BNB Guests vs. Customers

Throughout our travels, we have found amazing resources in a few specific Facebook groups for nomad travelers. From location news to medical recommendations, these groups are invaluable. Warnings against negative experiences are also common within these communication threads. Since the COVID pandemic, many of the long-term travelers have given up on Airbnb stays. They site various reasons from high cleaning fees to fake damage reports. Our experience over the last two years shows that Airbnb’s operated by small companies seem to have more of these problems than the ones operated by individuals.

Airbnb was created to help connect individual people and turn unused space into a little more income. In many cities around the world, companies instead gobbled up the apartment market for high dollar tourist income which in turn created economic hardship on the local housing market. The domino effect has cities clawing back their homes with moratoriums or fines on short-term housing. With this in mind, we try to travel with a more sustainable approach and have been highly rewarded with some incredible connections.

Lucca- Our first apartment in Italy following retirement was hosted by a local Italian man who worked 10-minutes from the home. He welcomed us into his house, he tried to fix the electrical issue when the building lost power, and he sat for drinks with us at a neighborhood café as our stay came to an end. We enjoyed spending time with our first European host after our 28-day stay.

Parma- Also in Italy, we fell in love with the kindest couple who run an Airbnb like a cozy business. It was our first experience with appliance manuals and a guest book with tons of local recommendations. They honestly care about their guests, wanting them to be comfortable, and we were for 28 days. They welcomed us with Cheese (see the story) and wine. We enjoyed talking with them when they had to come to the apartment and we exchanged gifts at the end of our stay.

Algarve- Though we never met in person, this couple from Boston who owned a vacation rental in the Algarve of Portugal proved to be helpful and reliable hosts during our 30-day stay. Because he was an engineer, the home had all the directions we needed for appliances. When the hot water heater malfunctioned they not only got maintenance for us quickly, but they communicated at great lengths to ensure our stay continued to be pleasant.

Switzerland- Again, we did not meet our host in person, but instead we had a video chat on Whatsapp with the host who was a schoolteacher. Since the house had been in her family for a long time, it had more comforts of home than most. Besides black and white pictures of yester year, office supplies, and a fully stocked kitchen, the host provided all of the household soaps, detergents, trash bags, toilet paper, and tools we could use during our 30-day stay.

Budapest- We first met our Hungarian hosts when they gave us the keys to the building and apartment for our 21-day Christmas Holiday. They communicated with us on the app about holiday closures of grocery stores. As a service to their guests, they insist on providing clean towels and bed linens weekly, so we connected in person on those occasions. Finally, we invited them over for tea and they brought us a treat. We all had a lovely time discussing family, Hungarian culture, customs, holiday traditions and local recommendations.

Naxos- The best of the best host ever was on a beautiful Greek island where we lived for 22-days. It began when she welcomed us at the ferry terminal and personally drove us to the apartment. She then delivered fresh eggs and cucumbers from the family garden. When she learned Greg had a bad burn on his arm, she immediately brought us a jar of silver salve. We took her out for coffee and breakfast a couple of times where we talked about her family and day-job as a teacher aid, but she insisted on paying at the end. Her husband, a teacher, is also a popular local musician, so we were invited to watch him play at a beach-side pub. Their son was busy that night with cousins, but we loved the family nature of the night especially when their daughter danced to dad’s music. We were welcomed into the culture and life of this amazing Greek family. She even gave us a parting gift as she took us back to the ferry terminal. We will forever be Facebook friends.

The hand of fate may have played a part in our experiences with these hosts, but we send heartfelt thanks to the hosts who opened their homes to us as personal guests instead of another checkmark on this month’s profit margin. In return, we believe the camping motto of “Leave No Trace” and keep their homes as pristine as possible.

When booking our next Airbnb, we won’t choose to feed the business monsters. We will try our best to support the families who are adding money back into their communities. Some successful techniques we use include:

• Is the host profile displayed as a business or individual?

• Do reviews mention the host by name?

• Did the host reply to reviews directly and with what tone?

• Was there honest and timely dialogue with our questions before we booked?

  • I see an elevator, is it in working condition?

  • How many rooms have air conditioners?

  • Do you have any additional photos of the bathroom?