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kief
Trad climber
east side
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Oct 19, 2016 - 03:58pm PT
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You're mostly dealing with people renting their OWN homes (i.e. not necessarily their investment or vacation properties)
"Mostly" is correct, but in NYC for example 30% of all the listings are by commercial hosts who rent out multiple units for brief periods for at least four months out of the year. The social cost of the AIrBnB business model in cities with high rents and tight housing markets is a reduction in the availability of housing for residents. A report by housing advocacy groups in NYC claimed that if AirBnB apartments were on the market instead, the city’s vacant rental stock would increase by 10 percent. The city's Public Advocate (highest ranking elected official after the Mayor) said that “Airbnb’s practices are swallowing up affordable housing units, forcing New Yorkers from their homes and precipitating a spike in homelessness."
AirBnB dismisses this kind of talk as exaggeration, which in some ways it probably is. But as someone who has struggled to find even marginally affordable housing in both NYC and San Francisco I'm sympathetic to folks who want existing laws enforced to keep things from getting further out of hand.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Oct 19, 2016 - 05:43pm PT
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Airbnb’s practices are swallowing up affordable housing units That is one of the downsides to Airbnb..
Two friends of mine have airbnb's...One is a family vacation home @ Lake Almanor that was used too infrequently by the family members..
My other friend bought an old house the was divided into 4 units.. 5 people got displaced when she turned the units into an Airbnb......
As people have stated before.... it's quite easy to fine a good Airbnb rental...Check the reviews, and look at Airbnb's top rated places....Guest rate the vacation rentals..
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Oct 19, 2016 - 06:04pm PT
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Would i be a dick for reporting them because they lack the appropriate certification to the city?
Absolutely KNOT. Report them!
I'll never use commercial "ride sharing" either. Uber and Lyft drivers need to be regulated - they double park, stop on corners and block traffic, increase congestion, and don't employ professional drivers. Any yahoo with a car and license can do it, and many of them do drive like yahoos.
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Oct 20, 2016 - 11:47pm PT
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I use Lyft about 6-10 times per month getting to and from airports. I used to use SuperShuttle before that. Overall I'm much happier with the service. Mostly it leads to interesting conversations with people that have a wide variety of backgrounds. Seldom had a bad driver. A few times had people not paying attention and drive me in circles around the Burbank Airport because Google directions don't take you to the passenger pickup/drop-off area.
I did have a wonderful experience using VRBO for renting a house on Pine Mountain Lake for my wedding. Had family from my side and wife's side stay there together for a week getting to know each other, rather than spending the money on a big reception that's over before we have time to hang out with anyone. Had a big dock to go swimming, a little paddleboat, and a great setup for kids to adults.
Edit: Congrats Melissa and J, I just saw the pics of your place. It looks fabulous! FYI your booking link is 404 Not Found.
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Oct 21, 2016 - 03:14am PT
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Used airbnb in Croatia, Slovenia, and the US. All were great, only one fell through in Slovenia, had nothing to do with airbnb. All the apartments we stayed at in Croatia were excellent, the hosts were on it and were available and patient and honest. Most hosts abroad gave us snacks, or booze, one even hand washed our laundry! Its been reliable and more trustworthy than VRBO with better listings and a better site. We've been pleased with all the hosts weve used, probably 20 by now and will continue.
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Hoser
climber
Vancouver,Rome
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Oct 21, 2016 - 05:12am PT
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I use it all the time all over the world. There is no comparison with hotels, I can bring my family put the kid to bed, have dinner, watch TV, wake up have breakfast, buy groceries, or get a bigger place and have out of town family stay with me and have a way better time and avoid eating out for every meal.
Hotels...havent changed their business profile in decades, and I am supposed to feel bad that their business plan is failing? Same goes for UBER. Figure it out hotels.
Dunno, I never stay in dirty over priced useless hotels if I can avoid it - never had a AirBnB cancel, the number of times they cancel is clearly available in the comment section.
If you are truly worried about the impacts on housing, you can always check the rules before you go for your city - like Berlin which is not the greatest AirBnB city.
