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I noticed its currently a lot slower than normal for tourism in the Florida panhandle like Panama City Beach.

Haven't been down there in two years. Pensacola or Navarre were my spring break spots growing up and as an adult until covid. My folks had a condo on Navarre Beach when I was in high school and college (Beach View if familiar with Navarre Beach - little 2 story horseshoe structure with beachfront townhomes). Occasionally go to PCB if a hurricane did less damage there.

We've been starting to explore other parts of Florida. I've been unimpressed. Places like Sanibel and Anna Maria Island. I don't really like the Atlantic side and Miami is not my jam, nor Daytona Beach. Honestly Navarre Beach is one of the best vacation spots I've been to in my life. Some of my best memories. Spent maybe 70 weeks of my life there.

I'm more into the Caribbean now though. I'd only do a Airbnb or VRBO with a group and a unique property though. I prefer resorts with amenities. Margaritaville is my favorite on St. Thomas. Walk down to Coki Beach, get some amazing local food, get some weed if you're into that. Food on site is average at best, but get a car and drive into Red Hook 4 minutes away. Stay away from Charlotte Amalie cruise town/main city. Some good restaurants, but built toward cruise tourist. Basically all the "duty free" shit that's really the same price stateside.

St. John is the best though. Stayed at the Westin. Solid food, but you just drive down the road and it's an amazing beach after amazing beach.

Had fun in Jamaica but didn't like the vibe. Puerto Rico I want to explore more. Stopped there 4-5 times for a night or two. Belize is in the top 3 of next places to go. Want to go back to Costa now that we have free lodging. Kind of interested in Panama. Eventually will check out all the Antilles. St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, Antigua, etc.

I just love the island life and people. Especially off the beaten path.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/xne5mp/host_claims_a_scorpion_entered_the_property_while/

Host claims a scorpion entered the property while I had his door open.

A host whose property I recently stayed at is requesting $350 paid via Zelle for the fumigation of his property, which is in a desert region. He is claiming that while I had the door of his property open, a scorpion found its way into the house and he fears an infestation or eggs.

During the stay, I made the mistake of leaving the back door that leads to the garage open for 8 hours overnight. The privacy of the property was not compromised because it leads to a private stucco'd 7+ foot tall walled-off short walkway directly to the garage, with no way for anyone to know the door was open or be able to see into the home. This is entirely my mistake, and the next morning, he notified me that I would be on the hook for fumigation of a scorpion was found on the propery.

He sent me a picture of a scorpion in one of the bathroom sinks about 3 days after I left his property. He says an exterminator he spoke to will require the property to be fumigated and treated for pests 3 times (one time a month for the next 3 months), and that I can directly pay him $350. I was not shown a written quote.

I asked him to provide proof that the scorpion was a result of my actions and for a professional opinion and quote that fumigation would be necessary and that the pricing is accurate.

Is this something I am on the hook for? I am certain that if I don't pay him, he will leave me a poor review. However, I don't feel very confident that a scorpion requires this expensive treatment nor do I feel confident the scorpion can so easily be attributed to my stay.

I don't see how a scorpion couldn't simply enter the house via any number of ways at any time, especially in the region it's located in. The host is also hosting his property in a place where it is prohibited by the city to do so, so the AirBnB is illegal. I figured this out because his guest book says to tell anyone who asks that we are family members staying in his condo.

I can't seem to find similar occurrences when I look online and would appreciate your time figuring out how to proceed.

www.sabbaticalhomes.com Mostly academic people, can be used for long and short term. Reasonable listing fee of $ 45 , no extra fees or costs

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnBHosts/comments/xxd3ny/air_mattresss/

Air mattress’s?

Hi just new and getting started in a major city. I haven’t gotten a sleeper sofa yet I’m considering buying an Airbnb mattress for additional guest, I have a 2 bedroom apartment.

Are people usually fine with this?

zzyzzx says

Air mattress’s?

Hi just new and getting started in a major city. I haven’t gotten a sleeper sofa yet I’m considering buying an Airbnb mattress for additional guest, I have a 2 bedroom apartment.

