Airbnbs in France are Weird

I’ve been in France for a month now. In addition to staying on a farm and in a hotel, I’ve also stayed in some airbnbs. As a seasoned traveler, I use airbnb every so often when looking for something cozy or long term. Usually, this is simple, but I’ve found my experience in France to be strange enough to write a blog post about it. Maybe it’s not just France. Maybe it’s all of Europe, but the airbnb market here has been an experience quite unfamiliar. It’s a culture shock I never saw coming. In fact, it’s a gentle reminder to let go of what you think you know and always expect the unexpected.

Where do I put my stuff?

It seems like the airbnb market in France is filled with people who list places they live in. This is pretty normal. It’s a great way to make some extra cash especially if you’re traveling or don’t live there full time. What seems a bit bizarre is the fact that there’s no space for the guests. 

For example, when I was in Paris, I stayed in an airbnb with Neil, an amazing friend who I’ve recently started going on dates with. The place was well decorated and in a great neighborhood; yet, every closet, corner, and cabinet was filled with things from the host. There wasn’t really a place to put our luggage or clothes. We ended up using the second bedroom as a storage room, but I found this strange. We had a similar experience when we met up in Amsterdam.

My accommodation in Poitiers wasn’t lived in so all the drawers and closet space was available for me to use, but it seems like more often than not, guests are expected to just leave their things on the floor.

Rejections

The first place that Neil and I tried to book in Paris got rejected. When I tried booking a place for myself outside of Paris that got rejected, too. My friend, Patty, who lives in Paris, needed a place for a few nights before moving into her apartment and was rejected 5 times before finding something… I think this is the first time I’ve ever been rejected on airbnb.

At first, I thought this was a coincidence, but Patty’s experience made me think again. It seems that in France, hosts don’t always put their actual availability. My host rejected me because she was out of town and didn't want to hire someone to clean the place between listings. I don’t know what excuse Neil or Patty’s people gave them, but I find this funny.

Host Centered

Originally, I was planning to stay in an airbnb for my last 2 weeks in France. I was looking for something affordable and close to nature. What I discovered in my search was that a lot of people who host aren’t really hosts. They’re regular people who have their own lives. I saw a few disclaimers with weird check in and check out times. For example, one place had a check in time after 8 pm and check out before 8 am. Another place had a disclaimer that guests were responsible for their own cleaning because of the cheap price. 

I was looking at a studio in Poitiers and their check in time was between 5-7pm. You had to pick up the keys at a tobacco shop on the other side of town. Also, they added a €10 cleaning fee for washing the linens. Bedding and towels weren’t included in every listing that I looked at.

Patty and her boyfriend ended up staying in a room in a shared house. Even though the host has an enormous kitchen and plenty of space, they’re not allowed to use it. They’re only allowed access to their room and the toilet. I find this so strange. 

I will add that in addition to these everyday people trying to make a few extra bucks, there are, of course, those who treat airbnb like airbnb. Our host in Paris and my host in Poitiers, had a standard lock box and clear communication. The Paris people even made a series of videos on how to navigate the apartment. I recommend that if you’re looking for something in France, you take the “superhost” and “guest favorite” icons into consideration.

Communication

I reached out to a few potential places while looking for the right place. My net was wide and I had some questions. Most of the places I considered were in remote villages that seemed to have limited access to public transportation. These hosts responded quickly and promptly to my questions. Other hosts were weird or not responsive.

For example, for the studio in Poitiers. I messaged the host asking if there was any flexibility about the check in time and key pick up. She read my message but didn’t respond. In the end, I went with something else. I message her to inform her and still, nothing.

On another occasion, I sent a request for a place in Toulouse, a city in the Pyrenees near the French/Spanish border. The host didn’t accept my request, but instead sent some messages: 

“Jessica! You’re only staying 10 days?”

“My English isn’t so good anymore, but maybe we can talk. (Kissy face)”

And then, when I didn’t answer because I was traveling:

“Hellooooo”

“Am I bothering you?”

Needless to say, I cancelled that request.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the accommodations that I ended up in had good hosts with experience and clear communication, but it took more effort to find them than I thought. I guess in past airbnb experiences, I found something, sent a request, then went there, but in France, it was more of a hassle. I would be curious to hear if this is a cultural thing or what I’m missing. If anyone has any commentary or explanations for this French airbnb culture, I’d be very happy to hear what you have to say because I’m confused.

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