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SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION provider Airbnb has moved to crack down on renters who are “damaging” the communities in which they let properties.
The company faces growing accusations that its model is putting further pressure on the Irish housing market.
Now, Airbnb has requested that the government set up a register of approved short-term lets so it can block non-registered landlords from its site. It has also called for the introduction of a host register to help authorities enforce renting legislation and take action against property speculators.
With that in mind, we’d like to know: Do you use Airbnb to book accommodation when you go on holidays?
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Booking.com is by far the best accommodation service out there. Get some great deals and often cheaper than Airbnb, while not contributing to housing crises all across the world.
@Emma Meehan: agree! I used to book with air bnb a good bit but by the time they add in all the additional charges at the end it works out very expensive. Always better deals to be found on booking.com or going direct to the hotel/accommodation site.
@Emma Meehan: if i was clever enough to buy a second house, why shouldn’t I.
@Bala mc blaha: If you were clever enough to buy a second house why wouldn’t you book rooms through AirBnb when going on holidays….is that what you are asking???
@Emma Meehan: most air b and bs are on booking.com also
@Emma Meehan: Top-tip: use booking.com as a search engine, then contact hosts directly, you’ll get a better deal. Host hotels/holiday homes dislike the 15% booking.com commission and will pass on value to you, in terms of things like breakfast included, gifts, better guest experiences like sea views, better rooms. Their booking.com inventories are bottom of what they have to offer. They are contracted by booking.com listings to offer lowest advertised prices and this affects what you will be offered. It’s always better to pick up the phone and contact the hosts directly.
@Bala mc blaha:
totally selfish and oblivious to the catastrophe and carnage caused by AirBnB, you don’t care that you do evil.
There was violence in many cities where people fought back, and there will be more violence because of this appalling selfish behaviour.
Ive stayed in 3 Airbnbs so far – 1 was ok the other 2 were so dreadful I moved out after the first night and went to a hotel. My reviews were removed from their website. Never again !
Airbnb all the way when abroad. Nothing better than having your own place rather than just a room. As for Airbnb in Ireland, it’s an absolute sham. Literally paying the equivelant of one month’s rent for a Dublin apartment just to get a room for a week in the capital. Can’t say the hotel prices here are much better though.
Have used Airbnb many times. In Ireland you can get great places to stay on it. We like to go away with our dog and it’s still very difficult to find dog friendly accommodation here. Loads of Airbnbs take dogs and we have only ever had positive experiences both in terms of quality of the accomodation offered and the price. The superhost listings are excellent. That said we go to the countryside so I’m sure like everything else especially Dublin, the cities can probably be a rip off. Much prefer to self cater when we go abroad as way more freedom and I get tired of hotels after more then a few days. I love being able to go to the amazing food markets and being able to actually cook some of the food.
@Heather Knowles: Completely off topic, but we did a doggie getaway a couple of weeks ago in Galgorm up north. Beautiful cottage, they allow you to leave the dogs alone for a few hours if needed, they have plenty of amenities on-site and they’re not far from a lot of the famous scenic spots. We usually AirBNB with the dogs for exactly that reason, but would recommend that resort as far as hotels go!
Thanks to you both for the tips on dog-friendly self-catering accommodation.
@Rob Hunt: Sounds great, thanks for sharing
@Heather Knowles:
totally selfish and oblivious to the catastrophe and carnage caused by AirBnB, you don’t care that you do evil.
There was violence in many cities where people fought back, and there will be more violence because of this appalling selfish behaviour.
No .. I strongly think these should be banned.. 1 of the biggest contributors to the housing crises
@John Kavanagh: Yea loads of city workers looking to live full time out west, s/
No, only time I used it it was a disaster. Tiny room, tiny stairs, tiny toilet. Wide angle lens are Airbnb’s best friends.
@Anne Busher Collins: you can’t judge on just one experience. I’ve stayed in some really good places both home and abroad.
Don’t do that anymore. Prefer to book local guest house or locally run small hotel. My partner and I are done with globalised approach to tourism. The turning point was twofold: first when watching a couple of documentaries about the erosion of the indigenous business in Barcelona, the second was the news about protests in Venice and invasive behaviour of cruise ships in the Venetian canals. The very similar thing can be observed in Dublin where tacky souvenir shops appear on many corners of the city centre.
We don’t go on holidays. We travel.
@Pata: Well aren’t you posh – we don’t go on holidays, we travel. Yes, travelling to Mayo, not exactly travel, more a little trip. Ha ha
AirbnB has been one of the biggest contributors to the lack of accommodation in this country along with the big investment funds. Like other countries we need to regulate short term lets e.g. maybe 3 months max per annum…this would discourage investors from entering the “short term let” market and allow those who want to rent out a holiday home have a small return. It would also allow the home market of traditional holiday makers to holiday in the country at a reasonable price. As for the institutions, they should pay the same tax as the small landlords who pay 50% tax on rental income. This would make it an unattractive investment funds thus reduce home prices and increase availability to private home buyers.
It’s gotten very expensive by the time they add cleaning charges and if you add a person say your child its expensive.
Use a Irish company Tournament Stays to book homes for sporting events and festivals
I once stayed in an Air B&B in Madrid booked by a family member, but apart from that, I only stay in hotels, preferably 4-star ones.
similar to you, most of the older European heritage families in Brazil stopped using slaves as there was a cheaper alternative (Italian migrants).
There was no moral dimension to your decision to not use AirBnB.
totally selfish and oblivious to the catastrophe and carnage caused by AirBnB, you don’t care that you do evil.
There was violence in many cities where people fought back, and there will be more violence because of this appalling selfish behaviour.
Hostelworld, the rest of the money remains in my possession pocket to actually enjoy the holiday. If I spent 200-300 for a night in a hotel I’d never see the city. I’d stay in the room to get my moneys worth.
@Fred O’Farrell: H. W. Charge you 15%, always book directly
Always boik directly. You pay 15% extra if you book with AiRBnB and B. C
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