A tourist has warned others to “triple check” the legitimacy of their Airbnb stays when travelling, after a nightmare experience in Bali.
Hatty Morton, a British woman who lives in Sydney, described the accommodation she and a friend stayed in at Canggu as a “prison cell”.
Morton shared a video of the Airbnb to her TikTok account, with a “gentle reminder” in the caption.
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“Always triple check your Airbnbs when staying in Bali in case you end up in the same prison cell as we did that night,” said.
She shared photos from the listing in a follow-up video, comparing them to the reality they experienced.
The Airbnb was €50 ($AU84) a night, and Morton alleged they were also subjected to bed bugs.
Morton and her friend “literally ran away” and found a hotel to stay in instead.
The reviews on the listing called it a “perfect” accommodation that was “lovely” and “clean”, Morton said.
Commenters were in horror at the difference between the images in the listing and the reality of the accommodation.
“Did they get robbed and vandalised before you got there,” one person asked.
“That is a DUNGEON,” said another.
But multiple commenters joked the Airbnb was just decked out in “brutalist”, “minimalist” or “industrial” decor.
Others shared similar stories to Morton’s.
“When I was in Thailand earlier this year, I booked a room at a resort that didn’t exist,” one person said.
To avoid these situations and ensure listings are legitimate, one commenter said they have a “one negative review” rule.
There is usually one “picky guest” they said, who will provide negative aspects: “the hairdryer was not good and the towels were too scratchy for me”.
Airbnb responds
Morton has been issued a refund, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon confirmed.
“In addition to behaving in accordance with our Community Standards, Hosts must ensure they meet our strict Host Reliability Standards, which include commitments around listing cleanliness, listing accuracy and communication.
“Our team is focused on ensuring each stay is a positive experience for guests, Hosts and the wider community.”
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