274. STR Nightmares: Craziest Airbnb Guest Stories

Hosting on Airbnb is an amazing way to make passive income, but it's not always smooth sailing. Most guests are great, but every now and then, you'll get a guest who leaves you completely speechless. Airbnb horror stories are rare, but when they happen, they're unforgettable. Recently, Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb, shared a bizarre guest complaint—someone wanted a refund because a ghost was "harassing them." Funny enough, the Airbnb listing actually mentioned the ghost (his name was Stanley). But as wild as that sounds, I can tell you—we've dealt with way crazier things in our short-term rental properties. In this episode, I'm sharing some of our craziest Airbnb guest stories, from guests checking into the wrong unit to naked people in common areas—and even a dead raccoon hidden in the walls. Whether you're an Airbnb Superhost or just starting your STR business, these stories will give you a real look at what it's like behind the scenes. Plus, I'll share some Airbnb host tips to help you avoid your own guest nightmares. Let's get into it! In this episode, you'll learn: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky's Ghost Story—We Have Our Own! A guest once requested a refund because a ghost was "harassing" them, even though they booked the listing because of the ghost. They left a 3-star review a full year after their stay! The Naked Guest & Her Life-Size Unicorn One of our cameras caught a guest standing completely naked at the top of a shared staircase—with a giant unicorn prop next to her. Just another day in Airbnb hosting. Wrong Unit Mix-Ups Happen More Than You Think From guests entering occupied units to one guest knocking on every door in a gated community, Airbnb check-in issues are more common than you'd expect. The Worst Airbnb Smell Ever—A Dead Raccoon in the Walls Guests complained about a horrible smell in one of our vacation rentals. After weeks of searching, we found a rotting raccoon inside the walls. Definitely one of the worst hosting surprises ever. A Guest Walked in on a Couple in Their Own Bed A guest returned from making a cocktail on a shared terrace, only to find a couple in their bed… in the middle of the act. Turns out, the other guests had walked into the wrong unit and made themselves at home. If you've been an Airbnb host, you probably have a crazy guest story of your own. And if you're new to short-term rentals, don't worry—these Airbnb nightmares are rare, but they do happen. The good news? With the right guest screening and Airbnb hosting strategies, you can avoid bad guests and make your STR business run much more smoothly. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don't want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we'll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!