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Hi everyone - long time no host! I recently returned from visiting family in WA state (I’m a new grandma!) and stayed at an Airbnb for the first part of the trip. The listing was a private guest suite next to the garage. The host and her family live in the house above the guest suite.
The place was filled with religious items - the host prominently displayed her testimony (and invited me to share mine) which was taped to the wall over the desk. There were several books promoting her faith (the only books in the place), with pamphlets for a local church and what I gathered was some sort of MLM investment scheme with religious overtones. The mini fridge had a large “GOD” magnet on the door - even the bathroom rugs and toilet lid set had Bible verses on them! There were additional Bible verses and religious references on the walls. NONE of this appeared in the listing photos, and no other guests have mentioned it in their public reviews. I’ve stayed in homes with crucifixes and other religious items before with no issue but I was put off by this place because it was the sole focus. I’m still annoyed by it ten days later.
Additionally, there was a plug in air freshener (and another on the desk) which I removed and placed in the adjacent garage (notified the host so she could replace it after I left). Soon after, I realized why - there was a noticeable musty smell it was covering up, and there was visible mold on the duvet insert (which had no cover on it). And weirdly, there was a large frying pan left in the dish drainer…but no stove in the unit!.
Here’s the review draft I’m considering leaving:
Check-in was smooth, and the apartment was surface-clean, though there was a musty smell masked by a plug-in air freshener, consistent with being a basement unit. The space was filled with religious décor and materials that were not shown in the listing photos or mentioned in the description. I booked expecting a neutral rental, but instead found a strongly religious environment, which I found very unpleasant. The listing photos should be updated so future guests can make an informed choice.
Could you let me know what y’all think? I’ve toned it down considerably (!), but want a final sanity check before posting - thanks all!
I think your draft review is fine. Did you check the host’s profile write-up? Not that guests should have to do that, but I have seen profiles that say something like “We welcome Christian guests”, when the actual listing did not say anything about that.
However, even if the host said that in their profile, it shouldn’t change your review.
I used to property manage a small casita for the owners, who were born agains. They had crosses on the wall and religious literature and Christian music CDs on the bookcase. I used to remove all that and put it in their storage shed after they left (they vacationed here once or twice a year for about a month), putting it back when they were due to return, even though the place wasn’t listed on any platforms, but rented for them by me, through local advertising.
It’s definitely misrepresentation to post photos that are different from what the place actually looks like. This isn’t a case of simply changing out a lamp or a bedspread.
1* for accuracy, for sure.
I wouldn’t have lasted in that place for an hour. I find it completely offensive and your review is right on and should help others that would be offended.
No amount of Febreze and plug-in air fresheners can hide the musty smell of religious zealotry. Please make sure that you warn other guests of the oppressive atmosphere this host creates. I said it many times before in many forums, but it still rings true: Holy books, unholy outcomes
Absolutely. Value is also taking a hit. Currently debating between a 3 or 4 star overall rating. Listing is currently 4.68 - I can’t be the only one bothered.
Sorry, off topic: What is and is not allowed for us hosts to express here? Aren’t we supposed to treat all guests equally? I understand that some sort of lighthouse studio may not be suitable for little children, but that’s not the same as “We welcome XYZ” (as in “We do NOT welcome ABC”).
In case we ARE allowed to really write that (without being considered discriminating towards everyone else), that would be interesting…
Thanks for the laugh, Rolf. I’m writing that one down in my list of favorite funny quotes.
Another I have written down was from a comment on a political site.
“There’s something extra gross about American fascism. It’s so shallow, plastic and fake, like fascism you would buy at Walmart.”
Sounds about right. I agree. Plus, if the host would actually post updated photos of their accommodation they might actually get guests who WANT to enjoy this atmosphere.
I still can’t get over this ridiculous rating system, where we have to emphasize how bad a place is that has a 4.68 rating out of 5 (mathematically a 93% satisfaction rate).
I imagine that Airbnb might take the host to task if guests reported the profile to them.
A few years ago, some host posted on the Airbnb Community forum that she should be able to discriminate against guests who don’t adhere to her “American values”. Which is so obviously “my white Christian values”.
She got roasted by other hosts in the responses and the mods took her post down (I’m quite sure other hosts reported the post) but I never checked back to see if her listing had been removed.
Sadly, the far right in the United States has made welcoming a flashpoint. Putting a sign up in your Airbnb, saying “we welcome transgender people” says, to the Christian right wing, “we want to stomp on your outdated moral code”.
Interpreting a host’s welcoming message as a potential harbinger of racism is why we have such flashpoint politics now.
It was the closest inexpensive rental to my son/daughter-in-law, and I expected to be at their place most of the time the first few days I was in town. I had booked a second (entire home) rental as my husband was joining me later during the trip.
