AirBnB: General ? and Denver-specific ?

[RoxMonster]

For our trip to CO this summer, I think I've decided to do an AirBnB. The hotels in the downtown area are just really pricey and out of our price point for this portion of our trip.

I found a really affordable apartment on Air BnB with many 5 star reviews. We have stayed once before in a cabin through VRBO, but that is my extent of experience with vacation and apartment rentals through sites like this.

General questions: Is it pretty much the norm to not get a specific address or street name until you book? Has anyone had a bad experience with AirBnB and what does the site do (if anything) to help rectify it? (I am just thinking of one horror story where a friend of ours had his host for a house in Hawaii cancel on him last-minute). I am a bit freaked out knowing that the host basically has a way of getting in the property while you are there, but that may just be my scary-movie-loving paranoia freaking out, and I realize that even in hotels, you might face this issue.

Denver-specific question if anyone is from there: The rental I'm looking at is 3 blocks from Cheesman Park. Is this a pretty good area (safety-wise) and is it a fairly short drive to downtown? I don't mind having to drive but would prefer for it to not be a huge time-suck either.

[walterismydog]

Dec 30, 2016 22:29:56 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

For our trip to CO this summer, I think I've decided to do an AirBnB. The hotels in the downtown area are just really pricey and out of our price point for this portion of our trip.

I found a really affordable apartment on Air BnB with many 5 star reviews. We have stayed once before in a cabin through VRBO, but that is my extent of experience with vacation and apartment rentals through sites like this.

General questions: Is it pretty much the norm to not get a specific address or street name until you book? Has anyone had a bad experience with AirBnB and what does the site do (if anything) to help rectify it? (I am just thinking of one horror story where a friend of ours had his host for a house in Hawaii cancel on him last-minute). I am a bit freaked out knowing that the host basically has a way of getting in the property while you are there, but that may just be my scary-movie-loving paranoia freaking out, and I realize that even in hotels, you might face this issue.

Denver-specific question if anyone is from there: The rental I'm looking at is 3 blocks from Cheesman Park. Is this a pretty good area (safety-wise) and is it a fairly short drive to downtown? I don't mind having to drive but would prefer for it to not be a huge time-suck either.

I can't answer your first question, but Cheesman is a mostly nice area. Very downtowm-neighborhood feel. Lots of old, charming Victorians mixed in with some mid-rises and some newer buildings. Great park, I adore it. Used to be a lot sketchier but never scared me. Very close to botanic gardens and super centrally located. I would say it's mostly a young professional/college/hipster area. Let me know if you have any other questions. I used to live a few blocks from there.

[kicks]

1. You get the address when you book. Itt gives you the neighborhood on the map with a small location range on each posting.

2. I've never had a negative experience. I know some people have faced some discrimination which has made me hesitant to use them. I know one person who was easily able to get their money back as they said the place wasn't as advertised so they left right after they checked in. The renter doesn't get your money until after you've left, so if there are any problems before then it's not like you have to deal with the renter directly to fight for your money back, Airbnb still has the money at that point.

[walterismydog]

Oh and it's super quick to downtown by bus, which runs through the park. You could walk, too. It'd probably take about 30 min to walk downtown. Parking sucks in that whole area, so if the place has parking that's great (if you plan on having a vehicle).

[sewf]

When we went to Chicago in July, we stayed at an AirBnB. I liked the location, but the actual apartment was not great. All the work they had done was purely cosmetic. The window AC didn't work in one bedroom, and a part of the ceiling almost fell on my sleeping son, literally missing him by an inch. My MIL, who did the booking, contacted them through the website first, to try to get it fixed and some of the money refunded. The renters moved the conversation to text messages (trying to hide the conversation from AirBnB, we think). Luckily, my BIL rents out his apartment through the website, and he was able to help her fix the situation, with the help of some pictures I had taken before and after. In the end, with AirBnB's help, MIL got a partial refund.

All that to say, that while the apartment was a dud and the renter's were not great, AirBnB did whatever they could to help. If you do rent through them and something goes wrong, keep all the communication through the website and take pictures. The pictures I took of the ceiling after it fell was what helped MIL get money back.

