Airbnb experience

Since June I’m a host on Airbnb, and so far I’ve had 20 guests. Sometimes one, sometimes two, almost always pleasant people. The best one was an Italian guy from the US who booked and paid for nine nights and never showed up! But seriously, most of the people are really interesting and mindful that they stay in a private home.

Some of them keep to themselves and only want a bed for the night, but many of them want to chat a bit and I always learn something new. They come from all over the world, so far I’ve had people from India, UK, Germany, Qatar, US, Holland, Austria, Israel and even Switzerland.

I only had one bad experience, and that was when I was in hospital and got a booking late afternoon for the next day, and I have had one checking out the same morning. No way could I clean and make the room and bathroom ready for the next day, so I had to tell him no. The money had gone through though, so when he didn’t want a bank transfer for me to pay him back I had to send cash in an envelope and that didn’t arrive (at least he said).

Now I have updated my profile to say that you have to book at least two days in advance, or I have to approve the booking.

But all in all, it’s a pleasant experience and a way to utilize my guest room and meet some interesting people on the way.