Guest requests exact address with booking still weeks away

[yecatsr]

This has been the case as long as I remember.

[Cyndyrr327]

I have asked a host for this in the past when staying somewhere and she responded by asking me where I wanted directions/ time from. She then did it from the address where we would be staying and gave me the mileage and time to get there. Worked great and I got all the info I needed

[yecatsr]

Just tell them they should already have it. I booked an Airbnb last week and I had the exact address right after booking. Go to the map on any listing (correct me if I’m wrong) and wave the mouse over the “home pin” and you will see this:

I personally provide the exact location on my listing. I got REALLY tired of answering pre-book questions about “how far are you from xyzzy” and having to map it out for them.

[muddy]

@KenH

The hosts graciously gave us the addresses – living out West they understood that there are huge distances not covered by internet, and that neither of us had AirBnb on our tablet or phones.

I have some guests who also don’t have their phones set up to use here in Mexico, or can’t figure out how to change their phone settings to be able to connect. One guest had paid her US provider $40 to be able to use her phone internationally, but couldn’t get it to work. When I looked at the info card her provider had given her, I saw that they partnered with a Mexican provider whose cell signal doesn’t work in my area.

There is also a possibility that a guest’s phone has run out of charge and they couldn’t find a place to charge it up in transit.

Not only do I send guests a map to my place about a week before check-in, I strongly suggest they print out the map and write down my phone number, not just enter it in their phone. One of my guests would have been hooped had she not done that, as she had accidently left her phone in her friend’s car who had driven her to the airport. So not only did she not have access to the app, she couldn’t even call or text me for directions.

It’s not a great idea for hosts to assume they can send info last minute because everyone has a working smart phone available at all times.

[Lynick4442]

I have a form letter that gives an address nearby and how to search locations. I let them know that Airbnb send info within 72 hours and I send detailed instructions 2 days before. If they need the info for another reason, I ask, and if it seems legit, I send. I recently had guests from Canada that were not Canadian but legally living in Canada and needed to provide special documentation to cross the border. That seemed fair.

[jaquo]

Quite a few guests have asked me for the address. I always thought that Airbnb gave them the address but I have never seen any reason to avoid the request.

Thinking as a guest, if I asked for the address and the host refused or gave me the runaround in any way, I’d wonder if the accommodation was legit. Or at least, I’d ask myself why it was a problem for the host. Either way, it wouldn’t be a good start.

[muddy]

@jaquo

I always thought that Airbnb gave them the address but I have never seen any reason to avoid the request.

I think it’s just one of those things guests ask because they didn’t notice that they were given it at some point. If it doesn’t appear until the host’s free cancellation period is over, I’m sure many guests never go back and look at what info appeared after they made their booking.

I’ve had guests ask for my phone number, when that appears for them as soon as their booking is confirmed. It’s an “Oh yeah, I didn’t notice that” thing.

[Vanmep]

@muddy

If it doesn’t appear until the host’s free cancellation period is over

That is not my experience with my own recent booking as a guest on Airbnb. I booked last March for this upcoming weekend with a flexible refund policy (up to the day before). I received the address on confirmation back in March, so it’s not
connected to the cancellation policy.

[muddy]

@Vanmep That doesn’t mean that the exact address is always given out as soon as the booking is confirmed and can’t be tied to the cancellation policy. It depends on the host’s chosen settings, as explained further upthread.

@lill

There is a toggle for “Cancellation Privacy” under “Listing Details” / “Location Sharing” so that your your exact location, last name or phone # aren’t shared while guests can still cancel for free.

[RiverRock]

I do not care, I want them to have my address (and a way to book directly). I would respond with put Business Name, my city into google maps.

RR

[muddy]

I don’t care either, as no one would ever be able to find my house just using the address. Even the propane delivery man who’s been bringing me propane for 16 years couldn’t find it when the stupid office girl gave him the address, instead of telling him “Sarah’s house, below Rancho El Arado”, as I told her to.