13/01/2023
When reviewing an AirBNB experience, don’t just tell us how nice the host was and how close it was to the city.
Tell us how the arrival happened. Was it painless? Were you waiting in the dark of night outside in a seedy part of town because the host didn’t arrive for 20 minutes?
Focus on necessities others need to know about before booking:
Is the bathroom clean, in good shape, and functioning?
How’s the water in the shower?
Does the WiFi work consistently, and is it fast?
Does the kitchen have a decent supply of cookware?
Is there a rooster next door or a mosque that bellows its call to prayer at 3am?
Does the host answer inquiries quickly? Do they handle your needs well?
Is there anything at all left to cook with, like spices or leftover things from past guests, or should one show up well-stocked?
And the bed! Don’t just tell us it’s “comfy,” is it soft? Hard? Firm? Lumpy? Squeezed in between two walls so you have to climb out the bottom?
Does the place smell? Is there dust or mold?
What about the neighbourhood? Is there a lot of traffic? Stairs? Hills? How far to the nearest… anything?
AirBNB reviews are important, they’re a critical part of the booking experience. Beyond helping people like me, for whom this is our life, it helps people who’ve scrimped and saved for a vacation, and this means a lot to them. Why are they less important than the hosts’ feelings? They’ve got two weeks off in a year, and you inflating your AirBNB review might mean they book a mediocre apartment when better ones are out there.
Give other guests the vacations they’re longing to enjoy by being honest and helpful in writing a thorough AirBNB review.
http://www.fullnomad.com/2017/08/06/airbnb-honest-reviews-expectations-matter/
I live and die by AirBNB reviews. Hands down, no argument, no discussion: Without AirBNB, I could not live the nomad life. Full stop. But it took ages to learn to read reviews carefully, to read between the lines. Even now I am sometimes a bit disappointed in places. Today, fellow traveler and write...