We know, if you travel often it is very likely that you have found yourself in this complex scenario; so what can you do on Airbnb if the host cancels the reservation?
When planning a trip, one of the most delicate parts is undoubtedly the search for accommodation. Finding practical and convenient solutions, locations located in strategic positions, managing to find the last minute offer, is a bit like becoming an expert detective. If at the last minute the booking fails , after all the research, it is normal that they turn you away .
What happens if my booking is cancelled? Can I protect myself? Will I get my money back? Can I rebook straight away? Here are some essential things to know!
Everything seemed ok, then the reservation is cancelled…but the money has already been taken!
Let’s start with the basics: your money is safe ! On Airbnb, if the host cancels or declines the reservation, even if the money is initially deducted from your account, it does not mean that you have paid for nothing.
Pin it!So what happens? When you make your reservation, Airbnb will take your money and hold it ‘ frozen ‘ until the host confirms. If the host doesn’t accept the reservation or is unable to host you for the dates you selected, you’ll get your money back within a couple of days.
Why does the host cancel the booking if the dates appear available in my search?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions: ‘why, if I found the perfect accommodation at the most convenient price, I received a message telling me that it is not possible to stay on those dates?’
Well, there could be many reasons, let’s take for example some of the most frequent cases. First of all, it is good to know that on Airbnb there are hosts and superhosts ; let’s find out together what this means.
- The superhost is a user who has received many positive reviews thanks to the services offered, the title is in fact earned by excelling in various factors such as professionalism, kindness, cleanliness, punctuality;
- Hosts are all users present within the platform who make their accommodations available .
On airbnb if the host cancels the reservation it could be a problem related (also) to inexperience.
In fact, many times novice hosts try to make their way into the portal by offering really advantageous deals. But sometimes it can happen that they are distracted and do not respond to messages from new guests !
In some cases, for example, you might book and after a few days receive a message from Airbnb saying ‘the host has not responded to your request, but we are here to help’. Your booking would then be cancelled and your money returned. From experience, we can tell you that customer service is effective, it has even resolved absurd disputes for us.
And what happens with the crafty hosts?
Here is another example of what can happen if the host cancels the reservation on airbnb. Airbnb is a very serious and professional portal and its policy protects its customers in every way. However, this does not mean that you cannot run into the crook of the moment!
The booking is being processed, the dates are available, the travel solutions seem perfect but … after a few hours we receive a message from the host ‘Dear customer, unfortunately for those dates, the house is busy ‘.
Of course, it may have escaped the host’s attention to marking a previous reservation, or… it could be that some owners, in addition to relying on airbnb, also place ads or rent their homes privately, something that technically shouldn’t be done .
In fact, when the money is withdrawn, the waiting times for the refund can vary from 24 hours to 15 days, creating an inconvenience for the traveler who wants to find an alternative solution. In this case, you can report the problem to Airbnb , which will take action to protect its community. And we have experienced it several times on our skin.
Another scenario: the trip is confirmed, we are already leaving and at the last minute the host cancels the reservation
This is the worst scenario you can imagine on Airbnb if the host cancels the reservation: being left without accommodation while you are already traveling. Since it is a concrete damage for the traveler, Airbnb uses very precise and severe procedures on this type of behavior.
First of all, cancellation is tolerated as long as the host demonstrates that it occurred for reasons of the utmost seriousness, such as health reasons or sudden bereavement .
If the host shows professional negligence , in addition to the now well-known refund, he will automatically be penalized by Airbnb , and from there it will be hard to make his way again among the many hosts on the portal. Traveling is something serious, it’s not to be joked about. And we know it well!
Airbnb remains a very convenient method for finding accommodation during your adventures. We have used it ourselves on numerous occasions and to this day it is still among our first searches when the new trip approaches.
The idea of booking accommodations with few or no reviews can be intimidating. We recommend that you take the plunge every now and then, both to find interesting locations at affordable prices. And to reward the ‘younger’ users and perhaps have a new experience at the same time.
