When Airbnb goes wrong and AirBnB Hell

TL;DR--Alberta man decides he wants to spend five weeks in Mexico. Plans for weeks and finds a gorgeous five-star accommodation at one-fifth the price! Books flights, pays his deposit, and then last minute, the host cancels! Oh no! How could this have happened? Why do bad things happen to good people? He looks for something with similar amenities and it's nearly $7000! And the places that are in-line with his price point (about $1500/5wks) are all shabby and run down! Don't worry, he got his deposit back, and ten percent on top of that, but he's still going to the media to complain because it's not fair.

If it seems too good to be true...

ElsiDawson said:

TL;DR--Alberta man decides he wants to spend five weeks in Mexico. Plans for weeks and finds a gorgeous five-star accommodation at one-fifth the price! Books flights, pays his deposit, and then last minute, the host cancels! Oh no! How could this have happened? Why do bad things happen to good people? He looks for something with similar amenities and it's nearly $7000! And the places that are in-line with his price point (about $1500/5wks) are all shabby and run down! Don't worry, he got his deposit back, and ten percent on top of that, but he's still going to the media to complain because it's not fair.

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That happened to me....except going to the Media part.
I got the money back, went to Canadian Tire, and bought a tent, and sleeping bag.I spent a week and a half camping under a Palm Tree on a beach in Belize.
I bought a fold up chair, foam mattress, and a few other items when I arrived at my destination, and donated them on my last day....so I just left them behind.
I spent my vacation like a beach bum, eating at restaurants, and using public washrooms with showers....and I actually had a great time.

sybian said:

That happened to me....except going to the Media part.
I got the money back, went to Canadian Tire, and bought a tent, and sleeping bag.I spent a week and a half camping under a Palm Tree on a beach in Belize.
I bought a fold up chair, foam mattress, and a few other items when I arrived at my destination, and donated them on my last day....so I just left them behind.
I spent my vacation like a beach bum, eating at restaurants, and using public washrooms with showers....and I actually had a great time.

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Yes, but were you shocked when your beach bum prices didn't include an espresso machine, a pool, and flat-screen TVs?

This guy reminds me of all the WOT/B&S alarms that go off when someone goes to see a model, advertising $140hh, and then are shocked to hear someone else say "the pictures are stolen off Instagram." For a guy who claims to be big into planning and research, he probably should have turned over a few more rocks to find out why his dream vacation came on a broke college budget.

And, for those wondering what the host gets by bailing on a booking, they're listing the same property in multiple places and taking the best offer at the last minute. Sure, some people could have stayed there over night or for a weekend for those prices, but that's probably in the off-season or for a quick mid-week stay. Five weeks in winter? Nah.

ElsiDawson said:

Yes, but were you shocked when your beach bum prices didn't include an espresso machine, a pool, and flat-screen TVs?

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No I wasn't of course, and I get your point....in my case it was a plumbing issue that caused a flood in the condo, which of course I did check out, as I was just camping about a mile away...it was legit, as I saw the cleaning crew working when I stood out on the street.
I'm also very capable of adapting to a situation, and making the best of circumstances, and I don't think I'm a complainer, even if my living situation is not ideal....but I'm a guy that's spent more than one night sleeping in a culvert, beneath a road,with my combat rifle, and tanks rolling by over my head.
Having said that, I was able to find good food, and the weather was co-operative , more or less....now if it had rained the entire time , perhaps my opinion would be different, as I had already paid for the airline ticket.
I just went over there, and figured it out on the fly...making sure I had enough cash to rent a shitty room in some dive, just in case.
I even found a nice Pub with good food, a flat screen, and a bathroom I could rent for showers....There was a bronze skinned waitress that liked campfires on the beach after work.....she took care of the coffee a few mornings.

Relax10 said:

Damn Sybian under a Palm Tree and no one messed with you or tried to jack your stuff. That was cool you donated your stuff after.

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I carried the tent and sleeping bag with me when I left, as I had a military backpack....the other stuff I stashed in a hole, as it really didn't matter if I lost it anyways.
Clothing I just threw away after a few days ,and bought new stuff, or washed laundry in the rented shower, if I couldn't access a free one.
Without going into detail....as there are a few here that know what I look like.....I usually don't have a problem with people messing with me.
I seem to have one of those faces.

Thank you for the compliment.