just made a reservation for one week stay at an apt next to the Louvre in Paris, first week of aug.
the reviews have been nice, however, my personal communications with the host have been questionable. I have to keep reminding him of the price, dates,...

he takes the weekends off and as of now I do not know when I arrive on saturday aug 2nd who will answer the phone to hand in the keys. I have contacted him and abnb many times in regards to this topic…



what would the next best step be?
would be happy to share the link of the flat

thanks in advance
Samira

This may not reassure you totally but we have booked several nights using Airbnb in HongKong and Shanghai. While we haven't started the travelling yet, based on my experiences so far, we have had top-rate correspondences with the hosts and feel certain all will go well. I think because a lot of the hosts are younger and still in the workforce, contacting them during the daytime is a little difficult, but have faith, I'm sure all will be well. After all, it is a world wide organisation and hosts are vetted thoroughly. Have a good trip.

Whether you have a good experience w/ airbb or a bad one <u>entirely</u> depends on the individual owner.

Airbnb can't make him be responsive, your arrangements are between you and him.

It could be fine or he could be a flake. At this late date you may be stuck w/ what you have so just hope for the best.

I would look for another apartment. Have you given a deposit? If you have then you will lose it if you cancel.

<< just made a reservation >>

Does this mean you didn't give a deposit or made the reservation very recently?

Well the thing about AirBnb is that once the reservation is accepted by the landlord, the tenant's credit card is charged and the cancellation terms of the rental agreement apply. In fact, you have to enter your payment information in order for the reservation request to be transmitted. The landlord will not be paid until after 24 hours after the renter arrives at the apartment, but the tenants card card is charged right away. The cancellation penalties, if any, are set by the landlord. All that is to say that the OP may not get his or her payment back if he or she cancels now depending on how strict the cancellation provisions are. As another poster said, renting through AirBnB depends on the landlord. If this is a person renting out his own personal space and he will be out of town, he probably has to try and track down someone (probably a friend) to agree to get the keys to the OP. So he could be delaying replying until he has information to pass on. I'd make a backup plan but hope for the best. Did this apartment have any reviews? If it did and they are good, I would not worry too much.

If you are worried now, but everything works out, will the angst until you arrive be worth the savings? If your worst fears are realized, will the savings still make it worthwhile? Do you have a backup plan?

Only you can answer.

This is a real potential issue with Air BnB What kind of record does this host have with other renters? How many positive reviews were there? (Air BnB is responsible only for the money - they can;t control the actions of the host.)

If you haven't checked these things out - do so now - and then be prepared to make an alternate choice (and possibly lose your funds) if you think this will be a real problem. Better some lot money now than not having a place to stay in Paris - or not being able to get into the place you rented.

How risk averse are you?

I just rented my first place with them and all went very well. Good communication. He has a good refund policy. It is for a wedding as we will be there for a week helping so we are using this huge beautiful house for extra out of town guest. The host has been great and knows my brother and we know others that rented the house before us so perfect. NPR just had a good interview with a host and renters and it was informative.

Have you flat- out expressed your concern to the host and asked him in no uncertain terms who will give you the keys, show you the way etc., and he doesn't have an answer for you, I'd start looking now for another place. And, contact AirB&B for a full refund of what you have paid saying that the host is not reliable.

Are you communicating through the online AirB&B website function, or are you phoning the guy? Once you have made that reservation and payment, you should have been given direct personal contact info. FWIW, I just had a somewhat similar experience with an owner I rented from in the US through VRBO. She was a flake and it was a bit of an extra hassle, but it worked out in the end.

It's quite possible that this will turn out fine in the end, but it would be a shame if you had to scramble to find a place to stay once you got to Paris, if this one was not available for some reason.

I would strongly suggest booking a completely refundable hotel room, just in case.

AirBnB is not always a win-win situation, unfortunately.

Thank you all. Yes. I have already paid about 1000USD through my credit card. He refuses to cancel but yet does not respons how to arrange to meet on my arrival on Saturday. He is out onn those days...

I have made reservation at a hotel that has a 48 hr cancellation policy.

Thanks again,
SB

When I did my one Airbnb rental, I got a telephone number to contact the owner. Did you not get one? If you did, call him. If you didn't, ask for one.

Have you phoned him? Has he said he will not be there? Has he said who will be there when you arrive?

If you can't get a direct answer on the phone I would contact Air BnB and explain the host will not provide this information and you want to reserve at a place with someone available to let you in.

I called and left a message.