Very hard to comprise is correct...especially when you go from USA location to DR. Amex security is all over that.
- Thread starter Mario1208
- Start date
Abnb hosting been a struggle recently
I think that's actually great advice. If something goes wrong with one, you have a second. That's especially true here where things don't always go as planned. 2 credit cards, 2 debit cards, and 2 ways of sending yourself cash.
Except BoA not very healthy, took a major hit 1.5B in bad debt, bankruptcy caution. But, again, to each his own.
I guess for the uninformed, financial and health advice from this community sounds like a good deal 🤣
What is your advice for getting stranded in a foreign country with only one way to get cash, when that way stops working?
I appreciate your question slowmo. I also appreciate your posts. To answer your question (the answer to which I'm certain you are not waiting on me for), it sure depends on what sort of expat you are. For example, there are folks on this board that have extensive networks in DR and do not consider it foreign (such as myself and many others). I can't imagine a situation where getting cash would stop working if you are a normal tax paying banked individual. That said, if you are travelling, say, on vacation and your wallet is stolen, well at least in the past decade there is apple pay, etc many ways. If your wallet and phone are stolen at the same time, and you are in a complete foreign environment, I guess you can always beg someone to use their Whatsapp and send a message to your team for extraction.
I just realized this was air b&b but I think slowmo's point is valid for folks traveling in DR who would otherwise consider it a foreign environment where they would find themselves without family or normal contact base in a cash emergency. I would humbly ask for your forgiveness on my topic oversight
I follow my colleague Big's school of thought and prefer hotels to avoid the situation posted by our lovely Maria Rubia 🥰
Honestly, I have to agree. I know Airbnb is popular and looks good on the surface. But what I think about is what could go wrong. At a hotel you have a support system so to speak, front desk, security, concierge, etc... At an Airbnb the owner, property manager, etc... most likely have some type of access. That makes me feel uncomfortable. And yes, I know at a hotel they also do but for me I feel more at ease staying at a hotel. Noise problems, partying, issues with the room, etc... you call the front desk or security, and they will take care of the problem. At an Airbnb your kind of on your own with that, at the mercy of the owner, property manager, etc. We have another property in Santo Domingo (condo). Nice area, quiet for the most part. Someone suggested that we use it as an Airbnb. We thought about it for like 10 seconds, it is just not worth the headache. I agree in Santo Domingo there is an overwhelming number of properties available via Airbnb, etc...too many to make it a good investment/idea for us. Airbnb works for many people; it is just not for me.
Tbh would be the best decision. I’m going to take that route myself it’s too much of a hassle. Cons outweigh pros having an apt listed on Airbnb in my opinion.
Apt has been empty for the past month & if it wasn’t for a referral from a family friend I’d be going on 3 months without a booking ez. Not trying to compete with other listings & drop rates to a ridiculously low amount. It is what it is have a realtor who’s going to list it as long term rental this upcoming week
I agree partially, perhaps I should have mentioned this earlier, but in the DR, we've only ever rented via Airbnb within gated communities from places that have 24/7 staff there. I would also not rent in the DR from a single house on the street or in a condo where nobody is there.
So this staff has always been there should there be any issues, which there never has been. Fun fact is that we went to a villa to celebrate our younger turning 2 yo. It was a Sunday afternoon around 4 pm and my wife had rented this small loudspeaker to play children's songs (they really were those) as the guests were happily eating their cakes and whatnot. Suddenly someone rang the doorbell and I went to open. It was the neighbor from behind the house asking US to 1. lower our voices and 2. put the volume down. He was a nice person so we happily complied, but it was a bit surreal. Obviously children's songs at 4 pm on Sunday. There was zero alcohol served as none of the guests drink and there were almost 10 kids present... And it was not like we had those songs playing the whole day, we had only began like 30 minutes prior. I also realize that it says on the ads that no parties etc, but we had a prior approval from the host and the security had been informed as well (they were doing rounds every 15 minutes), and none of them had any issues with this.
This encounter did not really left us feeling bad, as we realized that this place is a really good and safe place to stay, and for the time we stayed there, it was...
I agree, they did obviously not know us, and who knows, might be that some other renter had actually made noise in that house, but what baffled us was that you could not possibly mistake what we were doing for anything other than kids party. Had it gone like that for hours, I would have also not wondered, but we had just begun...
Its bit odd & unfair for those neighbors to react in that manner with those request considering time & day besides it’s a freaking kids party. Would sorta give em a pass for the music I guess but lowering voices while celebrating child’s 2 bday I’d has issues with someone make that request.
I guess this neighbor has had his share of frequent rbnb parties and decided to react immediately at anything that looks like it.
Most neighbors hate rbnb rentals next to them. What may be a rare holiday/party for the renter is often a daily annoyance for a neighbor..
Most neighbors hate rbnb rentals next to them. What may be a rare holiday/party for the renter is often a daily annoyance for a neighbor..