One of the huge (I know that sounds silly) debates regarding Airbnb hosts is that most charge a cleaning fee. Crazy, eh?”Hotels don’t charge a cleaning fee” say grumpy guests. “My cleaning fee doesn’t even cover the cost of my...
If you’re a host specialising in short-term rentals, because of today’s media it’s likely that you are affected by confirmation bias. We all are to some extent. Those who write for the media just love to publish articles on the web about how very...
Quite a few STR hosts, those who advertise on online sites such as Airbnb or VRBO, are dismayed to find that their guests simply don’t follow the rules. Many hosts have a quite extensive list of rules and regulations and some of these can be quite...
Short-term rental hosts often complain that they have had to throw away a sheet, pillowcase, towel or other items because of ‘stains’. This can really cut into your bottom line very severely. The sheets and so on that I am using now were bought in 2015...
Here’s another delicious and simple dish from Europe. If you’re not able to travel to Rome these days – and not many people can – then you can at least create one of the city’s most famous – and most easy to make – dishes at...
If you’re old like me, you might remember those huge paper maps that folded into a neat pocket size but could be the very devil to refold. Or even a map book. Or an A-Z. That was the way in the olden days that we found the places were were looking for. Or often,...
There are several reasons why we’re not travelling so much these days. At the time of writing, some countries have travel restrictions for Covid-related reasons. But there are other issues that stop us from travelling the world as freely as we’d want to....
In the last ten, fifteen years we’ve seen a huge increase in what used to be referred to as the ‘sharing economy’. And now this is extended to those of us who would love to rent a swimming pool by the hour for fun, exercise, parties, entertaining and...
You’ve probably not been able to travel to Mauritius this summer. In fact, many people have found that they’ve had to stay at home a lot more than usual this year. For some reason, this has meant that more people have had more time to enjoy home pursuits....
Are we seeing the future of art exhibitions here? The exhibition, which is in Toronto at the time of writing, has been seen by over 2 million people in Paris.I believe that the video below can explain more clearly about the exhibition – the world’s first...
There’s just a chance that you might not know who Max Verstappen is so I’ll explain in a minute. but this young lad – he’s 22 years old at the time of writing – was signed up by a Formula One Team when he was just sixteen. Yes, driving...
I just changed the title I’d planned for this article. The title I started out with didn’t say ‘Share Your Passion & Promote Your Rental’. It was ‘Easy Networking Ideas To Promote Your Rental’. The latter would have probably...
This morning I was looking through a window and watching exotic foliage swaying in the breeze in a garden in India. Then I went to look at the Paris rooftops. I moved on to the German countryside view from Elmar’s window. My next stop was to watch the world...
Local authorities and tourism organisations are having to serious;y rethink about the people whose entertainment and leisure they are responsible for. So on July 18th, 2020, in the midst of the COVID epidemic, the city of Paris held its first Le Cinéma Sur L’eau....
As I write this, the world is starting to open up again after most countries imposed lockdowns on their citizens. But who knows how long it will be, if ever, that we feel comfortable enough to take long haul flights? If you’d been planning an internship...
It might be a temporary thing, or even permanent, but a lot of short term rental hosts who have been advertising on Airbnb or a similar service are rethinking their business models. Recently, several states, counties and cities have banned short term rentals so that...
Hosts, I know that you want to make your rentals as cosy as possible. And I realise that you want to make your guests feel right at home. But that doesn’t always mean that you’re making life easy for yourself.An important maxim to remember when...
A study recently revealed the top fifty rudest cities in the USA. By this, they mean the least polite. The place where no one is likely to give you their seat on a bus or hold the door open for you or spend time indulging in small talk. It will come as no surprise to...
You’re probably like me and don’t really approve of the way that we are ‘nannied’ about germs these days. But when the world is in a situation like the one we have at the moment with the coronavirus, then hygiene has become incredibly important...
At the time I’m writing this, the end of April 2020, there are plenty of stories going around that we might be told by our governments that social distancing – currently because of COVID19 – needs to continue for many months to come.It may be that...
