Booking an Airbnb is meant to be a more comfortable, homey alternative to a hotel, but sometimes, reality doesn’t match the listing.
From misleading photos to hygiene nightmares or just an unsettling vibe, there are certain red flags that make guests want to pack up and leave immediately. If you’ve ever walked into a rental and thought, “Absolutely not,” you’re not alone. Here are some of the things that instantly make people want to bail on their Airbnb stay and demand a refund.
1. A weird or overwhelming smell
The first thing people notice when they walk into a place is the smell, and if it’s bad, it’s hard to ignore. Stale cigarette smoke, mildew, strong chemicals, or just an unidentifiable funk immediately set off alarm bells. If it smells like something died in there, guests won’t even bother unpacking. Even overpowering air fresheners can be suspicious — it usually means they’re trying to cover something up. A clean place should just smell neutral, not like someone dumped an entire bottle of lavender spray in the living room.
2. Dirty or unwashed sheets
Nothing makes guests reconsider their stay faster than pulling back the covers and finding hair, stains, or a musty smell on the sheets. It’s one thing to have an outdated bedspread, but it’s another to feel like the sheets haven’t been washed since the last guest — or ever. People expect fresh, clean linens, and if the bed feels questionable, they start wondering about the cleanliness of everything else. No one wants to play the game of “Are these stains old or fresh?” right before going to sleep.
3. A creepy or unsafe location
Photos can make a place look amazing, but the reality of its surroundings isn’t always clear until you arrive. If the Airbnb is in an area that feels sketchy, has no streetlights, or has abandoned buildings nearby, guests start second-guessing their decision. Even worse is when hosts downplay safety concerns. If guests arrive and immediately feel uncomfortable walking around, that’s a deal-breaker. No holiday is worth feeling unsafe every time you step outside.
4. An unexpected roommate (human or otherwise).
Nothing is more awkward than booking a “private” Airbnb only to find out someone else is also living there. Some listings bury the fact that the host stays on the property or that there’s a roommate situation, and guests don’t find out until they walk through the door. Even worse is when the unexpected guest isn’t human—roaches, mice, or mystery bugs are an automatic no. If you turn on the lights and see something scurry, that’s usually the moment people grab their bags and leave.
5. Poorly hidden cameras
Security cameras outside? Fine. Security cameras inside? Absolutely not. Even if a host claims it’s just for safety, no one wants to feel like they’re being watched while they’re trying to relax. If guests notice something that looks even remotely like a hidden camera, trust is gone. Even sketchier is when cameras aren’t mentioned in the listing. If guests have to wonder whether they’re being recorded, they’ll pack up and find somewhere else to stay.
6. A misleading listing that looks nothing like the photos
Airbnb listings can make even the most questionable spaces look decent, but once guests arrive, reality sets in. Maybe the bright, airy “spacious loft” is actually a tiny, windowless box. Maybe the “modern kitchen” is just a mini-fridge and a single hot plate. If the place looks completely different from what was advertised, guests feel tricked. No one wants to pay for a stylish retreat only to end up in a poorly maintained flat with mismatched furniture and peeling paint.
7. A lack of basic cleanliness
Guests don’t expect five-star luxury, but they do expect a basic level of cleanliness. If the sink is full of old dishes, the bathroom has hair in the drain, or there’s dust and grime everywhere, it’s a huge red flag. If it looks like no one bothered to clean up after the last guest, people start wondering what else has been neglected. The worst offenders? A dirty toilet, greasy kitchen surfaces, and unemptied rubbish bins. No one should have to clean up someone else’s mess before settling in.
8. Broken appliances or missing essentials
A rental should at least have the basics in working order. If the Wi-Fi doesn’t connect, the shower barely works, or the heating and AC are busted, guests will start looking for an exit strategy. Even little things like a missing kettle, no towels, or a broken coffee maker can make a place feel unwelcoming. It’s even worse when hosts pretend everything is fine. If guests message about a problem and the response is “Oh yeah, that hasn’t worked in months,” that’s a sign they should’ve booked elsewhere.
9. Uncomfortable or broken furniture
A cosy-looking couch in the listing might turn out to be a lumpy, worn-out disaster in real life. If the bed sags in the middle or every chair wobbles, guests start questioning their life choices. A rental should feel liveable, not like it was furnished with discarded pieces from a college dorm. The worst is when the bed is so uncomfortable that sleep becomes impossible. No one wants to wake up with a sore back on holiday.
10. Confusing or unreasonable house rules
Most guests expect basic rules, but some Airbnb hosts take it to another level. A long list of demands like taking out the rubbish, washing all linens before leaving, and not touching half the furniture feels more like a chore list than a rental agreement. Even worse are surprise rules that weren’t mentioned before booking. If guests suddenly learn they’re expected to clean the entire place or that they can’t shower after 9 p.m., they’ll be rethinking their stay.
11. Inconsistent or unreliable Wi-Fi
In today’s world, bad Wi-Fi is a deal-breaker, especially for people working remotely or using maps to get around. If the listing claims to have “high-speed internet” but the connection barely loads an email, frustration kicks in fast. When Wi-Fi is unreliable, it’s not just an inconvenience — it can completely ruin a trip. No one wants to spend their stay fighting with a router or trying to find a local café just to check messages.
12. A host who won’t stop messaging
Good communication is great, but some hosts take it too far. If they’re constantly messaging to check in, setting strict check-in/out times, or making guests feel like they’re being monitored, it gets uncomfortable fast. Some guests want to be left alone to enjoy their stay without feeling like they need to report their every move. If a host treats their rental like a personal project rather than a business, guests start looking for the exit.
13. Hidden fees that make the place way less affordable
The listed price might look reasonable, but by the time cleaning fees, service charges, and random add-ons pile up, it can feel like a rip-off. Guests don’t want to pay hotel-level prices for an Airbnb that barely meets basic standards. If someone books a place thinking they got a deal, only to realise they’re paying double what they expected, it leaves a bad taste. Unexpected costs make people feel cheated — and less likely to return.
14. A general feeling that something isn’t right
Sometimes, it’s not one big thing that makes people want to leave — it’s just an overall weird vibe. Maybe the house feels off, the neighbours seem suspicious, or the host is acting strange. If guests walk in and immediately feel unsettled, they’ll be looking for an excuse to leave. Trusting instincts is important. If something about an Airbnb makes guests feel uneasy, it’s better to cut the stay short than to ignore that gut feeling.
