I have never been that enamored with the apt. rental apps. I like hotels with service and proximity to where I need to be. Cloths cleaning, room service a business center. The El Embajador checks all of my box's. When meeting with businesspeople they enjoy staying there as well. I cannot imagine recommending an apartment rental to a business traveler. This place is very secure, and room parties would get 86d pronto.
- Thread starter Mario1208
- Start date
Abnb hosting been a struggle recently
Understood, yes, I agree that in the evening the situation might be a bit complicated. Again, sorry for your experience, that would have p**sed me of too...
Just my thoughts on dealing with hosts/Airbnb, the moment your host said that no refund, I would have perhaps simply stopped talking with them and dealt only directly with Airbnb. At least in our case, when we have had issues with the host, I stop talking to them and make sure all communication is done via the Airbnb chat platform. Anything they would say me outside of that, is
1. A red flag
2. Kind of against Airbnb, at least in writing, as when you only communicate with the host via the platform, you have evidence. As Airbnb is involved in the contract, I just ignore what the host says (if it's something negative, obviously I talk with them normally...) if they refuse to use the platform.
So in your case, I think the host had no right to tell you to leave, that's the job for Airbnb: I hope you have reported everything of this host to Airbnb and they no longer have that unit on their platform, that's what I would have done.
Case in point for communication: This unit we rented a couple of years ago that was advertised both privately and via Airbnb, I only communicated via Airbnb, but the host sent me a few emails as well, which I simply ignored. They noted this, and they noted that I always replied immediately via Airbnb, so they realized they were doing something wrong...
Without doubt there are also careless hosts, sorry to hear about this as well. What I would have done is take a video of me turning the breakers up and down, showing no difference... Glad you got the refund..
I suppose we've then just been lucky renting in the DR...
I think a lot of the issue here in the capital and punta cana at least, is that people are renting their places out from abroad and aren't actually there maintaining their properties. Of course the person you pay to manage it doesn't want to present problems and potentially lose money.
It's a huge difference in experience when your host is onsite or welcomes you vs. a third-party service or someone they just pay to clean and manage.
Exactly this. People are sold the dream of buying a vacation home here and when they're not around they can AirBnB it. Nobody mentions the constant maintenance that is required for properties here, the weather does so much damage to structures, the electricity spikes, Dominican workmen never work well unless supervised etc. etc.
I never once spoke to the host, all the comms with with AirBnB in some remote part of the world (felt like the Phillipines?). AirBnB called me and said the host had said she was going to refund everything we had paid, but we had to leave immediately, this on Saturday evening. AirBnB said they would relocate us, but then called back and said they couldn't relocate us, so what did we want to do. And we said we wanted a solution, none was forthcoming, so we stayed the second night (by this time it was quite late and dark and raining). Then the host said that because we had stayed the second night, we had shown we were happy with the unit so now we had to pay in full. We left early the next morning, and AirBnB said that we still had to pay for the third night. I didn't get angry but I was very firm, we were escalated to a supervisor who said that they would refund some buttons for the first night, and the third night. And after hours of this nonsense, I called Amex and they did a chargeback for the full amount, plus gave me US$ 200 compensation. And then AirBnB started all this "you're not playing fair" nonsense.
Yes, Amex complaints are your friend. In the past 3-4 years I used it in (non-fraud) issues about 2-3X and always have been successful. Amex will ask...did you discuss with other party and try to work it out? Of course. OK we have filed complaint and deducted from your account. We will contact the other side and await to hear what they have to say.
All too often the other side doesn't reply and the charge stay off your account.
If you are going with AMEX as your only card, it's best to carry a pocket full of cash for all the vendors who refuse the card.
I rented an Airbnb in Punta Cana that didn't have power. The host told me to check all the breakers, which I did. He told me he put an order in to have if fixed. I said ok I'm heading out and not a problem as long as its fixed when I return. Got back around 12am. No lights, couldn't open the windows because of the electronic secure blinds. The host kept stating i must being downing something wrong. I contacted airbnb and they replied if you leave now you will be refunded. I told them where am I going at 12am.? its now around 1am. I couldn't go to sleep, I had rested on the couch and cracked the door for light and ventilation. The next morning I contacted AIRBNB and agin I told them this place shouldn't be able to be rented if it didn't have power. That is a health and safety issue. I found another unit in the complex and the host let me check in early. It took two more tries but Airbnb refunded my money back
Enough places that I switched to Visa. It is because AMEX charges the vendor more than MC or Visa.
Correct, I have had an Amex only through my employer, where private use was also allowed, so I thought to collect miles. But then it did hit me, indeed many vendors clearly dictate that Visa/Mastercard only (or Discover or whatever)
I agree with you, that was bad from Airbnb, again, sorry to hear about this. This is the reason I, always when possible, refuse to call anywhere or take calls from service providers. If you have it in writing, you have evidence. A chat/messages you can even print for your record, but recording a call is a bit more complicated. I realize messaging in an emergency is not that straight forward though.
For the part where they asked you what would you like to do, this actually happened to us, and I simply replied them back, not in a very polite way: We rented from you, I don't know what to do, you have to figure that out and now. At that time, that did actually work, and they sent us alternative accommodations within an hour (I realize you did perhaps not have an hour there). I find very stupid from them to ask you what you want to do at that time in the evening...
Interesting, every restaurant and hotel in S.D accepts my American Express. Additionally it is almost never compromised by fraudsters.
So...carry two -three cards cards. Is that so hard? Carry Amex, Visa and Master card. Use accordingly. Problem solved. BTW you can build TWO reward accounts if that bothers you. (Like me who doesn't like giving something away.) One rewards account with ML-BOA- Visa and one with Amex.)