At the time I’m writing this, there are many property owners who think that maybe the days of short term rentals are over. It might be history by the time you read this but right now the coronavirus is at its height and the general opinion seems to be that there...
The image above tells us something very clearly, doesn’t it? It’s easy to think that if we dressed in blue bodysuits, black braided wigs, black apron-thingies and painted our faces with blue triangles that we’d stand out from the crowd, right? But as...
Yes, that photograph. You know which one I mean, don’t you? You may have had it on your wall at some time, or you might even have it now, as IKEA alone has sold at least half a million copies over the years. But who took it? Where is the photographer now? And...
At the time I’m writing this, it is so quiet around here. Most of us are under house arrest thanks to this virus and even though we live close to a flight path, even the number of planes going overhead is greatly reduced. And internet ‘commentators’...
Of course, it’s still too early to tell. But the signals are all there that people who provide short term rental accommodation are going to have a pretty hard time in the next few months … or more. Hosts are already bleating about how their...
If I were to go to the shops now in search of a few rolls of toilet paper, the chances are I’d be disappointed. You know why – the current situation with the coronavirus has sent the US population panic buying. And the item that they mostly bought in their...
Okay, feel free to completely ignore this because it’s just a rant. But in the news at the moment is a story about the recently disgraced Prince Harry giving a lecture about his new company / initiative to encourage sustainable travel. I, and Price Harry’s...
Brazil is only one of ten countries that have Portuguese as their official language. Portuguese is one of the top ten spoken languages in the world (it’s difficult to get an exact figure) and yet Portugal, like England that spawned one of the most used languages...
You’ve heard that saying I’m sure – that there are no bad dogs, just bad owners? And I’m sure that it’s mostly true. Note the ‘mostly’. I imagine that there are some dogs that have weird brain malfunctions that make them a...
How’s your imagination these days? We don’t really have to use them too much now, do we? We can go anywhere and see anything on our various screens. We can do unimaginable things thanks to virtual reality. But I’ll bet that many of us still get a big...
If not, why not? I think that we are so lucky today to have our phones to help us run our STR businesses and I thought I’d write this just in case you wanted any tips about how your phone can help you run your business efficiently and well. Yes, we used to...
That’s a strange question really, isn’t it? But nevertheless, there are companies today that specialise in analysing this, that and the other and making top ten lists. Or ‘most popular’ lists. Or whatever comes to mind, it seems. Is there any...
The report just released about the safest and best places for LGBT travel is actually rather scary. It shows how far we haven’t come on this planet as far as acceptance is concerned.It’s great that Sweden has been found to be the best place for gay or...
The reason I ask is because it’s just been announced by the hotel trade that fewer hotels are adding chests of drawers to their guest rooms. (If you’re reading this in America, you may refer to them as ‘dressers’ for reasons best known to...
They are an icon of Paris, without a doubt. The Morris Columns, developed in the nineteenth century specifically to support advertising posters are seen in other European towns too but yet they somehow seem to be so typical of Paris. When Gabriel Morris, a Parisien...
Have you? Maybe you’ve got an idea for a fabulous app that would make a host’s life easier. Maybe you think that a service supplying consumables to hosts for their guests is a great idea. Or perhaps your ideas range from property management to providing...
If you’re a short term rental hosts I’m sure that you’ve realised by now that there are many reasons why you might get a completely undeserved bad review from time to time, Even if ‘bad’ is pushing it a bit, a review that doesn’t...
The Green Book, a guide for travellers. was published more or less annually from 1936 to 1966. At the time, the publisher and compiler of this travel guide said:”…there will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published...
So many Airbnb hosts aren’t business people. They are renting out rooms in their homes, or their second homes, for various reasons. But few have solid backgrounds in business skills. Their hospitality skills, on the other hand, are often outstanding.This...
There is a popular fallacy going around the internet regarding your listing’s placement in the Airbnb search. Many hosts are certain that in order for their listings to be shown in the first few search results, it’s essential that the host goes to their...
It’s a common complaint from Airbnb hosts – “I can’t find my listing if I search Airbnb in my area!”But this doesn’t mean that potential guests aren’t finding your listing. As we’ve mentioned before, there are many...
