17 and 18 year old guests :)

[Atlnative]

@Joan, third party bookings, where someone books for someone else, are against the terms of service.

[GutHend]

@brook2adks

I’m no fool, I know ID’s can be manufactured, so I swabbed both of them and put the samples though the DNA lab I have in my basement, made them wait in their car across the street until I got the results.

I just wanted to say that maybe they were not brothers but… never mind.

[HTXinBOS]

I hosted a group of 4 young French guys (18 ish) from NYC when I first started out. One of the kids’ mom booked it. They were in art galleries or looking at colleges all day and so respectful - they all thanked me. I understand age of consent and host preferences, but mature 18 year olds worked out very well for me.

[PitonView]

@GutHend - I understood what you were implying. I always find it interesting how we try to figure out people’s relationships to each other, when the only thing that really matters is our relationship with them and theirs with us.

[GutHend]

@brook2adks

I once hosted a 19 yr old young man and his 17 yr old brother, I realize it’s completely different than the request you got due to the whole gf/bf/legal age of consent thing.
In any case, this was the boys first outing…

I don’t care about people’s relationship either. I do know the things that me and my hubby sometimes make up when we don’t feel like “outing” ourselves. So when you said that they were brothers and the situation was totally different, I thought that maybe they weren’t brothers and the situation was in fact exactly the same. Because there are little means to really know for sure.
Just like the OP seems to have supposed that the youngster were boyfriend and girlfriend (I only reread the first message), while they could have just been friends.

[brook2adks]

I knew what you meant, and realize I answered somewhat flippantly.
I think it sucks that we still live in a world where some people have to worry about explaining themselves, when others don’t.
It’s not like I have to write to potential hosts and say 'Hey, I am a white heterosexual, middle aged, liberal white woman with a professional career, and I will be visiting with my (whatever) because we are attending a funeral and I would like to stay at your Airbnb because (whatever).
While I do go overboard on many things (like despising neo-nazi’s), I try to make both my personal space and my airbnb space a safe haven where too many explanations are not necessary.
But as hosts, we do have a responsibility to not create safe havens for illegal activity…I trusted my gut on that one particular case, and I was right.

[Woodykirkwood]

Is it a good idea to leave a little gift before we leave? I wanted to leave some money or what would you recommend? I’m 18 and thankful they trusted us so I want to show my appreciation. (It was me and a group of guys for the weekend)

[muddy]

That’s really considerate. I don’t think you have to show appreciation with money, just leaving a nice card (handmade is fine) or note that all of you sign, saying how much you enjoyed the place and that you really appreciate that they were willing to take a chance on a group of young people is a gesture most hosts would find lovely.

And of course one of the best gifts for hosts is finding the place has been left clean and tidy, any furniture you moved put back where it was, no cigarette butts in the yard, no skanky food left in the fridge, lights turned off, heat or AC turned down, doors and windows properly shut, etc.

[Debthecat]

and an utterly perfect 5 star review!

[Barley]

That’s really considerate! I’ve hosted young folks, too, who are transparent and communicative, and it sounds like your hosts were good ones.

I agree with what @muddy said about checking out thoughtfully (a host can tell when a group drops everything and scuttles off, and when they respectfully close up the property).

And it may sound silly, but a small note thanking them + a check out message (“We just checked out! Thank you so much for allowing us to stay - your home is beautiful and we had such a nice time.”) is nice because it confirms for the host that you’ve left and are happy.
We love displaying all of our hand-written goodbye notes on our fridge, too!

[KKC]

@Woodykirkwood I agree with others that no gift is necessary. The most important thing is to leave the place in great condition. Overdo it and ask questions if you aren’t sure. Make sure you follow all rules, like if it says “take out the trash, put recycling in the blue bin and don’t strip the beds” then make sure you follow that. Then thank the host via the platform or a note. Give a 5 star review. If I were in your situation I might even tell the host that you hope for a good review because you’re trying to build up your Airbnb reputation. That might turn some hosts off but that would cause me to put a little extra effort into writing you a great review, assuming of course that you earned it.