49 Infuriating Pics That Illustrate Why People Don't Want To Use Airbnb Anymore

Airbnb cleaning fees are a one-time charge pocketed by hosts to cover things like doing laundry or scrubbing toilets between stays. They're separate from the base price and are in addition to service fees or charges for optional add-ons.

A NerdWallet analysis of 1,000 U.S. Airbnb reservations with check-in dates in 2022 or 2023 found that the median cleaning fee per listing for a one-night stay was $75.

The analysis also discovered that cleaning fees amounted to about 25% of the total price paid. In fact, in almost 40% of listings, they were from 20% to 29.9% of the actual price. On a few listings, cleaning fees were even higher than the nightly rate.

However, that doesn't mean that the site is all bad. "We have used Airbnb many times over the years in destinations around the world," Laurence and Jessica Norah told Bored Panda, adding that one of the most recent apartments they rented was in Nairobi, Kenya, and they had it for four nights.

"We've generally had a positive experience with our stays. We have had a couple of negative experiences—one where the apartment had many issues like no heating or hot water, and one where the apartment no longer existed. In both cases Airbnb support was quite helpful," the couple recalled.

When choosing a property, Laurence and Jessica said the most important thing is to read its latest reviews and to make sure people are getting the experience that is advertised.

"When we have had issues, they have nearly always been with properties with very few or no reviews, where it's hard to see exactly what you are getting," the couple explained.

"I've heard you loud and clear—you feel like prices aren't transparent," Airbnb CEO Brain Chesky tweeted in November.

The updates come as Airbnb has seen travel demand rebound from its pandemic lows. But it is still confronting a more uncertain economic environment, including high inflation and recession fears, that could weigh on its customers' purchasing decisions.

"We started as an affordable alternative to hotels, and affordability is especially important today," Chesky wrote on Twitter. "During this difficult economic time, we need to help our Hosts provide great value to you."

Still, sometimes you might just prefer a hotel. "It's a lot easier for shorter trips," Laurence and Jessica Norah said. "We normally use Airbnb for stays of 3 nights or more as otherwise, the hassle of coordinating check-in and check-out times can be tricky."

"In addition, a hotel is really useful for things like leaving luggage behind, and on-site amenities like a printer or restaurant. Often, a hotel can also be more reasonably priced as well."