It’s happened so many times … I’m checking out previous reviews that hosts have written for Airbnb guests and see the phrase ‘More suited to a hotel”. It makes me want to scream, Truly. What on earth does that mean?True, when you stay in...
Now before I even start to tell you about the new offerings from Airbnb, I want to make it abundantly clear that these adventures are for anyone. You don’t have to be 25 years old and a fit gym rat. You don’t have to be in the first flush of youth.Yes,...
Flygskam is yet another wonderful word that has arrived from Sweden. It translates to ‘flying shame’ and that’s a phenomenon that is increasing all the time in Europe. (And I use the description ‘Europe’ quite loosely meaning...
Quite a few people who have been renting out rooms in their home through Airbnb have become a little disillusioned with it. Why? Well, not because there’s anything wrong with the short term rental business – I absolutely love it – but it is hard...
If you have a short-term property for rental – and advertise it on Airbnb or a similar site – the chances are that you’ve had a request from someone who wants to use your property for a photoshoot or even as a film location. Should you agree to host...
Friluftsliv, like ‘hygge’, is a Scandinavian concept that became better-known thanks to social media. However, it relates to a lifestyle and not, as some people on Instagram seem to think, taking a selfie out in dramatic scenery.Friluftsliv is a way of...
So you didn’t know that there’s an annual world happiness report? There is, and this year’s results have just been announced and the big news is that the USA has slipped a few places yet again. In fact, it only just makes the top twenty. Scandinavia...
When you’re an STR host, you might see your rental business as some sort of side gig. It might be that it’s not your ‘real’ job. You have other things to do. You have a life. However, as far as your guests are concerned, unless you’re...
If you’re offering rental accommodation to the public, then it’s likely that you’ll have to write about it. It might be that you list your property on Airbnb or a similar site, in which case you’ll have to write about your place for your...
If you’re an Airbnb host and for some reason, you don’t want to accept guests for a particular period of time, Airbnb offers you several options. There are many reasons why you might want to opt out of hosting for a while – personal issues, building...
West African painter Joseph Adibleku is inspired by colours. He has been painting since he was young and his work is valued due to Joseph’s natural talent. A fabulous range of his work is now available online and can be shipped to almost anywhere in the world....
Have you noticed that as a society we’ve become more and more liable to compete for … well, nothing? Human beings are competitive – we wouldn’t have got as far as the twenty-first century if we weren’t – but today our competitive...
I admit that I really don’t understand what comes over some people when they become Airbnb hosts. Is it the prospect of earning a ton of money or what? Why is it that they suddenly become blinkered to human nature? Why do they suddenly forget what the world is...
I know it’s tricky. As an Airbnb (or other site) STR host then you know that you have to be firm with your guests – but you also need to be sure that you don’t annoy them. If you’re using Airbnb or another site that encourages guests to leave...
At the time of writing, despite hosts muttering about the problem for years, Airbnb asks its guests to rate the location of the accommodation they stayed in. Hosts have, possibly understandably, been up in arms about this issue forever. Well, almost ever. Let’s...
See the photograph above? Now that is one gorgeous place to swim, dine or enjoy a luxurious spa day. But here’s what Kings Meadow Pool, now known as the Thames Lido. But in 2009, here’s what the place looked like. And seeing what the place looks like now...
Heir B & B is what the press are calling it. Snigger. But no, Prince Charles isn’t actually about to place Buckingham Palace on Airbnb – but he is creating ten new guest accommodations at the Castle of Mey in the wilds of Scotland. The prince’s...
I have just realised – belatedly, I know – that there are some Airbnb hosts who actually pay attention to the somewhat ludicrous ‘price suggestions’ that Airbnb email to them or show them in the sidebar when they are adjusting their calendar....
The fact is that Airbnb doesn’t want their hosts to cancel bookings. Your guests don’t want you to cancel bookings either. Understandably. If you cancel, then your guest’s trip is in jeopardy. Airbnb – and similar services – need...
