Is Airbnb safe?

[mickmcpaddy]

Trying to find a property for work next week and this place has come up.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/15140149?guests=2&a...

Great value for money and it has place to park two vans, unlike the rest of South Wales that still doesn't see the need for off street parking yet.

However it does look a strange sort of property to rent out by the day or week, so a bit of googling found this.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

It was listed on 17th April this year and as you can see from the pictures its unfurnished yet the Airbnb pictures show a fully furnished house.

If it looks too good to be true.... looks like it might have to be a Travelodge in a service station after all.

Edited by mickmcpaddy on Saturday 3rd June 23:08

[Condi]

No, you're obviously liable to be bummed senseless and have your wallet stolen by the Wicked Witch of the West......



Book through AirBnB site and not with the landlord direct and you wont have an issue.

[mickmcpaddy]

What about the issue of being 200 miles from home with nowhere to stay, probably naff all mobile internet and a fast approaching night shift.

[Otispunkmeyer]

We've used it multiple times now, and in many different places over the world. Its worked perfectly, just make sure you book and pay through the AirBnB website.

I will say, we have had numerous cancellations late in the day, but AirBnB are quite good...you get your dough back + a little compensation to go towards rebooking something else at short notice.

[AlasdairMc]

If in doubt, sleep with one eye open.

I've stayed in only one, and it was a bit weird tbh. An artist's studio with bedroom, and the artist slept on the sofa while I got the bed. Your mileage may vary, but I found it a bit odd anyway.

[PAUL500]

Driven past that place for years, it can be seen from the Cardiff airport bypass.

Nice little spot, sure it will be fine is booked direct through airbnb.

Plenty of alternative accommodation close by as well just in case, there is a premier inn at Wenvoe and a few places that serve the airport.

[Oakey]

AlasdairMc said:

If in doubt, sleep with one eye open.

I've stayed in only one, and it was a bit weird tbh. An artist's studio with bedroom, and the artist slept on the sofa while I got the bed. Your mileage may vary, but I found it a bit odd anyway.

Did you ask him to draw you like one of his French girls?

[sjg]

AirBnB has been a mixed bag for me, a couple of bookings in lovely places with nice owners, a few that were booked then pulled (as they realised there was a big event on that they could charge more for) or they stopped communicating. More about the owner/landlord than airbnb itself though.

That place looks good, I'm guessing it's for sale with no buyer imminent so they've put some furniture back in and are making a few quid from it while they wait.

[AJB88]

I've had fairly positive experience of AirBNB, used it about 5 times now in Rome.

[TwistingMyMelon]

We used Airbnb for a similar property in Wales

My mate organised it , we wanted something rural for 8 blokes, mate found a place, looked nice in pics and was cheap

We turned up , owner just left house open and the keys on the table, looked amazing inside, we had to triple check we had the right house as we just let ourselves in with no keys!

The next morning we got to see it from the outside it looked amazing, the views it had were amazing and the inside was like something out of Grand Designs, it was 3 floors with the third floor featuring a glass corridor!

We googled it and found the house had been for sale for nearly £1million and was being advertised as having one of the best views of any house in the UK , whilst the owner was letting 8 random blokes stay and not even locking it when we leave! Not only that I think it was the owners holiday home as all the families stuff were there!

Great weekend and sold Air BnB for me, I've seen some great properties on there that are very reasonable to rent out

OP: Don't the reviews on AirBnB help? Surely they will prove its legit

[Snails]

If the owner/property has lots of positive reviews I don't usually have any concerns and so far haven't had any issues.. One or two reviews and i am a bit more skeptical.

[tomtom]

I've used it a fair bit in many countries. Had a couple of weird experiences but nothing unsafe or scary. I've had many more positive experiences, meeting interesting people (both the hosts and fellow guests, some of whom I'm still in touch with years later) and staying in some really cool places.

As above, stick to places that have lots of positive reviews and you'll be fine.

[mickmcpaddy]

Well we're in, the house exists and there is even a bed to sleep in, nothing much else though, a kettle, toaster, bar football table and a TV that will only get sky news. Could be worse though, it could have been BBC news.

[Stuart70]

A week in Vancouver in a 4 bed family home; owners were away travelling.

Beautifully finished house, great location - good value.

Great experience and no hassles.

[IanUAE]

My lad rented a house off Airbnb for weekend last year for his 2nd year university video project. He needed a place that looked like the 1960's. The owners went away for the weekend and it saved him loads of time finding props, moving furniture etc.

A win-win for everybody.