Airbnb / Craigslist

After seeing a story on the news this morning about a 19 year old boy who was assaulted by his Airbnb "host", it made me start thinking. I am really not familiar with Airbnb and have no plans on using it, but it seems to have grown in popularity. However, it seems like a pretty frightening concept to me - to just stay in someone else's house or have complete strangers stay in your home?!?!? Are there any regulations etc? So many are (rightly) cautious and afraid of transactions on craigslist, so how is Airbnb really any different or better or safer? Just wondering

Re: Airbnb / Craigslist

im all for airbnb if its a sep. apartment in the house. i know a few people who are airbnb hosts and have their mortgage payments covered with airbnb. they are fully booked for months at a time.

dont know how it works though.

Message edited 8/17/2015 5:04:03 PM.

Airbnb / Craigslist

When we lived in NC, we stayed at someone's apt in NYC. He rents it out regularly, but he leaves the premises while you're there. I would never stay in a place unless the homeowner leaves - even if they're nice. I want to be able to do whatever I want (watch TV, eat, etc) without someone commenting on my every move.

The place we stayed was really nice - it was near Union Square. He had his office locked and we had access to the rest (bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom). He had a laminated sheet with restaurant recommendations, grocery stores in the area, subway stops, etc.

Airbnb / Craigslist

My cousin lives in Newport and she rents her house a lot using airbnb. She leaves though she's staying down here and she goes back once a week to clean up for the next people.

Re: Airbnb / Craigslist

Yeah I think a lot of times people rent their places out that way- just like you would rent out a vacation home or condo- so it's not like you are living with them.

I would never stay in a stranger's home like that.
No way

Airbnb / Craigslist

OK - makes more sense if the home owner isn't there. But from the commercials and seeing the story on the news, it seems like a lot of the time, the homeowner is still there. I can't imagine doing that either way - as the renter or the rentee (if that's a word? lol)

Airbnb / Craigslist

I used air bnb and stayed
When the couple was in the home
They had tons of great reviews

I would do it again.

Re: Airbnb / Craigslist

We recently used it to rent an apartment in greenport. It worked out great.

Re: Airbnb / Craigslist

We just used AirB&B for the first time (in Paris) and had a great experience. The person had a lot of reviews and feedback on their page and I hope we can stay in the exact apartment when we go back again next year. I would never rent a room in a house where other people are but this apartment building was perfect and really added so much to our trip. I guess there are nuts everywhere. Be careful, communicate with the host, and look for lots of reviews to be safe.

Airbnb / Craigslist

I guess the reviews do make a big difference too. Getting to read about other people's experiences would make me feel better about it for sure.

Re: Airbnb / Craigslist

This seems to be the thing now, along with Uber (?) car service where regular people use their vehicles to transport you.

I have lots of 20-something students at my job who talk about and use these sites all the time.

Ah, to be young and able to travel with no care or worries...

Re: Airbnb / Craigslist

This thought has crossed my mind. Then DH says I'm just being a paranoid American . I'll have to send him this story.

We have used it before because it's much cheaper. We have rented out apartments and also stayed in the upstairs of someone's home in London. We just check reviews.