The Queen Elizabeth 2, the ocean-going luxury liner, had a long and illustrious career. But all things must come to an end and when the QE2 was superseded in almost every way by the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) the QueenElizabeth was retired from service. She had carried...
When I was a kid, every year our family used to go in the car to Italy. This was a fantastic journey and a lot of the driving was through France. For us three kids, especially the younger ones, this could get a bit boring so we used to play those dreadful spot-the...
When you rent out property for vacation or short-term rentals, it’s important to create a log book / house book for your property. This applies even if you rent out only the spare bedroom in your home. As time goes by, your home logbook will prove to be invaluable. If...
A popular lifestyle magazine recently ‘broke the news’ to its readers that, to quote their headline, ‘Sorry To Break It To You, But You Can Get Bed Bugs on Airplanes’. Don’t yell at me, don’t write to me, all travellers know that...
If the Crown pub in Kingsclere, Hampshire isn’t haunted then there’s something very wrong with the modern ghost. The Crown definitely deserves to be one of the most haunted pubs in England because of a WW2 massacre that took place there and was hushed up...
Early in 2018, THe BBC reported that a woman had been prevented from taking her emotional support animal with her on a flight. Many people sympathised but some changed their point of view when they realised that the ‘support animal’ was, in fact, an...
As a general rule, I’m usually in favour of new things. I know that’s a bit of a generalisation but what I mean is that I like change and I enjoy seeing innovations. But the current trend towards nap cafés hasn’t really caught on in my brain. These,...
You’re wrong. There is a purpose to this article. Other than, that is, an excuse to post a photograph of a rather hunky chap. That’s a pretty good reason in itself of course, but the real reason behind this article is to encourage local repair people,...
Since the last century, I have been explaining to clients that there is more nonsense written on the internet about search engines than any other subject. And in recent years, this has extended to the search facility on the Airbnb website. There is so much...
My mum sent me to Sunday school when I was very small. You might have had a similar experience. And although I can’t claim that my education in religious matters was very thorough, I am pretty sure that I was never told that Jesus Christ wasn’t really...
I’m biased I know, but I really believe that there’s no better place than Fort Lauderdale – if you know about the hidden gems. And there’s no better place for a pride beach party. It takes place every February and the next event will be...
I know, it sounds a little triffid-like. But it is true that this plant, giant hogweed, is something that you should watch out for – and avoid – due to the sap causing severe skin irritation. In fact, these burns can cause hospitalisation and scarring. Get...
Wandering about on the internet today, I found this on Wikipedia: Of course, anyone can edit any page they like. But this page had not been edited for three weeks. So in those three weeks, anyone checking out that page on Airbnb has been warned about Royal, the host....
The first report of a bird strike, a bird crashing into a flying plane, was made in 1905 – by Orville Wright. So even when air travel was in its infancy, birds were a problem for aviators. And they still are. One of the most famous bird strikes was relatively...
The two videos below give us a lovely insight into what air travel was like in the 1950s and 1960s. It was just so elegant. Immediately you’ll notice how the passengers are dressed – the men in suits and often hats, the ladies in demure frocks or suits and...
It’s not the Eiffel Tower. Nor is it the Prado in Madrid. Forget Barcelona Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and even the Acropolis in Athens. Today, the number one tourist spot is in Northern Ireland. Have you guessed yet? It’s the Titanic Belfast tourism...
Most countries in Europe take their native cheeses very seriously indeed. Countries such as Italy, France and Great Britain are a delight for the cheese-lover. But have you heard of oscypek? This cheese is made exclusively in Poland from sheep’s milk. And...
Many Airbnb hosts have noticed the recent increase in older guests. There was a time, let’s say during Airbnb’s first few years, that the majority of guests were in a younger age bracket and – quite often – the more techy type. : But in 2018...
A recent study showed that the majority of travellers visit at least one attraction during their vacation. That’s no surprise. But what is surprising is what type of attraction is most favoured by American tourists. Another interesting feature of the study is...
Regular readers (all two of you) know that I love Airbnb. I enjoy hosting, which I’ve been doing for ages, and I enjoy using Airbnb when I travel. I’ve met a lot of terrific people, online and ‘in real life’ thanks to Airbnb and I’m all...