It has to be deeply discounted for me to want to sleep on air mattress and it better be at least two feet high and not some 8 inch mattress. And it better be in a decent part of town where I can walk to all the points of interest and attractions.

zzyzzx says

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnBHosts/comments/xxd3ny/air_mattresss/

Air mattress’s?

Hi just new and getting started in a major city. I haven’t gotten a sleeper sofa yet I’m considering buying an Airbnb mattress for additional guest, I have a 2 bedroom apartment.

Are people usually fine with this?

They are like $40. If somebody wants to rent an airbnb - they can bring their OWN air mattress. Pays for itself in a night.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnBHosts/comments/xpl6z3/anyone_else_seeing_big_drops_in_booking_requests/

Anyone else seeing big drops in booking requests?

As per title, is anyone else seeing big drops in booking requests or enquiries?

We had more than 95% occupancy in July and August, which dropped to 43% in September and only 5 days booked for October.

For context, its a detached house and we are close to Vancouver, BC

I understand back to school and economy slowing down stuff, just wondering if others are experiencing the same or does it have something to do with Airbnb’s new search algorithms that were implemented in summer?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/xxcvlp/is_an_airbnb_even_worth_doing_anymore_considering/

Is an AirBnB even worth doing anymore considering that it's extremely oversaturated?

Recently been thinking about doing AirBnB but I'm wondering if it's worth it anymore considering that it's extremely oversaturated and we're also entering a recession, which means people will travel less. I have a friend who has a stunning unit with the best interior design you could possibly ask for with an attractive listing, yet he only got 1 booking in the past month out of 30 days. That’s just disheartening considering how much time and money he invested into setting up his unit for Airbnb. This is in a market where demand is high too, but slightly oversaturated. Maybe the overall demand for short term/vacation rentals has gone down, I don’t know. What do you guys think? Just feels like flipping homes is a much option to make an actual decent income even if it were to be a side hustle. Who's really traveling during these times anyways? And maybe this is just my own generalization/assumption but I feel like Airbnb is only popular and known amongst young people which kind of limits your demographic. Am I being too pessimistic?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/xtcjxq/significant_decline_in_bookings/

Significant decline in bookings

https://www.reddit.com/r/airbnb_hosts/comments/y1t8xn/bookings_down/

Bookings Down

So I’m a host of a nice stand alone home in a centrally located Denver suburb that started listing our home upon having to relocate due to work in another state.

It’s a beautiful house, modern furnishings, big backyard, and a detached garage converted into a gym.

We listed back in November of ‘21, starting with longterm bookings only, but as time has gone on we’ve gotten more lax, and have accepted shorter bookings. This has resulted in 17 consecutive 5-star reviews, and almost booked straight through for the full 12 months + superhost status.

Now that we’re coming up on a full year, November and beyond is completely bare… no bookings at all.

Is anybody else seeing a massive decrease in reservations?

I’m at a loss, and as a result, considering closing up shop and either selling or listing for a traditional longterm rental.

https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/y7q44i/my_airbnb_estimate_no_wonder_bookings_are_down/

My Airbnb estimate - no wonder bookings are down

zzyzzx says

I’m at a loss, and as a result, considering closing up shop and either selling or listing for a traditional longterm rental.

I am seeing a drop of prices in beach condos in Panama City Beach. But some vacation rental owners think they can still price like it is summer 2021.

But I'd like to see more vacation rentals converted to traditional rentals to bring down 12 month lease costs.

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Neighbors hate AirBnB

Awkward as hell to have different faces vacationing next door to your home every couple nights. I owned a rental in the Oakland hills where the HOA banned it entirely.

I’ve stayed at AirBnB and have mostly had good experiences but it comes with a lot of awkwardness.

Long list of dont’s
Are you being watched by the owner?
Are you being watched by the neighbors?
What’s in that room with the locked door?
Don’t mind the weird guy that rents out the studio shed in the yard that comes and goes.

Then you hear the stories of people being videotaped or recorded…

I stayed at an Airbnb once in Paso Robles. I come to find out that the owner lived next door, 5ft away. It was just awkward.

