Airbnb’s cancellation policies are tilted in favour of hosts, and there’s nothing the dumped guest can do about it. Depending on the circumstances, Airbnb might impose a penalty of a minimum $US50 ($79). If it’s a Superhost, that status might be in jeopardy. If the host cancels 48 hours or less before check-in, or after check-in, the penalty is 50 per cent of the total amount for the nights not stayed. However, that ends up in the pockets of Airbnb, not the guests’. Guests who have been shafted can’t even post a negative review, since that’s not an option for non-stayers.
What if the Airbnb accommodation I’ve booked falls short of expectations?
At an Airbnb I stayed in several years back, in Istanbul’s Cihangir district, it looked as if the hosts had just left in a hurry. Dishes and cutlery were piled on the drying rack in the kitchen and cupboards were stuffed with the hosts’ clothing, so much so there was nowhere to unpack my case but on the floor. Photos can lie,…
