......DH went to NC in July and got a place with no AC. His fault.

 

[Flight]

We have used AirBnb a few times and would use them again. Found the reviews to be very helpful. However, don't let the word "breakfast" in the name make you assume that you will be fed. Not all accomadations include a meal.

 

[MrsDuck]

We stayed in an AirBNB in Nashville. It was perfectly fine but we would probably never do it again. Much prefer hotels and their environment.

 

[MINNIEsotanice]

We just got back from NYC where we stayed in an Airbnb for 7 days. It was wonderful. There were 8 of us and every couple had their own bedroom. We had a kitchen, living room, bathroom and nice patio. Plenty of room to unwind after a long day of sight seeing. It was actually the second Airbnb we have rented in New York. It is our preferred way to travel!

 

[wilkeliza]

We just got back from NYC where we stayed in an Airbnb for 7 days. It was wonderful. There were 8 of us and every couple had their own bedroom. We had a kitchen, living room, bathroom and nice patio. Plenty of room to unwind after a long day of sight seeing. It was actually the second Airbnb we have rented in New York. It is our preferred way to travel!

Just wondering did the owner of the apartment/home also stay? If not technically where you were was illegal here in the city. They city is really trying to crack down on Air BnB and personally I'm all for it. The rental market out here is already hard enough, we don't need landlords taking apartments off the market to be able to rent them short term for quadruple what they wouldn't make for a leased apartment.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I have a friend who got an AirBNB while their home was being renovated. It turned out that the building did NOT allow short-term rentals, and the landlord was quite upset that they were there. Yes, the responsibility is on the person doing the renting, but it was not pleasant for them to have the landlord being angry and complaining every time he saw them.

 

[BadPinkTink]

oooh interesting thread. Some of my friends did AirBandB in LA this June 2016 and were very happy. Both friends had a studio apartment, all to themselves. One was better than the other but thats the luck of the draw. I am very tempted for my June 2017 trip but Im not sure. As a solo female traveller I like the security of a hotel, the AC, the house keeping service.

 

[Micca]

I've just done a little googling (is that still allowed on here?)

NO GOOGLE FOR YOU! Call me the "Search Nazi"

 

[jevs]

NO GOOGLE FOR YOU! Call me the "Search Nazi"

You know it's just going to make me step up my googling right

 

[jt'smom]

We love Airbnb. We stayed several times in self-contained units on vacation, and found it great. I've also used Homeaway.com with great success. The Airbnb website is very user friendly, and we've found that the owner's are generally very responsive. We've also negotiated rates directly with the landlords in a couple of places, and they sent us better "offers" through the Airbnb website than what was listed.

 

[ronandannette]

You know it's just going to make me step up my googling right

Yeah, because you're one of "those people". (Still not sure what the OP thought they were going to accomplish with that thread. )

 

[MINNIEsotanice]

Just wondering did the owner of the apartment/home also stay? If not technically where you were was illegal here in the city. They city is really trying to crack down on Air BnB and personally I'm all for it. The rental market out here is already hard enough, we don't need landlords taking apartments off the market to be able to rent them short term for quadruple what they wouldn't make for a leased apartment.

No the owner did not stay with us. We heard that they were starting to crack down before we left but we had no problems whatsoever. We stayed in a townhouse in Queens. We would definitely stay again.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yeah, because you're one of "those people". (Still not sure what the OP thought they were going to accomplish with that thread. )

Hm unless you did something the system quoted me as the poster of the quote when I was not.

 

[ronandannette]

Hm unless you did something the system quoted me as the poster of the quote when I was not.

[/QUOTE]
Weird Liza?!? Jevs was the author of that post and the subsequent comments were directed to her. Not sure how the board messed that quote up...

You know it's just going to make me step up my googling right

Yeah, because you're one of "those people". (Still not sure what the OP thought they were going to accomplish with that thread. )