Zen Stepping Stone Gardens - Home Away

09/07/2025

Ziping was a past Airbnb guest of mine from China. When he first arrived years ago, straight off the plane without even a toothbrush or toothpaste, I gave him a new set and made him a sandwich at 1 am in the morning.

Today, out of the blue, he called from Kamloops after a long bus ride from Vancouver, asking if he could stop by. He said he had a gift for me. When he arrived, he explained—nearly in tears—that his work visa would not be renewed, and he just wanted to say goodbye. He brought Chinese tea he had purchased, and before leaving, he bowed with his hands together and thanked me for my hospitality.

I loved hosting through Airbnb, and it gave me connections like this that I’ll never forget. But now, with Airbnbs no longer allowed in Kamloops and goodbyes like today, it feels like that chapter of my life has closed.

Ecuador, here we come.

03/19/2025

03/19/2025

Wanna know what's happening behind the scenes of Airbnb?

Why is it that hosts have to warn other hosts on independent social media platforms with “beware of guest so-and-so” instead of Airbnb stepping up to protect the hosts who put their hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of assets on the line? Meanwhile, guests who risk NOTHING are treated like petulant royalty!

I recently got a 1 star review from a guest who had an un-paid for guest stay for 3 nights. This 5 star guest caused $300 in damages (reimbursed by Airbnb), blew the breakers several times, was hostile and unapologetic. He stated in his review that "He'd Never Felt as scared in his life, as he did at our Airbnb. " IN HIS LIFE!
I asked for the review to be removed. Airbnb infantilized, "Well that's how he felt."

What a waste of time.

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03/17/2025

A perfect way to close out six unforgettable years with Airbnb. I had the pleasure of hosting a guest from Bordeaux, France, for two weeks. We shared a few Mountain Air Adventures, and his heartfelt gratitude and the awe in his eyes when I showed him the point where the desert meets the Montane Forests (That's what they're called BTW) reminded me of why I fell in love with this special part of BC all those years ago. ❤️ Bon voyage, Romain! Merci pour la bouteille de vin! 😊

03/05/2025

Makes me sad this is over in Kamloops, meanwhile in Kelowna they've actually got together to lobby their city council. I wonder what effect this will have on Kamloops for tourists who will be stuck with hotels. 🤔

03/03/2025

The Airbnb Host Survival Guide: Just Smile and Take It

Welcome, fellow Airbnb hosts, to the thrilling, high-stakes world of short-term rentals, where your home, investment, and sanity are mere playthings for the whims of divine guests!

Did your guest bring an unpaid extra person, ignore safety rules, and overload your circuits until the power blew out? No problem! Airbnb says their feelings about the experience are more important than facts. Who needs evidence when someone can simply declare that you screamed at them, spied through their window, or—why not?—pooped on their bed? And guess what? You cannot get the review removed because, in Airbnb’s world, if a guest says it happened, it happened.

You, dear host, must grin and bear it while a guest obliterates your reputation with zero accountability. You could provide screenshots of polite messages, prove they violated house rules and safety protocols, even record them lighting your curtains on fire, but Airbnb’s response? "Well, that was their experience."

Meanwhile, what can you do? Leave them a stern review they’ll probably never read, one that won’t stop them from booking another place and repeating the cycle. The worst that can happen to them? A mild inconvenience. The worst that can happen to you? Business obliterated. Investment gone. Livelihood ruined.

So, to all the brave souls still hosting on Airbnb, I salute you. May your guests be kind, your reviews be fair, and your mental breakdowns be minimal. And if you ever feel like Airbnb has your back, just remember: the guest is always right, even when they’re dead wrong. Happy hosting! 🎉

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10/19/2024

The BC Conservative Party wants to give back property owners their right to use their property as an asset. 👍