AirBnB /VBRO etc

A snowHead

The problem, at least as I see it, with platforms like Airbnb or even Booking.com is that there's always a risk — either of falling victim to a scam or facing a last-minute cancellation by the host for any number of reasons. This has happened before, for example, during the Olympic Games.

While you usually get your money back in such cases, the real issue is that if you’ve already booked things like transfers or ski school during peak season, finding alternative accommodation last minute can be extremely difficult. With traditional real estate agencies, this kind of situation is much rarer. And if it does happen, I assume they would do everything they can to find a solution — though of course, I wouldn’t bet on it.

The same goes for the central reservation offices run by the resorts themselves. They usually offer a bit more security and are more likely to help if something goes wrong, than a refund

A snowHead

@turms2, airbnb the host isn't paid until a day after check out so if you arrive and theres no house you log it with airbnb and a block goes on. So scamming should be harder however people decide to go off channel and book direct and then…. Well good luck.

If a host cancels close to the arrival date they are financially penalised unless they have a very good reason and evidence.

Also this goes both ways - hosts like me (one property, my gaff) will be picky about who stays. If you have no reviews and dont answer the questions or want to book direct - i’ll decline

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@Nadenoodlee,
honestly i do not understang what you mean. If i arrive and theres no house, you mean a scam, or you mean its already rented?

About the last, as a host, why you dont want someone to book directly?

My questions sounds silly, but never been a host, so i have to ask.

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@turms2, reduced risk of scam on airbnb as the host isn't paid until 24-48hr after the check in time. So having fake listings etc. doesn't work. Also as a host you have to pay if you cancel close to the arrival date - not sure where that money goes but you don’t get off with it.

On the book direct - 2nd or 3rd time happy to but I liked the host protection on offer via airbnb and didn't mind the fees etc.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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@JoeSchmoe, nope Airbnb gets it all until check in.

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I prefer direct booking. I started out in this game long before ABB and BC became a thing. I know there are risks with paying upfront for private accommodation, but we do it for other things. If you go to order a sofa for example, you pay John Lewis for it, and may not get if to 6-8 weeks. If you're concerned, make sure you at least pay the deposit for your accommodation with a credit card. Paying booking.com means you are paying a 3rd party, and there has been some questions raised about your rights to a refund from your credit card provider. Pay the accommodation directly and you are protected.

After all it is free

In Austria and s. Tirol i paid direkt to the owner. Never has a Problem for over 20 years
However in France its almost impossible to find direkt the owner.
Airbnb, lebocoin or Immobilien
Otherwise didnt manage to come in contact or even find the owner except some snowheads member

@turms2, I've always used my own website alongside other methods, including leboncoin, but that is just and advert, you usually deal and book with the owner directly.

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@Hells Bells, NehNeh

Was Just checking your Website & appartment few Minutes ago...Looks really nice

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@turms2, thanks.

snow reports

We haven't had any cancellations with Airbnb but did with vbro, although the apartment was run by a letting agency interhome, they cancelled less than two weeks before we were due to stay for a month, they claimed there was water damage, which obviously is possible from a leak but I knew the apparment as we had the one next to it previously, they are modern and all solid floors and not on the top floor, they offered us a far inferior one a mile out of town and claimed it was the only one available, it's rent was much cheaper, this was the first week of Jan until Feb half term, I found two others in town that were the same standard but a bit dearer they denied it was available until I actually placed a booking for it via my credit card, when I said I had done this they just put the phone down and would not speak to me after, obviously I cancelled the second booking, vbro were not directly at fault but did nothing to help me either but just returned our money, as the apartment was occupied at least some of the time while we were in resort I assume they had a better offer
Buyer beware I guess

@robs1, the only cancellations I have done were after a flood from above - unfortunately the person who discovered it was a really lovely guest opening the front door Shocked

You know it makes sense.

@Nadenoodlee , obviously leaks happen but we had booked the apartment for four weeks and on several occasions when we drove past it was occupied, shutters open/ closed, lights on/ off etc, it was the fact I knew the apparment that proved to us they had made it up , also the totally unhelpful attitude and blatant lies they told us about another apartment not being available that compounded the issue.

I'm sure the majority of owners are like yourself and totally reliable, if course some renters are very bad too.
Before we book through one of these online agencies we now go through the reviews to see if there are lots of mentions of cancellations.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Can one not book with a credit card and have the benefit of S75 cover or does AirBnB, etc. as an intermediary invalidate that?

A snowHead

We always use our nationwide credit card for all such items but I assume that these agencies always repay any money without recourse to the card company. The problem is that if a holiday is booked early it's often cheaper , if it's then cancelled close to the date of the holiday the availability of a suitable alternative might be very small or non existent and almost certainly more expensive,

A snowHead

@robs1, its a pays your money takes your choice. There is a risk element which is why some people pay the package premium.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Does anyone know the bases on which owners are allowed to cancel legitimately with these types of bookings?

