After using Airbnb for a few months now in Southeast Asia. I’ve learned a bit from using Airbnb and gained mostly good experiences with some bad experiences.
If you are planning a trip and are researching a place to stay, there is a good chance you come across Airbnb, with over 2.3 million listings worldwide.
You can check out our Airbnb beginner’s guide here and our FAQ on Airbnb before signing up.
Airbnb Do’s And Don’ts
In general, my Airbnb experience has been good so far. So, I felt it was appropriate to write a few Airbnb do’s and don’ts or tips for Airbnb guests that I have learned from using Airbnb.
Here are some of our Airbnb Do’s and Don’ts to consider when using Airbnb.
Don’t: Don’t Assume Anything
Don’t assume anything, when in doubt, ask the host. Sounds simple but it will make things easier and ensure your stay will be a positive one.
Do: Communicate With The Host
Most hosts will provide a great amount of information including plenty of photos on their listing.
If it’s your first time using Airbnb, I suggest using an experienced host that will have received feedback from past guests, therefore, would have made improvements to services and amenities.
Also, you should ask questions to clarify things. For example, ask about local activities, Wi-Fi available or confirm if there are other guests staying.
Don’t: Forget To Read The Small Print
Like any purchase, guests are afforded protection with their bookings. Some Airbnb properties have set rules for example a maximum number of guests, or a strict cancellation policy.
Check the full listing and be aware that hosts can back out of bookings too.
Document your observations of the listing and submit proof of your claim if the host misrepresented the amenities, or the place is unclean or unsafe.
Do: Unhappy With Something, Tell The Host
If there is something that you are unhappy with, let the host know and they will try to accommodate or fix the situation.
For example, if there aren’t enough towels for your liking, they’ll probably bring you extra.
Do: Read The Hosts Reviews
Read the reviews and this will give you a good indication of the place you are renting and of the host. Like Amazon or Google Reviews, they cannot be hidden or deleted on Airbnb.
If a guest leaves a negative review, all the hosts can reply to it or worse still ignore it.
Don’t: Expect a Hotel Service
Airbnb is not a hotel service. Therefore, does not have luggage storage, 24/7 check-in, and check-out, or 24/7 room service.
Do: Research The Neighbourhood Before Booking
Do research on the neighborhood. If you have the exact address, copy the address into Google Maps and use google street view, and get a feel for the area.
Check safely of the area from sites like TripAdvisor and/or local blog posts.
Do: Watch For The Little Extras Fees
Airbnb Hosts can add extra fees, to your booking. If you are on a budget, this can be annoying.
Here’s a list of fees to watch out for.
- Cleaning Fee.
- Airbnb Service Fee.
- Extra guest Fee.
- Local Taxes.
Don’t: Ignore House Rules
Hosts may have house rules such as no pets, no parties, and no smoking so please follow them.
Remember that the host can also review the guests that stay with them. And with a negative review, you might find it harder to get a booking in the future.
Do: Leave a Review Within The 14 Days
The Airbnb community relies on reviews, this, in turn, helps the host and importantly future travelers to decide if to stay there or not.
When leaving a review be honest and leave a helpful description of the pros and cons.
Just remember you only have 14 days after checkout to write a review for your stay trip.
Do: Review Airbnb’s Cancellation Policy and Refund Policy
It’s always good to know the refund and cancellation policy. This lets you know which kind of action to take in order to smoothly cancel your booking and what refund to expect.
Airbnb Hosts must specify which kind of cancellation policy they follow.
Like most bookings, you more than likely lose money if you cancel the reservation. It’s best to work with the host in this case.
Don’t: Forget To Clean Up After Yourself
You should tidy the rooms and clean the dishes before leaving. You are not expected to clean the place.
But being a good guest means getting a good review, therefore, making it easier to get future bookings.
Do: Only Pay Through Airbnb
Airbnb has its own secure payment system on its website and app. If you pay by other means outside of Airbnb, then Airbnb can not you if something goes wrong.
If a host asks you to pay by other means, then you need to report them to Airbnb.
Do: Use The Airbnb 1-800 Helpline if Any Problems
If you run into any problems such as a false advertisement or misrepresentation of the place you booked or if there was some sort of scam. Obviously, try and resolve it with the host first.
If that does not work use the 1-800 number that Airbnb provides you with.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, these Airbnb dos and don’ts are just some of the things you should consider when using Airbnb as a guest. Knowing what to expect will help make your upcoming trip an enjoyable one.
And that’s it for now! I’d love it if this post on Airbnb do’s and don’ts – tips for Airbnb guests were helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions.
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