Tag: airbnb

Airbnb’s Problems Are So Bad That The FBI Is Now Getting Involved

We’ve only stayed at an Airbnb once, back in 2016. It was down in Miami, for the night before we had an early morning flight to Havana. I suppose the stay was OK. I mean, the place was clean and it had what we needed in terms of 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom (it had a kitchen too, but it was sort of superfluous for our 10-hour stay). So it served its purpose. But unless I know someone really, really well, I just don’t feel comfortable staying overnight in someone’s house.

I wasn’t even super well-read about Airbnb at the time; in fact, it was the couple we were traveling with who made the reservation. It wasn’t until after our stay that I started hearing about the horror stories:

That’s on top of all the cities that have made Airbnb illegal, or have made certain rules law (i.e. in NYC, owners have to live on-premises), to help protect renters from all the ways owners have tried to work the system.

So I’ve been very hesitant to use Airbnb ever since. But now, after this past weekend, when the FBI has gotten involved in TWO Airbnb incidents? I’m staying FAR away.

Here’s what happened:

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Considering Airbnb As A Guest Or A Host? Read This First

A‌i‌r‌b‌n‌b‌,‌ ‌I‌n‌c‌.‌ operates an online marketplace and hospitality service that allows people to lease or rent short-term lodgings such as apartments, homes, cottages and other similar accommodations.  Airbnb doesn’t own any real estate; instead, they simply act as a broker that receives a percentage for bookings. And they’ve done a whole LOT of bookings – as of this writing, Airbnb has over 5 million lodging listings in 81,000 cities and 191 countries, and has facilitated over 300 million check-ins.

Most Airbnb experiences wind up being positive for both guests and hosts. Of course, there are always some highly publicized issues, such as when hosts were placing hidden cameras in the Airbnb units and the guests didn’t know about them. Granted, it’s one thing to have cameras to help ward against theft; it’s another to have a camera hidden in the bathroom.

Unfortunately, cameras in the bathrooms are only one thing that Airbnb guests have to worry about when they’re sleeping in the accommodations of a total stranger. And Airbnb hosts have their own concerns as well, including what happens when their guests lie, steal or are otherwise flaky.

So before you get involved with Airbnb, you may want to take a look at this website we’ve found…

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The Case Of The Missing 140,000 Points, Marriott’s Delusions About Bonvoy, Are Cashback Cards A Good Thing?, + More!

Happy Sunday to all of our travel friends, both near and far! Here are some articles we’ve read from other bloggers (and other sources) that we think you may like, as well, so we’re passing them along.

Continue reading “The Case Of The Missing 140,000 Points, Marriott’s Delusions About Bonvoy, Are Cashback Cards A Good Thing?, + More!”

New Loyalty Program, New Travel Visa Requirement, The Dirtiest Seats On The Plane, & More!

Happy Sunday to all of our travel friends, both near and far! Here are some articles we’ve read from other bloggers (and other sources) that we think you may like, as well, so we’re passing them along.

Continue reading “New Loyalty Program, New Travel Visa Requirement, The Dirtiest Seats On The Plane, & More!”

Will The Real Worst Airline Please Stand Up?, THIS Airline Jumped Into THAT Airline’s Grave, Homeshares Are Awful, & More!

Happy Wednesday to all of our travel friends, both near and far! Here are some articles we’ve read from other bloggers (and other sources) that we think you may like, as well, so we’re passing them along.

Continue reading “Will The Real Worst Airline Please Stand Up?, THIS Airline Jumped Into THAT Airline’s Grave, Homeshares Are Awful, & More!”