I also had a neighbor that would AirBnB his primary residence when he was out of town (not my cup of tea to have strangers having sex on my mattress when I’m away). Anyway, he’d ask me to keep an eye on his place and see who was staying and what were they up to. I told him to leave me out of his sick business lol

BayArea says

I’ve stayed at AirBnB

This is something that I will never do. If you stay in an Airbnb YOU are part of the problem.

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But some vacation rental owners think they can still price like it is summer 2021.

I've still got my beach front Maui VRBO priced higher than ever and fully booked 4 months out. That's been standard the past 5 years. I'd never convert to an Airbnb though and this place is zoned for it.

We go to Hawaii twice a year to VRBOs. All of Hawaii has increased quite a bit and bookings are months out. Our favorite vrbo on kauai shutdown permanently during covid. The Maui ones are $$$. This Xmas were going to go to the big island since it is the cheapest and direct flight from SFO.

I'm guessing the inventory has dried up with the airbnb and post covid closures

zzyzzx says

Probably a bunch of hood rats that rented out a Air BnB. That is common with hood rats from Atlanta renting out Florida panhandle beach homes. They usually try to bring in a few hundred to host a hip hop or gangsta rap event.

Booger says

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Yeah, AirBnb did not do shit as far as competition to hotels and resorts. It just took houses off the market from buyers who want to live in them or long term rent them out.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/yhtwgh/200_cleaning_fee_i_got_a_negative_review_from_the/

$200 cleaning fee & I got a negative review from the host because I didn't vacuum and clean the toilet.

https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/airbnb-losing-its-appeal/

zzyzzx says

https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/airbnb-losing-its-appeal/

Its overburdened with too many fees. I rather bypass and shop around such as use Expedia.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Airbnbust/comments/yedqlk/share_your_airbnb_horror_story/

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Its overburdened with too many fees. I rather bypass and shop around such as use Expedia.

I just stay in hotels. Never had an issue.

zzyzzx says

ad says

Its overburdened with too many fees. I rather bypass and shop around such as use Expedia.

I just stay in hotels. Never had an issue.

I'll look at vacation rentals if it's if it's a 7-10 day trip and has a shit load of good reviews. Can cook your own food and have a kitchen or grill, so cheaper vacation. Otherwise it's resorts or hotels for 1-7 days. Plus we get rewards and free nights. Ends up being cheaper, room service, turndown service, pools, activities, etc.

My biggest beef with many hotels is check in. A hotel for one night for a wedding you can stay at a Hilton brand hotel and just go to the room with the app. Other places it takes 15 minutes sitting at the front desk. You'd think they'd streamline it by now. Vacation rentals you generally just get a code or lockbox and you're in. I've flown in to Puerto Rico at 12am and sat at the front desk giving ID and CC for 15 minutes. No one else there either. It was literally just a bed for 6 hours to catch an 8am flight to St. Thomas.

If you "have" to check in it should take 1-2 minutes tops. Key should be ready. They have your CC info 99% of the time when booking. Then they ask for an ID and CC again? Then they scan the room key in front of you? Have it fucking ready before I get there. Otherwise hotels are the way to go. With kids though, once you crack 3 of the little shits, adjoining rooms become a thing. #more$$$$ So for that reason vacation rentals are appealing for us for longer stays. Always search for the property name if they have one. I've been eyeing a place on St. John for a group trip and it's a $1,200 savings going to their site versus VRBO.

https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/airbnb-losing-its-appeal/

WookieMan says

A hotel for one night for a wedding you can stay at a Hilton brand hotel and just go to the room with the app

That's becoming the norm, online check in, or using a Kiosk. Atlantic City Casino hotels have them. I have used kiosks at The Tropicana and at Bally's and recommend them. I will see about using them at Hard Rock at Oceans later this year.

Possibly unrelated, but used the Delta Air app to check in twice recently and would use it again, and recommend it.

WookieMan says

With kids though, once you crack 3 of the little shits, adjoining rooms become a thing. #more$$$$ So for that reason vacation rentals are appealing for us

If it means less annoying kids in hotels, then I guess it's all good.

zzyzzx says

WookieMan says

A hotel for one night for a wedding you can stay at a Hilton brand hotel and just go to the room with the app

That's becoming the norm, online check in, or using a Kiosk. Atlantic City Casino hotels have them. I have used kiosks at The Tropicana and at Bally's and recommend them. I will see about using them at Hard Rock at Oceans later this year.

