Over the recent years, Airbnb emerged from the shadows. However, I did not hear of it until just recently. Without knowing much about this concept, I decided to do a little research into Airbnb.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is “an online marketplace that connects people who want to rent out their homes with people who are looking for accommodations in that locale” (Folger 2019). When I first heard of this notion I thought.. Why would someone want to stay in a strangers home? I admit I was very skeptical of this concept and I had a bad feeling about it as soon as I heard of it.
Why do individuals use Airbnb?
Most individuals use Airbnb because it is a cheaper alternative than staying in a hotel room. What most people do not realize is most hosts are scams. It is very possible for an individual to create multiple accounts without verification even when that person has been banned.
Is Airbnb worth it?
Although individuals might think that nothing bad could happen to them, there is a lot of uncertainty with Airbnb. “It only takes 10 minutes to become a host. No background checks. No proper screening either. Additionally, listing addresses are not verified meaning the property may not even exist” (Fergusson 2017). Therefore, you could end up staying at a criminals, rapists, or a scam artists house. Most of the time, the host is a scam. Therefore, once you are in a different country or state, the host cancels or does not show up to meet. Therefore, you will be stuck without a place for the night/possibly a few days in an unfamiliar environment. The housing could be completely different than the post, and it could be in dangerous conditions such as a bug infestation, mold, or broken amenities. Therefore, with these conditions, it would be safe to assume that Airbnb is not worth it. However, if there is an extreme situation like a flight/hotel getting cancelled, or an Airbnb goes downhill, and an Airbnb (or a second one) is an absolute necessary, then my advice would be to search for an Airbnb with multiple photos of the house, with multiple angles of the house (make sure it’s the same house). In my opinion, save up the extra money in advance for an emergency situation, enjoy your vacation and stay safe! Remember what your parents have always taught you; it is better to be safe than sorry and watch out for strangers!
References
Fergusson, A. (2019). Is Airbnb Safe? We Analyzed 1021 Horror Stories to Find Out. Retrieved from <https://www.asherfergusson.com/airbnb/>
Folger, J. (2019). Airbnb: Advantages and Disadvantages. Retrieved from <https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/032814/pros-and-cons-using-airbnb.asp>
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