This forum is dedicated to connecting hosts with other hosts. Sign up to get the latest updates and news just for AirBnb hosts! Note that we are not affiliated with Airbnb - we are just passionate hosts!
My first thought on reading this: terrible hosting philosophy from the OP.
Sounds to me like she wants to have the cake and eat too in this sharing economy.
On second thought the problem is not so much different from all the other threads about guests not paying close attention to the listing and a host rather not host a particular guest.
Annet3176 pointed out the most obvious solution: just cancel the guest thus authorizing a full refund for the guest.
Benefit: end of all discussions with no-longer guests, open calendar, quick and easy
Stinger: no cake, your ranking will probably be affected.
Note, that Airbnb isnât taking any money from you airhost51 that you havenât received yet. See how they are talking about âMissed Earningsâ suddenly, not actual hard cold cash right out of your pocket today.
Another solution would be to ask the guest to cancel and explaining that you will then offer a refund, either full or less a low hassle fee.
Benefit: open calendar, just a few of discussions, your ranking should not be impacted or less, some cake
Stinger: more hassle, longer time with blocked dates, reducing chances of re-booking
In my opinion, airhost51, if you donât sweeten the deal with a refund for the guest you are opening up yourself to pissed off lone male guests which will give you a 1 Star. Holding on to the money might be penny wise, but pound foolish as after a few of those 1 Stars you will no longer be hosting on Airbnb.
Goidness me! Itâs no cake to be a female in a world where we are frequently subject to male violence or abuse. The OP is merely trying to keep herself and her young child safe whilst hosting in her own home.
Jess1, itâs more referring to her âitâs not her problemâ statement. She has a known problem and not using IB would fit her criteria best, but it does not work well in her last minute market.
OK. I do wish guests would read listings and rules. I also wish Airbnb wouldnât penalise for not using IB. Sometimes itâs difficult to use the system in an ideal way. Using IB is always taking a chance.
So, just when we are looking at enforcing the rules ⌠I read â*Remaining 2018 dates are available exclusively for folks that have the treehouse on their WISH LISTâŚâ on a listing that I came across by chance.
But ⌠they are not on IB and well, can afford too. They state they are "AIRBNBâS #1 "MOST WISHED-FOR LISTING WORLDWIDE!"
As others have stated, stop using insta-book. You need to feel safe in your home, donât get too hung up on superhost status. yea it has itâs benefits, but feeling your family is safe in your home is more valuable. Before I book a guest I ask them to read the entire listing ad. In your case explain to them how to cancel their booking. Also if you cancel a guest there is a drop down menu that you can tick âI donât feel comfortable with this guestâ. So far I have never lost SH due to a cancellation, call ABB and tell them you feel super nervous having men in your home. Tisheikate outlines it perfectly!
Good luck
I understand. For us the greatest risk is hosting nationals: Do you think AirBnB will allow me to refuse nationals? Donât think so.
@airhost51 A single male canât use your bathroom, but a male who is there with his girlfriend can. Looks like AirBnB was looking for a reason to allow you to discriminate. There is just no logic to it. What if another statistic shows that you are more at risk when hosting a certain group, will you also be allowed to discriminate.
I actually do kind of understand your worries, my question is more: Where do we draw the line?
I donât know your context, perhaps youâre in an ethnic conflict or homophobic hate crime situation.
However sex is meant to be a protected category in the UK, and itâs still hard to maintain female spaces, even in changing rooms or sports.
It might sound confusing but I kinda get the couples or single females but no lone male thing. Itâs like the male has been domesticated by their relationship lol. I wouldnât do that myself, I would just do a simple female only. I have had very few bad males, though itâs scary if it happens.
I will NEVER use instant booking again. It is the root of most of my problems with guests. For a single woman its just plain dangerous not to know who will be staying in your place. Its like going on a blind date every time. Why does air bnb push it and punish us if we donât use it.
Maurie
Does air bnb want more hosts? then take care of those that they already have. instant booking is about making money quickly not protecting hosts from unknown risks and negative interactions. Get rid of it.
would anyone be willing to list how they review questions so that guests are happy and we are happy.
Because itâs the best way to quickly turn âlookers into bookers.â From the guest point of view I hate waiting for an answer and possibly being turned down. I search first for instant book and only use other hosts if there isnât a good IB choice when and where I need it.
I also prefer it as a host and have had no problems over 4+ years and 500+ stays. About 2 years ago I put in a separate entrance and locked guests out of my part of the house but prior to that I had no problems.
With 1000s of hosts using IB without problems Airbnb isnât really interested in catering to hosts who donât like it. They want more hosts but not as badly as they want more bookings.
We are near NYC and Boston, in this market if a guest does not have experience with vacation rentals, esp guests over 50 yeasrs old will compare it to a hotel experience and a 4 star hotel, and they are picky demanding and complain.One such woman complained in her review that the sugar for the coffee was too hard, I sure would like to weed these guests out by reviewing their experience with air bnb. I love to host and take care of my guests ( i am a super host) but these picky guests create too much anxiety and I want to quit.
And I had the pseudo hotel inspector who left me 2 stars regarding a leaf that blew in under a door! Blocked her from ever booking again as she has family in my area. The weeping and wailing was hilarious when she discovered that she could not book with me again. Especially when I have 20% of the entire house rentals in my area.
This topic has been worrying me for a while. Although I agree with the âitâs your home, your rulesâ thing I think itâs important to remember - and Iâm saying this on behalf of all my single male friends and relatives - that single males are not necessarily a danger and to be feared by a single female host.
The supposed âdangersâ werenât mentioned by the OP, just the fact that the bathroom is shared. (Not sure I fully understand that either but her home, her rules).
In the dark ages when I was a B & B landlady (in my own home) I had one double bedroom and three singles for guests. Many times, the double room was taken by a single male and the single rooms almost always were. I can count single female guests on the fingers of one hand. And note that I had a young child in the house too. I was never threatened or in danger.
I just worry in case we are likely to bring up a generation of children who weâve taught to regard single men as some sort of threat. They arenât.
complete apartment with kitchen, bath and 2 bedrooms. Younger guests are cool, over 50 is not. in my market they donât understand vacation rental just hotels. I have been doing this for 3 months and am a super host and I am willing to wait for a good fit
If air bnb punishes me for not not using instant then I will try to find a service. like trip advisor that will. I donât want or deserve the punishment of hyper nagging guests its not fun
