Problem
Airnb What's it all about and is it safe? It is staying in somebody's private home. Some countries do this on an official government basis. We did it years ago in Hungary. I've read that it is done nowadays in Cuba.
Airnb What's it all about and is it safe? It is staying in somebody's private home. Some countries do this on an official government basis. We did it years ago in Hungary. I've read that it is done nowadays in Cuba.
Flag of Cuba.
In the UK, you can find bed and breakfast.
In the UK, you can find bed and breakfast.
Bed and Breakfast, UK
Bed and breakfast has existed for years in the UK. You used to just drive around looking for a vacancy. A b-and-b is not a 5-star hotel which is obliged to have 24-hour service to achieve such status for staff and service. A b-and-B is usually somebody's home, or an annexe requiring them to get out of bed to see you to your room. Remember that they need their sleep because they cannot lie in. They have to be up before you in the morning to have the breakfast table ready.
Cornwall B & B story
For light relief, for you and me, here's my memory of b and b in Cornwall. One year I drove with a girlfriend to Cornwall. We did fine finding b and b available in locations throughout Devon. Then we reached a place on a bank holiday in busy Cornwall where all the hotels were full.
By the time we stopped for dinner, it was too late in the day to secure accommodation. The signs were switching off. The hallway and living room and bedroom lights in the houses were dimmed.
We ended up sleeping overnight in the car in a car park. Signs said it was not permitted to park overnight.
We woke at dawn, wet from perspiration in the stuffy car, and cold, in a baking summer. If we drove off before anybody arrived, we would be safe from reprimand, charges, or prison.
A police car drove in! It parked by the entrance. I said, 'Now we are in trouble!'
But my friend has the 'gift of the gab'. She grinned, "Drive over and stop and I'll speak to them."
"Good morning, officers," she smiled. "You must know this area well. We're new and we're lost. Can you recommend a good place for breakfast. ... Thank you so much! I knew you good people would be able to help." That's chutzpah!
Recent Stories
Back to nowadays. I looked at the report on Airnb in The Times and went back to the source, a blogger called Asher Fergusson.
He claims, and I believe him, that he found duplicate listings of many sites, as well as scams. If he could find duplicate listings, presumably the wary and canny shopper could do the same. This does not change his point, that the site itself could or should do so. (They claim that they do.) However, it does draw attention to the fact that you can do some checking for yourself.
Before going to a legitimate small hotel I check out who they are and where they are. The same as I do when visiting a shop or museum. This ensures I don't get lost in a dangerous neighbourhood. I also like to have a backup plan. If my hotel should suffer from over-booking, get flooded or damaged or in a neighbourhood cordoned off, where would I go.
Your Checks
I would do the same checks with an air NB property and owner. With street view nowadays you can make numerous checks on line. Find out if there's a cheap hotel nearby so in the event of any problem (such as your flight being delayed and your room being overbooked and given to somebody else) you know your local choices.
Checking Local Hotels And Hostels
Know all the local hotels, and any other hotels in the same group.
If your hotel tells you they are overbooked and they are sending you to a sister hotel, you want to know if the sister hotel has the same facilities (such as walking distance to the nearest station, or a swimming pool). If not, will the hotel give you a free transfer, or allow you to come back and use the main hotel's swimming pool.
Useful websites
https://www.asherfergusson.com/airbnb/
tripadvisor.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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