Beware of AirBnB/VRBO if you're booking far in advance with dates that don't flex

[barbk]

For the second time this year, a long-in-advance AirBnB reservation has been canceled because the property was sold. The first was a booking for a month-long beach condo rental we had booked 11 months in advance to get the winter month we wanted on an island that only allows 4-week or longer rentals. Yesterday, the large home in a highly popular resort area I'd booked for my family to stay in during my daughter's wedding festivities in mid-summer was canceled.

In both cases, prices are up significantly and availablity is low. I love my family, but I'm not paying $2400/night.

Here's the kicker: even though I found out the summer house was listed last month, unless and until the host cancels the reservation, you're subject to the late cancelation penalties. When I called, I was assured that they were planning to honor reservations. If I canceled, that would have been a loss of $2400. AirBnB is of zero help in this situation. The host can cancel even the day the reservation is due to begin, and all AirBnB does is refund what you've paid.

I did find a much less nice (and smaller) home in a less desirable location. We will make it work. But having been burned twice, we're done with AirBnB for long-in-advance rentals. It is definitely buyer beware.

 

[Deleted member 221]

Echoing your warning: this has happened to me twice as well, once on Easter weekend and another during peak August holidays, leaving me in a lurch.

It bothers me that Airbnb's cancellation policy is not reciprocal. You are on the hook for the full amount; the host is not on the hook for anything. The worst that can happen to the host is that they can't re-let the property on Airbnb during that period. Airbnb will (or used to?) allegedly assist you in finding a comparable rental if the host cancels within 30 days, but both of my hosts cancelled just outside that window. It doesn't even show up on the listing that the host cancelled, and you cannot leave feedback. This concerned me because even highly-rated Airbnbs can have hosts who cancel.

I'm very careful with Airbnbs now. I won't book them far in advance, for peak periods, or for any situation where I feel like I will be significantly worse off if the host cancels. I will sometimes also book a backup hotel, just in case.

I feel like the cancellation should be reciprocal, and the host should have to pay the guest the same the fee that they charge the guest in the event of cancellation.

 

[barbk]

Echoing your warning: this has happened to me twice as well, once on Easter weekend and another during peak August holidays, leaving me in a lurch.

It bothers me that Airbnb's cancellation policy is not reciprocal. You are on the hook for the full amount; the host is not on the hook for anything. The worst that can happen to the host is that they can't re-let the property on Airbnb during that period. Airbnb will (or used to?) allegedly assist you in finding a comparable rental if the host cancels within 30 days, but both of my hosts cancelled just outside that window. It doesn't even show up on the listing that the host cancelled, and you cannot leave feedback. This concerned me because even highly-rated Airbnbs can have hosts who cancel.

I'm very careful with Airbnbs now. I won't book them far in advance, for peak periods, or for any situation where I feel like I will be significantly worse off if the host cancels. I will sometimes also book a backup hotel, just in case.

I feel like the cancellation should be reciprocal, and the host should have to pay the guest the same the fee that they charge the guest in the event of cancellation.

AirBnB's "assistance" in the event of cancellation is to point you at their booking engine and wish you luck in finding something. It is not actual help, nor do they cover the cost if the new rental is more expensive than the old one.

Cancelation reciprocity is exactly what would be fair. That, and allowing the guest to cancel without penalty if a property goes on the market. Under the current setup, the host wins - they can keep accepting rentals until the property transfers, and then lose nothing by canceling any remaining bookings.

 

[PRlady]

Yikes. I’ve got several one-two night bookings in July in Atlantic Canada in peak tourist season. I booked them jn March. Fingers crossed.

We also got canceled a week before moving back to the US in 2018 and ended up in what we still refer to as The Dungeon.