Airbnb: what owners actually say

Guests report photos being meaningless — properties have wrong locations, missing furniture, cockroach infestations, or amenities that don't exist. One user found 11 of 22 stays involved false advertising. A frequent traveler (20-30/year) says only price and amenities matter, not photos.

Guests report Airbnb support refusing to act on fake photos or fraudulent hosts. One guest left a legitimate 4-star review citing noise; the host submitted fake counter-claims and Airbnb removed the guest's review. Another reports Airbnb let a scammed host review them before resolving the dispute.

Once cheaper than hotels, once fees are included Airbnb now often costs more for comparable quality. Multiple users say they browse Airbnb but end up booking hotels, inns, or direct vacation rentals instead.

Hosts move guests to different properties after booking — sometimes comparable, sometimes not. Guests report being sent to entirely different neighborhoods or downgraded units. Airbnb support is described as unhelpful or ghosting when contacted.

Guests report home theaters not working for entire stays, pools unusable due to cleaning equipment left in them with instructions not to touch, and bold guest instruction lists imposing restrictive rules.

Families with 5+ kids say hotels simply can't accommodate them, making Airbnb essential for group travel with multiple bedrooms under one roof.

Guests value having full kitchens to avoid eating out every night, a feature hotels fundamentally can't offer.

Users praise Airbnb for properties in remote or underserved areas where no hotel exists nearby, and for distinctive spaces you can't find through traditional lodging.

Frequent guests describe building relationships with specific hosts they seek out on return visits. As one commenter noted, good hosts elevate a trip while bad ones ruin it.