Short-term rentals for vacation travel have exploded in the age of mobile data. Since its founding in 2008, Airbnb has helped more than 2 billion guests book and stay at short-term rentals in over 220 countries. Whether you plan to stay in one of the cheapest countries around the world or a nearby town, you’ll find diverse property types and prices.
But Airbnb’s explosive growth isn’t without its nightmares. The internet is riddled with scary scenarios: Bedbugs, last-minute cancellations, over-the-top host cleaning requests and bare-bones amenities. Worse, poor customer service has left guests scrambling for new digs.
“We booked an Airbnb last year for the Montreal Jazz Festival. After paying our deposit, we had no communication, including basics like where to get the key,’’ says Christi Cassidy, a literary publicist who lives in Hudson, New York. When Christi and her partner, Nan Kinney, called Airbnb support for help, they were told their Montreal rental was a fake…