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10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired
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Oct 21, 2016 - 08:29am PT
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the world is changing. Imagine if your neighbor decided that they wanted to start renting their place out on a nightly basis. party every night.. Of course the upside is that that crazy person who moved in next door is now likely only staying one night.
I have an interesting Airbnb story. I work as a photographer. I photograph everything from landscape to products to street people.
Earlier this year two Canadian girls wanted some portrait photos done. They were staying at an Airbnb in Venice. We decided to do the Photoshoot there. I brought some lights in and started shooting. We were probably inside for an hour. The girls then wanted to go out and shoot on the beach. As we were leaving the owner comes rushing out and ask about the equipment. He then accused us of shooting a porno, and accused the girls of being prostitutes.
Needless to say, the girls told the guy they were checking out.
Maybe the guy had a bad experience before, but he seemed rude.
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Al Barkamps
Social climber
Red Stick
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Oct 21, 2016 - 09:20am PT
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It's come to the point where I'll do everything I can to avoid staying in a commercial motel/hotel for whatever reason, including work. In my opinion, if you're not staying in a place where the owner is on the premises, you're missing the point of traveling to begin with. It's cool to meet new people and get insider community information and a pretty intimate look at how locals live in their own communities.
We've used Air BnB some 50 times in North America and Europe and have never regretted it. I even stayed in a crappy grad-student place in Texas once with these Indian electrical engineering students. Even THAT experience was pretty priceless.
I avoid the obviously cheapo accommodations and the "mixed bag" reviews, unless I HAVE to be there for some overarching reason.
I avoid the commercial proprietor who has multiple listings; forcing locals out of their own communities is way uncool.
Note that some places will have owners who are better hosts than they are innkeepers. We've never regretted these stays and even returned to some of these places because they were so cool.
....and I've had way crappier experiences in hotels than I've ever had with Air BnBs.
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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Oct 21, 2016 - 09:29am PT
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i feel like you guys are missing my point-its cool for you all to have travel experiences of "living" in neighborhoods, but not all the residents want that. i didn't ask for a hotel on my block, and I'm stuck with it. And there are undeniable impacts, on parking, etc. I see it as a subversion of zoning laws.
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Mtbphoto
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, Ca
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Oct 22, 2016 - 09:49am PT
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Here's my Airbnb story as a host and guest; I traveled to Europe last summer and stayed in 3 different Airbnb's, it was great, we got a good deal and loved the places we stayed at. I live in a resort town (Mammoth) and have heard a bunch about Airbnb.
When we got back from Europe we listed our living room as a "shared" space on Airbnb. My living room has this little nook with a built in bunk bed and we have a pull out couch. We really enjoyed hosting our living room, almost everyone was great, easy, and left great reviews. After a few months it got a bit old because we had so many guests all the time and we also shared a bathroom.
We ended up moving and renting out our one bedroom condo as an "entire space" and although it has been busy, profitable, and fun, it is a lot more work. The guests have higher standards, we have gotten only a few "bad" guests that were either dirty or clueless. But overall its been positive and definitely profitable.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Oct 22, 2016 - 09:58am PT
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i feel like you guys are missing my point-its cool for you all to have travel experiences of "living" in neighborhoods, but not all the residents want that. i didn't ask for a hotel on my block, and I'm stuck with it.
David K, I get that point, but wonder if you can politely discuss any problems with the Airbnb/VRBO owners?..If that does not work.. i suppose you can ask your city council to discuss your complaints on their agenda ?
My friend who owns a Airbnb has a home in a mixed neighborhood downtown and provides a guest parking lot . The students rental are the noisy bad neighbors.. not the Airbnb folks.
On a related subject, not airbnb.. but pot cultivation.
A Yosemite friend of mine bought her forever home about 18 years ago in Mt Ranch, Ca. They had a big fire over a year ago, that basically burned down a big portion of the area. The burned acreage created a land rush of sorts... The City did not deal very well with it's ordinances and ended up with 740 new and large pot farms. The new growers are from out of town and not invested with the locals families & the community . .. ....Talk about neighbors you don't want in your hood...http://www.recordnet.com/news/20161015/cannabis-county-some-see-green-some-see-red-as-calaveras-pot-industry-explodes
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