The Vdana Hotel in Las Vegas opened in 2009. It was designed by Rafael Vinoly and has 56 floors containing all the amenities you’d expect from a modern hotel. It was also discovered that it had one huge problem. You may or may not be able to imagine what it is...
I’ve always liked products that make my life easier, especially if they don’t break the bank. Which I why I’m telling you today about the Keysmart key holder. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But you’ll be surprised just how much difference...
If you have an Airbnb or similar rental, who is cleaning it for you and preparing it for guests? If you’re not able to do it yourself, how do you choose a cleaning service? It might be more important than you think. Sheila Perera FIH is the manager of the...
Airline companies are making small but significant changes to their procedures, and their aircraft, all the time. Most of these are seemingly quite minor changes that over the years add greatly to passenger comfort … and to airline profits. Every year Crystal...
For some years now landlords, Airbnb hosts, hotel designers and the like have been warned that glass shower doors in rental apartments or rooms can cause trouble both minor and major. The chances are that you’ll recall that this began with a well documented...
Fort Lauderdale isn’t necessarily one of the first places that springs to mind when people are thinking about vacationing in cities that show concern for the planet. But they would be mistaken. From our turtle-hatching initiatives to our waterways clean-ups, ...
There has always been a demand for accommodation for people with mobility problems – that’s nothing new – and Airbnb have demonstrated their knowledge of this by acquiring Accomable, a service that introduces less-abled travellers to people who...
Staying in an Airbnb recently, I was really impressed by the splatter guard thingy that was in the microwave. It probably cost less than a dollar. I was so tempted to bring it home for my own (besplattered) microwave but bottled out – I’m too snooty...
The initial concept of peer-to-peer accommodation services such as Airbnb was simple – have a spare room? Then rent it to travellers. Win-win. However, we all know that today, many of us are preparing rooms or full apartments specifically for rental. No longer...
We’re accustomed to services such as Uber and Airbnb. We even know about similar services for boats, yachts, bikes, sports equipment and more. But Flyotto means that we can now rent private aircraft too. I just looked up to find out about a trip from Fort...
In the spring of 2017, it was announced that Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Vicens in Barcelona would be opened to the public as a museum later in the year. What wonderful news for those of us who have drooled over his other buildings in this fabulous city. We’ve...
If you think that Airbnb is simply a website that puts travellers in touch with hosts, then their recent initiative might surprise you. It’s well known that the company has its favourite causes – for example, helping to provide accommodation for people who...
Unless you are seriously addicted to eating avocados, then I doubt that you’d travel thousands of miles to California just to see where the Hass avocado empire was born but if you’re local, or in the area, visiting this site will be a fabulous story to...
Love locks have a history that goes back to the First World War but the craze really started to take off in or around 2000. What is a love lock? A couple will purchase a padlock – normally of the common or garden variety – they scratch their initials on...
There are many articles about Airbnb on this site and the company is often described as being ‘the disrupters of the travel industry’. However, despite the articles about Airbnb here, this is not one of them. The major shake-up in the history of the...
If you hosts guests via Airbnb or a similar service then it might be that you avoid have a second set of guests arrive just hours after your last guests have left. After all, Airbnb suggests that checkout time is 10 am and check in time 3 pm. Some hosts baulk at the...
I’ve mentioned this subject before but it’s true that if you run a vacation rental, one of your biggest headaches can be cleaning the place before your guests arrive. This is particularly the case if you use a site such as Airbnb – as guests get to...
If you have a rental apartment or house that you list on Airbnb or a similar service, then no doubt at some times you will have considered the possibility of using a keyless entry system to allow your guests to check themselves in. But is this really a good idea?...
If you operate a short term rental, using Airbnb or a similar service, then it’s important to realise that greeting your guests and the house tour can be one of the most important aspects of your business. They say that you don’t get a second chance to...
Of course, if I were to give you now a list of the countries which offer the best value for international travellers, that list would soon be out of date. Somewhere that was a great deal a year ago might not be these days. One of the main reasons is the way that...
