I have never been a die-hard Airbnb fan and I do think it has its place. I like having a common area, a kitchen, a washer/dryer, and it is often cheaper for a larger group. However, my last five experiences have been frustrating, and I haven’t had an ideal stay in years.
On my recent stays I’ve found that while the descriptions are technically accurate, the layouts are very unusual and inconvenient. On my most recent trip, we stayed in an place with a curtain instead of a door on the bathroom, and the bathtub was in the second bedroom also with only a curtain and no walls or doors. I can’t imagine a single scenario where someone would want two beds and two bedrooms but would be ok with the only tub/shower in one of the rooms (again no walls or door).
In the Old Town of Tallin I booked a large apartment in the old city. The apartment was beautiful and technically had the number of beds and bathrooms advertised. However, two of the beds and one of the bathrooms were outside the main apartment and up the stairs. The largest bathroom was off one of the bedrooms. The communal bathroom was the size of a closet. Speaking of closets, one of the beds was in a closet with no ventilation, and two of the beds were off the kitchen in a loft with no ventilation or door. This might be great for a frat party, but for 8-9 adults this was awkward and inconvenient.
In Monaco one of our priorities was to find a place with air conditioning and we deliberately discarded several cheaper options due to the lack of air conditioning. However, for the apartment we chose, the air conditioner was so weak and there were no fans provided. I can wear a sweater when it is 90 degrees and even I laid awake all night too hot to sleep.
In Cartagena the beds ended up being futons on the floor that required three adults to step over each other once they were all laid out on the floor. I will also note, there were no sheets that fit the “beds.” But at least that place had wonderful A/C. It also had a lovely rooftop which we enjoyed immensely.
In addition to the crazy configurations, I continue to be frustrated with last minute instructions and insufficient basics like toilet paper and soap.
I realize this is a first world problem and understand that owners want their property to be as competitive as possible. But I think I am going to take a break and return to hotels full time.
Life Kinetic Travel Research 