Possibly unrelated, but used the Delta Air app to check in twice recently and would use it again, and recommend it.

I know. But even some of the major chains still make you check in at a desk. It fucking takes forever for something so basic. They already have my info. Give me a key and a fucking room number. 1-2 minutes.

zzyzzx says

If it means less annoying kids in hotels, then I guess it's all good.

That's debatable. I'd say it's annoying/lazy parents and not the kids fault. You wouldn't notice my kids at a hotel or resort. They'd be in deep shit if they caused a problem with another guest. I get your sentiment though. Most parents now just let their kids do whatever the fuck they want when traveling one time a year. My kids complain about other kids on flights. They're at that level. Oldest just turned 12. It's a parenting problem, not a kid problem.

Not a brag, but I have 3 foreign trips in 2(ish) months coming up. 90% of people that travel it's a one off big trip every 2-3 years. If that. When you do it a lot you know who hasn't done it. Kids don't know any better if you haven't trained them. I could drop my kids unattended at Midway or O'hare and they could get to their gate and flight 100%. Pop their headphones on and chill. I'm confident they could figure out arrival as well.

https://news.yahoo.com/too-many-rich-people-bought-205754619.html

Too Many Rich People Bought Airbnbs. Now They’re Sitting Empty

WookieMan says

That's debatable. I'd say it's annoying/lazy parents and not the kids fault. You wouldn't notice my kids at a hotel or resort. They'd be in deep shit if they caused a problem with another guest. I get your sentiment though. Most parents now just let their kids do whatever the fuck they want when traveling one time a year. My kids complain about other kids on flights. They're at that level. Oldest just turned 12. It's a parenting problem, not a kid problem.

I agree completely. But if I'm going to a hotel with intent to use the pool, I'm going to want to go to one with an adult only pool anyway. Like the one at the Water Club at the Borgata Atlantic City.

zzyzzx says

https://news.yahoo.com/too-many-rich-people-bought-205754619.html

Too Many Rich People Bought Airbnbs. Now They’re Sitting Empty

Yes, they will likely lower rates as 2021 rates were sky high for renting vacation homes. Can't hurt to lower rates to reduce vacancy.

Better to rent at lower rates to make a slight profit or just break even then to keep empty.

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ad says

Better to rent at lower rates to make a slight profit or just break even then to keep empty

Clearly you have not been listening to some of Louis Rossmann's commentary on NYC vacancies and pricing.

zzyzzx says

Clearly you have not been listening to some of Louis Rossmann's commentary on NYC vacancies and pricing.

Thank you for the feedback. I'll check into that. I did read this though:

"More than 60,000 Rent-Stabilized Apartments Are Now Vacant — and Tenant Advocates Say Landlords Are Holding Them for ‘Ransom’
The number of empty regulated apartments nearly doubled between 2020 and 2021, a state memo obtained by THE CITY shows."

https://www.thecity.nyc/housing/2022/10/19/23411956/60000-rent-stabilized-apartments-vacant-warehousing-nyc-landlords-housing

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zzyzzx says

Clearly you have not been listening to some of Louis Rossmann's commentary on NYC vacancies and pricing.

Rossmann talks about this on his show: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-31/us-small-business-rent-delinquency-rates-rise-sharply-in-october

I will finish watching his show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=mCycDJ4BxwI

I read this in the Bloomberg: "More Than a Third of US Small Businesses Couldn’t Pay All Their Rent in October" and I wonder if Biden's economic statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, etc. are all bullshit. I wonder if they are going to look a lot worse starting after this midterm election.

Enough investors and traders see a major downturn ahead and ignore the Biden admin economic propaganda.

Stock market is the true or better economic barometer. That's why Google is down 43%, Amazon is down 52%, and Apple also is down 25%. Advertisers have been cutting back from spending on Youtube, etc. and consumers cutting back on Amazon purchase and less are buying iPhones, Apple iPads, etc.

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How is AWS doing? It costs 10X the competition, and is going to take a hit at some point.