Forum Airbnb hosts forum

I never really understood what the OP was asking. The OP seemed to be really concerned about a newly-arrived guest being sick (coughing a lot), but then the guest took a multi-sickness test and tested negative for everything, so it sounded like the guest just had a cold. If I recall correctly, the guest was also wearing a mask. I do recall thinking that hosting guests in your home seems to be a bad idea if you are terrified of becoming ill (or are immuno-compromised). You’d never avoid all illnesses because infected people are often contagious before they show symptoms for many illnesses.

I think I remember that this was originally a host who had a guest coming that said they were ill with a cough and wanted advice, and said host then got very irritated when the advice given was not expected. This, of course, is unusual and never happens. s/

I don’t understand this thread at all. There was no question asked and no situation described.

The real point is that guests can’t necessarily help getting ill but when hosts generally don’t like refunding bookings, guests will always be reluctant to cancel especially for what they might dismiss as a cold, however bad the coughing is. You need to be more explicit pre booking about the conditions you are demanding of your guests where they impact on your own health and wellbeing within the homeshare.

During covid we opened all doors and windows during the changeover to ventilate the property, whatever the temperature outside. Even when freezing outside. But I wonder how accommodating your would have been if the guest had cancelled last minute because of their symptoms and demanded a full refund? Maybe you should have cancelled them if actually your unwritten house rules are ‘no illnesses’.

When a few dates are still open close to check-in, lowering the price is tempting. How do you decide whether the price is the issue or whether the listing just isn’t getting enough attention? Do you look at Airbnb’s view data, compare nearby listings, change your minimum stay, or wait it out? I’ve considered using bnbrank to get a sense of visibility, but I’m curious what information actually helps you make that decision. Has anyone held their price and still filled the dates?

If you had such deep and serious concerns - why did you accept the booking into a house with so much shared space?

Also what I wish I knew, is that you can’t please everyone - a really hard pill to swallow when my chef husband and I used to own a restaurant with the most loyal customer base I’ve ever seen in my lifetime in the 40 plus yrs in the restaurant industry. That is WHY we do Airbnb!!! Cuz we enjoy making people happy.

What I wish I knew was that even when you want to assume that guests realize they are not staying in a “Motel 6”, they don’t. Also, now I know why - REAL HOSTS hardly exist anymore. They are hired property managers whose lack of “real care” give the rest of us who put our heart and soul into it a bad name.

I’m astounded anyone worries about this. Truly. And I worry about EVERYTHING. If a guest is such a diva coffee guru, then they will bring their own favorite brand!! AND, no way I’m gonna offer “K-cups” at our price point. Redic! I would rather offer so many other amenities like we do.

Opening windows in 2 to 4 degrees Celsius while guests are staying? Thx for your attempt at a reply but I was hoping for a more nuanced understanding of how to manage mutual responsibilities and luckily no other guest was staying in the other room nor sharing the bathroom or kitchen while the guest was coughing all night.

I don’t think you get the question fully - the interface and responsibilities for both parties and to other guests.