We let our place by direct bookings, Airbnb and our leboncoin advert. Not had to cancel any reservations but for Airbnb it is quite tricky to cancel a confirmed reservation and the host incurs fees for doing so. Below is when cancellations can be justified for Airbnb -

A host can cancel an Airbnb booking for several reasons, including major damage to the listing, unexpected issues that prevent hosting, or a guest's behavior that violates the house rules or platform policies. In some cases, Major Disruptive Events, like natural disasters or public health emergencies, can also warrant a cancellation. Additionally, a host may need to cancel if a guest has a history of unfavorable reviews or lacks profile information, or if the stay has issues that prevent a service or experience from taking place.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@andmelffion, I think actual cancellations are quite strict, but it is easier to actually decline a booking if it is unsuitable. How much evidence they ask for, I cannot say, as I have not needed to cancel any of my reservations. Most of my bookings do not come from any of these sites though.
I know of someone who was made to pay for alternative accommodation at a more expensive price, as the family concerned had 7 people in their party and not 5 . The additional 2 were infants, but are not for some odd reason included in occupancy. She cancelled the booking, and it cost her several hundred euros for the alternative that booking.com found for them.
I have made sure my listing on that site means this cannot happen. 4 is my maximum as there is no room for cots if all beds are occupied.

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My sister declined a booking because the woman had a dog. She said she'd leave it in the car but the property was tiny, on a busy village street with no guaranteed parking right outside and she didn't believe her. The ad specified no pets. And no kids under 3 because stairs were unguarded and lethal. It seems hugely unfair to make an owner pay when someone turns up with 7 people in a place specifying maximum 5

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I'm in an Airbnb right now. A static caravan in the middle of nowhere in Scotland. Everything works and there are none of the silly knick knacks and twee mottos which clutter so many places. But a bowl of fruit and shortbread biscuits which was a nice welcome after the long drive. I've eaten all the biscuits...... Embarassed

After all it is free

We've used AirBnB and VRBO a few times. On the whole we have had no issues. The first issue came up when we booked a VRBO in Cervinia at Christmas The host didn't respond to any of my messages over the course of several months, and then the photos for the listing vanished. I contacted VRBO with concerns and explained that if the accommodation wasn't available, I needed to know so I could book an alternative. They got a response from the owner who messaged me to confirm we were still on and answered one of my questions (address for the sat nav) and said she would get back to me about hire recommendations, but then she went dark on me again.

When we arrived at the apartment, the chap on the front desk didn't have a clue what I was talking about. He became quite angry when I showed him the booking and started ranting about the owner. I managed to find a phone number for the owner and called it but she didn't speak a word of English. She also didn't reply to any of my messages and emails. This was all with my family sat around in the lobby with our cases. Eventually I called her back and asked Angry Man to speak to her. He did and it was very animated. He eventually got off the phone and told us the code to the lock box outside the apartment door.

About 10 minutes after we got into the apartment, the door knocked and there was a young woman with a second set of keys and some bedding, who explained that the owner was a very old lady who hadn't told anyone we were coming.

It has made us wary, although we have booked with VRBO for New Year in Bulgaria since. This host has been much more responsive this time.

We bought Angry Man a 4 pack of beer to say thank you for his help and apologise for being a pain for him. He was very appreciative.

I tend to be the opposite of going down the agency route. I take the view that almost everyone who privately rents their own place out (on whatever platform) is a decent human who's trying to make some cash out of their holiday place.

The only time I've ever had a problem was when the swimming pool in the property leaked and they needed to dig up the whole garden to fix it so cancelled on us. Even that though, they guy put us in touch with a friend who had a place available that week. Same cost, 5 minute further walk out of town but actually nicer.

I've been booking direct for probably 15 years now (well before Airbnb was a thing) and I've had everything from the keys posted to me to being left under the mat to lockboxes etc.

The upside of not booking a package is you can get the sort of place you really want. The downside is it gets a bit ropey with insurance if one element goes wrong. Depends how much you trust people i guess.

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@paulhinch, as a person who privately rents out my property, someone who takes the trouble to find me and contact me directly is very likely to take care of my place and look after it. Those booking through other places inevitably start to take a lend especially if they come back.
I have one set of BC guests who always try to get round the extra costs of bringing their dog. Even when I ask them if they are bringing the dogs, it is always 'we might not bring them'. Of course they always do. They started to book direct this winter gone, and paid upfront for the dogs.

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I've used AirBnB 6 times and Booking.com once and not had any problems with either. I also had to cancel a multi-stay in La Clusaz/Chamonix during the pandemic and was refunded pretty much straight away (AirBnB).

Help!!

AirBnB /VBRO etc

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