[jezebel]

If you want to stay downtown and haven't booked something yet, you should pm amberlyrose

She has an amazing downtown rental

[MrsAxilla]

Dec 30, 2016 23:37:26 GMT -5 jezebel said:

If you want to stay downtown and haven't booked something yet, you should pm amberlyrose

She has an amazing downtown rental

I didn't know amberlyrose was renting!  She has a great place right downtown.  Cheeseman Park is great and all, but downtown is better.  

[winecat]

They're just outside of downtown. It's an awesome area though.

eta- maybe I'm wrong. I thought they didn't have that place any longer. If they do, the location is great.

[calle28]

I've used Air BnB 3 times and have never had a bad experience.

From my experience, it's the norm not to get the address until you book.

[L]

I live in Cheesman, just blocks S/SW from park. It's the best neighborhood ever . It's urban so take that as you will...but I have 4 young kids and this area was our goal/dream neighborhood for us in all of Denver Metro. We've lived here 6yrs. No advice on AirBnB but we've VRBO tons and only had one meh experience.

[themoneytree]

I'm spending the morning cleaning up for my Airbnb guests who arrive today. I still get a bit nervous about Airbnb'ing my space, but it has been a good experience so far so hopefully it continues!
Not seeing the address is normal.
I think you are pretty safe if you go off the reviews and the pictures. I did have one set of people who felt that one hand towel per bathroom was insufficient and they wanted wash cloths which I don't have, but other that people have been very happy so far (knock on wood) and the house has been as immaculate when I've got him as it was when I left.

Enjoy!

[RoxMonster]

All of the reviews are very good for this place and many mention that it looks just like the pics online, so I think that is promising. I did not know that amberlyrose had a rental but I can also check out her place. Thanks!

[pixy0stix]

Dec 31, 2016 0:10:14 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Dec 30, 2016 23:37:26 GMT -5 jezebel said:

If you want to stay downtown and haven't booked something yet, you should pm amberlyrose

She has an amazing downtown rental

I didn't know amberlyrose  was renting!  She has a great place right downtown.  Cheeseman Park is great and all, but downtown is better.  

Ha! I just pm'd her last night to ask if she still had that property. Total coincidence.

[amberlyrose]

Dec 31, 2016 12:12:38 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Dec 31, 2016 0:10:14 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I didn't know amberlyrose  was renting!  She has a great place right downtown.  Cheeseman Park is great and all, but downtown is better.  

Ha! I just pm'd her last night to ask if she still had that property. Total coincidence.

I don't have the condo in downtown and live around the highland/lohi area now We do rent our spare room and the whole house when we travel. 

[RamblingRose]

I've had great experiences with airbnb every time. All of them have been in Texas, and I've been pretty careful about areas. There is one I'd like to go back to, but have no reason to go to Houston, so I probably won't. I've done urbanish and small towns. .

[amberlyrose]

RoxMonster- if you want to PM me, I'm a host lead in Denver for the downtown area and can let you know if I know the host or their background. Also, check their listing for a license number. Denver just started to certify short term rentals and you will have to pay tax on it. Some hosts have added it into their price and some are adding it after. Definitely ask your host if they are licensed hosts and what the tax policy is on their listing. If they are not licensed, they are not legally allowed to operate in the city of Denver.

[kris356]

My sister had her AirBnB cancel on her the day she arrived in Miami. Supposedly the last person had damaged the house and it was unrentable. They offered something else, but the neighborhood was shady and it was 5 women on a bachelorette weekend. They ended up at the Kipton. AirBnB refunded her money eventually but it ended up costing her because the hotel was more money. I believe she did get something from AirBnB but it took months.

[RoxMonster]

Jan 3, 2017 10:43:45 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

RoxMonster- if you want to PM me, I'm a host lead in Denver for the downtown area and can let you know if I know the host or their background. Also, check their listing for a license number. Denver just started to certify short term rentals and you will have to pay tax on it. Some hosts have added it into their price and some are adding it after. Definitely ask your host if they are licensed hosts and what the tax policy is on their listing. If they are not licensed, they are not legally allowed to operate in the city of Denver.

Thanks! I'm at the vet with my dog right now but will send you the listing when I get home.