Warmer weather brings people outside to enjoy the rays and let off some pent-up stress from the winter.
And what better way to grab the big three – good place, good food, and good company – than at a balmy destination with a group of your favorite people?
That is until the most popular home rental platform in the United States pumped the brakes on their properties being used as a gathering of epic proportions – and just wait until you hear what they’ve done.
Airbnb is an online site where you can find beach houses, city condos, lakeside townhomes, and more for all your vacation accommodations.
It used to be at least, as long as you paid the fee and left things as you found them.
The wide breadth of capability with lenient rules allowed those looking to throw big parties (without adequate space in their own homes) to host the event of the year with no problems.
However, the spring break gatherings and family reunions on steroids started giving the company a bad reputation that they couldn’t afford.
But how do you thwart a party when you are not there…apart from stalking the premises (as some Airbnb hosts do)?
One tactic is making it so you can only book long-term stays…
… completely crushing the idea of planning a weekend house party for an easy $100 bucks.
“Airbnb will once again block short-term stays for some guests over the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holiday weekends in an attempt to crack down on house parties,” reports Travel and Leisure.
Not only can a traveler no longer stop for only a night’s stay, but he or she cannot rent an entire home without a history of positive reviews on the site, according to Travel and Leisure.
A big problem with this plan is that most families don’t have the limitless summer budget necessary to rent a luxurious vacation home for an entire week.
Not to mention, the families that are trying Airbnb for the first time are out of luck because their reviews are more void than a Joe Biden rally in Ohio.
For the Fourth of July last year, more than 126,000 guests were blocked from booking through Airbnb because of their lack of review ratings.
It is said there is a first time for everything – until Airbnb implemented their new rules that is.
Say you’re able to stay in one of the homes on Airbnb by using the small fortune your grandma left you and ask a friend who home-shares to spit out a couple of positive reviews in your direction, there will still be an “anti-party attestation” to sign.
This document affirms that you understand all parties are banned by Airbnb and that should you break the contract and exercise your right to party – you’re subject to legal action.
I wonder if playing charades with the in-laws counts as a “party” because of all the wine and shouting over inferior miming abilities?
Could be.
The parameters for what defines a party are loose, but this hasn’t stopped Airbnb from laying down the hammer.
“We do not take these measures lightly,” states Airbnb.
Customers are warned that if they try to skirt around a house party by calling it “a robust gathering of like-minded people who share in a love of cheap booze and red plastic cups” they will still be booted from the property – or worse!
With some big summer holidays right around the corner – and Airbnb’s new restrictions having thousands of people now looking elsewhere – you’ll want to find available accommodations as soon as possible.
Don’t be the family that waits the week before Independence Day to plan an epic (and much-needed) getaway – only to end up staying in a 12×12 heated box where every member of the clan sleeps elbow to elbow – and you’re still a whopping 12 miles away from the beach!
Nobody wants that.
(h/t Proud American Traveler)