Is Airbnb Safe?

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More than a year after my first stay, I’m still using Airbnb.  If I’m honest, I tried it the first time because I couldn’t afford anything else.  The only options in my budget were Airbnb or camping, and even though I love to camp, it didn’t fit the mood of my Hawaii getaway.

Are you new to Airbnb?  Check out the basics (and my initial review) before reading my take on safety.

This week, a cautionary tale was published in the New York Times, sharing the unfortunate story of a guest who was sexually assaulted by an Airbnb host.  It’s frightening, but does that mean you should avoid Airbnb entirely?

In my opinion, no.  Security can be an issue even at high-end hotels and I can speak from experience that Airbnb offers some amazing (and perfectly safe) places to stay despite one bad story.

Bed & Breakfast, Vacation Rental, or Just a Room?

Airbnb is strange because it lists everything from a bedroom in someone’s home to deluxe vacation rentals like five-bedroom houses.

I’ve tried it all: my first stay was a traditional bed & breakfast that used Airbnb for reservations for simplicity’s sake on management’s end.  Everything about that stay was superb…from the fresh pineapple at breakfast to free surfboard rentals to a host who was helpful and reassuring when I noticed my rental car tail light had been smashed in.

airbnb big island retreat
The Pineapple Room at Big Island Retreat (Kona, HI)

To this day, using Airbnb as a method for finding (and booking) “traditional” bed and breakfasts is my favorite way to use the site.  The platform makes communicating easier than a phone call and it’s a great way to find photographs of properties that don’t have a dedicated website.  The Tannah Guesthouse in Antigua, Guatemala is a great example of a wonderful property where the owners don’t have the capability (or desire) of maintaining their own website and independent booking platform yet they still offer a great stay.

I’ve also used Airbnb for cottage rentals, which is a good option as well.  Compared to vacation rental sites, Airbnb makes it easy to narrow down what you need with filters for price, how many people it sleeps, minimum night stay, maps of properties, and more.  Usability, convenience, and simplicity are Airbnb’s biggest selling points.  My family is having a reunion in Poland in the summer of 2016, and we’re using Airbnb for an apartment on that trip, too.

Where I Draw the Line

Last March, I spent a single night in a private room in someone’s house.  It had a separate entrance compared to the main house and there were three rooms for rent, meaning other guests might be staying there as well (though none were on the date I was there).  But somehow, rational or not, I didn’t feel the same inherent sense of trust like you do at a regular B&B.  When the host’s livelihood doesn’t depend on hosting visitors, I worry a little bit more about the safety of my belongings and especially of myself.

Nothing bad happened, but it felt awkward to me and I won’t do it again.  A lot of people successfully stay in this capacity, but it’s not for me.

On the Flipside: Renting Out Your Space

Property-For-Rent

There’s a championship bike race coming to Richmond this fall, so my husband and I had the bright idea of listing our apartment for rent over the race dates to bring in some extra money.  From the very beginning, I had hesitations about that plan.  This is our home and all of our things would still be there.  Sure, we can move or lock up some valuables, but I’m not keen on the idea of 90% of our belongings still being open to guests.  I guess I failed at learning how to share?

Since then, we’ve delisted the space.  It’s not worth it to me for the money we’d bring in — and that’s not even factoring in the cleaning and prep work that goes into it.  Again, a lot of people successfully do this (that’s how Airbnb stays in business after all), but it’s not for me.

I Think Common Sense is Enough

safety-first

Is Airbnb safe?  I think it can be, with due diligence.  Read reviews and references, trust your gut, and don’t be afraid to leave the situation if it doesn’t feel right (that’s the same advice I give at hostels and other shared spaces).  Yes, it might cost you money to leave your belongings on the property if you don’t feel safe enough to return and gather them and yes, it might cost you money to find a last-minute place to stay when you change your plans…but safety always comes first.

I Will Keep Using Airbnb

Not every rental type fits my preferences, but I love the extra room and amenities from cabins and cottages, the cost savings at bed and breakfasts, and the ability to find lodging where you otherwise might not have online information.  Airbnb is never the first place I check, but if a traditional hotel doesn’t work out, it’s my next search.

Save $20 on Your First Stay

If you join Airbnb via my referral link, you’ll save $20 on your first stay of $75+.  It’s a small perk and sometimes they run better, limited-time promotions, but when they aren’t having a sale it can help save money on already affordable stays.

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Have you used Airbnb as a guest or a host?  What was your experience like?  Will you use it again?

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Read More About Airbnb:

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Joining Airbnb via my referral link includes a discount on your first stay but also provides a referral credit to me (at no cost to you).  As always, thank you for your financial support of this blog.

15 thoughts on “Is Airbnb Safe?”

  1. My theory on this is, yes, bad stuff happens sometimes. Hotels are also unsafe. This won’t stop me from using AirBNB or other similar services, but I will do as much as I can to be safe. I hope that AirBNB learns a lesson from this about customer safety.
    I LOVE AirBNB by the way. I’ve used it both in Europe and in the U.S. My favorite was a flat in Lillehammer high up overlooking the fjord. I was able to meet the owner and her girls on the last day as we were departing. I had trouble connecting to locals in Norway, so it was so wonderful to get to know my host!
    I’m similar to you in that I’d prefer to rent an entire house. I’m an introvert and need my alone time.

    1. @Amanda, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head: nothing is 100% safe but hopefully everyone can learn from that experience and appropriate changes can be made.

  2. I lived in an Airbnb rental for a month when I first moved to Los Angeles. The woman I was renting from used the space for storage in the off season and she stopped by a few times to grab things while I was staying there. She always called before stopping in, but I always found it slightly odd that she had access to all my belongings when I wasn’t there. I was lucky to have had a positive experience and was glad to have this “buffer house” before finding my permanent home in a city in wasn’t familiar with…but there is a lot of trust that goes into the Airbnb model. We’re lucky there are lots of good people in this world to balance out the handful of bad ones. I couldn’t have moved across the country as seamlessly without it, but I understand why some are hesitant.

    1. @Kelly, I also don’t really like the lack of privacy, even in my own apartment at home. Glad things worked out for you and what a great example of how Airbnb can be a solution.

  3. I used airing for 6 months straight while in Europe in 2013. I had no issues, but, I greatly enjoyed the accommodations that were an entire apartment or house to yourself versus private rooms. I experienced all of them.

    In my experience, it’s not having issues with the host, but issues arise with the other guests, especially if you’re sharing a kitchen or bathroom. I found that there are a LOT of people that lack personal hygiene and simple cleanliness. You avoid these things when having private accommodations. And if the private accommodation doesn’t pass the clean test, you can just clean it to your own satisfaction without insulting the owner.

    Currently, I started back to staying in hotels or real B&Bs, but have airbnb as a backup.

  4. I didn’t know AirBNB had traditional offerings. I’m not sure I’d love the idea of staying at someone’s home, whether they were there or not. But I love the opportunity to find deals on B & B’s.

  5. We used it for the first time in San Francisco and had a great experience. We now have a reservation for Boston coming up. Boston will be a whole house and SF was a shared housing. I love that there are options but agree that common sense is important, but that is with anything.

  6. I have had nothing but success with AirBnB, but I can see how this service could end up with a person renting out a stinker. I think the feeling of not being safe is only natural when renting from a private person and not a professional BnB.

  7. I’ve used AirBnB a few times, and I never had a problem. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t have a problem though. It sounds like your experience wasn’t quite as good as mine have been. =/

  8. yes it is safe! been doing airbnbs for a long period of time. I also invested my condo unit from Amaia to airbnb. 🙂

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