And that’s just it - there were no significant complaints - there was a 1-star review that mentioned finding a large spider in the bathroom . Among the lowest ratings (8 of 136 were 1-, 2-, or 3- star), nearly all commented about hearing the family upstairs, but it was clearly noted in the listing that the host’s family lived on site (I did not find the noise to be an issue at all; it was what I would expect in any multifamily building). So there really was nothing particularly concerning to me in the reviews, certainly NO mention whatsoever about the religious stuff.
I’m kinda wondering if any reviewers might have specifically stated they had a problem with it being Christian stuff, and subsequently had their reviews removed; I can see how negative comments about a host’s particular faith might violate ABB’s review policies.
I suggest you say that you were “uncomfortable with the extent of their zeal for their religion” and not mention the religion. Then focus on the mold and musty smell.
Edited to add - say you were “uncomfortable with the extent of their zeal for their religion in the property’s decor”. I presume they did not verbally attempt to proselytize you other than inviting you to share your testimony.
Considering what we know about the often fickle or retaliatory ratings given by guests, I also don’t put much stock in ratings and while I have yet to book an Airbnb myself, I would also not be put off by a 4.68 ratings, especially if the written reviews didn’t mention anything that would be an issue for me (Seeing a spider? Do these guests not live in the real world?), and if the location was convenient, the price fit my budget, and there weren’t any comparable places in the area.
I also wouldn’t be put off accepting a guest with a 4 star rating, as hosts can also be fickle, and even sometimes confuse one group of guests with another. As happened with a guest I had who the host said left cigarette butts all over the ground. Turned out the guest, who was a lovely young woman, didn’t smoke and said no one else in her group had either.
I would be horrified by finding so many religious items in a rental.
If I’m in a Catholic country, and there’s a single crucifix on the wall, that’s fine but the overabundance encountered by @CeeBee is definitely far too much.
I recently stayed in a place that had religious mottoes on cards sneaked into cutlrty drawers, freezer grids, wardrobe shelves and so on.
The rental had an absentee host so I assumed the religious stuff came from the cleaner - so I didn’t mention it in the review but messaged the host about it privately.
If a host was promoting devil workshipping would that be okay? No, the host’s personal beliefs shouldn’t really interfere with their rental decor unless the host isn’t serious about their business.
There was a host who posted once about some guests who had tucked their religious pamphlets into every nook and cranny in her rental. When she found the stuff, she messaged them saying they seem to have left them behind, should she mail them back, or put them in the paper recycling bin?
Alaska Airlines used to put a little card with some Bible quote on their meal trays. I don’t know if they still do, as I haven’t flown with them in many years, but I found it quite inappropriate for a business that caters to the general public. But these types of Christians have zero self-awareness of what is appropriate or not.
The homeowners I mentioned who I property managed for actually made me more tolerant of people who are quite religious, and not jump to judgement or assumptions, because they were not the kind of Christians who try to push their religion on you. They were, in fact, liberals who were horrified by Trump. They thought that vilifying LGBTQ or anyone, or being racist was un-Christian (which of course it is), and were also non-judgemental, very generous, appreciative, and a lot of fun to hang out with. They had great senses of humor, liked their beer and hanging out naked on the balcony. If they felt that strongly believing in Jesus made them better people, or gave them solace, it’s no skin off my nose, and their occasional “God bless you” when thanking me for taking care of their property didn’t offend me at all.
I suppose we agree that an accommodation can have some “personality” as in a theme or color scheme.
Why would a host decide to offer an accommodation that screams of “convert to catholicism”? It’s almost an inverted Jehovah’s Witnesses-situation, where the guest accidentally stumbles into some religious fanatics household and can’t escape .
These hosts seem to have other intentions but to earn a side income by NOT mentioning their decor choice (which might appeal to some).
If all that stuff was too overwhelming for you I would Knock off two or three accuracy stars in the review and, taking a leaf out of one of our guest’s book, would have no hesitation in taking it all off the walls etc. and popping it in a drawer for the duration of my stay.
Conversely to CeeBee’s experience we had a Muslim couple stay at ours who loved the log burner so much that they ran out of logs half way through their stay. When I delivered them a fresh barrow-load they invited me in for tea where I found they had taken all the paintings off the walls, apart from a seascape, and covered them up with towels.
One was of chickens, one a portrait of a woman, another a naive observation of a street carnival, one of a man water divining and another of a pair of pigeons. When I asked why they told me that it was haram for them to see/display paintings with eyes on them as they represented an idolatrous attempt at creation.
They were a lovely couple and I felt a bit sorry for them as, amongst other strictures, it must be really quite hard to be so devout that you can’t look at art - Lord knows where that sort of blinkered and censorious thinking that might lead to?
